Chapter 72…
The Princess of Mirage and the Familiar.
After the day Felicia revealed herself to Céline, she spent her time quietly in the forest castle, never leaving it as per Yoan’s instructions.
While protecting Felicia in the castle, Yoan used his familiars to investigate Yvette, Céline, and Baron Raymond’s surroundings, steadily gathering evidence. Of course, even during that time, he continued to pour his power into maintaining the barrier that guarded the border every night.
(No matter how strong Lord Yoan’s magic may be, using it that much must be exhausting. This is my problem, yet I can do nothing but rely on him. How pathetic I am.)
Feeling frustrated at her own helplessness while Yoan did everything for her, Felicia tried to do what little she could—each day she made sweets and tended to his well-being. The same was true of her embroidery; by now, there was likely nothing Yoan wore that didn’t have Felicia’s embroidery stitched into it somewhere.
When Felicia brought tea and gâteau nantais to Yoan, who was giving orders to his familiars in his study, the door opened smoothly before she could even knock. It seemed one of the unseen familiars within the castle had sensed her presence and opened it for her.
“Thank you,” she said to the invisible being.
At that, a soft breeze brushed through her hair, as if replying, You’re welcome.
“There are sweets in the kitchen, so please help yourselves too,” she added warmly.
Then she thought she heard something—a faint whistling sound, or perhaps the laughter of a child.
As she grew accustomed to life in Yoan’s castle, Felicia had gradually become able to sense the presence of these invisible familiars.
They shared Yoan’s fondness for sweets. At first, she’d been puzzled when desserts left in the kitchen mysteriously disappeared and wondered when Yoan had eaten them. When it continued to happen every day, she asked him about it, and he told her, That’s probably the familiars.
Since then, she began preparing a separate plate of treats just for them. Even though they were unseen, they were clearly there. Whenever Felicia said gently,
“This is for all of you—eat whenever you like,”
the sweets on that plate would always be gone afterward.
Feeling as though the familiars had accepted her presence, Felicia couldn’t help but smile with happiness.
