Not long after Roy was gone, Leca arrived.
"Are you ready? We'll be departing for Muria now."
"Yeah. Oh, and here's the money."
Mia returned the 2,000denarions she had borrowed. Leca looked surprised, glancing between the money and Mia.
"So it wasn't needed after all. Still, thank you."
"…You're full of surprises."
Mia was about to respond when two fully armed guards approached.
"If you're ready, we'll escort you to Muria."
Wait—wasn't it supposed to be just Leca going with her?
"How are we getting there?"
"We'll travel by carriage to the coast. From there, you'll board a ship. A merchant vessel is currently docked and ready to depart."
"How long will it take?"
"You should arrive by tomorrow night."
So nearly two full days of travel. Mia felt a bit anxious.
Inside the carriage, one of the soldiers rode along with them, making it hard for Mia to speak freely with Leca. She had so much she wanted to talk about, but it was hard to find the right moment.
She wondered if Roy had arrived safely.
Roy had looked so hopeless—but seeing the salamander had brought some light back to her face. Who knew what kind of mage she'd end up with… But if Salamander was with her, maybe it'd be okay.
Please… let her be safe.
The passing landscape of Sibareth was surprisingly lively. People bustled about, not so different from a busy morning in an American city—aside from their appearances, clothing, and architecture.
Even in another world, people live in much the same way, Mia thought.
She suddenly felt someone's gaze and turned to find Leca watching her intently. She flinched a little.
"W-What is it?"
"I just thought you might need something."
"No, haha…"
"If you want anything—food, drink—please don't hesitate to tell me."
"Okay. Thanks."
Mia smiled awkwardly. It was a bit overwhelming, but comforting too.
Even though they weren't alone, the idea of traveling together with Leca made her feel strangely excited.
They finally arrived in Muria at midnight the next day.
Everything was different from Sibareth. The moment she stepped onto the ground, the humid air clung to her skin. Unlike the dry heat of Sibareth, this place felt like stepping into a lush rainforest.
It was much warmer, too. Mia took off her outer layer. The shrill chirping of insects echoed in her ears. All around her, towering plants, enormous flowers, and mushrooms filled the landscape. A sweet floral scent drifted in the air.
But remembering what happened with those big flowers last time, Mia instinctively recoiled. Sensing her discomfort, Leca spoke gently.
"Don't worry. These don't harm people."
"Soon, a carriage sent from Muria will arrive. We've already sent word—it should be close."
One of the soldiers reassured them. And indeed, even before he finished speaking, they heard the distant sound of hooves and snorts.
"Leca, something's coming! I think it's here!"
Soon after, a group of beautiful white horses with flowing manes and golden saddles appeared, pulling a grand carriage. Mia's mouth dropped open.
"A pumpkin carriage!"
It was a stunning, golden-orange carriage shaped like a pumpkin. The coachman had an impressive mustache and wore a red cone-shaped hat with a green-striped outfit. He tipped his hat and bowed deeply.
"Thank you for coming all this way. Please, allow me to take you the rest of the way in comfort."
"Leca, I feel like Cinderella!"
"What's that?"
"Oh, it's a thing! Kyaahaha!"
Mia climbed into the carriage, her heart pounding with excitement. The inside was spacious and decorated entirely in shades of pink—it was like stepping into a theme park. Mia was absolutely thrilled.
Just as she settled in, a gentle drizzle began to fall, adding a touch of magic to the moment. She hadn't seen a single drop of rain in Sibareth, and now here in Muria, it was raining on her first night.
It was obvious this land was fertile and beautiful. Suddenly, she felt a strong urge not to return to Sibareth. Maybe this was how Mithys had felt when she refused the throne.
Lost in pleasant thoughts, Mia barely noticed the carriage coming to a stop. She stepped down, greeted by the soft scent of wet earth and the light patter of rain.
"This way, please."
"Wow…"
It truly looked like a fairy garden. Flowers and trees she'd never seen before were everywhere. Each tree bore fruit—and some, jewels the size of a fist.
Glistening with raindrops, the fruits and gems sparkled. Compared to the grand yet imposing palace of Sibareth, this place felt like something out of a fairytale—warm, colorful, and inviting.
"Is this Muria's royal palace?"
"Yes, it is."
As they entered the ivy-covered halls, the same coachman turned around and spoke.
"You must be tired from your journey. Please, allow us to show you to your room. Lady Mia, this way."
"I'll—"
Leca started to follow Mia, but the attendant frowned.
"I've been instructed to escort Lady Mia alone."
"My duty is to protect her. I'll be going with her."
The two attendants exchanged surprised glances. One gave a reluctant nod.
"…Very well. But as she is to meet His Majesty, you'll need to wait outside the chamber."
Leca frowned slightly. While he was familiar with King Thorpel and likely didn't need to worry, it still clearly didn't sit right with him.
"It's fine, Leca. It's probably just a formal greeting."
Mia and Leca walked through the palace, the floors gleaming like polished crystal. Eventually, they arrived at an enormous door that shone a brilliant sapphire blue. The moment they stepped in front of it, the door opened on its own with a soft hiss.
"Whoa…!"
"This way, Lady Mia. His Majesty is expecting you," the attendant said.
Mia gave Leca a quick wink and stepped inside. As soon as she entered, the door slid closed behind her.
And then—
"Hello? It's been a while, hasn't it?"
The voice came from behind her. Or… was it from the side?
Mia had expected a grand throne room with a giant royal seat in the center—like in Sibareth. But what she saw instead was a cozy reception room. Sofas, a tea table, bookshelves, a fireplace.
There was no throne in sight.
She turned toward the voice.
A man was standing there. Young. He had long sky-blue hair that fell to his shoulders, and eyes that sparkled like sapphires.
From head to toe, he wore a tight-fitting outfit in shades of blue, including matching shoes. His face was sharp and angular, his figure tall and slender—he looked to be in his late twenties.
And then—she remembered. Mia gasped and covered her mouth.
The only thing different now was that instead of the blue hat he wore back then, he now had a golden crown on his head.
"Y-You're…!"
"I would've been disappointed if you didn't remember," he said with a teasing smile.
"You're the one from…"
It was that dream—shown to her by Mithys during their first meeting. She had met this man there, walked down stairs, almost dined with moles…
Then the earthquake had hit, and she'd woken up.
"If you're wondering, no—I wasn't in on it with Mithys. I only found out later that the two of you made some sort of deal."
The king approached the sofa and snapped his fingers. Tea and sweets appeared on the table with a shimmer of light.
"Well? Aren't you going to sit?"
"But how did you appear in that dream in the first place?"
"A coincidence, really. Mithys just meant to show you a part of Muria. I happened to be nearby at the time, and ended up getting pulled in."
King Thorpel's bright blue eyes gleamed with curiosity and amusement.
"Still not sitting?"
"O-oh. Right."
Mia finally took a seat.
When she didn't touch the tea or the sweets, the fairy king chuckled again.
"Relax. There won't be an earthquake this time."
He leaned back into the sofa, crossing one leg over the other, studying her closely.
"You look thinner than I remember… I guess that handsome fiancé of yours isn't treating you too well?"
At the mention of Julius, Mia suddenly choked on a cookie.
"Oh dear. Drink some tea."
She sipped the tea—ginger-flavored—and was surprised by how good it was. The scratch in her throat immediately disappeared.
"It seems the fairy transformation has already begun."
The king's gaze swept over her, measuring and observant. Mia nodded.
"Yes. Not that I'm thrilled about it."
"Oh? And why's that?"
Mia hesitated. She'd come to Muria hoping there might be a way out of this, but now that she was sitting in front of the king himself, she wasn't sure how much to reveal.
Can I really trust him? Wouldn't that be showing too much of my hand?
"What are you thinking so hard about? Regretting your deal with Mithys, perhaps?"
Gasp.
Had he read her mind?
Mia stared at him, stunned. The king laughed heartily again. He was a man who laughed often—like a child.
"Anyone could read that expression. Especially someone who knows the situation like I do."
He stood and walked toward her. Then, with a gentle motion, he brushed his hand over her wings.
And just like that—
Her wings vanished.
Startled, Mia reached behind her, searching for them—but they were truly gone. Completely.
At the same time, the king's long, cool fingers touched her chin.
A sudden flash of brilliant light blinded her. Mia squeezed her eyes shut, then opened them again.
What just happened?
A mirror appeared in midair. In it, she saw her old face—before the transformation. Gone was the greenish, iridescent hair down to her shoulders. In its place, short black hair. Her golden eyes were once again deep brown.
Mia's jaw dropped.
"How… how did you do this?"
"If I tell you…"
The king's icy blue eyes sparkled with mischief.
"What will you give me in return?"