Chapter 57

“Oh my, is this the wrong way?”

Melissa glanced around curiously.

She had followed the path where the circus members had exited, but upon arriving, she found herself standing before what looked like a dressing room.

‘Where could the circus people be?’

She had wanted to ask how they treated the animals, maybe even see them for herself.

As she looked around the colorful costumes and peculiar props filling the room, something caught her eye.

It felt like the air itself had split.

Or perhaps something unnatural had been added to an ordinary space.

“My goodness.”

Startled yet delighted, Melissa exclaimed as though she had found an old friend.

“There’s a trap here!”

Seeing the excitement in her eyes, Demius smiled in amusement.

“Would you like to try disarming it?”

Oh dear.

Melissa wiggled her fingers.

Now wasn’t the time for that. She had to find the circus members and ask about the animals.

But Demius added casually,

“There might be animals inside, you know.”

“Really?”

“Of course.”

Nothing could stop Miss Lily’s curiosity.

Demius smiled, reaffirming his understanding of how the world worked.

While the unstoppable force of a thousand-ton runaway train was clapping encouragingly beside her, someone rushed through the tent entrance.

Natalianne burst in, glancing around frantically, only to see Melissa reaching out toward empty air.

“Don’t touch tha—!”

“Yap.”

Melissa cheerfully placed her hand on the trap.

In the same instant, Natalianne threw herself toward her teacher.

“Teacher, get dow—!”

Rattle, crash!

The sound of several locks unraveling echoed through the air, followed by a heavy thud as Natalianne rolled across the floor.

…Huh?

She blinked.

…Why is it so quiet?

As Natalianne lay there rubbing her sore jaw, Melissa hurried over in alarm.

“Lady Natalianne, are you alright?”

Dazed, Natalianne grasped Melissa’s hand and slowly sat up.

“What just… happened?”

“Can’t you tell?”

Her annoying brother smirked nearby, lifting a corner of his mouth.

“It’s been disarmed.”

“That’s impossible.”

Natalianne turned sharply toward the spot where the trap had been.

“Unbelievable.”

Her eyes widened.

That couldn’t be.

A trap spell wasn’t something that could be undone so easily.

‘What is a trap?’

It was something crafted with complex layers, designed to trick and ensnare anyone foolish enough to stumble upon it.

That was what made it valuable.

Yet she had disarmed one in mere seconds?

‘As expected of my teacher.’

A wave of awe filled Natalianne’s eyes.

Of course. Melissa was the daughter and direct disciple of Al Kidma, her beloved master, and a magical prodigy, the adorable little squirrel she so adored.

Grabbing Melissa’s hand, Natalianne’s eyes sparkled.

“Please marry me.”

“Nonsense.”

Demius swatted Natalianne’s hand away and clasped Melissa’s hand tightly.

“Miss Lily is my wife.”

“Then after you two divorce next year, please marry me instead.”

Damn it. Demius clenched his teeth, enraged.

“Do you think that even makes sense?”

“Why not?”

Natalianne pouted.

“I’ll marry Teacher, gain her magical knowledge through a legal partnership, and live happily ever after.”

“You little brat.”

Demius growled, glaring at her.

“What do you take marriage for?”

“A legal right for two people to live together.”

Then Natalianne’s lips curled into a wicked grin.

“A union of body and soul born from love.”

“You deranged lunatic.”

“Why? You can do it, but I can’t?”

“I’d rather die than let Miss Lily be defiled by your filthy desires.”

“Then let me help you with that. Keep your eyes open.”

While the two of them bickered, Melissa was quietly inspecting the space where the trap had been.

Usually behind a place like this…

“There it is.”

At the sound of her delighted voice, both siblings turned their heads in unison.

Where Melissa pointed, a soft golden light shimmered.

“It looks like we can go through here.”

“Shall we check it out?”

Demius nodded immediately, his tone bright.

This lunatic.

Natalianne reached for his collar, but before she could, the lovely little squirrel smiled shyly and nodded.

“Yes.”

“Let’s go right away.”

Natalianne nodded stiffly.

Now there were two thousand-ton runaway trains cheering each other on as Melissa beamed brightly.

They really do get along so well.

Certain of her observation, Melissa grasped the edge of the glowing space.

Squish.

Something sticky clung to her hand before peeling away, revealing a dark passage within.

The air that drifted out felt ominous and heavy, but Melissa’s eyes gleamed with excitement.

What could be beyond this?

‘There are so many wondrous things in the world.’

Without hesitation, Melissa stepped into the gap.

Whoosh.

In an instant, everything flipped. The faint scent of powder and perfume that had lingered in the dressing room vanished, replaced by a damp, metallic odor that filled her nose.

A dark and humid passage.

No light flickered anywhere within the new space.

It was impossible to tell what lay ahead, or even if there was a path at all.

Then suddenly, the space around them glowed softly within a five-meter radius.

Natalianne had summoned a small orb of light, floating gently above her hand.

Demius drew Melissa slightly behind him.

“Would you like to walk behind me?”

“Please, Teacher, walk in front instead.”

The Eisenhart siblings surrounded Melissa, one in front and one behind.

Melissa blinked up at them, mumbling softly.

“I’m fine, really.”

And she was.

Exploring places like this was something she had done plenty of times as a child.

‘When you can’t see, just follow the wind or the scent.’

Closing her eyes, she sniffed the air, tracing the faint smell that drifted from deep within.

Then she smiled and pointed forward.

“Shall we go that way?”

“Yes.”

“Hurry up.”

As soon as Demius replied, Natalianne kicked him sharply from behind.

Demius glared over his shoulder but couldn’t be bothered to argue, turning back to Melissa instead.

“Watch your step.”

“Thank you. You too, Mi-mi.”

“Yes.”

Demius smiled warmly at her concern.

Miss Lily likes me more.

Then Natalianne clung to Melissa’s arm like a child and whined.

“Me too, Teacher. Worry about me too.”

“Of course, Lady Natalianne. Hold onto my arm and watch your step.”

Bleh.

Natalianne stuck out her tongue beneath her mask, too quickly for Melissa to notice, but Demius saw it clearly.

‘That brat.’

He clenched his jaw and quietly reached out.

“May I… hold on too?”

“Oh, of course.”

At her cheerful permission, Demius looped his arm through hers.

After a few steps, the Eisenhart siblings realized something felt off.

With Demius towering over 190 centimeters and Natalianne easily over 180, the small Melissa between them looked rather…

“Oh my.”

Melissa giggled as she hopped to match their height.

“It feels like I’m being escorted by guards.”

Her little feet dangled in the air as the siblings glared at each other over her head.

“Did you hear that?”

“Let go already.”

“You first.”

“I grabbed first.”

Just as they were about to start arguing again, Melissa turned her head.

“What’s that over there?”

Far down the long corridor, a section of the wall dipped inward into a pitch-black hollow.

Melissa tugged both of them along as she walked toward it.

The recess wasn’t quite large enough to be called a room, yet too deep to be just a wall.

As Melissa stepped inside with curiosity sparkling in her eyes, her nose twitched.

…That smell.