Elsa bent down, testing the water temperature in the tub with her hand, and was about to go for the extra bucket of hot water that was prepared nearby.

  “That’s enough, Elsa. I should get out.”

  Pandora stood, water droplets trickling down her smooth skin, catching the twilight and refracting an alluring glow.

  Elsa immediately picked up a rge, thick, and soft towel that had been ready and wrapped it around Pandora’s body.

  “You should go take a bath, too,” Pandora said, toweling her hair casually. “About this matter, I still need to talk with Aurora.”

  “As you command, My Lady.”

  Elsa gave a slight bow, replying calmly, then added, “However, I would actually prefer to remain by your side at all times. My physical state does not require cleansing, and I… should not accept this kind of ‘indulgence.’ Perhaps I should accompany you to…”

  Pandora, however, cut her off.

  She turned and looked into Elsa’s eyes, which were always calm but now seemed to hold a hint of confusion. Her tone was serious and sincere. “Elsa, whatever you are, to me, you are worthy of experiencing the beauty of life.”

  “And you should trust me, too.”

  Pandora smiled, a smile that held a reassuring power. “It’s just a chat with Aurora. What could possibly happen? Don’t worry. Go get cleaned up and come find me.”

  Elsa’s gaze flickered. She looked into Pandora’s clear, untainted eyes, at the sincere smile on her face, and finally, she gave a deep, deep bow.

  “As you wish.”

  After Pandora left, Elsa stood still for a moment. The air still held the warm fragrance of roses and vender from Pandora’s bath.

  After making sure Pandora wouldn’t suddenly return, Elsa slowly walked toward the massive floor-length mirror.

  In the mirror was reflected a nearly perfect body.

  Her skin was fair and fine, without a single blemish. Her curves were smooth and graceful, every part of her seeming as if it had been calcuted and carved with the utmost precision, too beautiful to be of this world.

  Elsa raised a hand, subconsciously touching her own long, white neck.

  There, a cold, sharp bde had once pierced through.

  There, was the end of her life as a “person,” and the beginning of her existence as an “Alchemical creation.”

  She stared at her reflection in the mirror for a moment, a complex emotion she couldn’t quite name fshing in her eyes.

  Then, she turned and walked toward the tub of still-warm water. The temperature was precisely adjusted to what she remembered feeling on the back of her hand when Pandora had stood up. It was a temperature she believed would be most comfortable for her master.

  The ornate, almost impractical handmaiden’s dress she wore, like ink dissolving in water, slowly faded, ultimately transforming into an exquisite thorn pattern, branded on her lower abdomen.

  Barefoot, Elsa stepped into the tub, one step at a time.

  Warmth enveloped her. An unprecedented, almost luxurious comfort spread from the nerve endings of every inch of her skin, making her perennially tense body rex involuntarily.

  Perhaps it was too comfortable; she became a bit lost in the sensation.

  Her eyes slowly lost focus, as if they were piercing through the mist before her, seeing some distant, ethereal pce.

  Her whole body slowly sank beneath the water’s surface.

  Glug… glug…

  A stream of fine bubbles, like those from a fish, rose to the surface, in the quiet, mist-filled room, sounding exceptionally clear, and exceptionally… lonely.

  ………………

  The next day, morning.

  Bright sunlight filtered through a gap in the curtains, gently falling on Pandora’s fair cheek, waking her from her deep sleep.

  She had slept in.

  It wasn’t entirely her fault.

  Last night, she had talked with Aurora for a long time, piecing together the events of the night of the transformation from the knightess’s perspective.

  After their talk, she couldn’t resist picking up the newly acquired Alchemical books and burying herself in them, trying to distinguish the truly valuable knowledge of Alchemy from the rest.

  The result… she hadn’t managed to discern much useful knowledge, but she did end up reading until midnight.

  When the familiar midnight chime, the one that seemed to pierce the soul, rang outside the window—

  Pandora’s entire body stiffened, her heart feeling as if it were being squeezed by an invisible hand.

  The images from that night flooded her mind uncontrolbly.

  The bde that had pierced Elsa’s throat, the cold touch, the warm blood… those eyes reflecting her own image, their light rapidly fading…

  The intense stress reaction made her break out in a cold sweat. It took her a long time to suppress the surging emotions with deep breaths.

  By the time she finally fell asleep, the sky was already beginning to brighten.

  Knock, knock, knock—

  From outside the door came a rhythmic knocking.

  Elsa silently moved to the door, pulling it open a tiny crack. She shook her head slightly at the person outside, indicating that Pandora was still resting.

  It was Aurora. Seeing this, she prepared to turn and leave.

  “Wait…”

  From inside the room came Pandora’s voice, thick with sleep. “I’m awake… Elsa, prepare a brunch for me… and remember, no fried eggs.”

  “Yes, My Lady.” Aurora acknowledged from outside and left.

  Elsa closed the door and walked to the bedside, her voice gentle. “My Lady, eggs are good for your body. You shouldn’t be such a picky eater.”

  “I just don’t want to eat eggs.”

  Pandora threw a small tantrum, turning over and pulling the bnket over her head, her voice muffled.

  Soon, under Elsa’s skilled and gentle assistance, Pandora changed into a clean, practical linen dress.

  As she let Elsa brush her long hair, she looked out the window.

  The sun was shining, birds were singing and flowers were in bloom, a breeze rustled the leaves in the courtyard.

  Everything seemed so peaceful, so beautiful.

  For a moment, she felt as if she were still that carefree, pampered noble young dy who lived a life of ease…

  Knock, knock, knock—

  A sharp, urgent knocking brutally pulled Pandora from her brief moment of nostalgia, smming her back to reality.

  That trace of wistfulness and ease on her face vanished in an instant, repced by gravity, calm, and reliability.

  She gave a wry smile, knowing she was no longer the kind of noble dy who could live in comfort.

  “My Lady, brunch is ready.”

  From outside the door came Aurora’s voice, holding a hint of unconcealed excitement. “Regarding the matter you asked us to investigate yesterday, we have a result.”

  Instantly, delight sparked in Pandora’s eyes.

  She quickened her movements and said to Elsa, “Let her in.”

  ………………

  “So… the tracks continued onward, deeper in?”

  Pandora’s voice was exceptionally clear in the deep, quiet forest.

  It was two hours ter.

  She had changed into dark, practical clothes for easy movement. Her long hair was tied back with a simple ribbon, making her look capable and efficient.

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