Your Highness! Honorable Commandant! You really did it!
As you return to the lakeside with Liv through the now-safe forest of ice crystals and frost flowers, Othilde rushes excitedly to greet you, her feathers all fluffed up.
Huh? Why are your hands tied together?
Looking down, that ribbon is still properly wrapped around your wrists.
Yes, that's right...
The silver-haired girl quickly moves to untie the ribbon. You catch a glimpse of barely perceptible delight and satisfaction in the momentary curl of her lips.
The most important thing for us swans each day is grooming our feathers. Your Highness simply can't be missing a hair ribbon! I will put it right back where it belongs.
Oh... um... It's okay, I can do it myself.
Eh? But—
After such a long journey, Great Wizard, why don't we find a warm place to sit down and tidy up properly?
I've recovered some of my wish magic. Enough that I can at least make a few changes to this place.
She raises her hand toward the lakeside clearing. Streams of light flow from her fingertips, weaving intricate patterns just inches above the ground.
The melted snow seeps into the soil, then silver sprouts emerge in a ring, stretching upward. Branches intertwine to form arches, while leaves gather to create a dome. A door made of ice solidifies, adorned with patterns of white trees.
Standing before this circular greenhouse created out of thin air, Liv turns back to you with gleaming eyes.
Whoa...
After you.
Lakeside Greenhouse
Snow Globe
Lakeside Greenhouse, Snow Globe
Unlike the neatly arranged greenhouses of Babylonia, what you've stepped into is practically a lush, miniature jungle.
I made a few small adjustments.
Liv winks, gesturing for you to follow her inside. As you travel through the sheltering flowers and leaves, you find trees with buttress roots forming a semicircular booth ahead, with soft, fuzzy moss spread out as cushions.
I've missed your tea, Othilde. How about I tie my hair band myself, while you take on the important duty of brewing tea for our guest? You're the expert, after all.
Got it!
Othilde perks up with newfound determination, turning to dive into the dense vegetation in search of something. Liv sits down, holding her hair band, her gaze wandering briefly before meeting yours as you sit beside her.
Commandant... would you like to try? Help me tie my hair... It's not difficult.
The soft, silky ribbon lies flat in her palm as Liv turns her face away, the tips of her ears faintly reddening.
The girl sits sideways. The missing ribbon isn't the main one, so her elegant updo remains intact. Only a strand of silver hair has visibly lost its black silk decoration.
Following the style of the braid on the other side, you secure one end of the ribbon to the curved hairpin, then wrap it around that strand in overlapping spirals, carefully smoothing it downward.
Her soft, smooth strands wind around your fingertips like a cool stream, flowing from your hands straight to your heart.
The girl sits sideways. The missing ribbon isn't the main one, so her elegant updo remains intact. Only a strand of silver hair has visibly lost its black silk decoration.
Liv places her fingers over yours, guiding your hand to gently stroke from the top of her updo down to the bottom.
Right here. Press it firmly at the top, thread it through from the lower left, pull it out from the upper right, then wrap it around downward in a spiral.
Following Liv's guidance, your fingers begin to move somewhat stiffly, as you fear that any careless motion might pull her hair too hard.
No, [player name]. Your hands have been very gentle the whole time.
Her soft, smooth strands wind around your fingertips like a cool stream, flowing from your hands straight to your heart.
Thank you.
She raises her hand to touch the back of her head, her eyes brimming with joy as her lashes flutter down and up.
If my hair gets messed up again in the future, could I ask you to help me fix it, Commandant?
Grooming each other's feathers is quite an intimate gesture, Honorable Commandant. You should treasure such moments!
The black swan butler emerges from the nearby bushes. She carries a tray with perfectly arranged teacups and a teapot, wisps of steam rising from the spout.
Liv quickly returns her hands to her lap, shyly shifting an inch away in embarrassment.
Othilde puffs her cheeks as she stares at Liv's hair band. After serving tea to everyone, she picks up her cup and squeezes herself between the two of you.
We have fire blossoms here, don't you know?
Fire blossoms are fantasy plants I created in my imagination.
Plants always sacrifice what remains of their life to provide us with light and heat. The flames are like their next incarnation.
But I wasn't satisfied with that when I was young. I used to wonder, wouldn't it be wonderful if flames could live together with plants in harmony?
She gestures for you to look at a cluster of plants with closed, drooping buds nearby, then sends a feather of light to sweep back and forth across them.
The flower buds rustle and tremble, collectively "sneezing" all at once.
Bright, joyful golden flames ignite from the hearts of the flowers as they lift their heads and bloom. Instead of smoke and ash, a sweet fragrance like warm honey rises from within.
The palace fireplaces used to be filled with fire blossoms. But the Red Sorcerer uprooted them all, not leaving a single one! They absolutely despise light and warmth!
Even the mechanical brothers and sisters who were bewitched by them would avoid the fireplaces. It was so wonderful when everyone danced together near the blossoms...
Othilde's casual remark suddenly reveals the key to breaking the stalemate. You instinctively sit up straight with your teacup, and Liv immediately understands what you're thinking when her gaze meets yours.
Are you suggesting... we jump in through the chimney instead of using the main entrance?
Without fire, we won't face any enemy attacks... I can sense the [Wish of Home] is sealed in the palace ballroom, and there happens to be several large fireplaces there.
But Honorable Commandant doesn't seem to know how to fly, and the chimney is so tall!
Liv holds her teacup and smiles gently.
Commandant has me.
Palace Rooftop
Snow Globe
Palace Rooftop, Snow Globe
Were you comfortable with our flying method just now?
You step forward and peer into the chimney alongside Liv.
Just to be safe, Othilde went downstairs to draw the enemy's attention away from us.
Liv nods solemnly and extends both hands toward you, palms facing upward.
Let's go, Commandant.
Ethereal wings unfold from Liv's back, enveloping you both in a soft glow as gravity seems to dissolve away. The two of you slowly rise, hovering above the chimney opening.
Ready? I'll count to three, and we'll do it together.
One, two, three, jump!
