Hearing this, Robin laughed, "If it's like this, the princess only has to say the word and the deed is done. Those humans wouldn't dare raise a finger against you if they can't even move at all!"
"This again..." Peony huffed in disdain, "Those humans are different from the ones in this world. Chances are taking their lives is akin to alerting the nest. As you've heard, I've already silenced one of them a few months back. Thus, reinforcement arrived. If I want them to leave us alone, I will have to deal with the problem from the source. This ties back to that I cannot stay in this world. As for fairy queen, it is already very clear that I am in no position to inherit the position nor do I wish to. Had mother not managed to convince the council to make them accept this decision, I really would have tried to find a way to reject the name."
"And, you. Keeping it a secret from your own liege. How devious..." She sneered, "If anything, I'd have wished to know what other information you know of... That is, if I don't want to be in danger as well."
"Ah... It's good to see that the princess has learned how to preserve her own life." Robin chuckled, "But, I wouldn't dream of hurting my best friend's only daughter."
"This again?" Peony frowned, "We know clearly that it's only because of Father's orders that you decided to take up this position. Otherwise, you'd very likely have stuck to dad's side and poke fun at him while he's doing papers too."
This time, Robin didn't say anything, but smiled. This neither affirmed nor denied the claim.
She simply sighed as she began her walk, "It's time for me to get ready. Have Maisey inform me when the gala begins. After that, keep an eye out for Briar Valley's prince. What you should look for is ensure that the artifact does its job properly. Do not let it break."
"Very well." He smiled before vanishing from sight.
Peony shook her head in dismay as she began to make her way to her temporary quarters. Once inside, Xiao Li drifted to her with a shiver, "Ugh... That guy is so creepy! Why does the king have to make him your retainer? He certainly does not hide his intimidating aura!"
"That man is my bodyguard. Even though his aura is intimidating, I can assure you he won't intentionally harm me." She replied bluntly as she began to carefully take out the clothes she had prepared ahead of time for her performance.
"So you mean he can unintentionally hurt you." Xiao Li frowned.
Peony glanced over to him calmly before she opened her mouth with a reassuring smile, "It is okay, Xiao Li. No matter what he says, he is always on father's side. As long as Father says so, he has no plans to hurt me."
"If you say so..." Xiao Li grumbled reluctantly.
She quickly got changed and did some rehearsals before going back into the room. She had a quick bath and dried herself off before putting on the outfit again. When she was done, she left the ring with a box of cosmetics in hand. It was then that she heard a knock on her door as a familiar pleasant voice spoke up, "Peony? May I come in now?"
"Sure." She replied as the door opened up, "I'm just applying the cosmetics."
As soon as the queen stepped in, she was in awe! The room was not very luxurious as it was simply a leaf tent decorated with magic and bits of elegant decorations. But, in one side of the room sat her precious daughter dressed beautifully in a soft pink and white embroidered dress. Her hair was also more intricately tied up than yesterday with pretty flower ornaments braided into her hair. Moreover, without the abilities of the ring and her magic potion, she looked no different than a slender human girl with beautiful refined features, much like yesterday! She gasped in surprise as she pondered aloud in bewilderment, "Is it the dress or perhaps the ornaments? For some reason my beautiful daughter who looked so beautiful and elegant yesterday now looks so gentle and almost celestial! No, it has to be my daughter! Oh, how I wish your father could see this!"
"Mom..." She muttered in exasperation from her overly doting behavior as the queen picked up the brush and carefully brushed out the remaining unseen tangles from her daughter's hair.
"It's a good thing I brought the camera that the humans were so obsessed with a few decades ago! Maisey~!"
Suddenly, Maisey burst into the room carrying a large professional camera, "Yes, your majesty! I've prepared the camera already- ah!"
The poor fairy accidentally fell from the air and onto the ground much to their surprise as he looked up in shock, "Is that... Princess Peony?!"
"Huh?"
A couple more heads popped in before their eyes all widen in disbelief. Seeing this, the queen huffed angrily, "Oh dear! I know you are all curious but please also remember the social boundaries between genders!"
"Maisey, are you all right?" Peony looked to her retainer hesitantly as she approached him.
"Haha... I'm all right." Maisey wore a dry smile as he got up and checked his wings, "It seems my wings are all right too."
"That was quite a fall in your regular form."
Maisey flew up into the air again as he looked at her in awe, "I was just shocked over how pretty the princess is! I can hardly believe you are a human with how pretty you are!"
Peony shook her head in disbelief, "Mother had always complimented my looks before, but it seems everyone has been taking it in as another one of mother's doting."
"I wonder if the princess is a goddess!" Maisey exclaimed with glittering eyes as he smiled brightly.
"A goddess..."
Suddenly, the room froze as she uttered this. Worried, Maisey quickly clasped over his mouth as the queen looked on with a saddened expression. However, Peony smiled calmly and patted Maisey's shoulder with a finger, "Thank you, Maisey. But, it is better not to say that aloud."
"Huh?" Maisey looked to her in confusion as her mother began to smile in relief.
"Did you know that there are legends in The Land of Dawning where those who are said to be as beautiful or much more beautiful than the goddesses would later earn those goddesses' ire?"
"But, why?"
"If I were to say that there is someone who can craft gadgets much cooler than you, what would you do?" Peony smiled as her mother began to help her with the make up.
"Well, I'd have to see if those words are true, obviously! There can't be someone who is better than me! ...Ah!" Maisey gasped as it dawned on him.
Peony explained, "The gods of this world are much more mature and knowledgeable now than long long ago. However, emotions resides in everyone as long as they are alive. Even the earth itself. Thus, they are not so narrow-minded. However, never make claims that you cannot prove are true. Those claims would later become rumors and you understand how bad rumors can become as well. So, you need to remember to be careful what you say aloud. Otherwise, it may also hurt yourself in the future."
"I, I understand." Maisey nodded earnestly as he feared what would happen to his liege otherwise.
"Okay, now. Don't move your lips." The queen smiled as she shifted Peony's face back to the mirror. It was then that they paused as they realized how strange the bright pigments were on her face as she paused her hand, "Ah..."
"Haha..." Peony chuckled, "It's all right. Let me do it, mom."
With that, she cleaned her face and re-done the make up much to her mother's embarrassment.
"I can't even properly apply cosmetics on my beautiful daughter..." The queen bemoaned in disappointment.
Peony gave her a dry smile, "Like I said, it's all right, mom. It can't be helped because mother's beauty has always been natural. You really don't have much need for cosmetics."
"And my beautiful daughter also has natural beauty." The queen hummed in deep thoughts, "If only you would dress up in a dress more often or even just wearing pretty clothes like these past few days, I'd at least get more pretty clothes to be brought with me."
"Ah..."
Here we go again...
.....
It was night as Malleus and Lilia made their way to the Greenhouse. As they got to the entrance, they noticed the large number of fairies and light faes who began gathering into the gala excitedly. Seeing this, Lilia noted in surprise, "Oh! Looks like everyone is already gathering! I've never seen this many light faes gathered in one place before."
Malleus nodded before noticing the eyes glancing at them as they walked closer to the entrance, "The fairies are staring at us. Well, it would make sense as this is probably the first time a nocturnal fae has been invited to their gala in a very long time."
"Yup! That's why everyone is so curious!"
Hearing a very unfamiliar voice, the two were surprised before noticing a figure with hooved feet appear from the darkness. The two were on guard as the figure entered into the light of the magic lamp posts.
"You're..." Lilia muttered in surprise.
"The fairy who served the fairy kingdom's royal family." Malleus finished with a bewildered gaze, "However, your mana is very strange."
"It's definitely unique." Lilia nodded.
"Hahaha! Yes. This one is a retainer of the royal family. You may call me Puck!" Robin replied, "Of course, I would care less if you called me Robin Goodfellow! Either one works! For now, I am given the task to guide you to the gala by the princess!"
"Oh? The princess is not going to greet us herself?" Lilia looked at him with a smirk.
"Nope!" Robin laughed, "Ever since the princess recovered from the adoption ordeal, she started displaying a large number of talents. Since then, the royal family has eagerly awaited for her dance performance once every year on the last day of the gala. Since the first time she performed in public, it has become a hit!"
"No wonder there are so many diurnal faes gathering in the gala." Lilia noted in surprise.
"A dance performance beautiful enough to attract the fairies..." Malleus noted in deep thoughts, "I recall the princess suddenly joined in the first gala show and danced a lot with the other fairies."
Hearing this, Robin broke down laughing, "Hahaha! Oh yes! It was such an amusing event! That fairy hired to be the announcer this year made such a bold statement! Hahaha! The depressed princess! Hahaha!"
Shocked by his reaction, the two stared at him in confusion before Malleus spoke up, "Is this usually how the fairy retainers treat their royal family? It's not quite like what I've heard from my grandmother..."
"Oh! What does it matter?! Besides, you have the artifact on. Let's go!" Robin smiled whimsically as he guided the two into the greenhouse before suggesting boldly, "Oh, but I wonder what entertainment awaits us if the artifact broke! Haha!"
Hearing this, Lilia and Malleus was bewildered by how strange this fairy was till they noticed the other faes began to avoid them with their eyes glued at Robin rather than them. Nervous and confused, Malleus muttered quietly, "Peony, just what exactly did you mean to send us such an unusual guide."
Lilia nodded hesitantly, "To even suggest breaking the artifact their princess specially hired to make."