The Crown's Fire - Chapter 297

Chapter 297: Turn the Tide
Merlot gave a curt nod, his gaze sweeping the room before landing on her. “Good. I trust there will be no mistakes.”

As he stepped closer, Floria made her move. She approached him with a deliberate softness, letting her expression shift into one of vulnerability.

“Master…” she murmured, her voice low and trembling. “Do you remember how we first met?”

He paused, his expression unreadable. “Of course. Why wouldn’t I?”

Floria reached out, placing her hand lightly on his chest. “You hated my blonde hair,” she said, her lips curling into a faint, wistful smile. “You said it reminded you of the sun, and you couldn’t stand the brightness. That’s why… every time you prepared to transfer my soul, you chose a raven-haired vessel.”

Merlot tilted his head, a flicker of amusement crossing his face. “Yes, I recall,” he replied. “It was a ridiculous quirk of mine, wasn’t it? But I preferred the darkness. It suited you better.”

That was it… the confirmation she needed. Floria’s chest tightened, and she felt a chill creep up her spine. Merlot would never have called his own preference a “ridiculous quirk.” He was too proud, too meticulous.

Her hand slid up to the side of his face as she leaned closer, her lips brushing against his in a soft kiss. The gesture wasn’t born of affection but of finality… a silent farewell to the master she once knew. She pulled back slightly, her eyes searching his face for any trace of the man she had followed for so long. But the glint in his eyes, the faint smirk tugging at his lips, told her all she needed to know.

Merlot loved her blonde hair and how it reminded him of the sun. He had preserved her body to ensure it wouldn’t be damaged, knowing how dangerous her missions were. Merlot didn’t want a single scratch on her physical form, which was why he chose a different vessel to transfer her soul. That way, even if their plan failed, he could be assured she would survive it all.

‘Your hair reminds me of the sun, Floria. It’s warmth and light in a world filled with shadows. I’ll protect it… protect you… no matter the cost.’ Those were his exact words.

Floria’s eyes welled with tears as she looked at Merlot’s face. The loving gaze he once had for her was gone. He retained no recollection of their past, and that could only mean one thing… Merlot was fully gone from his physical body. Devon had completely destroyed his soul.

Unlike her, where a fragment of the real Floria’s spirit remained, allowing her to hold onto the real Floria’s memories.

Floria’s heart raced, but she forced her expression to remain soft and unassuming. She couldn’t let him suspect that she knew the truth. She needed time, time to plan her next move, to figure out how to bring back the real Merlot if there was any chance his soul still existed.

She lowered her gaze slightly, her fingers trailing over his chest as though lost in thought. “It’s been so long since you hated my hair,” she murmured, her tone wistful. “I always thought you’d change your mind one day. That maybe you’d find it… endearing.”

Merlot, or rather Devon, smiled faintly, his expression carefully measured. “I doubt that. Some things never change,” he said smoothly. His gaze lingered on her, sharp and assessing, as if trying to read her thoughts. “But you… you’ve always been adaptable, haven’t you, Floria? That’s what I’ve always admired about you.”

Floria let out a soft, breathy laugh, masking the unease clawing at her insides. “And you’ve always been so hard to please,” she teased gently, brushing a strand of her raven-black hair behind her ear. “But I never minded. It kept me on my toes.”

He regarded her for a moment, his eyes narrowing slightly. “You’ve been quiet lately,” he said, his tone casual, though his words carried an undercurrent of suspicion. “What’s on your mind?”

Her heart skipped a beat, but she tilted her head, her smile remaining steady. “The mooncake festival,” she replied smoothly. “I’ve been trying to ensure everything goes perfectly. You’ve placed so much importance on it… I don’t want to disappoint you.”

He seemed to accept her answer, nodding slightly as his gaze drifted toward her preserved body encased in crystal. “Good,” he said, his voice taking on a distant quality. “There’s no room for error this time. The festival will mark the beginning of something… extraordinary.”

Floria followed his gaze to her frozen form, forcing herself to maintain her composure. “And after the festival?” she asked softly. “Will we finally… finish what we started?”

Devon’s lips curled into a smirk, his eyes gleaming with something dark and unreadable. “Patience, Floria. All in due time.”

She nodded obediently, though her mind raced. Every word, every gesture, every subtle shift in his demeanor confirmed her worst fears. This wasn’t Merlot. But for now, she had to play the role he expected of her.

“I trust you,” she said, her voice steady as she stepped back, lowering her gaze submissively. “I always have.”

“Good girl,” he replied, his voice carrying the faintest hint of condescension.

As he turned to leave, Floria clenched her fists, her nails biting into her palms. She waited until the sound of his footsteps faded, then turned back to the crystal holding her true body. Her reflection stared back at her, pale and motionless, a cruel reminder of what she had lost and what she had to fight to reclaim.

“I want to go back to my own body now…” Floria murmured, her voice trembling as tears streamed down her face. Her hand rested against the cold surface of the crystal encasing her true form, the icy touch anchoring her even as her emotions threatened to consume her.

For years, she had followed Merlot… not just out of duty, but because she owed him everything. He had saved her, given her purpose, and protected her when no one else would. But somewhere along the way, her loyalty had transformed into love, a love that now felt like a dagger twisting in her chest with every reminder that the man she had cared for was gone.

She bit her lip, her tears falling faster as she stared at her preserved body. It was a painful reminder of the life she had sacrificed to fulfill a plan that now seemed hopeless. The warmth and light Merlot once carried, the tender way he had looked at her, were gone.

But there was one person who could help her reclaim herself, someone with the power and wisdom to turn the tide: the Queen.