Lilithia was studying in the library. After pushing aside many distracting thoughts, she finally got into the flow. There were unexpectedly many unfamiliar characters—but at least the forging books had diagrams. With her forging experience, she could roughly guess their meanings.

"Hmph—so magic is carved onto weapons like patterns? That’s similar to a Magic Array, right? But in reality, these patterns shatter easily during clashes. So magic weapons are usually assembled: each small part has partial patterns carved inside, then they’re joined together. Special methods seal the welding seams—ah, I see."

Lilithia read with great interest. At that moment, she grasped the essence of magic weapons.

In other words, excluding materials and magic levels, magic weapons didn’t seem particularly difficult.

If so, all she really needed was to learn different Magic Arrays and gather rare materials…

It probably wasn’t that simple.

Lilithia flipped the book to its cover. Sure enough, it read "Introduction to Magic Item Forging." Introductory books explain the essence clearly, but true expertise lies in minute, obscure details.

This might not be the book she needed most right now.

Lilithia paid for a dictionary-like book. She sighed. Her three years of savings were nearly gone after one trip to town. Forging ordinary items brought low profits, and knowledge here cost a fortune.

Holding the heavy dictionary, she never expected it alone cost three gold coins.

Renting a small earth dragon cost only one silver coin. Even ignoring this world’s magic, something like a printing press should exist—logically, this shouldn’t be so expensive.

Indeed, the monopoly on knowledge was terrifying.

As Lilithia thought this, she suddenly encountered someone unexpected.

Mephas—a golden-haired woman in a luxurious red gown with elaborate makeup—appeared before her. In the quiet library, she stood like a blooming rose.

Lilithia instantly showed a look of trouble and stepped back involuntarily.

"Planning to run away?"

The words rooted Lilithia’s feet to the ground. Unable to move, she sighed and faced Mephas.

"Respected Miss Mephas, if I may be blunt—what brings you here?"

"I wanted to see who you really are," Mephas said, raising an eyebrow. She sized up Lilithia, her gaze uncomfortably direct. "Why can a common woman like you change his will? He’s gentle and kind, yet unbearably stubborn. Even I can’t sway him—that’s what makes him admirable. But you—" Her eyes burned. "My investigation shows you just met him, yet you changed his mind…"

Third female lead!

Lilithia judged this in her heart. Compared to the Holy Maiden and childhood friend, she placed Mephas as the third rival. Fiore’s younger sister probably ranked even lower…

Such characters were troublesome.

Still, this woman had greater magnanimity than the first and second heroines.

"This is my first time here—I’m not sure. Is there a private place to talk?" Lilithia suggested.

Mephas raised an eyebrow, intrigued. This girl wanted a private chat?

"Aren’t you afraid of me?"

"Would your pride allow you to strike a nine-year-old girl?"

The words hit Mephas’s sweet spot. She lifted her chin proudly. "You’re right, Lilithia. You are interesting. Follow me."

Lilithia followed Mephas through the library’s twists and turns, arriving at a private room. An exquisite tea set waited there. Two cups of black tea steamed gently.

Mephas pulled out a chair. "Please sit."

Lilithia hopped onto the chair and sipped her tea. "I don’t know much about it, but I like this taste."

Mephas accepted the compliment gracefully and sat opposite her.

"Without delay, Miss Mephas—I have a question."

"Go ahead."

"Do you like Fiore?"

"!"

The noble lady—clearly high-ranking—had good upbringing. Her hand trembled slightly around her teacup. "What… what are you saying? At your age, do you even know what ‘like’ means?"

Women, I tell you…

"I’m not clear on details, but… he has a childhood friend? A cousin? Recently, a Holy Maiden? Looking further—a female knight, an Empress. What do you think?"

"Th-that has nothing to do with me, with Mephas!"

Put the teacup down before talking. Is shaking hands while holding it really elegant?

"I see…" Lilithia gazed at her reflection in the tea, then gave Mephas a meaningful look. "My apologies. I thought you liked him too."

"!"

Lilithia seized the moment. "It’s natural, right? I’m a young girl. Being treated that way by Lord Fiore—it’s only natural to have feelings. When he held me, my heart pounded uncontrollably. Despite our gap, I still fell for him. I thought Lady Mephas felt the same…"

Mephas snorted, eyes disdainful. "Give up that idea. A commoner girl like you can never be with him."

Lilithia didn’t argue. She sipped her tea. "Outsiders might think so. But—Lady Mephas, why can I change his mind when you can’t?"

Mephas regained composure, staring silently with dangerous intensity.

"With you, he’d gain power. Marrying you benefits him—he might even profit. Shouldn’t he take responsibility? That’s what you think, right?" Lilithia didn’t wait for a reply. "You believe being with you gives him much. But isn’t that arrogance?" Her crimson eyes locked with Mephas’s, filled with resolve. "Have you ever considered what he truly needs?"

"You must have thought—he needs power, strength, wealth. But that’s wrong. This arrogant idea treats Fiore as a vulgar mortal. We both know what draws people to him isn’t those things."

Mephas, about to speak, fell silent. She needed to hear this girl’s view.

"When you surrounded us—if we swapped places, what would you say to him?" Lilithia pressed.

Mephas thought briefly. "Fiore, put me down. I’m not a burden."

Lilithia’s "just as I thought" expression surfaced.

"Would Fiore really put you down? You know he’d protect you to the end." Her gaze sharpened. "So what’s the point? It only adds to his pain."

"But—"

"Do you remember what I said?"

Mephas recalled Lilithia’s words then—her unhesitating plea for Fiore’s protection.

"He’s so kind he protects others. What he needs is a reason to act—a cry for help, a heart wanting aid! Your words destroy his justification. You pour cold water on his just heart, forcing him to suffer—while you bask in ‘I’d give everything for him.’ That won’t work."

Words she’d never heard.

Even Mephas was stunned. Lilithia drained her tea, satisfied. "That’s all, Lady Mephas."

"Why tell me this? Don’t you also like him—"

The girl hopped down, clutching her dictionary. At the door, she turned back. Her crimson eyes held sorrow and confusion.

"He’s like a blinding sun. Only the moon can share the sky with him. Scattered starlight can’t overshadow moonlight."

She left without looking back.

Be grateful to me, Fiore! You owe me several big meals for this favor—I just fixed a certain girl’s twisted personality for you.

Lilithia thought to herself.