The Cornflower Witch

Book 2: Chapter 65: The Family Blessed by Feathers and Flowers

Vol 2 Chapter 65: The Family Blessed by Feathers and Flowers

'Linquan Orchard' Station

Luminous insects fluttered within the dim orchard, while not far away, a clear spring flowed gently. The water, imbued with the purifying power of the 'Luminous Moon', slowly nourished the soil, reducing the pollution of 'Distortion'.

A golden-haired elf, dressed in a plain white dress, walked through the grove holding a basket filled with reddish fruits, plump and tempting.

Arriving at a clearing outside the orchard, where treehouse-like structures were built against the mountainside, numerous pointy-eared elves bustled about. Occasionally, melodious singing could be heard.

"Lady Florerella~"

As this elf passed by, one elf after another greeted her, bowing respectfully. Although this elf herself was only at the 'Second Tier', her status seemed particularly special.

Reaching a certain treehouse on the second floor, she set the basket down. Two elf maidservants came forward, lifting the basket of fruits to put them away.

"Lady Florerella, you don't need to go pick the fruits yourself every time. You could just instruct us to do such things," one of the elf maidservants tried to persuade the elf maiden.

"It's fine, I actually quite enjoy picking fruits." Florerella sat down on a chair. A light turn of her pale pink eyes brought a natural charm. She stretched her legs slightly and gave a simple stretch."By the way, has there been any reply yet to the letter I wrote home earlier?" the beautiful elf maiden asked the maidservants.

"Based on the speed of the wind-scouting birds, it will probably take about two more months for a round trip to the 'Fourth Continent'," one maidservant shook her head.

"The 'Second Continent' where we live is too far from here. This speed is already the limit," the other maidservant explained.

"Is the Princess missing home?"

"A little, but it's alright. Going back would probably mean having to participate in the Flower Crown Festival again, which would be quite tiring." Florerella leaned lazily against the table, her pale pink eyes examining the strands of hair between her fingers.

"I did say I wanted to train outside for twenty years before returning. It's only been three years so far."

"Actually, I don't really want to go back either, because returning would likely mean inheriting the throne. That kind of life wouldn't be free."

"That's not true. Her Majesty the Queen usually has various activities, inviting friends from the forest to attend. Didn't Your Highness often participate when you were little? Occasionally, you'd even encounter fairies from the upper realms descending."

"The fairies..." Florerella recalled her childhood experiences.

"Back then, they said if I were to inherit the throne, I would have to perform a ceremony to temporarily ascend to the 'celestial gardens' and meet the upper-tier fairy 'Luo Qinweila'. Only with that lady's approval would I receive a blessing."

"Because 'Luo Qinweila' is a subordinate of Her Excellency 'Funaixini', the Spring Season's Ruler. Her blessings are also related to flowers."

"Every generation of Elf Queens of the 'Fragrant Wind Forest' have received the blessing of the 'Pink Begonia', the flower that 'Luo Qinweila' presides over. It's a pity I prefer the 'Ice Cup Flower'." Florerella stretched her long arms on the table, her slender waist gradually straightening.

"There's no helping it, Your Highness," the two maidservants looked at each other helplessly, trying to comfort her.

"It is said that only those who meet Her Excellency 'Funaixini', the Spring Season's Ruler, can receive a blessing and freely choose their favorite flower. And in the mortal world, only one family has this honor."

"It is said that members of their family can, at the age of ten, meet the 'Hours' through a ceremony and, according to an ancient covenant, receive a blessing."

"Even so, among each generation of their family's members, only three at most can obtain this qualification. Each one is a strong contender for the next head of the family."

"That family..." Florerella gently shook her smooth golden hair and sat up straight.

"According to distant news carried by the wind, haven't they already declined? Can they still uphold their ancient glory?"

"Although they are said to have declined, they've left behind many legends after all. Currently, all the bards and artistic painters across the seven continents trace their origins back to the ancestors of this family. They truly have their name engraved in history."

"Hmm, it would be nice to meet a descendant of their family. I'm actually quite interested in them too." Florerella turned her gaze to the two maidservants.

"Do you know a certain rumor? It's said the origin of the entire maid profession also stems from a certain head of their family in one generation. He personally compiled the exemplar for maids, along with various creeds and rules."

"I have heard of that. It is said that in that generation, their family got involved in the turmoil of a dynastic change and lost a great deal of wealth, having to rely on the maids in their household for support. To promote their own maids, that generation's head compiled the exemplar and rules for maids. It later gained widespread recognition, allowing the family to revive once more."

"Even such a family has experienced three cycles of decline and resurgence. It seems everyone has gotten used to their pattern of declining every few generations and then reviving."

"The founding ancestor, the first head of the family, was a poet who moved the Spring Season's Ruler with his songs."

"The head during the second period of prosperity was impoverished and down-and-out in his youth. Later, relying on his painting skills, he won the favor of a princess of the ruling dynasty at the time, who married him, reviving the family once again."

"A family full of twists and turns, also a model much relished by many bards, because there are just too many stories."

"A very interesting family lineage. Although often in a state of decline, no one looks down on them. Occasionally, they can still rely on marriage alliances to maintain a half-alive, half-dead state."

"Before I left home, my mother even asked me if I was willing to form a marriage alliance with their family, because their bloodline is sufficiently noble, and they happen to be not so powerful now, so they might accept a son-in-law joining their family." Florerella combed her hair as she recalled.

"Did Your Highness agree?" the two maidservants asked curiously.

"Of course not. One's own happiness should be sought by oneself, right?"

"Furthermore, their family isn't so desperate as to let their main heirs marry out. Even in decline, they are still a prestigious family of the 'First Continent', one of the forces influencing the political situation of the 'First Continent'. I don't want the 'Fragrant Wind Forest' to get involved in the internal political shifts of the 'First Continent'."

"The 'Fragrant Wind Forest', the 'Emerald Rain Forest', the 'White Violet Forest'—our three major elf branches do not lightly involve ourselves in the political shifts of the 'First Continent'. That is the continent protected by the 'Corona Dragon' and currently the strongest in power among the seven continents."

"Rashly getting involved would be too dangerous. If civil war broke out in the 'First Continent', multiple 'Hours' might intervene directly, breaking the agreements of the 'Covenant Epoch'."

After tying a white ribbon in her hair and smoothing her skirt, she stood up.

"Alright, I need to go to class now. Let's chat again next time." Florerella picked up the book bag in the room, ready to go to class.

"Oh, by the way, what was the name of that family again?"

"Meizhalansi, the family blessed by the quill pen and flowers." As the voices of the two maidservants answered, the elf maiden walked away.