Neither Eris nor Alvero tastes anything.

    Meanwhile, I''m standing here, tasting sweetness on my tongue like it''s the most natural thing in the world.

    How come?

    I have no freaking idea how.

    "Hmmm…" Alvero hums, thoughtful. He picks another petal delicately between his fingers and places it on his tongue. He chews, slow and deliberate, as if expecting the flavor to arrive late.

    Then he shakes his head. "Still nothing."

    Eris gives it another try too. Her expression is serious now. She pops the petal into her mouth, chews slowly, swirling it in her mouth, eyes narrowing in focus. But then… she sighs and shrugs.

    "Nope."

    I blink. "Seriously? Nothing at all?"

    To make sure I''m not dreaming, or crazy, I pluck another petal myself.

    Maybe the first one was special? Maybe it soaked up extra mana or something rare in the soil? Maybe it''s just a fluke?

    I raise the delicate crimson petal to my lips, let it rest on my tongue, and chew.

    But then—

    "Mmmnh…" I gasp softly.

    There it is again!

    The taste is even richer this time, with a warm, golden sweetness that melts like honey, chased by something almost… nostalgic. For some reason, it feels like a forgotten memory from childhood, or a dream I used to have but never remembered until now.

    Yes, it''s not just sweet. It''s familiar!

    Eris watches me with narrowed eyes, suspicious. "Okay, you''re not messing with us, right?"

    "Well, I don''t think she is," Alvero says before I can answer. He''s watching me carefully, the lines of his face drawn in curiosity. "She looks too surprised. Too… honest."

    "Oh right," Eris says with a grin, elbowing me lightly. "I forgot. Hehe, you''re a terrible liar after all!"

    "Hey!" I puff out my cheeks, fighting back. "That''s not true!"

    "It totally is!" Eris laughs, eyes gleaming with amusement.

    I roll my eyes, but I can''t help smiling. Even in the middle of something strange, she always finds a way to make me laugh.

    Alvero presses a hand thoughtfully to his chin.

    "Still… if Miss Felicia truly can taste them, then that''s significant. Perhaps it''s something unique to her constitution that allows her to taste this flower?"

    Eris nods, still grinning. "Well, that''s the only explaination!" She says and nudges me again. "Hehe, Felicia, you are special!"

    Eh?

    Special…?

    Oh shit!

    Now that Alvero thinks I''m special, am I at risk of being kidnapped and getting experimented on?!

    And thus, I stand closer to Eris, eyeing Alvero cautiously, trying to catch anything weird in his eyes.

    Luckily…

    That… doesn''t seem to be the case.

    Alvero just looks back at me, voice gentler now. "Miss Felicia, are you feeling anything unusual after eating it? Any changes in your body? Like dizziness? Or anything weird with your mana core?"

    I pause. "No, nothing."

    Just to be sure, I close my eyes. I reach inward, scanning myself the way I''ve been taught. My body, my mana flow, my senses, my balance… all still the same.

    "Everything feels normal," I say, opening my eyes again. "Just… sweet."

    "I see, that''s good," Alvero says, relieved. "Still, if anything changes, even subtly, please let me know immediately."

    "I will." Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.ηet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    A moment passes. The breeze carries a faint floral scent through the air, and the hush of the eternal dusk settles softly over us again.

    Eris leans a little closer, "So… do you like this place?" she asks.

    I look around slowly. The glowing red flowers. The towering mansion ahead. The sky, caught forever in that dreamy, twilight hour.

    And now… these flowers that taste like honey only to me?

    My lips curve into a smile. "Nn. I really do!"

    It''s like stepping into a fairytale.

    And I don''t want to leave.

    Unlimited snacks might have something to do with it too.

    "Then," Alvero says with a gracious bow, "shall we go inside? I''d be delighted to show you the interior."

    "Yes, please!" Eris answers, her voice bright with excitement as she loops her arm around mine.

    I squeeze her arm in return, heart fluttering.

    As we follow Alvero down the flower-lined path toward the great, gothic mansion, the air wraps around us like a story just beginning. The scent of petals drifts behind, and the shadows of dusk stretch long across the stones.

    A few seconds later…

    I find myself standing before the mansion''s front door. It''s a towering structure of dark, polished oak or something similar.

    My breath catches. My heart pounds a little harder.

    Then, with a low, resonant groan, the doors begin to swing open, heavy and slow, like something ancient waking from sleep.

    And then… I see it.

    The entrance hall.

    "Woooaaaahhh…" The sound spills from my lips before I even realize it, soft and awestruck.

    Alvero steps forward beside us, his voice filled with quiet pride. "This mansion was designed by one of Hearthcarvers Guild''s finest architects," he says, running a hand along a carved pillar. "And built by our most accomplished artisans. Every stone, every detail… crafted with care and intention."

    I believe it.

    Because the moment I step through the doorway, it feels like I''ve walked into a dream.

    The floor is a beautiful contrast of smooth, polished marble tiles and a deep, crimson carpet that stretches down the hall like a river of velvet. The dusklight from outside filters in through tall, arched windows, each pane of stained glass casting soft patterns across the stone of blues, reds, deep violets colors… shifting like painted shadows.

    Above us, suspended from a high vaulted ceiling, a massive chandelier glows with a gentle, flickering light, powered by some sort of magical stones. Not too harsh. Not too dim. Just right.

    Alvero leads us to a device mounted neatly on the wall that looks like a glowing circle with symbols written around it.

    "With this," he says, turning it slightly, "you can adjust the lighting to your preference. Dim it for a cozy evening, brighten it for gatherings. It responds to your mana signature as well."

    Of course it does. Fancy.

    I then turn slowly, taking it all in, eyes wide with wonder.

    There''s even a grand piano tucked into one corner of the hall. It''s elegant, black, and glossy… though neither Eris nor I know how to play it.

    Eris just walks towards it and presses a few random key. Clear notes echo through the hall, smooth and low. Her ears twitch with each sound.

    She tilts her head, intrigued.

    ...She likes it. I can tell.

    She seems to like the piano, I see…

    Then, maybe I should learn to play it? So I can impress her one day?

    Hell yeah! Great idea, me!

    Hehe, I mentally tuck that plan away.

    I''ll secretly learn the piano when she''s not looking, and then one day—boom! I''ll play Eris the most romantic song ever, and she''ll tear up, overwhelmed with emotion, showering me with praise!

    Heh heh heh!

    Anyway, Alvero gestures for us to follow him up the sweeping gothic staircase.

    It curves upward in a sweeping arc, gothic in design, but delicate in its craftsmanship. The railings are wrought iron, sculpted into elegant tangles of curling roses and thorny vines. As my hand glides along the cold metal, I can feel the tiny details beneath my fingertips—every leaf, every petal, etched with love.

    The stairs themselves are made of black marble veined with shimmering silver, catching the light from above in ghostly flashes as we ascend. Every few meters, a statue stands in quiet vigil. Some are nestled in wall alcoves, others posed on pedestals.

    "The mansion has five floors," Alvero says as we climb. Judging from his voice alone, seems like he''s proud to share this place with us. "Each floor has four rooms, already furnished with essentials," he adds, "You''re free to repurpose them however you like—bedrooms, storage, a workshop, maybe even a small alchemy lab. Whatever fits your life."

    Step… step…

    We keep going, our footsteps echoing faintly through the vast interior.

    By the time we reach the top floor, my legs are burning a little and my breath is quick, but the excitement bubbling in my chest easily drowns out the ache. I don''t even care. I want to see more.

    Alvero stops in front of a set of double doors—dark wood, beautifully engraved—and with a gentle push, opens them inward.

    "This," he says, "is the master suite."

    And just like that… my breath catches.

    It''s like walking into a royal dream.

    The room is huge, soft, quiet. A massive canopy bed commands the center, draped in layers of deep velvet and gauzy silk. It looks less like a piece of furniture and more like a place to fall in love.

    …Or fall asleep for a hundred years.

    Maybe both.

    "W-woah… This bed is huge!" I gasp, stepping closer, already tempted to just dive into it.

    With this massive bed, oh my, me and Eris gonna sleep like a queen!

    Or...

    Have the most fun and epic catgirls pillow fights ever!

    Eris presses a hand into the mattress and grins. "Yeah, it''s really soft! My back really needs this."

    Alvero smiles politely. "I''m glad it''s to your liking."