"Hii~ Everyone, my name is Elysia~ The second of the Flame-Chasers, a maiden as beautiful as a flower. Today, I'm undertaking a mysterious job, just like a detective."
"Ta-da~ As you can all see, our victim today—ah, no, our subject of observation—is a lovely young man named Li, along with another maiden who is as cute and carefree as a kitten."
"Mm-hm, let me tell you a little secret. They are the youngest of the few remaining Flame-Chasers, aside from Griseo. Ah, such budding affection, isn't it just adorable?"
In the bushes, Elysia held a video camera, recording both herself and the pair of Fu Li and Pardo behind her.
Evidently, she had classified activities like 'stalking' and 'tailing' under the business of being a detective. Which, it seemed, wasn't entirely incorrect.
She, Elysia, was a being who loved everyone.
So, recording an important moment of those she loved, and then inviting all the MANTISes to watch it together, wasn't too excessive, was it? Ehe~
With that thought, Elysia stuck her tongue out playfully and began filming in earnest.
The two subjects of her filming, completely oblivious, were currently walking side-by-side down a paved street in silence.
Clearly, in such a public place, neither of them intended to be the first to speak.
Even so, the strange atmosphere between them attracted the curious or probing gazes of many passersby.
Among them were some couples, radiating pink bubbles, who cast looks of blessing and knowing smiles in their direction after seeing their state.
Due to their status, both of them were practically celebrities and idols within The MOTHs Who Chase the Flame. Witnessing a real-life gossip moment involving their idols would naturally become a topic of conversation for everyone.
It probably wouldn't be long before the already numerous rumors about them would be confirmed.
Almost in perfect sync, both of them quickened their pace slightly, giving off the impression of trying to maintain a normal posture while desperately making a hasty escape.
Finally passing through the crowd, Fu Li let out a sigh of relief. With a liberated tone, he pointed to a wooden bench nearby. "How about... we talk over there?"
"Mm... you decide."
"Oh... then, let's go there."
Seeing the completely obedient little cat, Fu Li couldn't help but turn his face away, not daring to look at her any longer.
He wasn't made of wood. He could naturally see how much Pardo liked him.
And after so many cycles, this was the first time a female Flame-Chaser had confessed to him. And in truth... it would be a lie to say he didn't have feelings for Pardo.
Wordlessly, Pardo and Fu Li sat down on the bench together, watching the night breeze gently stir the Moonlight Flowers in the garden.
Moonlight Flowers symbolized eternal love and the fleeting nature of beautiful things.
As the publicly acknowledged holy land for confessions in the MOTHs, this place had, at some unknown point, been planted with these flowers by couples, and a tradition was established.
Whenever a couple successfully confessed here, they had to return afterward to fulfill a vow. The method of fulfillment was to plant a new Moonlight Flower in the surrounding area.
At first, there was only one. But gradually, this place had transformed into a sea of flowers.
And just as the flower's meaning suggested—the fleeting nature of beautiful things—a great many of the owners of these flowers would never return.
They left no names, but the flowers they planted would continue to quietly pass on their stories.
As a qualified merchant, Pardo naturally knew what this place signified. After all, she was the one who had started the rumors about it.
And she had made a hefty profit selling Moonlight Flowers.
She never expected that one day, she herself would be sitting here.
Pardo kept her head down, hiding her blushing face. Her fair feet, clad only in sandals, were pressed together nervously, and even her tail rested obediently on the seat.
As for why her tail was so well-behaved, it was because if it accidentally brushed against Fu Li, that feeling, like a jolt of electricity, was just too embarrassing for a cat!
So, this idiot Li, he's already brought me to a place like this, why hasn't he said anything yet!
Pardofelis fumed internally, completely failing to notice that Fu Li had, at some point, taken a deep breath and turned his gaze upon her.
"Um, Pardo?"
"Hm?... Huh?! What is it!"
The silence was suddenly broken. Pardo's heart leaped into her throat, and the fur on her tail stood on end for a moment before she forcibly smoothed it down.
My heart is beating a little fast. Is this what the old folks call 'the stirrings of spring'? No, no, no, it should be 'a little deer running wild'? That doesn't feel right either.
In short, her heart was pounding.
"Actually..."
Here it comes, here it comes.
"I also..."
Also what? Say it already!
Though he spoke at a normal pace, to Pardo, the sentence that should have flowed smoothly sounded like it was being delivered in fragments, creating a strange sense of distorted time.
She saw the Moonlight Flowers beside Fu Li gently swaying, glowing with a soft white light, as if cheering for the next couple about to be joined together.
Pardo saw Fu Li's mouth open and close. Though his eyes wanted to dart away, he forced himself to meet her gaze.
And she did the same, suppressing her shyness, and heard the words she had long been waiting for.
"I like you, too."
After all, this life of mine is for you.
In the cycles to come, Pardo might not become the Herrscher of Domination, nor will she have the memories of this life. So, he has to give her a good future, as much as he possibly can.
That was what Fu Li thought. As for Pardo, she felt as if her heart had just skipped a beat.
The girl's cat ears perked up. Even with her four-channel hearing, she couldn't quite believe her own ears at this moment.
What I heard... was it real?
Yes, that's right. It had to be real.
After getting her answer, Pardo's heart instantly calmed, but she couldn't stop a smile from spreading across her face.
No, I can't smile.
Pardo told herself, but she couldn't suppress the joyful curve of her lips no matter how hard she tried.
Her tail was no longer deliberately held back. It began to wag rapidly. Even when it brushed against Fu Li, sending that electric jolt through her, she no longer cared.
Because she knew she had done it. She had achieved something that those women, stronger than her, had not.
"I... like Li the most!"
"Hey, wait, Pardo, what are you doing! Not here!"
Without any warning, Pardo leaped, tackling Fu Li and knocking him back onto the bench, causing a flurry of gasps from onlookers.
Her fluffy ears brushed against Fu Li's chin. It was ticklish, but it felt nice.
Looking at the girl who was making no attempt to hide her delight, Fu Li gave a helpless, bitter smile. He gently wrapped an arm around Pardo's slender waist to keep the silly girl from falling off.
---o---
Author's PS: How about that? You all said I was a liar, that my sweet moments were laced with knives. Well, now I've given you candy right when you expected a knife. Blep.