"Huh? Isn't that just work too?" Flandre still couldn't understand the appeal.
"Perhaps some people simply enjoy it—the intoxicating sensation of commanding others and manipulating their fates," Beatrice offered smoothly.
The tiger-featured woman understood the dark undercurrents of human ambition all too well. For most mortals, desire and authority tended to expand in exact proportion: the greater the power, the more insatiable the hunger. The historical record was rife with such figures.
Flandre scratched her head in genuine confusion. To her, being an official and managing a massive crowd of people sounded like an absolute nightmare. You'd have to constantly worry about everyone's safety, health, and living conditions to ensure no one fell behind. She was far too sensitive; if someone under her direct care suffered an accident, she would feel terribly embarrassed and guilty.
How could anyone actually take pleasure in such an overwhelming burden?
At her innocent perplexity, everyone present shared a soft, fond laugh.
"Little Flandre, it would be truly wonderful if you could keep that pure heart forever," Madam Fumizuki murmured, her gaze softening with deep affection.
As they chatted, the waitstaff glided into the private room, laying out dish after dish of Lungmen's finest culinary creations. The steam carried an incredible, mouthwatering aroma through the suite.
"I wasn't entirely sure of everyone's preferences, so tonight's menu leans toward the subtle and fresh," Beatrice noted, gesturing toward the spread. "I hope it suits your taste."
She had ordered traditional, local Lungmen cuisine. The dishes were light, delicate, and meticulously prepared without heavy seasonings, making them easy on the palate. Since Flandre had always enjoyed Lungmen food and her companions hailed from the same background, Beatrice reasoned their tastes would align.
"With such a lavish spread and so many exquisite preparations, we are more than satisfied," Patchouli nodded politely.
In truth, Patchouli was slightly taken aback. While the portion of each individual plate was modest—perhaps only a piece or two per person—the sheer variety was staggering. At a glance, there were over twenty distinct dishes adorning the rotating table, each formatted like a miniature work of art. It was considerably more extravagant than their typical daily fare back at the Scarlet Devil Mansion.
"As long as it pleases you," Madam Fumizuki smiled warmheartedly, noticing Flandre staring intently at a bowl of steamed egg custard. "Little Flandre looks starved. Let us begin—please, do not stand on formality."
Flandre sat right beside Madam Fumizuki. Whenever her small bowl emptied, Fumizuki personally served her another portion of tender meats or delicate dumplings. By the time the meal drew to a close, Fumizuki had barely touched her own plate, while Flandre's belly was bulging round like a little rubber ball.
The entire table watched with fond amusement as Flandre rubbed her plump stomach, slumping limply against the soft plush sofa like a contented kitten. Even though she was clearly stuffed to capacity, she had kept eating every time food was placed in front of her. The little girl was quite the glutton when presented with good food.
"I remember when Little Flandre first arrived in Lungmen," Fumizuki recalled warmly. "There were so many things she refused to eat. She insisted that eating was pointless and was terribly picky about flavors. Look at her now—she eats almost anything put before her. Such a good, healthy girl."
Fumizuki remembered their very first meal together, where Flandre had only taken a few tiny, polite bites. While part of that had been initial restraint, most of it had been pure aristocratic pickiness. Current Flandre had shed every drop of that distant aloofness.
Hong Meiling squatted down beside the sofa, reaching out to give Flandre's round stomach a gentle poke. "Can you even stand up like this?"
"Flandre can definitely move! Flandre can even fly!" the little girl declared, floating a few inches off the cushion with a proud huff.
Hong Meiling nodded in approval. "Then I'll take you outside to walk off all those calories!"
Saying that, Meiling produced a thin spool of red ribbon from her pocket and loosely tied one end around Flandre's small wrist. Then, as if she were holding the string of a floating helium balloon, she casually walked out the double doors, towing a happily hovering Flandre behind her while the rest of the room looked on in stunned, quiet silence.
"Uh... do they usually play like that?" Beatrice asked, her eye twitching slightly.
"As long as Flandre is having fun, it's quite normal," Patchouli replied with a calm, amused smile.
Setting her teacup down, Patchouli turned toward Madam Fumizuki and the others, offering a graceful, refined bow. "I would like to express our sincere gratitude for any trouble Flandre Scarlet may have caused you all during her stay. Her elder sister is currently occupied with domain matters and likely won't be able to visit Terra for some time, but Remi also wished to personally thank you for everything you've done for Flandre over the past two years."
"There is no need for such stiff formality, Miss Patchouli," Madam Fumizuki replied gently. "Flandre is a pure, kind-hearted child; we have all grown deeply fond of her. Our willingness to shelter and assist her came entirely from genuine affection, without a single shred of ulterior motive. We never expected any reward or grand gesture of thanks."
Fumizuki paused, her tone remaining warm yet carrying the subtle weight of a seasoned ruler. "Of course, if you enjoy our city and wish to reside here for a time, Lungmen welcomes you all with open arms. It's just..."
She looked intently at the frail, violet-haired scholar sitting across from her. Though Patchouli appeared exceedingly delicate and prone to illness, internal intelligence dossiers from Rhodes Island and border surveillance indicated this very woman possessed artillery-grade Arts capable of single-handedly suppressing heavy Ursus armor divisions.
Understanding the unspoken concern, Patchouli offered a reassuring smile. "Rest assured, Madam Fumizuki. Whether it is myself or Remilia, as long as no external force threatens our household's safety or dignity, we are more than happy to abide by local laws and customs."
Despite their overwhelming power, neither Patchouli nor Remilia Scarlet were inclined toward mindless destruction. Furthermore, they had no intention of raising Flandre to become an arrogant, tyrannical monster who would level a street at the slightest disagreement.
"That is wonderful to hear," Madam Fumizuki breathed a subtle sigh of relief.
Her motivation for hosting tonight's banquet was twofold: first, to warmly celebrate Flandre's safe return. Second, she needed to personally evaluate Flandre's senior guardians.
Now, having observed them, Patchouli proved to be an exceptionally refined, scholarly lady, while Hong Meiling was vibrant, open, and grounded. Neither harbored the sharp, predatory killing intent typical of high-tier mercenary warlords, and their demeanor reflected immaculate pedigree. It made sense—only a household with such deep refinement could raise a gentle, affectionate little Blood Demon like Flandre.
Now that it was clear they respected Yan and Lungmen's authority, every remaining concern melted away. Fumizuki smiled softly. "If the current villa proves too cramped, I can easily arrange a larger estate in the upper district..."
Patchouli looked toward the open balcony doors, watching Flandre float back and forth in the night sky like a cheerful kite, giggling as Meiling pulled her through the gentle breeze.
"That won't be necessary; the current residence is quite lovely," Patchouli replied thoughtfully. "However, I am deeply fascinated by the rich culture, history, and ancient Arts of Yan. If there are comprehensive archives or texts I might borrow during my stay, that would be ideal."
Hearing her request, Madam Fumizuki felt a wave of quiet admiration. Long ago, when she had asked Flandre about her home, the girl had mentioned that her grand teacher, Patchouli, loved nothing more than quietly reading in the great library. She hadn't expected that the only favor this formidable archmage would request was access to books.
"Of course, that is easily granted," Fumizuki agreed without hesitation. "Tomorrow morning, I will have my secretary deliver a special, high-clearance pass for the Grand Lungmen Library directly to your villa. It will grant you unrestricted access to every collection in the city—including the ancient, restricted manuscripts preserved in the innermost vault."