So… do you have this miracle potion with you?"
"Of course," Noelle said, pulling out a tiny vial.
"Here."
The Princess accepted it with reverence.
"My key… to the gate of my dreams."
"You'll also get a few scones, some gingerbread, and you can drink from my water," Noelle added.
The Princess smiled.
"Thank you, Noelle. You're a very kind girl."
The Power of Scones, the Red Thread of Fate, and Two Hours of Pure Stress
"Do you understand now the true power of scones?" Noelle asked, watching with satisfaction as the Princess ate.
"I admit… I've never enjoyed a scone this much," the Princess sighed.
"Good," Noelle nodded.
"We eat, rest for half an hour. During that time I'll locate Young Wolf, then we head toward him."
"You can locate Young Wolf's position?" the Princess asked hopefully.
"And what about Eris? Can you locate her too?"
"I can only locate Young Wolf," Noelle replied.
"The red thread of fate ties me to him.
I have no connection to the Hero."
"Is that some kind of romantic elven ritual?" the Princess asked.
"No," Noelle sighed.
"It's a half‑elf maid ritual."
The half‑elf maid and the Princess finished their scones, rested for half an hour, and during that time Noelle used the twin staffs to pinpoint Young Wolf's location.
"We can reach him in about two hours," Noelle announced.
"And what if he leaves before then?" the Princess asked.
"He won't," Noelle shook her head.
"First: Wolf Rule. If separated, everyone heads toward the castle. In this case, Greenwood Castle.
Second: Young Wolf is already in the direction of the castle, not us. So we have to go toward him.
Third: Young Wolf has located us as well, so he knows we're heading his way. He won't move."
"I see," the Princess nodded.
"So if we start now, we'll meet him in two hours.
We just have to survive two hours in this dangerous forest… alone."
"It's not the forest that's dangerous," Noelle corrected her.
"It's the demons. And since they're hunting us — especially you — there's a high chance we won't avoid a fight."
"Do you have to be so ominous?" the Princess groaned.
"This is the part where you're supposed to say: Don't worry, Princess, everything will be fine."
"Don't worry, Princess," Noelle said with complete seriousness.
"The demons have excellent hunting instincts."
The Princess covered her face.
"Now I'm certain. You're the best — and the most insolent — maid in the entire Kingdom!"
"And I bake the best scones too," Noelle added.
"Don't forget that."
"And you sell secret potions to the Princess," the girl smiled.
"With which the Princess will spend the most beautiful night of her life," Noelle winked.
Noelle vs. the First Fire Demon
Noelle and Anabella set off in the direction of Young Wolf.
Less than an hour passed when — roughly halfway — the first demon attack arrived.
Six impspawn burst from the trees.
Noelle reacted instantly: she summoned water bullets and shot them down one by one.
The sixth imp was already within arm's reach of the Princess — its claw nearly scraping her face — when Noelle struck it just in time.
The creature shrieked and crashed to the ground at Anabella's feet.
The Princess collapsed to her knees in relief, trembling from the shock.
"Right at the last moment," Noelle said as she recharged her magic.
"You're lucky, Princess. If there had been one more imp, you'd be dead."
"The demon's claw was so close to me…" Anabella gasped.
"I thought it would grab me. Thank you, Noelle!"
"Unfortunately, that was just the warm‑up," Noelle replied.
"Hide. Now. There's a Fire Demon."
The Princess didn't hesitate: she bolted and dove into the thick bushes.
A heartbeat later, the Fire Demon stepped in front of Noelle.
Its glowing, cracked body shed embers with every breath, and its eyes burned like coals.
"A maid?" it growled.
"How did you defeat the imps?"
"Who knows?" Noelle shrugged.
"Maybe I farted so badly they suffocated."
"You think you're funny?" the demon hissed.
"And that monster behind you? Is he with you too?" Noelle asked innocently.
"What monster?" the Fire Demon turned around.
There was nothing behind him.
When he turned back, Noelle was already ready:
a sphere of water slammed into the demon's face.
The water sealed completely around its head, cutting off its air.
The Fire Demon began to choke, thrashing wildly, clawing at the water sphere — but Noelle's focus was stronger.
The demon fell backward, writhing on the ground, its body convulsing as more and more water flooded into its nose.
Its flames dimmed… then died out.
Finally, it stopped moving.
Noelle released the water sphere only when she was certain the demon was dead.
She slung her staff onto her back, then reached under her skirt and drew her hunting knife.
She stepped over to the demon and slit its throat in one swift motion — just to be sure.
From the bushes, the Princess had watched the entire thing.
She trembled uncontrollably, overwhelmed by fear and shock.
The Princess Realizes Who Noelle Really Is
She no longer knew what frightened her more:
the bloodthirst of the demon she had just witnessed…
or the cold, unnervingly efficient way Noelle — the half‑elf maid — had killed the Fire Demon.
"The Fire Demon is harmless now," Noelle said calmly.
"You can come out, Princess."
The half‑elf girl wiped the demon's blood from her hunting knife using large leaves she picked up from the ground.
The Princess slowly, cautiously stepped out from the bushes and approached Noelle.
"I always suspected you weren't just an ordinary maid," she began quietly.
"I knew you were a talented water mage, and probably the best healer in the Kingdom.
But… to take down a Fire Demon so easily…
One that would normally require an entire squad of knights, or at least a Knight‑Captain…"
Noelle listened as she lifted her skirt slightly and slid the hunting knife back into the sheath strapped to her thigh.
The movement was so natural, as if killing demons in the forest was part of her daily routine.
The Princess's breath caught in her throat.
Now she was certain:
Noelle was not merely a maid.
And perhaps… she never had been.
"Noelle, you're at the level of a Hero's Party mage," the Princess said, her voice still trembling.
"And not just you! Andrea Wolf — Young Wolf — and even Ironclaw, according to the rumors, is a real monster.
You're all strong.
Yet you rejected Eris.
Why?
Why don't you want to be part of the Hero's Party?"
"A stupid question from a stupid Princess," Noelle replied.