Lumina Lightbranch was a member of an influential family within the Verdant Sanctity Covenant. Since she was very young, she had been nurtured by her elders due to the influence of her grandparents' heritage.
These grandparents had an extraordinary origin, being from outside Ceperet. However, after a war outside, the Lightbranch family was destroyed in the outside world. So, Lumina, who was destined to become someone great simply due to her birth, became an orphan in terms of influence.
Of course, her family in Ceperet was still alive. However, those who stayed behind in Ceperet were all talented people from a branch family. Lumina didn't mind that much. She was someone with A Tier talent, so her life was bound to be easy once she accumulated enough levels.
So, in a way, Lumina was like the center of a galaxy, surrounded by stars wherever she went. Her beauty, atmosphere, and talent made her the target of admiration of all children her age… Or that was meant to be the case, until she was suddenly moved to another continent to develop her studies.
'The formerly known Wild Continent. How much better can it be?'
Lumina didn't want to look down on it, but having lived in luxury and as the center of the world, she was naturally confident. But all her arrogance was blasted away the second she was accepted and made the ritual to accept the Heavenly Willow's blessings.
'...How is this possible?'
Just because the Heavenly Willow decided to grace her with her blessings, Lumina became a new person. Talent, comprehension, lifespan, strength, and even clarity of thought and luck. Everything was suddenly boosted beyond her normal limits, reaching heights that she didn't even know existed.
That day, Lumina's awe and respect toward the Heavenly Willow solidified at the bottom of her soul. Moreover, to her luck, she was entering the same year as the Heavenly Willow's eldest child, Tianlian Dewna.
When Lumina met Dewna, she was neither disappointed nor overly excited. 'An Alraune with excellent genes… That's all.'
She was a cute woman, but when Lumina approached, Dewna treated her exactly like the others did. The next year, two more children entered, and Lumina curiously approached them as well.
Eluan, the Farlune, was handsome and intelligent, but similar to Dewna, there was nothing special. The Sylphaith she met, Sylvia, was shy and somewhat reserved. 'Hm… They are not extraordinary. Only peculiar.'
So, her interest waned a lot. It was only a year later, when the fourth child entered, that Lumina's eyes lit up for the first time. She still remembered that interaction vividly.
"Hello, junior. I am Lumina Lightbranch."
At that moment, the woman with flaming hair looked at Lumina with cold and indifferent eyes. Lumina was tall, but the Sanguine Blaze had the advantage of being lifted by her lower flower half. So, they were more or less at the same height when standing up.
When Pyara's cold and indifferent blood-red eyes reflected Lumina, the woman felt her heart pound for the first time. 'Dangerous.'
She knew, by pure instinct, that the woman in front of her was a man-eating flower. A creature so dangerous that people recoiled just in its presence. Then, from the woman's lips, a voice full of indifference but as beautiful as singing birds reached Lumina. "I am Tianlian Pyara."
Then, the Sanguine Blaze looked away, her flaming hair gently spreading heat on Lumina's cheeks. Even after the woman left, Lumina didn't know if the heat in her cheeks was because of Pyara's flames or something else.
Sadly, it seems that, like any others, Pyara didn't even register her as existing. So, curious, she went to the Endless Library with her student pass and thoroughly investigated the available information about Sanguine Blazes.
'Ho? They are romantically attached to their birth mothers? No wonder she ignored me. With Lady Heavenly Willow as her romantic interest, she won't look at anyone else.'
However, that didn't make her give up. The reason was simple, really. 'Lady Heavenly Willow won't accept her own children as partners. So, this feeling will eventually disappear.'
Lumina was sure because she had observed the way Cinderielle scolded Pyara.
And so, years passed as Lumina kept a check on Pyara. She even interacted with Pyara a few times. However, each time, Pyara's eyes didn't even register her, and she was ignored.
After a few years, Lumina secured a prominent position in the government and quickly advanced through the ranks. Using her natural advantages and intelligence to climb the ladder, almost as if it were natural for her to advance.
It was then that she noticed Cinderielle talking to people and creating dates for her children. When she noticed, her heart almost stopped from fright. 'How can I let that girl go to a random nobody?'
So, she hovered around Cinderielle and showed her good points. It was impossible not to notice Lumina, so Cinderielle carefully approached her and asked her about it.
That day, after so many years of yearning, Lumina received the offer. Her heart jumping with happiness, she accepted the offer.
'Finally, I will be able to properly approach Pyara.' Her eyes were full of interest and expectation. And so, the day came when Lumina and Pyara met again.
The second she entered through the door, Lumina noticed the strangeness in Pyara's eyes. She couldn't help but feel a bit disappointed. 'She doesn't remember me at all…'
Still, her heart couldn't calm down. 'Gorgeous.'
Like a passionate flame, the Sanguine Blaze sat on her flower, wearing an enchanting red dress that highlighted her seductiveness and beauty. Moreover, the light makeup made Lumina feel as if Pyara's eyes could pierce and burn her soul.
So, hiding her nervousness, she approached and presented herself. When she planted a kiss on Pyara's hand, she noticed the girl flinch, as her red eyes flashed with reluctance. Lumina's heart was not hurt; on the contrary, there was a sense of competitiveness growing in her. 'This girl… I want her to love me as much as I love her.'
While talking together, she noticed Pyara's change over the years. She transformed from being a lonely yet proud flame to becoming a gentle yet passionate fire. Nevertheless, this fire was only gentle on the outside. Regardless of its nature, fire could only burn those who approached quickly.
'I must be patient and slowly change her view on me. Sanguine Blazes hate people who are weaker or soft in character.'
That was not a problem for Lumina. She could easily lead conversations, and since she was with someone she loved, Lumina could speak and be patient but always take the lead.
During their first date, Lumina focused not on approaching Pyara but on taking the lead and guiding her around. She was careful, but other than Pyara's natural aloofness, there was no sense of rejection.
"Lady Pyara. It is already a bit late, and they might close that shop I told you about. Let's go over. There are things that you will certainly be interested in."
Pyara nodded, her vines slowly moving her body and following behind Lumina with a refreshed expression. 'This person is nice… It's so different from the others I've met until now.'
For Pyara, the dates were more like a chore because she always took the lead. Her presence, status, beauty, and species were so suffocating that those who approached her ended up acting meekly. Some initially approached with bravado, but as they interacted, Pyara naturally took the lead.
Looking at the tall and confident Sylvan's back, Pyara's blood-red eyes slowly gained a touch of curiosity. 'Still… Why is she not approaching me? Everyone else would grab my hand, or at the very least brush against me.'
It was burdensome, but Pyara recognized it as a way of interaction, so she swallowed her discomfort and fulfilled her date's wishes. 'Still… The furthest I went was a kiss once… Although I ended up showing such a disgusted expression that the woman cried and went home, never to meet me again.'
It's not that she wanted to show it, but when even the breakfast almost showed up at dinner hour, it was difficult to hold her expressionless face.
"Pyara." A low and attractive voice reached her, and Pyara snapped out of her thoughts.
"H-Huh?" Looking at Lumina's green eyes close up, Pyara was slightly flustered. 'When did she get this close?'
Lumina smiled deeply. "You need to pay attention to me, Pyara. I am your date, after all."
"Right." Pyara laughed a bit awkwardly. "Sorry, I spaced out."
Lumina raised her blonde eyebrow. "I don't forgive you."
"Huh?"
"Come. You will now be forced to change into the clothes I want so that I can choose which one to buy."
Seeing Lumina's confident back, Pyara didn't open her mouth and followed obediently. '... I wonder what clothes she will buy me?'
Pyara changed into around 10 different dresses. Each time she changed, Lumina nodded in appreciation, clearly showing that she found her beautiful. But there were no direct compliments. Instead, Lumina would give her another one and order her to change.
'This is… fun.'
Pyara grabbed the dress and obediently went to change. When she changed to the last one, she was slightly surprised. "This…" A bit of shame came to her heart. "Isn't it too revealing?"
The sleeveless, strapless silver dress tightly clung to her curves, revealing her gorgeous hourglass figure. There was a rhombus-shaped hole in the middle, where her breasts squished together, perfectly showing her cleavage. Moreover, the thigh-length skirt split at the side, highlighting her wide hips and gorgeous upper legs.
Even when Pyara was confident, her heart was strangely pounding as she looked at her reflection in the mirror.
"Pyara? Is the size too tight?"
"N-No." Pyara stuttered a bit. "Only… It's a bit embarrassing."
After saying that, Pyara thought that Lumina would accommodate her and told her not to feel pressured. All her dates changed their demeanor when they thought she was even a bit uncomfortable.
But to her surprise, Lumina spoke firmly. "That's even better. Come out and let me see. If you do, I will forgive you for spacing out."
Pyara's eyes flashed, her cheeks gaining a faint blush as she hesitated. "Ugh… Should I? I am really embarrassed."
Pyara waited for the answer with a strangely pounding and expectant heart.
"If it is that embarrassing, I guess it is okay." Pyara's expression slightly fell, her pounding heart calming down.
"Instead, I'll go inside and look."
The strange disappointment in Pyara's heart disappeared as a strange shame surged. "W-Wait! Don't!"
Even as she denied it, Lumina pushed the curtains open and walked inside confidently. Pyara's face turned red as she used her hands to cover her breasts and waist. Even when she used her hand, it was impossible to hide her large bust. So, it only added to her charm.
Strangely, though, she didn't turn around, keeping her eyes on Lumina's face.
For the first time, Pyara saw Lumina's face gain a blush as she stared dumbfounded at her body. The look she had received so many times today strangely felt fresh. Her lips twitched into an involuntary smile when Lumina was dazed by her beauty.