Chapter 297: Turn the Tide
Merlot gave a curt nod, his gaze sweeping the room before landing on her. "Good. I trust there will be no mistakes."
As he stepped closer, Floria made her move. She approached him with a deliberate softness, letting her expression shift into one of vulnerability.
"Master..." she murmured, her voice low and trembling. "Do you remember how we first met?"
He paused, his expression unreadable. "Of course. Why wouldn’t I?"
Floria reached out, placing her hand lightly on his chest. "You hated my blonde hair," she said, her lips curling into a faint, wistful smile. "You said it reminded you of the sun, and you couldn’t stand the brightness. That’s why... every time you prepared to transfer my soul, you chose a raven-haired vessel."
Merlot tilted his head, a flicker of amusement crossing his face. "Yes, I recall," he replied. "It was a ridiculous quirk of mine, wasn’t it? But I preferred the darkness. It suited you better."
That was it... the confirmation she needed. Floria’s chest tightened, and she felt a chill creep up her spine. Merlot would never have called his own preference a "ridiculous quirk." He was too proud, too meticulous.
Her hand slid up to the side of his face as she leaned closer, her lips brushing against his in a soft kiss. The gesture wasn’t born of affection but of finality... a silent farewell to the master she once knew. She pulled back slightly, her eyes searching his face for any trace of the man she had followed for so long. But the glint in his eyes, the faint smirk tugging at his lips, told her all she needed to know.
Merlot loved her blonde hair and how it reminded him of the sun. He had preserved her body to ensure it wouldn’t be damaged, knowing how dangerous her missions were. Merlot didn’t want a single scratch on her physical form, which was why he chose a different vessel to transfer her soul. That way, even if their plan failed, he could be assured she would survive it all.