Victor had told me about the Nymphs a few times when he had visited me to help me with the greenhouse. There wasn’t too much to say though, they were quite elusive creatures. Their habitat was pretty deep into the forest, and they really liked their privacy.

—For the longest time, they were believed to be just myths and legends —Victor said—, but in most recent times they have been forced to come in contact with people as their forest become smaller. A few researchers have been able to study them in exchange for protection, and a few botanists have claimed to have been able to grow their own. The reports have a few conflicting points, so it is hard to know what is true and what is not.

There were many varieties of them too, each one linked to a type of flower or plant, but their appearance was pretty much the same in every record of them.

—There is a legend of a man being saved from drowning on a river by a beautiful woman —Victor told me on another occasion, pretty much unprompted—, but when he saw her closely, he saw that her hair was like vines, and her clothes were actually leaves. Flowers were growing from her bare skin too. She was a Nymph.

About their personality, they generally acted as the solemn guardians of their forest, elegant and stoic, yet quite brutal if attacked. The Rose Nymphs were specially known to be cold and deathly.

The one that was resting on my lap was anything but that. She was quite small, with a body and head that looked like meat buns, and tiny chubby stumps as limbs. She had three fingers in each, though they were barely noticeable. Her skin was slightly green, her hair was made of leaves, and there was a rose growing at the side of her head. Personality wise… she was a crybaby. From the moment I picked her up, despite the warnings of Carmila, she refused to leave my side. When we came back into the house, I put her on the table for a moment, and she started weeping really loud. No wonder why some people think they are related to Mandrakes. She even managed to wake up Violett, who had slept soundly through the whole ordeal. She wasn’t angry or scared, just looked pissed that someone had woken her so rudely. She fell asleep rather quickly afterwards, though.

—I’ll be calling for the investigation department first thing in the morning —Carmila said after giving me a warm cup of milk—, and also the company that provide us with our barrier. In the meantime, Mr. Adrian will be watching the outside of the mansion, and Nora and everyone else will be guarding your door. Please try to rest now, we’ll keep you safe, Madame.

—Thank you, I’ll try to sleep a bit —I said, but I wasn’t too sure I would be able to do so.

I just couldn’t understand why someone would attack me. If they were planning on robbing the house they had bypassed the barrier already, they only needed to wait for me to get in, and so that was unlikely. I was aware that I wasn’t liked by some nobles, and maybe my friendship with the queen had made them jealous, but for them to actually try to hurt me was a bit too much.

—Ugh… —my head hurt, probably because I was tired and over thinking too much.

I went to bed, with Violett still on my arms. I didn’t felt entirely comfortable with leaving her in her crib, despite it being just a few centimeters from my bed. The Nymph pushed her way under my arm, and I had to force myself to ignore a couple of dull thorns she had on her forehead. Despite everything, I fell asleep almost immediately. The next morning, I woke up later than usual. Apparently, Carmila had asked everyone to let me sleep a bit more, but Violett slapped my face and demanded to be fed after just half an hour more of sleep.

—Maybe I should go to the city to inform the authorities in person —I said, as I entered the dining room, still wearing my pajamas.

—Madame, you don’t have to worry about it, Mr. Adrian, Iridia, and Sophie were already on their way, with the letters I wrote myself, before the light of dawn reached us —Carmila said, slightly proud of herself. The dark circles under her eyes indicated that she hadn’t gotten too much sleep.

Just as Gabby was serving our breakfast, I heard the sound of steps approaching, and suddenly a group of guards was surrounding us.

—Rosanne! —Erzi yelled as she made her way through her soldiers, sounding very concerned. She held me by the shoulders and hugged me— Thanks Enki, you are fine. Y-you are fine, right? How is Violett?

—We are fine —I said, hugging her back. She was shivering.

After a moment, she let go of me and faced the soldiers she had brought with her, looking imposing and commanding.

—Secure the perimeter and investigate every speck of dust and every blade of grass! —she ordered.

—Yes, your Majesty! —the armed ones said, and broke their formation.

I asked Carmila to show them the dart that we had found, which we had only touched with a cloth.

—That way we might be able to find the culprit through their fingerprints —I had said.

—Hmmm, you can identify someone with those? —She asked, as she and everyone else looked at their hands.

I had forgotten, in this world forensic investigations and the like were conducted with the help of magic. There wasn’t much necessity to develop technology or methods like the ones used in my world, when they could just find someone with a spell. Still, it was better to not contaminate the evidence anyways.

—Would you like to have breakfast with us? —I asked Erzi—, it might not be as tasty as what they might serve you at the palace, but I imagine you came out without eating anything, right?

—Ah, that’s right. Anything will do, but I’m dying for a cup of coffee.

While the soldiers started scanning everything in the backyard and the forest next to it with their own magic and several magic instruments, Gabby hurriedly prepared something for the Queen. She was obviously nervous to have such high profile person as her patron, but she didn’t make any mistakes. The coffee was ready first, and Erzi drank it black with just a spoon of sugar. She was quite pleased with the taste and aroma of her beverage, but she was really surprised when Gabby put her plate on the table.

—Oh my, and what this might be? —she asked.

—I-It’s a recipe that the Madame herself came up with. I can assure it is delicious… If I can say so myself —Gabby said.

It was nothing too complicated, just a recipe from my old world, which I had asked Gabby to replicate some time ago. A folded corn tortilla with chicken stuffing, covered in a slightly spicy sauce, and crumbs of white cheese over it. It was really tasty, and it had become a recurring plate in our menu. It didn’t crossed my mind how foreigner that dish might have looked to someone without my memories until it was already in front of Erzi. She took a bite of it, and looked quite pleased with the flavor and texture, allowing Gabby to breath more easily.

—Now —she said between bites—, could you explain me what happened? The letter you sent lack details, it only said that you had been attacked by someone who bypassed your barrier, and requested an investigation team.

Ah, concise and to the point, just as how I would expect from Carmila’s writing.

—Well, there is not much to say, that’s exactly what happened —I said—, but more importantly, how did my letter ended up with you? I doubt my attendant would be so arrogant to send it to the Queen herself.

—Ah, no… —Erzi quietly said— I… might have requested to be informed if anything related to you arrived.

She was embarrassed, it was adorable.

—Thank you for worrying for me, but people could resent if you give me this much attention —I said, and immediately bit my tongue. I didn’t wanted her to think I was blaming her for what had happened, nor that she would feel guilty, it was truly a slip of my mind. I tried to change the topic as quick as I could —, by the way, it is fine to leave your sons alone?

—Mmm? Ah! They are not alone, August is taking care of them —she answered. She smiled when she saw the confusion on my face—. He is quite capable of taking care of them, he even read the notes you gave me.

THAT person did? I just couldn’t believe it. We talked a bit more, before we were interrupted by a commotion coming up from the path that leads to the pier.

—Your Majesty, Madame Dragonroot’s boat have returned, but… —A guard came to tell us.

Later I would come to realize that Erzi and her soldiers have come in my own boat, pulled by Adrian, which was quicker than any transport they could prepare without more time. Sophie and Iridia had stayed behind at the city, as the boat was already over its normal capacity, and they still had to contact our barrier’s provider.

—But what? —Erzi asked.

—Mr. Adrian brought more people aside from Madame Dragonroot’s attendants.

—What? We are in the middle of an investigation, I told them to not let anyone come this way!

Erzi stood up and started to walk towards the pier. I tried to follow her, but she stopped me.

—Stay here, it might be dangerous.

—I’ll stay at a safe distance —I said with decision.

I suspected already who they might be, but I couldn’t say it out loud. The Queen looked at me for a moment, and then directed a few of her guards to stay at my side at all times, while another three would stay in the mansion and protect Violett, who was being held by Carmila. When we arrived to the pier, the boat was surrounded by soldiers, with their weapons ready. Both Adrian and the passengers had their hands on the air. Two of them were Sophie and Iridia, of course. Anna, Neil, and their Grampa were also there, as I suspected.

—Madame, I’m so glad you are fine! —Anna said, looking relieved.

Their old man had a couple of tears on his eyes, and Neil looked pissed off, but not against me or the soldiers.

—Tell me you have figured out who is the idiot I need to blow up into pieces —he said.

I was actually a bit shocked to see him being as passionate about anything other than teaching magic. I guess he came to care about his pupil. I was confused when I saw who the other two passengers were, no one else but the Doctor and the Botanist. Victor looked worried, and even a bit scared, which was understandable given the situation. Maxwell, on the other hand, looked focused, and didn’t even wait for any sign before getting out of the boat.

—Doctor Conrad, what might you be doing here? —Erzi said, discretely putting herself between everyone and me.

—Isn’t it obvious, my patient was attacked just last night —he said—, it is my duty both as her physician and confidant to see if she is healthy, and that the investigation to find the culprit is properly done.

—C-confidant… —I muttered.

The Queen stood unfazed, but after a moment, her body relaxed.

—You have taken care of Rosanne and myself, and I know your credentials as a scholar in other fields, so I will allow you to help us, but you and everyone else will remain under close surveillance.

—I understand.

I suspected Erzi was thinking she couldn’t discard them as suspects, so it was easier to have them close. We returned to the house to continue with the investigation, surrounded by both sides by soldiers. I threw a glance to the most likely culprit responsible for calling everyone.

—I-I’m sorry, Madame —Sophie said—, I felt they could help; they are… your friends.

Friends? I would be lying if I said it wasn’t reassuring having them all next to me, and seeing them worry for me, but is that enough? In any case, the only other visitor we were expecting was the provider of our barrier, who took his time to get there. In the meantime, we all sat at the gazebo’s table, while the guards kept searching for clues on the backyard and the forest surrounding it.

—Madame, if I might ask you —Victor said, after giving a sip to a lemonade that the attendants had brought to us—, what is that creature sitting in your shoulder?

—Oh, she is the one that saved me yesterday from the dart —I said—, she is the Rose Nymph that sprout from the seed you help me plant.