For Romantic Superpowers - Chapter 71 - Return To The Palace

#71. Return To The Palace

The weather was exceptionally good today. Although it was always mild within the palace grounds, Lia felt it was particularly so today. Perhaps it was because she was quite satisfied with her appearance in the mirror.

“Golden uniform!”

To be precise, it was a uniform with quite a few golden patterns. Lia had transitioned from being an apprentice to an official employee, and she was given attire befitting her new status. The decorations, which had previously been only around her neck, were now added to the hem of her skirt and the area near her collarbones. She thought of Perth’s elaborate attire. He belonged to those who wore the most decorated uniforms among the palace staff. Those higher up were usually high-ranking nobles who didn’t wear palace uniforms.

“One day, I’ll fill up even these white parts with decorations.”

She revealed her ambition and twirled around in her room. The added touch of splendor might not be noticeable at a glance, but it was dazzling enough for her. Even the plants by the window seemed to celebrate her return.

The plant she brought when she first came to the palace was set to bloom exactly three months after her arrival. It was a small reward she gave herself for enduring the arduous palace life. The rainbow-colored flower buds were forming. There were only two days left until she reached the three-month mark. She had earned her official title much sooner than her initial three-month goal!

Bang.

Without knocking, Lia’s door swung open. There was only one person who would do that.

“Lia!”

May ran in without hesitation and hugged Lia. It was the morning of Lia’s first day at work since returning to the palace. May had stayed with her since her arrival yesterday, crying her eyes out all night. Lia thought the greetings had been completed yesterday, but May was still overwhelmed with emotion. Lia had even shed a few tears with her yesterday. But this morning, Lia was her usual self.

“Aren’t you going to work yet, May?”

“I’m so happy that it’s your first day at work, how could I leave first? I got permission from my superior to be late today.”

Her superior was Perth, known for his inflexibility. The fact that she had gotten permission to be late surprised Lia, making her eyes widen. May grinned at Lia’s reaction. So adorable. Lia still didn’t seem to realize that May’s superior was so smitten with her that he occasionally failed to make rational decisions. And the person who took the best advantage of that was May Flower, herself.

“He would have liked to come himself, but he’s just too busy right now.”

As May said, Perth was extremely busy. Lia had been happy thinking they would see each other more often now that they were in the same palace, but he was too busy to even come to see her enter. It was indeed the busy season at the palace.

“Is it because of the investigation?”  

“Yes. He’s fully cooperating with the evidence investigation to completely clear your name.”

Indeed, Perth was working day and night for Lia. She shouldn’t feel upset about not coming out to greet her just once when he was running around for her.

“Lia, I’m so happy you’re back. Your clothes are so pretty now. They suit you well.”

Even though only minor details had changed, May didn’t hold back her compliments. Lia was also very happy to see May again. She was almost counting down the days until she could go to the palace. 

“Me too.”

Their heartfelt reunion ended just when Lia was about to be late. She almost became a latecomer on her first day back. Perth might have tolerated May’s lateness, but Kevin wouldn’t.

* * *

“You’re late.”  

“It’s still on time, though.”  

“I got here first.”

At Kevin’s teasing, Lia pouted. He deliberately avoided her gaze as he tried to pat her head. Then he withdrew his hand and awkwardly smiled.

“Welcome back.”

It was his clumsy way of welcoming her. Lia knew that this was Kevin’s best effort to show sincerity. He maintained an appropriate level of friendliness and teasing as her superior, so she wouldn’t feel awkward. Lia pondered whether to tell him about her relationship with Perth. But that was a foolish concern since rumors about the two of them were already widespread in the palace.

“You kept denying it, but you two ended up being a couple, huh?”

As Lia was officially hired rather than being an apprentice, the greenhouse staff started talking to her more familiarly. It seemed they realized they would be working together continuously. Every time this happened, Lia felt a pang. But she didn’t want to be at odds with her colleagues whom she would see every day.

“Stop chatting and get to work.”

When Kevin said a word, everyone fell silent and moved away from Lia. She was grateful for his discreet consideration.

“Thank you.”  

“I didn’t do it for you. I just didn’t want to hear it.”

He still couldn’t look Lia in the eye directly. Just because he had given up didn’t mean his feelings vanished overnight. Knowing this, Lia intentionally didn’t get closer to him.

“A lot of work piled up while you were lazing around.”  

“Lazing around? It wasn’t by choice.”  

“Be quiet and follow me. Start reporting what you’ve found out.”

Lia followed him along the familiar path. It was the way to the place with the miracle of the desert. The feeling of the sand sinking underfoot was something she hadn’t felt in a while.

“Your predecessor quit and left.”

Though she hadn’t asked, Kevin spoke first, probably thinking she’d be concerned. Perth had told her that he was likely the culprit acting under Abigail’s orders. Especially since he quit right after the incident, claiming he was returning to his hometown, which made him highly suspicious.

“I see.”

However, Lia didn’t say anything more. She didn’t feel particularly regretful about it. Maybe he needed money urgently. Or perhaps he found Lia, a noble, unsuitable. That’s all she thought about it.

“Aren’t you angry?”  

“Well, maybe. But at least he didn’t completely ruin the miracle of the desert.”  

“What nonsense. He completely turned it upside down.”

Just recalling the sight of the miracle of the desert made Kevin explode with anger. For someone who grew plants, damaging them under someone else’s watch was unacceptable.

“If he hadn’t turned the miracle of the desert upside down, I wouldn’t have known about the miracle of the desert. Properly.”

As they talked, they arrived at the place where the two of them witnessed the miracle of the desert.

“What do you mean?”

Ignoring Kevin’s demand for an explanation, Lia inspected the newly planted miracle of the desert. It seemed to be wilting, perhaps because it had been uprooted forcibly. Fortunately, it wasn’t completely withered.

“Please replant the miracle on the desert from the sand, Mr. Kevin.”  

“What?”

Replanting the carefully nurtured miracle of the desert. Kevin raised his voice unintentionally in disbelief.

“Do you remember what the roots of the miracle of the desert looked like, Mr. Kevin?”  

“Oh, yeah. It was so striking, I couldn’t forget it.”

“Then do you know what type of plant the roots of the miracle of the desert resembled?”

Instead of answering, Kevin fell into thought for a moment. He was comparing the memory in his mind of the roots of the miracle of the desert with those of other plants. It didn’t take him long to realize.

“No way… this fellow isn’t what he was growing, is it?”

“Yes, that’s right. I was also puzzled about why the roots of the miracle of the desert were so dry and devoid of hairs until I saw parasitic plant roots in the mountains.”

Most plants spread their roots in various forms to absorb as much water as possible since they absorb water through their roots. But the upturned roots of the miracle of the desert resembled dry branches unsuitable for water absorption.

“Moreover, the method of watering. It was better to spray water in mist form rather than watering conventionally because the roots don’t absorb water.”

“So, the miracle of the desert is a parasitic plant?”

Lia shook her head. Parasitic plants either grow without roots or have roots that function by depriving the host of nutrients.

“It’s an epiphyte.” 

“Ah!”

In response to Lia’s answer, Kevin let out a sigh of understanding. Epiphytes were similar to parasitic plants in that they attached to hosts in some way. However, crucially, they didn’t harm the host.

“The roots of the miracle of the desert were only used for attachment, not for water absorption. Soil is an unnecessary presence for the miracle of the desert.”

“Yeah. Places with proper soil in desert areas are rare. In that case, it could have evolved to adapt to environments with minimal soil and water.”

So, the miracle of the desert didn’t need much water after all. Upon hearing Lia’s words, Kevin cautiously dug around the miracle of the desert.

“I suspected it, but indeed, it was correct that it absorbed water through the leaves rather than the roots.”  

“Yes, it seems to absorb through small wool-like protrusions. When sprayed in mist form, the actual absorption occurs there.”

“But it still doesn’t make sense. If the roots aren’t responsible for absorbing nutrients, why not just let the water flow when watering?”

In response to Kevin’s question, Lia pointed to the area where the roots were connected to the leaves. The miracle of the desert had a structure where the leaves spread directly from the root body without separate stems.

“When watered with soil, the soil would hold water, and inevitably, it would accumulate here. And when water accumulates, this area would rot. This part was the most crucial for the miracle of the desert because if it rotted, it would die.”

“I see.”

Now all the doubts he had were cleared up. Kevin looked at Lia with a newfound respect. In the time she had been away from the palace, she had come back with all the answers. Moreover, she seemed a bit more mature.

“Mr. Kevin?”

Lia turned her head to Kevin, who was staring blankly at her. Since they were both looking at the small plant together, their faces were close.

“Well, well. Impressive. Knowing all of this.”

Kevin awkwardly turned his head and complimented. Unable to hide her pleased expression upon receiving praise from her superior, whom she respected in her own way, Lia replied.

“It’s all thanks to you.”

“I think it’s thanks to yourself.”

“Oh, caught me?”

With a sheepish grin, Lia brushed off the dirt from the miracle of the desert. It was better to grow the miracle of the desert on sand, where water drained better than soil.

“Then let’s entrust you with the first task after your return. Let’s have you manage all the other miracles of the desert as well.”

“Me?”

“After all, you can’t just manage your assigned plants alone, right? Do you want to continue working as if you’re still an apprentice? Also, your official position will be under my research department.”

“Really?”

Upon hearing that she would officially work under Kevin, Lia almost jumped for joy in her seat. He was someone she could learn a lot from. She had prepared for the possibility of being transferred to another department, but she was happy to be able to work with him again.

“Thank you! I’ll do my best from now on!”

“It’s up to you. Counting on you.”