Nis 3

“Oh, this place looks the same as ever.”

I couldn’t help but marvel as we descended into the deepest layer.

It was exactly as it was the last time I visited a thousand years ago.

The ice pillars were still elegant, and the icicles hanging from the ceiling sparkled like chandeliers.

The frost on the walls formed delicate patterns, resembling intricate lace.

“Hmph… but my labyrinth is prettier.”

Of course, this place had its own beauty.

A cold, refined, and distinctly Frostian aesthetic.

Perhaps a bit too restrained?

If it were up to me, I’d adorn it with pearls and add some glowing jellyfish…

At least Frostia hadn’t left it dark like last time!

Back then, it was so dim that my dress didn’t sparkle at all!

“But where is Rico?”

Suddenly, I wondered.

Her beautiful flower petals and elegant demeanor would make a lovely accent in this cold space.

“Nis.”

Frostia’s cold voice interrupted my thoughts.

“Yes~?”

I replied playfully as usual.

But Frostia’s expression was serious.

“Don’t touch Rico.”

My mind went blank.

What was she talking about?

“Oh, what are you saying? I was just…”

BANG!!!

Frostia’s fist slammed into the ice wall before I could finish.

The entire space trembled with the impact.

Several icicles fell, shattering into pieces.

“Ahh!”

I involuntarily screamed.

My hand trembled as I clutched the hem of my dress.

Frostia’s gaze was different.

It wasn’t the cold, composed look I’d seen for thousands of years.

It was sharp, like a predator eyeing its prey…

“I-I just thought Rico was pretty and wanted to dress her up!”

My voice trembled.

It was truly unfair.

“Really?!”

Frostia’s suspicious gaze hurt my heart.

Why was she so distrustful of me?

“We’ve known each other for so long…!”

My voice rose in frustration.

We’d teased each other and played pranks before, but this was the first time I’d been so distrusted.

“Of course not…!”

I thought back to when I first saw Rico.

Her beautiful petals and elegant presence.

It reminded me of when I first took human form.

Frostia glanced at me, then sighed.

“…Fine.”

Her gaze still seemed displeased, but the sharpness had softened.

But I still felt wronged.

What was the point of our thousands of years of friendship?

“Let’s go up.”

Frostia walked ahead.

I followed, pouting, the hem of my dress brushing against the ice floor.

When we reached the upper layer, Rico and the insects seemed to be watching us.

Then Frostia said…

“Don’t worry. Nothing happened. Just a small chat with an old friend.”

Huh?

Did I hear that right?

Who was this?

Was this really the Frostia I knew?

That gentle tone was something new…

“But you were so scary just now…”

My resentment deepened.

Why was she so cold to me but so affectionate with Rico?

“Wait!”

I made up my mind.

I had to clear up this misunderstanding!

“Let me decorate this place!”

Frostia gave me a suspicious look.

Again with that gaze!

What was I doing that seemed so suspicious?

Then Rico quivered slightly.

Like a child eagerly waiting for a gift.

So cute…!

“May I decorate it?”

Rico quickly carved letters with her roots.

《Yes! That would be nice!》

Her handwriting was as adorable as ever.

Of course, she would shine even more with some decoration.

Frostia reluctantly nodded.

Ugh, more bias!

She was so harsh with me but agreed with Rico’s opinion immediately.

I happily began casting my magic.

The colorful corals from my labyrinth’s pride.

Shells adorned with pearls floating in the air, and a few glowing jellyfish…

“…”

Frostia gave me a cold look.

“It’s gaudy. It doesn’t suit this place.”

《But… I think it’s pretty…》

Rico carved the words hesitantly.

Ugh…

My pride was hurt.

People in Deathmere always said my decorations were beautiful…

“Hmph!”

I removed all the decorations and fell into thought.

What would suit this cold space while making Rico stand out…

“Ah, here’s an idea!”

This time, I began creating small flowers that resembled Rico.

Red petals and black stems…

I added a soft glow to each petal, scattering them across the floor like stars.

Rico’s petals quivered with delight.

《Wow! They’re so pretty!》

The insects fluttered among the flowers, enjoying themselves.

Even Frostia’s expression softened.

“Really…!”

I was about to sigh in relief when-

“Are these flowers… safe?”

Again with the distrust!

“Oh, they’re just decorative flowers resembling Rico! They don’t have any powers, I promise!”

It was so unfair…

When had I ever been so untrustworthy?

Frostia gave me another suspicious look.

I could only sigh.

“Friends…”

But seeing Rico’s happy face comforted me a little.

Frostia’s distrust was frustrating, but…

If this adorable child was happy, it was worth it.

Still frustrating!

I was the one who called her here!

Then-

A dark shadow flashed by like lightning.

“Ahh!”

I instinctively clutched the hem of my dress.

My heart raced.

An Ice Aranea.

They called it an ice spider.

Its body shimmered like transparent ice, which might have been pretty if not for its nature.

“But… spiders are spiders!”

The spider reached Rico and waved its front legs, trying to convey something.

Its eight legs danced in the air, like an elegant courtly dance, but to me, it was just terrifying.

“Ew… stop waving those legs…”

Rico seemed oblivious to my feelings, watching the spider seriously.

Then a butterfly, resembling the captain, fluttered elegantly toward Rico’s petals.

Its transparent wings sparkled softly, like the embroidery on my dress.

It began sipping the sweet nectar from Rico’s petals.

The flower and the butterfly seemed to be having a conversation, like a scene from a painting.

I stared, entranced.

“Oh, they can communicate like that…”

I finally understood what Frostia meant.

Rico was truly special.

《Many humans have entered the upper layer.》

Rico’s roots carved the words quickly.

Her handwriting was as cute as ever.

“Wow… such an organized system…”

It was impressive.

Such discipline, even among insects!

And the idea to use such an ugly spider as a scout!

“Hmph. How bold of them.”

Frostia’s voice was cold.

The icy air felt even chillier with her words.

“Really. How reckless.”

I agreed.

Humans were such fragile, short-lived beings.

“Ah, here’s an opportunity!”

A great idea struck me.

This could also resolve Frostia’s distrust.

“Let me take care of them? Just a wave of my hand and they’ll be dust…”

“Ah, no!”

Rico’s roots moved urgently, as if she was flustered.

《I want to meet the humans…》

Her roots scraped the ground impatiently.

Even this side of her was cute…

“Fine, do as you like.”

Frostia’s gentle tone was back, and my heart ached once more.

She was so harsh with me but kind to Rico…

Then the captain butterfly and others began fluttering.

Rico, who Frostia had introduced as Cecilia, remained still.

The butterflies seemed to take signals from her, darting in and out of the shadows.

Their orderly movements left me in awe.

“Hey, where are they going?”

《They’re going to watch the humans!》

“Amazing…”

It was like a perfectly commanded army!

Even the ugly spider was a scout!

“How long until the humans arrive?”

I asked Rico.

It would take them quite some time to reach this layer.

《About a day in the upper layer, another in the middle… probably three days…》

Rico’s roots scraped the ground.

She looked like a scholar deep in thought.

“Will you wait here too?”

Frostia gave me a suspicious look.

“Really… this distrust is endless.”

But Rico’s petals quivered happily.

《Yes! I’d love that!》

The first day passed like that.

Rico communicated endlessly with the insects, moving them with strategic precision.

“Oh, look at that.”

I tugged on Frostia’s sleeve.

The insects moved like shadows, relaying information in an impressive display.

《I found out how many humans there are… about 40 knights…》

“Wow… truly impressive.”

I marveled at Rico’s intelligence.

Sorry, Deiana, but it seemed Rico was winning this silent contest between our subordinates.

Mine couldn’t compare to this…

On the second day.

The insects’ movements became even more sophisticated.

《They’re heading to the middle layer. I told them not to show themselves.》

Rico’s roots carved the words confidently.

The nectar-drinking butterflies disappeared and reappeared in the darkness.

“It’s like they’re dancing.”

Even Frostia seemed satisfied.

“Hmph! You’re cold to me but kind to her…”

On the third day.

News arrived that the knights had entered the lower layer.

《It’s almost time…》

Rico’s petals quivered slightly.

Was she nervous? Excited?

“Rico, shall we decorate a bit more?”

《Huh? Oh, yes! That would be nice!》

I eagerly began decorating.

This time, I’d create something even Frostia would admire…

“Nis, it’s too much.”

“Ugh…”

Her cold criticism made my shoulders slump.

On the final day.

Finally, news came that the knights had reached the entrance of the deepest layer.

《I guided them with the flower scent. This way…》

“Oh, you’re amazing!”

Then a great idea struck me.

“Frostia.”

I sneaked up to her and whispered, like a snake making a sweet offer.

Of course, I was the snake.

“Why don’t we hide and watch secretly? If we’re here, the humans will only focus on us.”

Frostia gave me another suspicious look.

“Ugh… really…”

I was getting tired of this.

But then she nodded.

She was curious, it seemed.

“Rico, go ahead and talk to the humans.”

Her voice was gentle, like a mother worrying about her child.

Really… Frostia had changed a lot.

《Yes!》

Rico’s petals quivered happily, like a child excited for a field trip.

We hid in the passageway to the deepest layer, concealing ourselves.

From here, we could see Rico clearly while staying out of the humans’ sight.

“So, what’s the plan, Rico?”

I couldn’t help but feel excited.

Like waiting for a new play to begin at the theater.

Frostia’s expression suggested she felt the same.

Soon, the humans would arrive…

And Rico would reveal her true self.