Morning sunlight filtered gently through the trees in the Einhart estate's back garden, where rare flowers bloomed beneath the lingering morning mist. At a white stone table placed beneath a canopy of climbing vines, three familiar figures sat enjoying breakfast in a scene that could easily have been mistaken for a painting.
Lilia, dressed in a soft cream-colored dress lined with black lace at the cuffs and collar, gracefully sipped herbal tea brewed by Fortuna herself. Beside her, Lilith nonchalantly crossed her legs and leaned into Lilia's shoulder, arms wrapping around her in a hug without the slightest hint of restraint. "Lilia-sama still smells so nice," she whispered, nuzzling her face into Lilia's collar, filling the girl's cheeks with a faint blush as she inhaled the delicate scent lingering in Lilith's clothes and hair.
Fortuna stood nearby, holding a tray of pastries, quietly observing. Her long silver hair flowed in soft waves, and her icy blue eyes sparkled with calm sharpness. She didn't speak, only gave a small shake of her head and smiled faintly at Lilith's antics.
"Aren't you tired? It's early in the morning," Lilia sighed, tilting her head, but her expression didn't show a trace of annoyance.
"It's because Lilia-sama is too adorable," Lilith grinned, her side ponytail spilling gently over her shoulder as she hugged Lilia tighter, nearly burying the girl into her soft, snug-fitting dress. Fortuna cleared her throat pointedly, her subtle attempt at reining in the atmosphere.
Just then, when Lilia is sitting in the garden, the sound of wings fluttering reached their ears. A black bird with glowing violet eyes descended from above, landing on Lilia's arm and leaving behind a shimmering purple gem. A single touch from Lilia's fingers was enough for her to feel the pulsating magic signatures—three of them. The signal had been received.
"It's time," Lilia murmured, setting her teacup down. She stood up, and the light in her crimson eyes sharpened into something firm and determined—a gaze befitting the one destined to become the Queen of Darkness.
Meanwhile, in another part of the city, three girls—once mere bandits—had undergone a complete transformation. No longer ragged outlaws, they now wore tightly fitted indigo bodysuits that covered them from neck to toe, revealing only their faces. The outfits were made for stealth, woven with concealed anti-detection runes and flexible enough to move like shadows through alleyways.
"It feels like the magic is… alive," one of them said as she touched her abdomen—where Lilia's sigil had been branded, pulsing faintly like a magical tattoo.
"What do you think Lilia-sama is going to ask us to do?" asked the one with light brown hair. The silver-haired girl beside her only shrugged, though the excited glint in her eye betrayed her calm facade.
A hidden door creaked open—concealed behind the shelves of a long-forgotten library. It led to a narrow corridor and, beyond that, a secret room only accessible to those bearing the mark. There, Lilia waited.
She wasn't dressed in formal wear but wore a deep-black cloak, her crimson eyes glowing under the hood. Floating crystals of dark mana shimmered in the air—proof that powerful wards protected the space.
"Welcome," her voice rang out, soft as a breath but heavy with authority. "Black Bloom has officially taken root."
The three knelt instinctively. Lilia stepped forward slowly, her gaze scanning each of them with measured assessment.
"How well have you adapted to shadow magic?"
"We knocked out three guards. No one noticed," one answered.
"We tried moving through the market undetected… and it worked better than expected," another said.
Lilia nodded lightly, then turned toward the center of the room. She stood before a hovering magic circle, her voice now solemn and commanding.
"Black Bloom is more than a group. It is the root of a new era. But three flowers… aren't enough."
She turned, her lips curling into a cold but bewitching smile. "From now on, you will act separately. Your mission: recruitment. Seek out those with potential. The abandoned. The outcasts. Those worthy of blooming with us."
The three nodded, their hearts pounding with anticipation. Lilia gave a single, resolute command:
"Go plant the seeds. Let darkness blossom."
The three women disappearing into the shadows, bearing the mission of an empire that was quietly and ruthlessly beginning to grow.
In the quiet solitude of the library, where ancient books lined the shelves like slumbering giants, Lilia sat beneath the soft, violet glow of a mana crystal. Her fingers gently turned the worn pages of a forbidden tome. The ink had faded, but her mind—sharp and ever-hungry—had long since deciphered the cryptic glyphs.
Deep within this ancient book, hidden away in the lowest level of the Valemir estate's library, she had discovered a peculiar concept: The Eye of Trust.
It was not a combat spell, but rather a subtle, mystical power. By concentrating her mana in a specific way, the user could manifest a third eye upon their forehead, invisible to the naked eye but visible to their soul. This eye would reflect the trust others held toward them, and inversely, whether the user could trust those people in return. A pure white gleam meant absolute trust. A murky gray signified doubt. Jet black was the abyss of betrayal.
She had experimented with it sparingly, wary of overuse. So far, only Lilith and Fortuna had caused the Eye to shine with a transparent hue. The others… varied. Most did not even realize they were being tested.
Several days later, within the hidden meeting chamber of Black Bloom, the air had shifted. In the dim lighting laced with hints of violet, three kneeling figures stood before her, heads bowed. Behind them—two neat rows of silent shadows cloaked in matching deep-violet bodysuits, their faces hidden beneath smooth, featureless hoods.
"Twenty-three members in total, Lilia-sama," her left hand reported, voice steady with quiet pride.
Lilia arched one brow ever so slightly, resting her chin on a gloved hand. "More than expected," she murmured, her crimson eyes glowing faintly.
Activating the Eye of Trust, she briefly examined them. No pure white, but many had pale, shimmering gray—a good sign. The foundation was solid.
"Good. I'm pleased. Even if I don't know each of you yet, the fact that you've gathered information on structure, rules, and networks already proves your value." She didn't smile, but the softness in her voice told the truth. "Withdraw for now. I'll call again… when the wind begins to shift."
With a faint ripple in space, all the cloaked figures vanished into the darkness as if they were never there.
Lilia rose and quietly made her way out into the gardens.
The night breeze carried the scent of damp earth and blooming black roses, their petals shining faintly under the moonlight. The tranquility settled over her shoulders like a soft cloak. Lilia took a long breath, eyes closed, enjoying the stillness.
"At last… Black Bloom begins to move," she whispered.
"Liliaaaaaa-samaa~!!!"
The sudden voice pierced the calm like a dagger. Before Lilia could brace herself, a curvaceous figure tackled her from behind—arms coiling tightly around her waist—and spun her around like a child's toy.
"Ack! L-Lilith! Stop it! I-I just ate!" Lilia cried, her voice somewhere between indignation and helplessness.
"Just one more spin! Lilia-sama is sooo light~!" Lilith giggled, nuzzling her face against Lilia's cheek, pressing her… well-endowed figure firmly against her mistress.
"Fortuna! Help me! She's doing it again!!" Lilia wailed.
From the shadows beneath a garden arch, Fortuna sighed, not even glancing up from the book she was reading. "Lilith. Stop that. You're going to suffocate her with that excessive hug."
Lilith pouted but finally set Lilia down. The black-haired girl gasped for air, red cheeks blazing, though a tiny flicker of amusement sparkled in her crimson eyes.
Bonus part: Lilia's Thoughts.
"Meh. now i realize all the members of black bloom are very beautiful..... and have a well-endowed figure too..."