That Touch of Enchanting Grace

Ah~! A delicate, helpless young beauty suddenly felt her vision go dark, overcome by a wave of dizziness. All at once, warmth enveloped her back as she was swept into a princess carry by a pair of strong, powerful arms.

“Are you alright?” The man holding her looked panic-stricken, a far cry from his usual icy composure.

“I’m fine, let me go!” Embarrassed, the young beauty squirmed in his embrace.

“No! I’ll never let you go!” A feverish gleam flickered in the man’s dark eyes as he gazed at her, as if this single embrace was meant to last a lifetime. “The truth is, I love you!”

“You…” She stopped struggling, her cheeks flushed as she whispered softly, “Actually, I’ve liked you for a long time too…”

And so, the two of them lived happily ever after.

The End.

Ahem, apologies—looks like the author grabbed the wrong script! Don’t worry, dear readers, I’ll fix it, revise it thoroughly, and do it right!

But really, why is it that every time the heroine in a novel faints, she always happens to fall into the arms of a devastatingly handsome, wealthy, talented, and hopelessly devoted male lead—someone who loves her as if he hadn’t seen a woman in several lifetimes? Why is it that, for me, it’s always the floor or the corner of a cabinet that comes to collect me?

Rubbing the fresh, still-throbbing bump on her forehead, our protagonist grumbled in frustration. With only a week left before the Ryan family’s banquet, she still hadn’t devised a way to avoid attending. Instead, she kept herself busy cleaning Jun Yan’s library. Just thinking of the Ryan family’s ever-suspicious captain of the shadow guards and the beautiful, enigmatic “sister” whose status in the family was unclear made her head spin.

If only she hadn’t used electric magic to deceive them in the first place! She cursed her lack of foresight; if she were ever exposed as the mage who wielded electric magic, she’d probably be executed on the spot. The feud between Water City and Electric City went back so many generations it was impossible to untangle. She had no intention of becoming the scapegoat in their centuries-old conflict.

On top of that, Aida had, by some twist of fate, discovered she wasn’t just a water mage. Our protagonist sighed—although Aida had never mentioned it again, an unexploded bomb was far more dangerous than one already ticking. It could go off at any moment, catching her completely off guard.

“Heavens above! Grant me a miracle!” she prayed earnestly.

With a loud crash, the library’s lamp, unable to resist the gravity of Earth, plunged to the floor.

“...Couldn’t I get a different kind of miracle? One that doesn’t make extra work for me?” she muttered, bending down in resignation to sweep up the mess. The tiny broom seemed utterly inadequate against the sea of scattered shards. Whatever the lamp was made of, it had shattered spectacularly, with fragments spread far and wide—thorough and efficient, if nothing else. As she mused inwardly, her broom struck something beneath the bookshelf.

Could it be—a secret manual?! Excited, she dropped to the floor and retrieved the object. It was, indeed, a book. She brushed off the dust, wiped the cover with a cloth, and slowly opened it. Elegant handwriting filled the pages. The title was clear: “Cultivation of the Four Elements.”

The words startled her so much she hurried to shut the door and peered out the window for a long while, making sure no one was nearby before relaxing.

In this world, the air contained not only oxygen and carbon dioxide but also magical elements. Of these, four were most abundant and perceptible: water, fire, electricity, and wind. Those who succeeded in cultivating magical energy within themselves and mastering these elements became known as mages. Thus, magic was divided into four great systems: water, fire, electricity, and wind.

Most people could sense only one element in their lifetime, though a rare few could sense all four. These extraordinary individuals were called Four-Element Mages.

Cultivating all four elements was notoriously difficult. The elements conflicted and harmonized in complex ways, making coexistence perilous; a single misstep could plunge the mage into mortal danger. Yet high risk brought high reward—should one succeed, the power wielded by a Four-Element Mage was unmatched.

Legend told of such mages banding together to form a nation, their might overwhelming and their actions ruthless—burning, pillaging, and leaving devastation in their wake. In the end, their numbers were too few and their enemies too many; they were overthrown.

Afterward, all nations issued a joint decree banning the cultivation of all four elements. Mages, once intermingled, were forced to segregate into four city-states, each of which grew in strength and established their own governance and laws. In recent centuries, resource scarcity and population growth led to constant border skirmishes, tensions running high.

Now, Four-Element Mages existed only in the pages of history—mentioned in records, but with no living practitioners. Clutching the book to her chest, our protagonist realized it was less a book and more a diary, the elegant handwriting chronicling the precautions for cultivating the four elements, how to disguise oneself if discovered, what magical tools to use, and countless other details.

Noticing the gray-white hair and small stone—used to break the lamp and draw her attention—tucked among the pages, she felt a wave of warmth. “Thank you, Uncle,” she thought. “Though your attempts at aging the diary weren’t very convincing—I’ve never seen a cover so marked by time while the pages inside remain pristine and white…”

Days slipped by, and the Ryan family’s banquet arrived at last. She gazed at her own haggard, puffy reflection in the mirror and forced a laugh.

The Ryan family was Water City’s second-largest supplier of magical goods, just behind the Grant family. At the tail end of every spring, they hosted a grand banquet to showcase their latest products, and this year was no exception.

The Ryan family’s grand hall was more opulent than she’d ever seen. The soaring ceiling seemed stories high, adorned with murals of magical totems painted by master artists. Floor-to-ceiling windows lined the circular hall, their silk curtains neatly gathered at the sides. Transparent crystal cases displayed all manner of wands and magical tools, arranged in perfect order. Long, carved rosewood tables were laden with an array of delicacies, while servers carried trays of wine, offering them to guests. Above sparkled magnificent chandeliers; below, guests walked on plush, soft carpets. It was clear the Ryan family had spared no expense.

But she had no leisure to admire any of it, for both Aida and Jun Yan looked anything but pleased.

Jun Yan glared coldly at the so-called “new products” on display, downed his wine in one gulp, and sneered, “So these are the Ryan family’s latest innovations!”

Confused but unable to hide her curiosity, she tugged at Aida’s sleeve. “What’s going on?”

Aida whispered, “Did you think your beautiful ‘little sister’ went to the Grant family just for a day trip? All these so-called new products are stolen from the Grant family’s designs this year. If Ryan mass-produces them, how are we supposed to sell ours?”

“Just a bunch of petty thieves!” Jun Yan spat the words, grabbing another drink from the table and leaving Aida and our protagonist to stare at the ceiling in silence.

One thought silently: “Not my problem—I only accidentally hired a pretty little beauty. The Grant family should improve their security.”

The other mused: “Not my problem either—I just happened to share some detailed factory locations with the beauty. Yes, the Grant family’s security needs tighter management.”

But soon, there was no time for such musings. From the moment she set foot in the Ryan mansion, she was assigned to a new role—blocking drinks!

In previous years, the Grant family’s eldest daughter had always attended the banquet, but this year was different. The second daughter had come, bringing the young master with her. No one knew what had happened in the Grant family, but shrewd merchants sensed a shift in power and flocked to pay their respects, offering toasts and making small talk. Some unmarried or eligible young men and women, seeing two unfamiliar but attractive faces, shyly or boldly introduced themselves.

So, from the very start, she was on the front lines—blocking drinks, glass after glass.

“So the Grant family’s hidden trump card is a young master! What a talent! Let me drink to you first!” Down went a glass. “I’ve heard so much about you—the second daughter’s beauty is well known, and the young master is truly impressive. It’s an honor to meet you both. I simply must drink to that!” Another glass. “Hello, I’m Nolan. Pleased to meet you, young master. Let me drink first in your honor.” Yet another glass!

After several rounds of strong spirits, she grew lightheaded, her steps unsteady.

Aida covered her mouth with a pink fan and whispered to Jun Yan, “I wanted you to bring her out so she could talk, not just drink!”

Jun Yan sipped his wine, a hint of a smile appearing at last. “People speak the truth when drunk. A little more won’t hurt.”

Aida silently wiped her brow. “That’s what I’m afraid of! If she starts telling the truth, I’m finished.” But, powerless to change the situation, she could only glare at Jun Yan. “Don’t forget the reward you promised me!”

Jun Yan’s expression returned to its usual cold righteousness. “Of course not.”

And so, the tale continues…