Chapter 29: Why?
“Hey… so what do you want to say? Are you going to chase me away?”
“If you keep eating, I really might have to chase you away.”
After the meal, Xue Fei called Timani to the spacious corridor of the Demon King’s Castle.
“After the meal,” this term refers to after eating, right?
You said the meal is finished, yet Timani is still holding a nekto forest duck leg in her hands, looking confused and worried while not forgetting to take a bite of the duck meat.
Under Xue Fei’s reminder of “I might have to chase you away”, Timani quickly finished the duck meat even to the point of gnawing the bone clean; her teeth are impressive.
Then, her return to her graceful and relaxed demeanor was very natural.
It seems she didn’t want to be chased away.
At this time, there were noble lords advising in the Demon King’s Castle, but they would only be active near the upper floors, and there was a teleportation magic array leading directly to the top.
The bottom ninety percent of the space was reserved for the resting area of the demon royal family, where no outsiders were allowed to step. That’s why everyone could eat and talk so freely, without needing to disguise or avoid anything.
Xue Fei hugged her arms across her flat chest, leaning against the equally flat wall, tilting her head to meet Timani’s increasingly puzzled gaze.
“Don’t panic, Fire Lizard. I want to thank you for mediating just now and not letting Xiya and Belis fight too fiercely.”
“It’s nothing. You provide food so… cough, the Fire Dragon Clan has its own dignity. Since I’m eating your family’s rice, I must lend a helping hand when necessary. That’s only natural.”
Timani casually tossed her flame-like hair and twirled around in her red dress.
“But I advise you to pay attention to yourself. Your sister and your tamer…”
“Don’t call him a tamer!”
“Your sister and the hero have very incompatible personalities. It’s not the first time they’ve fought over a trivial matter. I think my blocking would only delay the situation. To solve the problem, it still depends on you. Ugh… so personality issues, huh? It’s truly a learning experience. In any case, just do your best.”
“…”
My best?
You don’t even understand the root of their conflict isn’t a personality issue at all! Acting cool like this isn’t cool at all!
Seeing Timani finished with her show and waving her hand to go back to sleep.
Xue Fei shifted her feet and hurriedly followed, lifting her short legs.
—She kicked her hard right in the butt!
Timani’s dragon tail tensed instantly.
Her mature face immediately flushed with shame!
She turned around immediately, on guard, questioning.
“Hey?! What… what are you doing?!”
Isn’t it because you were being cool and swaying your tail that it was so kickable?!
“Uh… sorry? I couldn’t help myself… Anyway, let me finish speaking. You wanted to leave before I was done talking, which is quite rude.”
“Let’s not mention that now…? I’m rude?”
“Yes, reflect on yourself more; that will help your personal growth.”
“You, a princess, how can you be so shameless…”
“If possible, I hope you can call this a good mindset.”
“Clearly just shameless… Uh, don’t lift your legs. So what do you actually want to say? If it’s to remind me not to eat so much… I promise I’ll manage. It’s just that the food has been really good lately; if you want me to save, just say it, I can just eat until half full.”
Always talking about food; can’t your dragon soul pursue something a little higher?
Xue Fei let out a faint sigh.
Putting down the foot she was preparing to kick her butt with, her aura underwent a subtle change.
As a princess, she always bore the weight of many burdens unrelated to joy.
For example, observing the emotional waves of those around her at all times.
Xue Fei’s tilted gaze caused Timani’s heart to constrict.
In those clear yet chaotic lavender eyes, there seemed to be a power that could see through the soul.
“What… what’s wrong?”
“What’s wrong? It’s not you who should be asking, but me.”
Xue Fei’s small shoes clicked on the solid floor made of demon territory nanmu wood, creating crisp sounds.
She walked back and forth a few steps, stopping with a serious expression.
“Fire Lizard, what exactly do you want to say these past few days? Just speak plainly. I don’t like beating around the bush and I certainly don’t like guessing people’s thoughts.”
“You don’t like…”
“What are you mumbling about?”
“I’m not mumbling! Don’t ask me!”
“?!”
What are you doing? Why are you suddenly shouting at me, you lizard!?
Xue Fei is quite certain that Timani has something to say lately.
But she always swallows her words right before speaking.
Several times now, when she asked Timani if something was wrong, she would say she was hungry. If asked if she was okay, she’d say she was sleepy; it nearly suffocated Xue Fei.
This time she planned to corner Timani in the corridor and get to the bottom of things. She can’t be suffocated by curiosity!
Well… maybe it’s not just curiosity.
Perhaps Xue Fei seems to be meddling, but she doesn’t believe that this fate of the fire lizard should go unanswered.
Meddling is meddling; if no one else asks, then I will.
She originally thought to pull the truth from her would take some effort in coaxing and gentle persuasion.
But unexpectedly, just stating the beginning, Timani suddenly lost control and shouted, nearly knocking Xue Fei off her feet!
But, the emotional outburst was just a moment.
Timani was merely pumping herself up to muster the courage to answer.
Looking at Timani pressing her palm against her soft chest and taking deep breaths, she should be ready to speak soon?
Xue Fei stood on her tiptoes, leaning her little head towards her, nodding her head.
It seemed she wanted to help Timani adjust her state more quickly.
“Fire Lizard? Fire Lizard? Timani? Hey, can you speak? Are you mute?”
“You…! Tsk, I get it! Don’t… don’t be so close to me! Demons are still demons; truly devils…!”
“What?! Isn’t it to help you not be so nervous that I’m doing this? Good intentions misinterpreted.”
All you’re doing is making me more nervous!
With both hands resting on Xue Fei’s shoulders, not pushing too hard, she moved her a little further away.
Timani glanced sideways and started twisting her red hair that had fallen in front of her.
Every time she made these small gestures, it meant she had resigned to her fate.
“It’s not that important… Ugh, fine! I’ll say it plainly. This is very important to me! Just tomorrow; I plan to leave here tomorrow and not act with you all anymore.”
“Hah… seeking your own food sounds nice, but remember not to get lost when you return at night.”
“That’s not what I meant. I’m saying, after I leave tomorrow…”
Timani flashed a moment of emotion.
Three parts determination, seven parts loneliness.
Her words paused, she gritted her teeth, and still went on.
“Once I leave, I won’t be coming back…”
Even in a soft voice, Xue Fei could hear her.
“May I ask why you suddenly decided to leave?”
The corridor was silent, causing Timani’s nose to sting.
She bit her red lips tightly, trying to finish these whispers as quickly as possible.
“It’s still because you are all too annoying… always making noise and frequently getting into fights. I’ve had enough of all of you; I hate it. It’s much freer when I’m alone. Food can be found anywhere, but you can’t be free just anywhere, so… I want to leave here as soon as possible, go wherever I want.”
“Where will you go?”
“I don’t know, just go wherever, like before.”
“What will you eat?”
“No… I don’t know… I’ll just eat whatever I can catch, like before. There are wild rabbits on the way! Ugh, so annoying…! I’ve decided to leave, why do you ask so specifically? Isn’t it all stuff I need to consider? What does it have to do with you?”
“Is that all true?”
“Of course…! This is obviously the truth. Fine, there’s no need to wait until tomorrow to leave, I might as well just…”
“You’re lying.”
“!”
Timani had already unfurled her dragon wings, preparing to jump out of the nearby round window.
But Xue Fei’s expressionless “You’re lying” left Timani frozen in place.
Her broad dragon wings slowly wrapped around her as she turned back, meeting Xue Fei’s “all-seeing eyes” filled with dissipating magical particles.
Right…?
Lies meant nothing to her…?
Damn it…
Why in the world is there such cheating magic?
In fact, even without the magical eyes, Xue Fei could judge the falsehood in Timani’s words.
After all, each word was delivered with too much reluctance and hardship.
If Timani wanted to leave… why linger for so many days, waiting until tomorrow?
If she wanted to leave, why would she change her mind suddenly and decide to leave now the moment I mention it?
The more anxious she was, the more her words and feelings didn’t match.
It’s hard for you to leave.
Just like how you got stuck trying to fly through that narrow window yesterday.
The use of the magical eyes was merely to tell Timani—there’s no need to be so strong.
For some reason, Timani’s legs suddenly went weak and lost strength; the powerful Fire Dragon Clan member ended up kneeling on the ground.
She supported herself on the floor to maintain her posture, her heart full of bitterness.
Timani’s eyes held fear for the future, her whole body trembling uncontrollably. The hot-blooded fire dragon girl hugged herself tightly, attempting to keep warm but still felt frigid.
Fortunately.
Xue Fei had prepared a small blanket for her in advance.
Using storage magic, Xue Fei took out a blanket and covered Timani with it.
Not knowing if the blanket could warm her dragon heart, Xue Fei also squatted down.
Normally looking up, Timani was much taller than her.
But while kneeling, I still have to squat down, then we’re the same height, right?
Not that tall~
“Let’s talk.”
Xue Fei was patient and didn’t mind spending time listening to this poor girl, half fire dragon and half elf, share her short feelings.
“Tell me why you suddenly want to leave? No… it should be said, why do you want to escape?”
