Chapter: 8. So Understandable!
Herlith knew very well why Xue Fei and the others had come.
Xue Fei was visiting home, and everyone was gathering around her, likely to accompany her.
Since it was supposed to be companionship, this trip could very well be treated as a casual vacation. If they talked excessively about state affairs, it would seem rather insensitive.
Thus, Herlith temporarily did not plan to discuss the recent cooperation between the two countries with Livra.
After chatting for a bit, she arranged for them to stay in the vacant rooms that had been prepared in the Demon King’s Castle. She said that once everyone had rested, she and the Demon King would hold a meeting to negotiate the cooperation between the two countries.
But before that, everyone could be more casual, taste the specialty foods of Demon Territory, and enjoy the unique scenery of Canbino. It was time to have some fun!
As the Demon King and Queen, how could they not extend their hospitality to the daughter bringing friends home?
Everyone who had traveled a long distance could rest and relax first.
—Except for one person.
That was Xialet, who had long anticipated this and, secretly hoping for luck, planned to leave the Demon King’s Great Hall with everyone when she indeed heard the call of Herlith.
“Miss Xialet, please hold on for a moment.”
“……”
Herlith called Xialet to the garden outside Demon King Castle, saying she needed to speak with her privately.
I knew it.
The most difficult part was still coming.
Xialet hurriedly adjusted her appearance; she did not want to have the conversation without winning her mother-in-law’s approval.
As for her father-in-law?
Well… after observing for a bit, it seemed that her father-in-law’s opinion was not that important and had dropped to the lowest priority.
But the pressure from the queen was undeniably strong!
Heartless Xue Fei even wished Xialet good luck for the conversation at this moment. After saying that, she intended to return to her long-lost room for a good sleep.
That was impossible.
Xialet caught the back of her collar and urgently begged her to come along.
Sister, in your time of need, how could you just stand by and do nothing!
Upon saying that, Xialet regretted it.
She forgot that as long as Xue Fei came over, her almost inseparable twin sister would naturally follow.
Wasn’t that digging a pit for myself…
Seeing this, Livra volunteered; she wasn’t in a hurry to go rest.
“Lady Xialet, are you troubled? Is there something major? How about I go with you? Don’t look at me as foolish; I’ve gone through a lot recently and have been tempered by many events! Even if not steel, I’m still iron!”
“Your Highness, the best thing you can do now is to go get some sleep. If you wake up and see that I’m back, we can happily explore the bizarre landscapes of Demon Territory. If I’m not back, then I must have run back to the kingdom.”
“Run back to the kingdom…?! Is there really something urgent?!”
“There’s no urgency; I mean, it represents that I was chased away.”
“…!”
Lady Xialet, your riddle is hard to guess!
Your Highness, you don’t understand.
If my father-in-law and mother-in-law do not agree for me to stay here, then my only choice left would be to cry and run back to the kingdom.
—Just kidding.
As long as Xue Fei is here, there is no way back.
This tough battle must be won.
No retreat.
……………………………….
The garden outside the Demon King Castle was far more grand than Xialet had imagined.
A sea of flowers stretched endlessly to the horizon, making it impossible to discern how far it went.
There was also a lake here.
The entire Demon King Castle and garden were surrounded by a massive lake.
Compared to the lake in front of Xialet’s villa, this one was at least an order of magnitude wider.
The larger the lake, the bigger the fish.
In it swam shadowy figures of enormous fish, adding a layer of mystery to the land.
If a lost traveler gazed upon this beautiful field of flowers and lake, they might hesitate to linger, lest they become food for the big fish.
Xue Fei and Belis sat on a giant rock in front of the massive lake, with all the big fish shadows sinking to the bottom.
About a hundred meters away were
Xue Fei’s father and mother, together with Xialet, who had been called over for a private conversation.
At this moment, Xue Fei had temporarily removed the disguise of Visual Magic, and Xialet had also returned to her original appearance.
With her golden hair flowing majestically, Xue Fei stared at the side profile in the distance, reminiscing about the land she had grown up in, feeling an inexplicable sense of comfort and reassurance rise within her.
However, sitting on the huge rock, swinging her dangling legs, her cute complaints were fully conveyed to Belis’s ears.
“Mother really… Xialet is clearly very nervous. I said I would go with her, but Mother insisted we wait here. If I don’t help, Xialet will surely hold a grudge and make sure to give me fewer pieces of cabbage and mushrooms when cooking dinner in the future, who will be responsible for that!”
“Uh… But Your Highness, you clearly said just now you wanted to return to your room to sleep…”
“I didn’t say that; you must have misinterpreted me.”
“……”
It was clearly that reckless Hero who said if Your Highness came with her, he would buy you donuts when you got home, which is why Your Highness came!
Xue Fei did not want to help.
But she knew some things had to be faced by Xialet on her own.
If I spoke on your behalf, the one left feeling the most uncomfortable might be Xialet herself in the end.
So, the donuts are secondary?
Belis observed the reflection of her sister’s expression, noticing a thoughtful and trusting expression…
If you say Belis isn’t envious, that’s impossible.
Rather, she was also sitting on this giant rock, now pouting, unconsciously swinging her legs inwardly, kicking the rocky wall of the giant stone with her shoe sole.
“Your Highness really cares about her… bringing her home to meet Father and Mother. Is that big-chested lady really that good…”
“This isn’t a matter of chest size, and don’t push against me. I know you’ve developed a bit recently, but that’s still far from breaking down my psychological defenses.”
Despite saying such words.
Xue Fei still allowed Belis to do as she pleased, not pushing her sister, who was tightly gripping her arm, away.
Ugh… to be honest, this girl has indeed developed a lot over the years. It used to be uncomfortable when embraced, but now there’s a charm reminiscent of a smaller slime!
And.
Xue Fei seemed to sense a hint of jealousy in the air.
Belis’s low voice held no complaints.
However, it was mixed with that of a child throwing a tantrum, like a small cat growling protectively over its food.
“So, is Your Highness returning home this time… actually because Belis asked you to come back… or is it specifically to bring that big-chested lady to meet Father and Mother? Could it be… that Your Highness agreeing to come home… has nothing to do with me…?”
“……”
The sun hung lower in the west, casting elongated shadows of the two sisters embraced against the giant stone.
But the shadows seemed a bit closer than earlier.
The warmth also increased.
The wind lifted the flower petals, brushing past Xue Fei’s brows.
They flew towards the tranquil lake surface and vanished without a trace.
As flowers fell, words rose.
“Foolish girl… you must know my character well enough to ask such meaningless questions.”
“Yeah… I know, but if I don’t ask, it feels uncomfortable. Belis wants to hear Your Highness say it out loud.”
“You’re really quite spoiled.”
“Only towards you.”
Alright.
You want to hear me say it, but I’m not so bold as to be so frank about it.
Well, just listen to this sentence from me.
“I, if I walk by the lakeside, will always seem to check if there are any big fish that got dizzy from bumping into rocks on shore. If there are, I’ll bring them back to steam. Belis, tell me, am I going by the lakeside to take a walk or to catch fish?”
Upon hearing this, Belis paused for a moment.
But when she looked into Xue Fei’s endlessly vast eyes.
She quickly understood the meaning behind it.
The Second Princess couldn’t help but cover her mouth with her hand, bursting into delighted and unexpected laughter.
“Pff… hahaha… Indeed, Your Highness is still Your Highness!”
“Are you satisfied with this answer?”
“Uh-huh! Though it’s not very clear yet, I’ll let you off for now!”
“Hey!”
If you’ve let me off, don’t hug me suddenly again! I already know you can compete with a small slime!
Mmm…
Your Highness going to the lakeside was neither to catch fish nor to take a walk.
She went to enjoy the two bright moons hanging in the sky, to listen to the gentle sound of the lake water.
Or perhaps to catch a flying petal, regardless of whether she intended to rest her eyes somewhere.
Before she left, there was no clear purpose.
But when she returned, she knew she had walked and even caught fish.
Returning to the Demon King Castle, she didn’t want to be constrained by the idea of bringing Xialet to meet her parents or to make Belis happy.
She made this decision as casually as taking a walk by the lakeside.
But now I’m here.
Xialet has met her father and mother.
Belis, you have seen me return here.
Isn’t that what we all hoped for? Now that we’re here, why bother getting tangled up over that “reason” for departure that didn’t matter?
What matters has never been the departure.
But the place we intend to go.
Ah… Your Highness.
Why, leaning against you, can I not smell the fragrance of the flowers in the garden?
……………………………..
Did you think the jealousy only dwelled with Belis?
That would be a mistake.
Xialet was very nervous just now, but her peripheral vision caught a glimpse of Belis, who was cuddled up next to Xue Fei.
Similar to her expression, Xialet’s aura was almost distorted!
Until that gentle voice broke the silence and pulled her thoughts back to the present.
“Haah… Miss Xialet? I see you gritting your teeth… Is your mood worsened because of ‘someone’?”
“N-no!”
“Hahahaha… Young people are really easy to understand!”
