Volume 4 Chapter 4

Volume 4 + Chapter 4: Warmth

“Uuu… uuuuuu!”

The silver-haired loli had already cried herself into a little tear-stained kitten.

Xia Yi had never imagined that after all the hardships she endured to return to the Dragon Palace, this would be the result waiting for her.

If she had known that the last time was truly the final time she would see Xia Lulu, she would have honestly told her all of her feelings back then.

But now, it was too late.

Xia Lulu had already left her.

“I’m sorry, Xia Lulu… If I had known, I should have told you earlier. I should have said… actually, I… I…”

But just at that moment, she heard a voice.

“My daughter, what is it you wanted to tell me~?”

“Eh?”

Xia Yi froze for a moment, then lifted her head and saw a familiar figure standing before her.

Long silver hair, a petite frame—the dragon girl gazed at her with a gentle, delighted expression.

She knew this person better than anyone.

It was none other than the ruler of the Dragon Kingdom, the Silver Dragon Queen, Xia Lulu.

“You… you…”

Overwhelmed with joy, Xia Yi sprang to her feet, her tears giving way to a bright smile.

The little animals of the palace’s rear garden circled around the two silver-haired dragon lolis, as if celebrating their reunion.

Cats, dogs, little rabbits, hamsters, fawns, birds…

“Hmm~ looks like there’s a little crybaby here today, isn’t there?” Xia Lulu covered her mouth and smiled.

“I—I…!!”

At once, Xia Yi realized Xia Lulu was talking about her, and she instantly felt flustered.

Xia Lulu had tricked her.

That hateful rival must have deliberately staged a fake disappearance just so that when Xia Yi returned to the Dragon Palace, she would slip up.

She must have been watching her from the shadows the entire time, waiting for the moment Xia Yi showed her biggest opening—just so she could jump out wearing that smug grin and tease her properly.

The Silver Dragon Queen was far too despicable!

“I wasn’t crying!! Who said I was crying?!”

Xia Yi jumped up and hurriedly wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes, turning her face away.

“I just—there was wind! Yeah, there was sand in the wind, and it happened to blow right into my eyes. It was uncomfortable! You just showed up at the wrong time, don’t misunderstand!!”

“Was there wind? I didn’t feel any, my daughter,” Xia Lulu said, raising her hand.

“There was! Definitely!”

Xia Yi insisted stubbornly.

“Not just me— even the animals felt it too. Right, Little Mouse?!”

“Squeak?”

The little hamster tilted its head, completely confused.

Xia Yi shot it a frantic, desperate look—Little Mouse, if you want peanuts, cooperate!!

“You felt the breeze earlier too, didn’t you?”

“Squeak! Squeak!”

Tempted by the promise of peanuts, the hamster nodded.

“See? Xia Lulu, I told you there was wind. It just happened to blow sand into my eyes earlier.”

Xia Yi pretended nothing was wrong and spread her hands.

“Hmph. I am a dignified manly warrior—an unyielding Sword Saint! Even when facing death, I never felt fear. Crying? Impossible. Why would I tear up just because I didn’t see someone? How could that even happen? Don’t overthink it!! It’s not like I care about you or anything!”

“Oh my, my daughter, you really haven’t changed. Still as rigid as ever.”

“I—I’m not being stubborn! I’m not!!” Xia Yi protested frantically.

“Ara? But I meant your unyielding spirit is very strong. I was praising you,” Xia Lulu blinked playfully. “So why did you immediately assume I meant you were being stubborn? Could it be… you felt guilty deep down?”

This is bad!

Xia Yi’s gaze darted away.

That terrible Xia Lulu—she baited her again! She fell right into the trap, walked straight into the wrong lane, and Xia Lulu seized the chance to unleash a devastating combo.

This made her look just like a classic tsundere whose mouth denies everything while her heart says otherwise!

But she wasn’t that kind of person at all!

“Alright, my daughter. I’m just glad you returned safely. Let’s go—let’s leave the garden.”

Xia Lulu turned to walk away.

“Y-You’re just… going like that…?” Xia Yi stammered. “You’re not going to say more or… or do something…?”

“Do what?”

Xia Lulu turned back with a puzzled expression.

“My daughter, did I forget to do something?”

“I’ve been away from the Dragon Palace for so long… and I finally came back… and when you see me, it’s… just this? Just a couple of sentences?”

Xia Yi grew more and more anxious, dropping hint after hint.

But Xia Lulu acted as if she understood none of them, her confusion only deepening.

“Hmm? Didn’t I already ask how you’ve been?”

“Only… verbally?! That’s it?!”

Xia Yi’s expression grew pitiful, almost trembling with grievance.

“I missed you… No—no! You should have missed me a lot! And when you saw me, all you did was say a few words?!”

“Then… what else did you want me to do?”

“I… I…”

Xia Yi was so anxious she was nearly pulling her own hair. Why was Xia Lulu’s comprehension so unbelievably bad?

If it were Serra, she would have understood already—and taken action!

“Come on. I’ll have the royal maid corps arrange a welcome for you. Many people have missed you.”

Xia Lulu’s tone was calm, almost too calm.

As if their long separation was nothing more than an everyday formality.

Realizing this, Xia Yi deflated instantly. Even the ahoge on her head drooped.

“Mm…”

The little princess replied weakly and followed.

So the reunion she had been longing for… amounted to just this…

But as Xia Yi walked past Xia Lulu, the Silver Dragon Queen suddenly stopped.

“Of course… the one who missed you the most… is me.”

Xia Yi froze—and before she could react, she found herself wrapped in an embrace.

A warm embrace from Xia Lulu, accompanied by her gentle voice.

“Welcome home, Xia Yi.”

Hearing those words, Xia Yi felt her heart melt entirely. All the hardships she had endured suddenly felt worthwhile.

Home…

She finally had a place she could return to.

Her lips curved into a joyful smile, her nose stung, and she nearly burst into tears again—though thankfully, she had cried far too much earlier, and this time she held it back.

“R-R-Really… what can I do with you… If you want me that much… then I suppose… one hug isn’t impossible…!”

Xia Yi hugged Xia Lulu back.

Though her mouth said one thing, her tail betrayed her utterly—wagging happily behind her.

“My daughter, earlier… what was it you wanted to tell me?” Xia Lulu asked with curiosity.

“I just… missed you a tiny bit… not too much… just a little more than usual… just a little…”

The little princess’s cheeks flushed pink, her voice growing softer and softer from embarrassment—yet Xia Lulu still heard the sincere words hidden within.

“…I missed you.”