Volume 4 Chapter 9

Volume 4 + Chapter 9: The Banquet In The Dragon Royal Palace

“Welcome home, Your Highness the Princess!!”

Hearing everyone’s cheers, Xia Yi felt her eyes welling up slightly. Since when had she become so easily moved?

Following Lucia’s announcement, the banquet in the Dragon Royal Palace officially began. Due to its more private nature, the event was less formal, and everyone was having a wonderful time. In fact… It felt more like a party.

After leaving the Dragon Royal Palace and during her time living incognito in the human world, Xia Yi had to suppress her appetite to avoid exposing her identity, rarely eating her fill. Now, she could finally unleash her appetite completely. At the table laden with sumptuous dishes, she happily indulged in the variety of delicacies prepared by the Royal Maid Corps.

Despite the festive atmosphere, being in a public setting, Xia Yi still displayed impeccable royal etiquette.

“Her Highness the Princess is so elegant, even the way she eats is beautiful!” Elly could not help but sigh as she watched Xia Yi. “If only I could be as impressive as Her Highness someday…”

Hearing Elly’s admiration filled Xia Yi’s heart with pride. Hmph! The etiquette of the Dragon Royal Palace has long been integrated into my instincts, like a passive skill, constantly showcasing the elegance befitting a royal princess.

“Your Highness, does the cuisine meet your expectations?” Serra inquired from beside her.

“Did you prepare these, Serra?” Xia Yi looked up.

“I was responsible for a portion of it,” Serra lowered her voice. “Knowing you dislike broccoli and bitter melon, I made sure to omit those.”

“Serra…!!” Xia Yi was deeply moved. As expected, Serra understood her best.

“Serra, don’t just stand there. Join everyone and enjoy the banquet too!”

“Certainly.” Serra nodded. She then began to enjoy the festivities along with everyone else.

Merely eating couldn’t satisfy everyone, some had already started drinking, and a few were even getting quite tipsy.

“Junior!! Today, there’s something I must tell you!” A tipsy Atiya executed a ‘kabe-don’, cornering Elly against a wall.

“Senior, what are you… trying to do?!” Elly’s face flushed red with fluster.

“Junior, I have always been watching you, never taking my eyes off you.” Atiya’s tone was almost like a heartfelt confession. She even raised her hand, lifted Elly’s chin, forcing her to meet her gaze directly. “These words, I can no longer suppress them. Today, I must say them! Listen carefully and prepare yourself!”

“Senior Atiya, you toward me…!?” Elly grabbed her skirt nervously. “Th-This won’t do!! This absolutely cannot be!!”

“Close your eyes, Junior… I am serious!” Atiya’s tone shifted.

Though incredibly nervous, Elly obediently closed her eyes. Then, she felt her mouth being filled.

Elly opened her eyes in surprise to find Atiya holding a large barrel of wine, pouring it vigorously into her mouth!

“Ahahahaha!” Atiya laughed heartily. “Junior! Don’t be so reserved! Come join us and have some fun!!” Glug, glug, glug!

In an instant, Elly was completely dazed from the forced drinking, stumbling unsteadily.

“Senior Atiya, why are you starting to… split into two?”

“What two? You’re seeing things, I’m clearly four!”

“Is that so?” Elly giggled. “Senior Atiya, you’re drunk!”

“I am not drunk!”

“Senior Atiya, if you’re not drunk, then climb up!”

The thoroughly intoxicated little green dragon maid found a magic lantern, adjusted its light projection to create a beam shining upwards.

“Climb? Fine, I’ll climb… Wait, no! What if you turn off the light halfway? I’d fall! I’m too clever to fall for your trick!” Atiya shook her head.

“I won’t turn it off!”

“Then you demonstrate it for me first!”

“Alright, I’ll do it! Senior Atiya, you mustn’t turn off the light!” Elly rolled up her sleeves, genuinely intending to try.

“Ah, these two… truly an embarrassment.” Lucia sighed, stepped forward, and dragged the two drunken maids away.

“Hey, wait, I haven’t had enough to drink!” “Exactly!! Big Sister Lucia, come have a drink with me too!” Atiya and Elly protested loudly as they were being hauled off. They were bound to regret this once they sobered up.

The scene greatly amused Xia Lulu. Xia Yi was also amused by the two drunken maids. However, she genuinely enjoyed this feeling of everyone gathering together, being rowdy and happy.

…

The banquet concluded. Xia Yi returned to her room. It had been a long time since she was last here. Opening the door and stepping inside, she found everything impeccably tidy, Serra must have been cleaning it regularly. She noticed all the items in the room were in their familiar places, almost unchanged.

Her gaze drifted to her bed, where she saw it—the little dragon plushie!

“Ehehe~!” The silver-haired loli jumped onto the bed, hugged the little dragon plushie tightly, buried her face in it, and inhaled the familiar scent, feeling immense satisfaction. She rolled around on the bed, clutching the plushie.

“Hehe~” Xia Yi heard a light laugh behind her, startling her into stopping and quickly turning around.

It was Serra. “Your Highness is as adorable as ever~”

“N-No… that just now was…” Darn it, carelessness! I forgot Serra was following me. She saw everything, me rolling around with the plushie…

Xia Yi’s face grew warm. This was so damaging to her dignity!

“Forget it, Serra! Hurry up and forget what you just saw!!”

“Mmm, alright, Your Highness,” Serra closed her eyes for a moment. “I’ve already forgotten everything, you see?”

Serra was practically treating her like a child. But Xia Yi didn’t want to dwell on the matter, so she quickly changed the subject. “Serra, were you the one who kept cleaning my room all this time I was away from the Dragon Royal Palace?”

“Yes, Your Highness. It’s part of my duties as a Royal Maid. I always believed you would return from the human world,” Serra replied.

“As expected of the maid I favor! Serra, indeed, you are the only one fit to be my personal maid!”

“Thank you for your praise, Your Highness. Your approval is my greatest motivation.”

After chatting with Serra for a while longer, it was time to rest. Xia Yi yawned.

“Your Highness, it’s time to sleep. You must be tired from your journey back?” Serra asked.

“Ah~ Indeed… a little…” Xia Yi rubbed her eyes.

Serra then helped her change into her pajamas and prepared the bed. After seeing Xia Yi slip under the covers and close her eyes, the head maid turned off the light.

“Goodnight, Your Highness.” Bidding a soft goodnight, Serra left Xia Yi’s room, closing the door behind her.

Sinking into the soft, large bed, the little princess gradually drifted off to sleep—

Not a chance.

Did you really think she would obediently sleep?

“Hehehe, it seems I’ve fooled everyone…” Xia Yi opened her eyes, revealing a mischievous smile. “Now, I’m going to launch a night assault on Xia Lulu and catch her completely off guard!”