Chapter 113

Chapter 113: Mama’s Scolding Face

They’d been out all morning, then spent the afternoon hopping between various restaurants.

Yet, Naya hadn’t heard any news of soldiers being dispatched from the palace to hunt down the dragons.

Now, as they were planning to head to the next shop, Naya was looking around carefully, when Iris leaned over and whispered into her ear.

“Relax, the king won’t be that foolish. Back near Rex City, Illya had already exposed our identities to Samira. They’re not stupid enough to pick a direct fight with the Dragon King. If there were a battle in Boros City, it would bring nothing but a bloody storm—the loss is not worth the risk.”

“You’re not entirely wrong. But won’t they still send people to follow us secretly?”

“It’s not that easy to tail us. As long as we keep a low profile—look, there are so many people with similar hair colors out here—they’d have a hard time singling us out. Besides, I’m very skilled at counter-surveillance. Just relax.”

Iris wrapped an arm around Naya’s shoulders, and Naya’s tense expression finally softened. She looked down at Illya in her arms.

“Sorry, Illya, for ruining your day with Mama’s endless worrying.”

“Not at all! Today was really fun going out with you and Mother. We even bumped into my old friend Samira, met a human princess, and… went to so many places and ate a lot of food. Today was a very satisfying day!”

Illya patted her stomach.

Because Naya was reluctant to head back, she’d been taking Illya to various restaurants to keep her entertained, letting her eat to her heart’s content.

Illya was hoping Mama would stay worried a bit longer, so she could try all the delicious foods in Boros City.

“Haha, as long as Illya’s happy.”

Naya had originally planned to let Illya experience a bit of human culture. But they’d ended up mostly eating, leaving few sights explored.

“Alright, let’s head back to the inn. Illya’s eaten enough today that she can skip dinner.”

“No! I still want to eat!”

“What a greedy little cat.”

Naya leaned down and kissed Illya’s nose, making her giggle.

Once back at the inn, Naya walked to the window, opened it, and gazed down at the street from the third floor. It was about four in the afternoon. The afternoon sunlight, not as harsh as noon, felt warm against her skin.

She suddenly recalled that morning’s incident.

Turning back to Illya, who was playing with her toy blocks, Naya walked over to Iris, reached for her hand, and tugged her to stand.

“Come here for a second.”

“Hmm?”

Iris looked up from Illya’s blocks with a puzzled expression and stood at Naya’s gentle pull.

“Oh, come on already.”

Illya was carefully assembling her toy blocks—a new set they’d bought her in Rex City, plenty to keep her occupied.

Naya led Iris over to the window, then drew the curtain closed, blocking Illya’s view. Rising slightly on her tiptoes, she pressed a kiss to Iris’s vibrant red lips.

Iris blinked in surprise, then slid her arms around Naya’s waist, deepening the kiss, exchanging the warmth and softness between them.

“Mmm…Haha… I’m sorry about this morning. I wasn’t very nice to you.”

“Hmm? When was that?”

“Earlier, when I wanted you to carry Illya. My tone was probably…a bit off. I was just so worried, you know, about something happening. I had you carry Illya because I trust in your strength, not to burden you or treat you like a servant.”

“Oh, so that’s what it was?”

“Yeah…”

Naya rested her head on Iris’s shoulder.

“When it comes to Illya, I get anxious and may sometimes speak sharply. Can you forgive me?”

“One more kiss, and I’ll forgive you.”

“I’ll give you a hundred~”

Seeing Iris’s complete lack of offense, Naya felt a weight lift from her heart, and she resumed their kiss, entwining their lips and tongues.

They say love breeds arrogance.

With Iris pampering her like this, Naya sometimes forgot her usual self, unconsciously relying on Iris’s indulgence and behaving overconfident.

But afterward, Naya would reflect on herself.

No one’s perfect, it’s natural to make mistakes in a relationship. What matters is making up with Iris afterward.

Illya curiously turned her head toward the window.

She could see the curtain shifting, moving in a way that didn’t look like it was from the wind.

What are Mama and Mother doing now?

Could it be…they’re doing something embarrassing again?

Knowing full well, Illya chose not to disturb them and focused on her toys instead.

Sure enough, when her Mother and Mama emerged from behind the curtain, Illya noticed the noticeable blush on her Mother’s face. Compared to her, Mama had thicker skin, but even she looked rosier than usual.

Adults are so confusing.

But thinking about it, Illya could relate. Even a kiss on the forehead or cheek from Mama made her jump with joy, so it made sense that her usually stoic Mother couldn’t hide her pleasure when showered with Mama’s affection.

Illya felt a little envious, but she had started to understand certain unspoken boundaries.

This level of kissing was something only Mother could do with Mama.

Even if she felt envious, she had to keep it to herself. Otherwise, she might find herself in trouble.

…

Night falls.

After a bath and dinner, Naya and Illya were nestled in bed, ready for their usual bedtime story session.

Naya sat cross-legged on the bed with Illya leaning in her arms.

Naya looked up at the pink bed curtains, thinking hard.

She felt like the stories in her head were about to be drained out after she regained her memory.

“Hmm… what should I tell you tonight?”

“Mama, is there another story about a princess?”

“A princess, huh…”

Thinking of the human princess they’d encountered that morning—a lovely silver-haired little girl—Naya decided to go with a classic fairy tale.

“How about the story of Snow White?”

“Yay!”

“Long ago, in a human kingdom, there was a beautiful princess named Snow White, with skin as fair as snow and gorgeous silver hair. But the king married an evil stepmother, a wicked witch. This witch envied Snow White’s beauty, and whenever she asked her magic mirror, ‘Mirror, mirror, on the wall, who is the fairest of them all?’ the mirror always replied that Snow White was the fairest. Furious, the witch decided to get rid of Snow White.”

“And then?”

“And then…”

Snow White ran away and found refuge with seven kind dwarfs, but even under their protection, she accidentally ate a poisoned apple.

At that moment, Iris opened the door and walked in, looking at the mother and daughter sitting cross-legged on the bed, and smiled slightly.

“Not asleep yet?”

“Mhm, we were waiting for you.”

“Come on, Mama! Hurry and keep going!”

“So impatient.”

Naya lay Illya down gently, kissed her forehead, and continued.

“Only true love’s kiss could wake the sleeping Snow White. One day, a beautiful foreign princess passed by and was deeply enchanted by the sight of the sleeping Snow White. She came close and awakened Snow White with a kiss of true love, defeated the evil witch, and the two princesses lived happily ever after.”

Naya had intentionally turned the prince into a princess in her story.

She didn’t mind raising Illya with a taste for Yuri relationships.

Rather, if Illya grows up and started dating a boy, Naya would probably break Illya’s legs.

Her Illya was so adorable, no way was she letting any random guy have her.

“That’s wonderful! The two princesses joined forces and defeated the evil witch!”

“And that’s the end of the story, Illya. Time for bed.”

Content, Illya snuggled against Naya’s chest, closing her eyes to sleep.

“Good night, Mama.”

“Good night, Illya.”

Naya cast one last glance at Iris.

“What were you up to? Coming back so late?”

“Oh, nothing much. I went out with Flanna and Bella to scout the area, making sure we wouldn’t be woken by a door-knocking disturbance like in Gerris City.”

“I see. Thank you. Hurry and get in bed—I’m tired too. Let’s get some sleep.”

Iris really could be so thoughtful.

Naya smiled warmly, patting the empty space on the bed.

Iris took off her cardigan and lay down beside her.

Once the lights were off, Naya and Iris, as always, interlaced their fingers across Illya. Only when she felt Iris’s presence did Naya feel at ease enough to fall asleep.

While waiting for her beloved family members to fall asleep, Iris lifted her other hand and placed it gently on Illya’s forehead.

Sure enough, she sensed an unfamiliar energy disturbance.

That morning, she had lied to Naya—Illya had indeed been affected by Hipper’s illusion spell.

Iris hadn’t seen the red eyes Illya described, but she could sense the energy within Hipper’s gaze.

The spell was only now beginning to take effect.

However, since it didn’t seem to be harming Illya, the Black Dragon King, connected to Illya’s subconscious, had not intervened to block this power’s influence.

In Illya’s dream.

The scene was tinged with a deep crimson, and standing before her was an elegant princess in a white dress. Her long silver hair glistened faintly with a holy, pure light under the blood-red moonlight.

The silver-haired princess lifted her skirt with both hands and gave Illya a gentle bow.

“Hello, Dragon. My name is Hipper Octaviel, Princess of the Kingdom of Dia. It’s an honor to meet you.”

“Hello, Princess of the human race. I’m glad to meet you too. May I ask, is something troubling you?”

Hipper lifted her head, this time without the black eyepatch covering her left eye.

Her left eye, which had been as green as her right eye, instantly turned red, just as Illya had seen that morning.

Illya began seeing strange images.

But unlike earlier, this time, she was flooded with memories—memories of Hipper’s pain.

Hipper’s mother was a witch. After her mother gave birth to her, she was always treated coldly due to her unusual background.

She’d been confined to the royal palace for years, cut off from the outside world.

When Hipper was three years old, her father executed the witch (Her mother).

As she grew older, Hipper asked people around her about her mother, only to be told that her mother committed a serious crime, leading her father to kill her. She was never told what the crime was.

Hipper felt that her father had never considered her his daughter.

She poured out her troubles to Illya, her tearful gaze meeting Illya’s.

“Will you come to save me, beautiful pink dragon?”

“How can I save you?”

“Tonight, I’ll go to the tower I remember from my childhood. I’ll wait for you there. Will you come?”

A memory flickered in Illya’s mind, and she recognized the tower in the palace.

But she didn’t agree right away.

“I… I have to ask my Mama.”

“You have to come. I beg you, beautiful Dragon, sweet little Dragon girl.”

“Ahh… I really want to save you, but I have to ask my Mama first, Princess. Please wait for a moment, I’ll go ask her.”

Illya woke up with a start.

She raised her head from Naya’s chest.

“Illya?”

She heard her Mother’s voice.

“Mother? I… I had a dream.”

Illya turned over, about to tell Iris what she had seen in her dream, when Iris spoke first.

“Did you dream about the human princess?”

“How did you know?”

“I’m under her illusion too.”

“Huh? So… it was an illusion?”

“Yes.”

Iris gently moved Naya’s arm aside and gently took Illya out of her embrace.

In the deep darkness, Iris’s red eyes glowed faintly, casting light on Illya’s innocent face.

“What did you see? Can you tell me, so we can compare?”

Illya shared everything she’d seen in her dream with Iris, her pink eyes shining with a hint of hope by the end.

“She wants us to rescue her, Mother. I want to save her. It’s so sad that the human princess has been locked up in the palace all this time.”

“Go ahead.”

Illya turned to look at Naya who was sleeping soundly on the bed.

“I have to talk with Mama to let her know.”

“Mama won’t agree. Listen to your Mother, Illya. Do what you want to do—you’re six years old now. It’s time to start making your own decisions.”

It seemed Naya’s worries that morning hadn’t been misplaced.

Iris picked up Illya reluctantly because she wanted her to go and do what she desired.

If they followed Naya’s way of sheltering Illya, how could Illya ever make her own choices?

“Umm… but Mama will be angry. If I explain my request to her, she will surely agree to my request.”

“Your Mama won’t agreed, Illya. That’s just her personality. I’ll have Flanna and Bella protect you in secret. You go and do what you want.”

“But… Mama will be angry…”

Illya bit her lip, torn between choices.

After sneaking out to the beach with her friends and was being beaten by the Heroes, Illya had learned her lesson deeply to not to go running off without telling Mama.

Overwises, it would only end badly.

“At worst, I’ll kneel on the washboard later. Listen, Illya, don’t you want to save the princess? Isn’t it a beautiful thing for a dragon to rescue a human princess?”

Illya looked at Iris, stunned.

Her Mother’s gentle words felt like a devil’s whisper.

Every sound plucked at her restless heartstrings.

“Whatever happens, I’ll bear it. Mama won’t blame you. Go on, Illya, don’t hesitate.”

Iris took the dress hanging by the bed, carried Illya to the door, and knocked on the neighboring room.

A moment later, Flanna and Bella peeked out.

“Your Majesty, Princess.”

“Go on, Illya. Go with Flanna and Bella to rescue the princess.”

“Uh… but…”

Illya clenched her fists, struggling.

“Flanna, help Illya change.”

Half-pushing her along, Iris handed the clothes to Flanna and gently nudged Illya toward Flanna and Bella.

“Mother…”

Illya looked back at Iris, still hesitant.

But Iris’s gaze remained encouraging and unwavering.

“Illya, you must have the resolve to be a Dragon King. You can’t always just act with Mama’s approval.”

“All right…”

Finally, Illya’s desire to help the princess overcame her fear of Mama’s wrath.

Since Mother had encouraged her, and with Flanna and Bella by her side, she trusted that everything would be okay.

Besides, she was stronger now—even Saint-ranked Semira couldn’t match her. She could handle herself.

With her resolve set, Illya leapt into Flanna’s arms, declaring loudly.

“Get me dressed, let’s go rescue the princess!”

“Yes, Princess.”

Flanna hugged her, gently stroking her soft pink hair, then glanced up at the Queen.

They had already secretly planned every detail that evening during Naya and Illya’s bath time.

After Iris gave a nod, Flanna took Illya into the room.

So, a secret mission unknown to Naya began.