Chapter 7

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Chapter 7: Welcome Back

Flanna was one of the three maids stationed to guard the castle.

As the former strongest warrior of the Dragon Clan, Flanna didn’t feel that being appointed as a maid by the Dragon Queen Iris was a disgrace.

On the contrary, she considered becoming Iris’s maid to be the greatest blessing of her life.

Every time she stood by Naya’s side, watching her take care of Illya, Flanna felt as though her heart was filled with the sweetness of honey.

Having grown weary of slaughter and conflict, Flanna was hired by Iris five years ago.

Queen Iris suppressed the aggressive dragon blood within her, allowing her to perfectly evolve into a maid.

She was no longer a machine for war.

Ah, Miss Naya, to avoid wasting food, carefully wiped the bread crumbs from the corner of Illya’s mouth and naturally placed them into her own mouth.

What a warm and loving scene!

Why did Her Majesty the Queen specifically instruct her before leaving to keep a close eye on Miss Naya, and to report any unusual behavior to her immediately?

She even emphasized the need to carefully check the lunch prepared by Miss Naya and to protect Illya.

Miss Naya was clearly acting no different than usual, still as gentle as always.

What did “protect Illya” even mean?

Could it be that an enemy had infiltrated the castle recently? Or, was the threat… Miss Naya herself?

After Illya finished eating all the food on the table, Flanna began to clean up the table.

Then she followed closely behind Naya and Illya, not only to be ready to receive Naya’s orders at any time but also to keep an eye on her.

Morning hours.

Naya would take Illya to the study room and teach her how to read and write.

Flanna couldn’t help but think back to the days when Illya was still a dragon egg, anticipating the future to bring the very scene Flanna now witnessed before her.

Before Illya was hatched by Miss Naya, Miss Naya had already begun to study knowledge from books desperately.

Fortunately, Miss Naya only lost her memory, she hadn’t become foolish and could still recognize the words in the books.

Flanna saw all of Naya’s efforts made for Illya.

Naya’s maternal love for Illya shone like a radiant sun.

By noon.

Naya would have Illya study on her own for a while, and Naya would head to the kitchen to personally prepare lunch for Her Majesty the Queen.

In the kitchen, Flanna assisted Naya.

As Naya sifted through the vast memories of her previous life, she grew increasingly frustrated with the lack of ingredients in the kitchen.

Originally, she had wanted to showcase some culinary skills to impress Iris based on memories from her past life.

But, to avoid exposing the truth of her regained memory, Naya opted to make dishes she had previously cooked for Iris like braised spare ribs, fried bacon with garlic sprouts, and roast duck.

These dishes, cut into small pieces, were far too delicate for the Dragon Clan, so only Naya, with her human habits, could pull them off.

Finally, she packed the food into a thermal box and handed it to Flanna to take to Iris.

Dragons can fly once transformed into their dragon form, it only took a few minutes to reach Iris’s location.

However, Iris did not allow Naya to leave the castle on her own, so the task of delivering food had always been handled by the maids.

Carrying the lunch Naya had prepared, Flanna opened the box to inspect it carefully after stepping outside the castle.

No toxic substances were found.

“Her Majesty is really being too much.”

Flanna closed the thermal box.

To suspect that Miss Naya would poison the food—Miss Naya, who was so gentle—how could she ever do anything to harm Her Majesty?

Flanna spread the black dragon wings behind her and in an instant transformed into a giant black dragon, soaring through the sky.

Then, she passed through the vast sea of clouds.

Naya stood in the castle, watching Flanna flying as a giant dragon through the window. She raised her hand to touch the glass, her eyes filled with longing for the outside world.

Five years had passed. What has the human world outside become?

Did people still remember the name of the once strongest hero, Monet?

No, no, no!

Naya shook her head.

What on earth was I thinking? I had been strongly against Illya having contact with humans this morning, yet now I’m starting to miss humanity myself.

For Illya’s sake, I must stay here in the Dragon Clan.

After lunch, and a brief period of entertainment, it was time for Illya to take her afternoon nap.

Naya sat beside Illya, speaking softly to coax her to sleep.

Then she held Illya’s small hand and quietly gazed at her innocent face.

When one has nothing to do, the mind tends to wander.

With nothing to occupy her now, the serene atmosphere surrounding her, Naya began to fear solitude. The eerie silence felt like water seeping into her nostrils and ear canals, stifling her breath and robbing her hearing.

So, she deactivated the silence imposed on the system.

[System, are you there?]

[……]

A string of ellipses appeared in her consciousness.

[Could you perhaps apply to the Lord God to change my main quest? I really can’t bear to destroy my family.]

[Does the host consider this a family?]

[Why wouldn’t it be?]

[Iris has been using you all along. Because of your unique constitution, Iris created Illya. But since Illya’s birth was rather unusual, she implanted her genes into you without your consent, causing you to become pregnant, in order to obtain a Dragon Clan member born through a natural process. She never truly loved you.]

[System, are you trying to drive a wedge between me and Iris?]

[Host, you are still betrothed to Lina, have you forgotten her?]

[Mute the system.]

Just hearing the system speak made her angry.

Even if Lina had been waiting for her, still thinking of her five years after her death, hoping for her to return home.

How could she face Lina now?

Given her current state, she had no face left to confront her former comrade-in-arms.

Moreover, she had already fallen in love with Iris and had already married Iris. She shouldn’t still be hung up on past relationship.

Naya clutched her chest.

Deep inside, there was a sadness brewing that was unfamiliar to Naya.

What was this all about?

Could it be that I really still can’t let go of Lina?

As someone who had died, should I really reappear in front of her?

Damn system.

If I had known, I wouldn’t have lifted its silence.

Naya returned to her room, taking a short nap to try to calm the anger that the system had once again provoked.

Time passed unknowingly, and it was already dusk.

After preparing dinner, Naya eagerly waited downstairs for Iris to return from work.

When that crimson figure stepped through the castle doors, bathed in the golden glow of the setting sun, Naya rushed forward and hugged Iris, their shadows blending together in the twilight.

The gentle fragrance of Iris enveloped her senses, and as she felt the warmth from Iris’s body, Naya’s heart, agitated by the system, finally found a moment of peace.

No matter what, her body’s sensations didn’t lie.

Through her physical contact with Iris, Naya could feel comfort and happiness. She buried her head in Iris’s neck, her voice involuntarily becoming soft and tender.

“Welcome back, Iris.”

Iris raised her hand, resting it on Naya’s back, a slight smile playing at the corners of her mouth.

“Yes, I’m back, Naya.”

I’m very happy to come back and see you are still you.