Chapter 8

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Chapter 8: Cancel The Bedtime Story Session

“Mama, Mother, stop hugging already! I can’t wait anymore! I want dinner!”

While the two were still embracing passionately, Illya, sitting at the dinner table, had already grown impatient. She turned to the two at the door and urged them.

Only then did Naya awkwardly let go of Iris.

Her cheeks visibly flushed.

After the family of three finished dinner, Naya routinely helped Illya with her bath.

Meanwhile, Iris found herself some free time to chat with the maids.

Today, the main person in charge of watching over Naya and Illya was Flanna.

After the other two maids had cleaned up the dining table, Flanna brought the after-dinner drinks to Iris.

Sitting in a chair, Iris picked up the milk tea handed over by Flanna and took a small sip.

“What did Naya do today?”

“Your Majesty, Miss Naya was the same as always today, with no changes. Have you been overworking yourself lately?”

Flanna didn’t quite believe that Naya would do anything to harm Iris or Illya.

In her eyes, Naya and Iris were the perfect couple.

Instead of suspecting Naya of ill intentions, it made more sense to think that her queen was being overly paranoid.

After all, as the Dragon Queen, Iris was frequently subjected to assassination attempts and schemes.

Of course, as a subordinate, it was impossible to directly criticize her superior’s thinking. The best she could do was to subtly imply that Iris’s suspicions were unnecessary.

“Tell me everything Naya did today, from beginning to end, without leaving out a single detail.”

Flanna hesitated for a moment.

But, she still reported everything truthfully.

Just as she said, there was nothing different from usual.

If there was one small difference, it was—

“This afternoon, Miss Naya seemed to be in a bad mood, like she was deep in thought about something. She was distracted even while cooking.”

That was the only change.

But mood swings are normal for people, right?

“I see.”

After listening to Flanna’s account, Iris put down the teacup.

She crossed her legs, resting her chin in one hand.

She began reflecting on what she might have done wrong recently.

The only thing that could possibly make Naya upset was injecting her genes into Naya’s body without telling her.

But, she had already tested Naya this morning and Naya wasn’t troubled by that matter.

The energy she had detected inside Naya felt familiar.

It was very similar to the energy that had erupted when she had nearly killed Naya five years ago, during Naya’s dragon transformation.

Naturally, Iris’s thoughts wandered back to that incident from five years ago.

The worst-case scenario was that Naya had regained her memories and was preparing to exploit Iris’s weakness to kill her and return to being a human hero.

However, based on Naya’s current state, it seemed she was still in a stage of inner conflict.

Iris extended her left hand, gently caressing the ring on her fourth finger, which held a blood-red gemstone.

Naya had once said that wedding rings were a necessity.

She still remembered the joyful and contented smile on Naya’s face when she became Iris’s queen consort.

If Naya truly had regained her memories, should Iris do something to ensure that Naya is still the queen consort that loved her? Should she consider forcibly erasing Naya’s memories from five years ago?

With her powers, she could definitely do it.

But, what if Naya, even with her memories restored, still loved her as always? Would erasing Naya’s memories be too underhanded?

Iris, that’s not like you at all.

Iris closed her eyes and took a deep breath.

As the Dragon Queen, she shouldn’t have any excess emotions. She shouldn’t fall in love with anyone, and even more so, she shouldn’t be soft-hearted toward any potential threat.

Flanna watched Iris in confusion.

Why were both of them—this couple—so gloomy today?

Could it be that the so-called “relationship burnout” had set in?

“Mother! Now you can borrow Mommy from me!”

Illya’s cheerful voice rang out, and Iris’s expression immediately shifted, returning to her usual cold composure.

Of course, when facing her daughter, her eyes still showed a trace of tenderness.

Illya, now being held by Naya, walked over to Iris, wearing nothing but a bathrobe. Naya was also only dressed in a white bathrobe, her hair pinned up high, and her clothes still damp in several spots.

Fortunately, with Ilya in her arms, Naya’s key areas weren’t too prominently exposed.

“Mommy, I’m just lending you to Mother for now. Hurry up and finish your bath. Later, Mommy still has to read me a story!”

Naya smiled faintly.

A year ago, Naya and Illya would always bathe together, while Iris would bathe alone.

But, it seemed that being together in bed wasn’t enough to satisfy Iris’s ever-growing desires.

Sometimes Iris would tease Naya in the bathroom, and over time, Iris had grown accustomed to bathing with Naya, whether or not she had any mischievous intentions. Naya had to stay by her side while bathing.

It wasn’t impossible for all three of them to bathe together, as the bathroom in the castle was large enough.

But what if Iris got carried away and ended up doing something inappropriate, giving Illya an unsightly scene?

Yet Naya was just one person, and both mother and daughter fought over her.

So, Iris gave Illya two options, either bathe alone, or have the maids help her.

But, Iris underestimated Illya’s attachment to her mother.

“If Mommy’s not there, I won’t take a bath at all!”

In response to Iris’s arrangement, Illya stubbornly declared her defiance.

Naya had no choice but to compromise, tending to Illya first and then Iris.

Iris was also infected by Naya’s smile, and her own lips curled up. Only when facing her family would Iris show such a gentle expression.

Naya turned and handed Illya over to Flanna.

“Flanna, I’ll leave Illya in your care for now.”

Blow-drying Illya’s hair, applying powder, and changing her clothes weren’t things that Illya insisted Naya had to do personally.

“Understood.”

Flanna took Illya into her arms.

After those two had left, Flanna revealed a knowing smile.

Adults’ business—those who understand, understand.

Before entering the bathroom, Naya was still immersed in the beautiful memories of the past.

When Naya reached out to untie the knot at the back of Iris’s robe and watched the outer garment fall to the ground, she was suddenly hit by a realization.

After days of repetitive routines, the process had become so natural and habitual that she didn’t even think about it. She simply walked into the bathroom with Iris, her body instinctively undressing Iris.

Ever since Iris returned, Naya’s nerves had inexplicably relaxed. Plus, she had silenced the system early on, and for a moment, she had forgotten about its existence and that she had regained her memories.

Naya froze in place.

Even though the memories of her past life and five years ago dominated her mind, her feelings seemed more tied to the five years she had spent with Iris.

“Naya? What’s wrong?”

After waiting for a while with no further actions from Naya, Iris turned her head to look at her. Naya avoided her gaze, unwilling to meet Iris’s rising chest.

“Nothing…”

Was she getting shy again at the thought of seeing Iris’s bare body?

Recalling Naya’s flustered reaction when they faced each other candidly this morning, Iris suddenly thought that Naya regaining her memories might not be such a bad thing.

But, for now, the most important thing was to test whether Naya still loved her. If Naya couldn’t help but look away—not out of shyness, but out of resistance—it would be clear that Naya’s feelings for her had changed.

So, how to test that?

Iris stepped forward, wrapping her arms around Naya’s slender waist. The tightening pressure against her chest sent their rapidly beating hearts racing toward each other.

“Let’s cancel Illya’s bedtime story tonight.”

After all, Naya might be too exhausted later.