Volume 4 Chapter 15

Volume 4 + Chapter 15: Xia Yi Who Must Act Cute

“Daughter, hurry up. If you don’t go, we won’t be able to leave the Purple Violet Valley.” Xia Lulu urged from behind.

　

Standing before Dorothea, Xia Yi felt unbearably humiliated.

　

Xia Lulu, you really can talk big while standing on the sidelines—easy for you when you’re not the one acting cute! You just get to sit there and watch the show, huh?

　

Yes. Exactly that.

　

What Xia Lulu demanded Xia Yi to do just now… was to act cute toward Dorothea.

　

Such a request was simply far too outrageous!

　

I am a dignified man! How could I degrade myself into a cutesy loli who acts adorable on purpose?!

　

Xia Yi was furious.

　

But for the moment, there was no other choice except to readjust her emotions.

　

Deep breaths. Deep breaths…

　

She gritted her teeth, stomped her foot, rushed into Dorothea’s arms, and forced herself to show an adorable little smile.

　

“Thank you, Sister Dorothea!”

　

“My, my, Xia Yi, your voice is so sweet. What a precious little cutie you are.”

　

A smile appeared on the face of the golden dragon girl—seventeen years old and fifteen thousand six hundred forty-five months of age—as she pinched Xia Yi’s cheek.

　

“You’re way cuter than Xia Lulu these days.”

　

Xia Yi felt her noble and unyielding Sword Saint spirit nearly shattering.

　

But it wasn’t over. She had no choice but to continue pleading in the sweetest voice she could muster: “Sister Dorothea, we want to leave the Purple Violet Valley and go home. Please help us~”

　

“Well…”

　

“Help Xia Yi, help Xia Yi~!”

　

Xia Yi clung to Dorothea’s hands, gently swaying her body.

　

“Fine!”

　

Dorothea snapped her fingers.

　

The Purple Violet Valley shifted—the violet flowers seemed to come alive, parting to reveal a path.

　

Following the line of sight, Xia Yi saw the road leading out of the valley.

　

“Sister Dorothea, you’re the best!!”

　

Xia Yi hugged Dorothea again, then hurried back.

　

During the whole scene, Serra and Xia Lulu watched from the side.

　

Under their gaze, Xia Yi’s cheeks burned. Especially when she recalled what she had just done… C-could any self-respecting man even do something like that?

　

“Pfft.”

　

Xia Lulu couldn’t hold back and covered her mouth with a quiet laugh.

　

That laugh completely broke Xia Yi’s defenses.

　

“Don’t laugh!! You’re not allowed to laugh!!”

　

Xia Yi was flustered and furious, stomping her feet.

　

“I only did all that so we could leave the Purple Violet Valley! Do you have any idea how much effort and sacrifice that took?!”

　

“Daughter, but you did it quite naturally,” Xia Lulu commented. “You’re honestly very talented at acting cute. Completely self-taught too—I never instructed you on how to charm Dorothea. Looks like you’ve already gotten used to being a girl… you might even be starting to enjoy it.”

　

“Th-this…”

　

Xia Yi wavered.

　

Has her soul truly fallen so far?!

　

Was she… even beginning to enjoy this?

　

“Your Highness, you really were adorable,” Serra said with a smile. “I won’t forget what I saw today.”

　

Xia Yi felt as though she had suffered a critical blow. She didn’t even have the strength to protest anymore, feeling as if her soul were drifting out of her body.

　

“Well then, goodbye, Dorothea.”

　

Xia Lulu turned back to bid farewell to Dorothea.

　

Dorothea said nothing, simply turning around and disappearing into the sea of flowers.

　

Afterward, Serra released her true dragon form, transforming into a massive red dragon. Carrying Xia Lulu and Xia Yi on her back, she spread her wings and soared out of the Purple Violet Valley.

　

……

　

Dragon Palace.

　

“Your Highness, why do you look so listless?”

　

Serra stared at Xia Yi in confusion.

　

“Didn’t Her Majesty praise you for being cute? Shouldn’t you be happy?”

　

It was already afternoon when Xia Yi returned from the Purple Violet Valley to the Dragon Palace. During the entire time, the little princess remained gloomy.

　

Especially whenever she remembered that Xia Lulu had actually ordered her to act cute toward Dorothea…

　

That was basically humiliating her!

　

Could it be… this was all part of the Silver Dragon Queen’s plan?

　

Was she trying to use this method to crush Xia Yi’s Sword Saint spirit, so she would accept reality and willingly become her daughter?

　

The more Xia Yi thought about it, the angrier she became.

　

Angrier and angrier.

　

Angrier and angrier and angrier——

　

Good grief!

　

This was intolerable—absolutely intolerable!

　

She suddenly slammed the table and sprang to her feet in front of her personal maid.

　

“Your Highness, what’s wrong?” Serra asked in confusion.

　

“Serra, where is Xia Lulu right now?”

　

“Your Highness, if you’re going to see Her Majesty, you’ll have to wait a little,” Serra explained. “Her Majesty is in her office processing accumulated state affairs. She does not wish to be disturbed and is seeing no one at the moment.”

　

“Fine! Then I’ll go see her now!”

　

Xia Yi didn’t listen at all. She threw open the door and strode out of her room.

　

Right now, she was going to confront Xia Lulu and settle everything!

　

Clearly, she hadn’t been firm enough lately—that must be why Xia Lulu started treating her like some soft persimmon!

　

What a joke. She was a Sword Saint who feared nothing—not some squishy, helpless little loli!

　

“Looks like things just got interesting.”

　

Serra’s lips curled up as she followed behind Xia Yi.

　

The two arrived before the Silver Dragon Queen’s office.

　

“Greetings, Your Highness.”

　

The dragon guards saluted upon seeing Xia Yi.

　

“Enough, stand aside. I need to see Xia Lulu!”

　

Xia Yi waved her little hand, motioning them to step away.

　

“Apologies, Your Highness. Her Majesty has ordered that she is not to be disturbed while handling state affairs, and therefore she is seeing no one at this time,” the guards refused.

　

“No. I must see her right now!” Xia Yi declared firmly. “If you continue blocking me, I don’t mind defeating you as well!”

　

“This…”

　

The guards were troubled. How could they possibly fight the princess?

　

Serra stepped forward. “It’s fine, you two. Any consequences will be borne by Her Highness. She came here with resolve. Isn’t that right, Your Highness?”

　

“Yes, that’s right!”

　

Xia Yi nodded. Somehow, there was something strange about Serra’s wording… though she couldn’t pinpoint what.

　

“Very well. Since Her Highness will take responsibility, we will withdraw.”

　

The guards stepped back.

　

Mission accomplished!

　

Xia Yi marched inside. After knocking, she pushed the door open.

　

“Xia Lulu!”

　

“Oh, daughter, it’s you.”

　

Surrounded by stacks of paperwork, Xia Lulu lifted her head and looked toward the door.

　

“Having proper manners is important. As a princess, you mustn’t be so rude.”

　

“Oh—right.”

　

Xia Yi pinched the sides of her skirt, lifting it gracefully in an elegant display of royal etiquette.

　

“Good afternoon, Mother… no, no, no!”

　

That damn nemesis! Using her ingrained habits to try and control her—she wouldn’t fall for it!

　

After steadying her emotions, Xia Yi stared at Xia Lulu, eyes blazing.

　

“Xia Lulu, I’m here today to… settle this once and for all—woman to woman!!”