Volume 4 Chapter 41

Volume 4 + Chapter 41: A Rare Chance To Tease

“Ati-ya?”

Xia Yi called out, but there was no response.

She found it strange. Although Atiya could be scatterbrained, she was still a full member of the Royal Maid Corps—normally very disciplined and respectful toward the royal family.

Puzzled, Xia Yi turned around to look—and then froze on the spot.

“…She’s gone?”

Atiya, who had been following right behind her, had completely vanished. No matter how she searched within her line of sight, she couldn’t find her.

“Serra! Atiya is missing!” Xia Yi tugged urgently on Serra’s hand.

“Hm?”

Serra also turned around. Seeing no trace of Atiya, she showed the same confused expression.

“How strange… I clearly saw Atiya beside us just moments ago. How did she disappear in the blink of an eye…?”

“Serra, you don’t know where she went either?” Xia Yi asked.

Serra shook her head. “My apologies, Your Highness—I don’t know.”

Xia Yi didn’t believe Atiya would wander off without orders. But something struck her as even stranger—Serra’s reaction.

Despite both being members of the Royal Maid Corps, she showed no panic over her companion’s sudden disappearance—not even surprise.

As if this were completely normal.

“Serra… have you experienced something like this before?”

“Yes, Your Highness,” Serra replied with a gentle smile. “Actually, Atiya is a super hopeless case when it comes to directions.”

“There’s actually something like that?! What exactly happened back then?!”

“Well…”

Serra paused to think for a moment, then began recounting.

“To be honest, Your Highness, there was one time when Atiya and I left the palace together for a mission. It was a long time ago—both of us were still apprentice maids back then.”

“What kind of mission?”

“It was an investigation. A reactionary group had appeared within the Dragon Kingdom, attempting to overthrow Her Majesty. After receiving the order, Atiya and I were sent to gather intelligence on locations linked to the organization and report back. But on the way… something completely unexpected happened.”

“What happened afterward?” Xia Yi asked eagerly.

“Atiya, who was travelling with me, suddenly disappeared without a trace. I was confused, but the mission was too important. I couldn’t make a scene or search too openly. After waiting for her without success, I decided to continue the mission alone and headed to where the organization was active.”

Serra continued.

“I disguised myself, conducted covert investigations, bribed numerous informants, and finally obtained intel. I even made contact with the organization itself. But just as I was preparing for cautious engagement… something utterly unimaginable occurred.”

“What was it?!”

Xia Yi was becoming anxious just listening.

This Serra—why was she so good at suspense?! How could she stop halfway like that?!

“The reactionary organization was annihilated.”

“Who did it?”

“I was confused too, so I rushed to their base. And there I found Atiya—smiling foolishly. She did it.”

“Atiya is that strong?”

“I couldn’t believe it either. But after questioning her, I learned the truth.” Serra paused. “Atiya had gotten lost—so lost that she became disoriented from hunger and wandered farther and farther… straight into the organization’s headquarters. Since she looked quiet and pretty, those men developed indecent intentions toward her. Atiya refused, they fought, and she battled them for several days and nights—until everyone was dead. By the time I arrived, she still didn’t realize she had wiped out the exact target we were supposed to investigate.”

“…”

Xia Yi fell silent.

The story was absurd—but somehow, when it came to Atiya… it felt disturbingly believable.

It really did sound like something she could do.

But then Xia Yi suddenly imagined—What if Atiya ran into trouble again, her brain short-circuited… and she started tearing apart the Vampire royal palace—?

Oh no.

That also sounded like something she could do.

If that really happened… it would be disastrous.

“Serra, hurry and go look for Atiya. We can’t let her cause trouble.”

“I cannot guarantee I can find her quickly. However, since it is Your Highness’s command, I will carry it out.” Serra nodded. “Also, Your Highness—do you need me to accompany you to the queen’s coronation ceremony?”

“No need, Serra. I’ll be fine on my own. Finding Atiya is the priority!”

“As you command, Your Highness.”

Serra acknowledged and left to search for Atiya.

“I really hope… nothing happens…” Xia Yi muttered to herself.

…

Xia Yi walked alone into the venue of the Vampire Queen’s coronation.

Her arrival instantly drew countless gazes toward her.

Among them were many high-ranking beings—staring with curiosity, vigilance, hostility, speculation, displeasure…

Yet Xia Yi felt no pressure or discomfort.

Having received elite royal training, she had long since mastered every skill and quality required of a Dragon Royal heir.

Xia Yi lifted her chest slightly and stepped onto the red carpet. Her heels tapped out a graceful rhythm, her posture textbook-perfect—exuding the aura of a true royal.

Much like the Silver Dragon Queen herself, she displayed faint disdain toward the surrounding gazes, an aloof arrogance befitting one above all others, as she entered the hall.

“That’s… the Silver Dragon Queen, isn’t it?”

“The Dragons actually accepted the Vampire’s invitation and attended the coronation in person.”

“Perhaps today will spark another bloody clash between upper races.”

Many powerful figures whispered among themselves.

Because of the previous conflict with the Vampire, the Dragon Queen’s outrageous rampage was already well known.

In the past, some might have approached to speak with the Dragons.

But now, most kept their distance, quietly observing—waiting for someone else to step forward first before deciding their own response…

Xia Yi’s gaze swept across the hall, and soon she spotted a familiar figure. She blinked, then decided to walk over.

“Hello~” Xia Yi greeted cheerfully.

The girl looked surprised to see her. But since Xia Yi had already greeted her, she had no choice but to reply.

“Greetings, Silver Dragon Queen. I am Yue Liu · Gitusezhuoya, princess of the Nine-Tailed Fox Clan. To think I would meet you here by chance…” Yue Liu replied very formally.

This was too funny!

Seeing the girl trying so hard to act proper made Xia Yi want to laugh. Clearly she had mistaken her for the actual Silver Dragon Queen.

Since it was such a rare chance… 

How could Xia Yi possibly miss the opportunity to tease this little fox?