Before Lady Xuefei had “dropped” Tilly off in Arios Town, she had entrusted the task to her maid, Lucy.
Lucy’s mission was to shadow Tilly, ensure she didn’t do anything too outrageous, and above all, get her home before noon.
Lady Xuefei had predicted it perfectly.
After finishing her registration, Tilly had no intention of heading straight home. Instead, she lingered around the signup area for a while.
And now, that very maid was starting to feel anxious.
It was nearly noon, and Tilly still hadn’t emerged. She was wandering around the registration site, busying herself with who-knew-what. Anyone who didn’t know better might think the kid had been kidnapped.
If there really was a student capable of kidnapping the Evil Dragon’s child, that would be a miracle in itself.
“This is a task from Lady Xuefei herself. I can’t let her down. Pull it together…”
Lucy slapped her cheeks to pep herself up and strode straight toward the building.
The main street was still bustling with traffic, carriages streaming endlessly into Arios Town.
No one knew exactly what was drawing all these students from Ephise Academy to the competition.
Catching sight of the powerful figures gathered at the registration area, Lucy couldn’t help but worry.
The child of the Dragon King should be able to handle them, right?
She hadn’t gone far when she spotted a familiar figure up ahead.
Smaller and more delicate than the dainty Dragon Consort, she resembled a cute fledgling bird. Her beautiful silver hair cascaded to her waist, and her chubby little cheeks just begged to be pinched.
“Lady Princess?!”
“Lucy…”
The little dragon spotted the maid assigned to ferry her around and let out a sigh.
Lucy had initially thought it might be her own negligence on the job, but one look at Miss Tilly’s forlorn expression made everything clear.
This kid had definitely gotten into an argument with someone.
She looked utterly dejected, her little eyes fixed blankly on the floor. Only then did she lift her head, mumbling, “How can there still be such disrespectful jerks who don’t honor the Dragon King?”
“Let’s head home first. I’ll report this to your mother.”
At those words, Tilly’s eyes began to tremble, her tiny fists clenching. It seemed like she was experiencing anger for the first time.
The kid was only a few months old, but thanks to her rapid development, she already looked about ten. Tilly even felt that a competition like this wasn’t suitable for such a young child.
“Woo…”
“Who dared to disrespect Little Tilly?” Lucy crouched down and gently stroked her small head.
Tilly’s tears were on the verge of falling, but in the end, she just sighed.
“It’s nothing. Just wait till I get into that school—they’ll regret it!”
“Miss Tilly is the best. How could the ragtag bunch from Ephise even compare to you?” Lucy continued to comfort her.
But soon enough, Lucy realized that she herself had been a student at that school—and not just any student, but one who’d placed third overall. Her colleagues were all top-notch too, including relatives of the Demon King. A few years back, the outskirts of the Evil Dragon Palace had been barren, but it was undoubtedly the most prestigious spot in the entire Demon Realm.
Lucy took Tilly’s little hand and glanced at the magic watch on her wrist, sighing.
“This competition—do you actually want to join it, Tilly?”
Tilly hesitated, her steps a bit unsteady.
“Yeah…
“Because Mom wants me to. I don’t want to disappoint her.”
“I see.”
“Yeah, Mom’s super competitive and cautious, so I have to do this. What do you think, Lucy?”
Tilly looked up at her with curious eyes.
Normally, Lucy had no business meddling in the Dragon King’s family affairs.
But hearing the sadness in Tilly’s voice changed her mind. She resolved to help the little one. Surely a child this young, no matter how strong, couldn’t compete with those big brothers and sisters who’d already grasped the darkness of the world.
Besides, hadn’t the little thing only just been weaned?
So, after bringing Tilly home, Lucy rushed upstairs, pulling her along, determined to discuss the matter thoroughly with Lady Xuefei.
If it had been Leia, she might have refused to see a mere maid.
But Lady Xuefei was different.
Ever since arriving at the palace, she’d treated the maids with remarkable kindness. During those two Evil Dragons’ honeymoon phase, the maids had relied on her just as much as they did Head Maid Laer.
Surely she’d listen to Lucy’s advice…
To her surprise, the restaurant was empty—no sign of Lady Xuefei. It was already 11:30, well past egg-incubation time.
She scanned the deserted dining hall and looked down at Tilly.
Shockingly, the little girl’s expression seemed to scream, “I know everything!”
“Tilly, do you know where Lady Xuefei is?”
“I… probably do.”
Tilly nodded carefully, released Lucy’s hand, and her expression grew serious and solemn, as if she were pondering a matter of utmost importance in her young life. After a long pause, she spoke in her tender, childish voice, her words heavy with earnest concern:
“Don’t go there… I’ll tell Mama about it.”
“Ah, I understand.”
Lucy nodded.
Unlike Lucy, Tilly had access to the Evil Dragon’s private life. The maids knew Leia’s habits and interests well enough, but when it came to matters that strayed far beyond the ordinary, this little one was far better informed than they were.
Just as she prepared to turn and leave, Lucy let out a sigh and said:
“May Lady Tilly’s fortunes in battle ever prosper.”
“Thank you, Lucy.”
Tilly bid farewell to the maid, bowing with refined elegance in imitation of Xuefei’s graceful poise.
She turned and made her way through the wide corridor, twisting left and right while glancing about curiously. It didn’t take long to find a shortcut: a narrower secret passage without windows, illuminated only by a few eternally burning torches that marked the path ahead.
In that moment, Tilly felt just like an adventurer delving into ancient ruins.
Of course, the stories Mama told her were all about how the Evil Dragon slaughtered and devoured any pitiful intruders who dared trespass…
As for where this path led, Tilly’s keen magical senses had already made it abundantly clear.
The air carried a distinctive scent—one Tilly recognized all too well. Whenever Mama Leia and Mama Xuefei shared a room, this familiar aroma filled the space, bringing with it a profound sense of security. She followed it up a flight of stairs and finally pushed open a door…
“Creeeak.”
The scene beyond gave Tilly a slight pause.
In the office, curtains drawn tight, Mama Xuefei sat half-naked astride Leia in the central chair, her face flushed deep crimson. The two traded kisses now and then, their warm breaths teasing each other’s cheeks—and in this moment, after who knew what ordeals, Xuefei’s eyes had glazed over in near-delirium.
Leia gripped the metal collar around Xuefei’s neck, her eyes gleaming with a murderous red light.
Tilly knew full well that until that red glow faded, Mama Leia wouldn’t let Mama Xuefei off the hook.
This wasn’t the first time she’d caught one mama tormenting the other, or the reverse. Unaware of Tilly’s approach, they carried on—and she fixed Mama Xuefei with a reproachful little glare, along with those sweet, homey Snow Mountains.
“Mommy made a mistake again, huh… poor thing…”
