Could there be something wrong with this milk?
It shouldn’t be…
This milk was absolutely top quality—the best in the world. It wouldn’t even spoil if left in the fridge. So, was it simply too cold? Or did Chesia dislike cold food?
It had just come straight out of the fridge, after all. That could certainly cause issues.
Tilly mimicked Chesia’s actions and gave it a tentative lick, sending ripples across her tongue for the second time. As the milk slid down her throat, she shuddered just like Chesia had and let out a puzzled sound.
“Wha?”
“…”
“This…”
Tilly sat on the blanket, her tongue poking out slightly as she struggled for words.
She remembered how the maids had sipped heated milk as afternoon tea, and it had looked utterly delicious. Because of that, Tilly had always firmly believed that milk was only inferior to Mama’s nutrition in terms of its immeasurable nutritional value—the taste shouldn’t differ by much…
Now, she regretted ever thinking that.
“This… what is this?” Tilly blurted out instinctively.
Was this even worthy of being called “milk”?
It was like someone who feasted on gourmet delicacies and lavish meats every day suddenly being forced to gnaw on corn dried out for months. The gap was beyond mere “contrast.” This wasn’t even the same kind of food!
No matter how she looked at it, it was just too awful!
Unwilling to accept defeat, Tilly took another sip, but the taste was disappointingly foul as expected. She stuck out her little tongue, trying desperately to evaporate the strange flavor.
“Woo woo…”
“Mm…” Chesia nodded in agreement. She could tell Tilly was suffering the same plight.
Tilly tried heating the milk with her Blazing Flame, but even warmed up, it was still impossible to swallow. Chesia licked at the now-tepid milk, only to tremble all over like her fur was standing on end. With no other choice, Tilly set the bowl on a nearby table. She returned to Chesia’s side, calming herself to think of another way to fill the little one’s belly.
It wasn’t that they were being overly picky.
This milk simply didn’t measure up to what they expected from “milk”—it didn’t even feel like milk at all!
If dragon milk rated a perfect ten for taste, this stuff barely scraped a two.
There was no way Tilly could finish the entire bowl. Suddenly, she felt a newfound respect for her little maids—they were impressive to turn something like this into so many delicious pastries.
All in all, the milk was truly dreadful!
Mama Xuefei’s nutrition was far superior!
But that brought up the problem: with no nutritional substitute available, what was she to do about Chesia?
Chesia hadn’t been cuddled, and her belly was empty. Her little lips began to quiver, her teary eyes drooping as tears soaked the soft padding of the Dragon Nest. She looked utterly pitiable. She wiped at her tears with her hand, but even more spilled down her cheeks.
Cold, hungry, and helpless.
Chesia burrowed back into Mama Xuefei’s embrace, but with no nutrition to be had, the tears kept falling. This little dragon wouldn’t make a sound, determined not to wake her mother.
There was no other way…
Tilly made up her mind.
She slipped off her clothes and pressed herself against Mama Xuefei, confirming that the other was still deep in slumber. With her tender Dragon Wings, she gently covered Mama’s nose.
Evil Dragons didn’t need to breathe to survive. They were like living furnaces, where breathing mostly served to stoke the flames of their hearts. The flames could be sustained without oxygen through negligible magic to keep the fire burning, but a blocked airway would still cause Mama Xuefei a slight discomfort.
It wouldn’t wake her fully, but it might remind her that her nutrition had run completely dry…
“Mm…”
Mama Xuefei finally sensed something amiss.
The trembling of the little dragon in her arms drew her attention at the same time.
But thanks to the overly extended “exercise time” with Mama Leia before sleep, Mama Xuefei was utterly exhausted. Her freshly returned consciousness slipped back into sweet dreams.
Tilly suddenly recalled that after she’d fallen asleep, in her hazy state, she’d felt a bit of restless movement nearby. She’d assumed it was Chesia squirming against her. In truth, it was Mama Leia teasing Mama Xuefei… But why hadn’t Mama Xuefei made any noise to wake her? She must have discovered an even more comfortable way to play!
Tilly wasn’t surprised by the scene at all.
After all, Mama Leia teased Mama Xuefei to protect her.
Mama Leia did it often, and Mama Xuefei was always so honest about it. Combined with Mama Leia’s vow… Tilly could see just how intimate the Mamas were.
“Mama Xuefei~”
“Hungry…”
Tilly let out a faint, childish whisper.
She was going all out. If she didn’t, Chesia’s tears would soon turn into a river!
“Mm?”
Sensing something amiss, Xuefei abruptly opened her eyes. Her terrifying diamond-shaped pupils darted around, searching for her most precious daughters as an instinctive fear gripped her that they might be in danger.
She spotted Chesia curled up against her left arm, clutching it tightly—(Meow~)—and it tickled a little… Tilly lay sprawled across her body, staring intently.
“Tilly?”
“Mm…”
Xuefei instantly understood what was going on.
The mat beneath her was damp. Xuefei reflexively assumed it was leftover from her own fluids…
Of course, those heaving swells had long since been absorbed by Leia, and the two little dragons wouldn’t wet the bed like human babies. So the wetness could only be…
“Chesia, good girl, that’s it~”
“Mama~”
Chesia let out a tiny whimper, fresh tears spilling from her eyes. If she weren’t a mother herself, Xuefei never would have imagined the Evil Dragon could look so fragile and helpless. Even a human would feel compelled to scoop up a little Evil Dragon like this and take her home, wouldn’t they?
Naturally, no one else could ever have the Dragon Baby.
Had Tilly not woken her, Xuefei might never have noticed Chesia’s distress. Perhaps drawing on old memories, Chesia had even concealed her presence!
Xuefei’s gaze softened with boundless heartache. With one arm she cradled Tilly, the other drawing Chesia close and guiding her to her chest. She gently stroked their fluffy heads and delicate little horns, then channeled her magic.
The two little dragons could hardly wait, letting out adorable, feeble sounds.
“Slurp slurp slurp…”
“Slurp slurp slurp slurp…”
It started out ticklish, then the sensation eased into a pleasant numbness. Soon that numbness blossomed into a blissful warm current. As magic flowed and warm breaths mingled, Xuefei caressed the two ravenous little dragons with endless affection. A profound sense of fulfillment as their mother soothed her very soul.
Her eyes fell on the milk sitting on the table, intensifying her guilt. Though her body ached with exhaustion, she coaxed forth even more dew. The two little dragons’ suckling grew softer and softer until it faded entirely. Clutching the (Meow~), they drifted into sweet slumber.
Before long, Xuefei joined them in deep sleep, lulled by the three faint, rhythmic breaths.
