Volume 5, Chapter 40 – The Cub and the Hatchling

After the banquet ended for the night, the Snake-folk tribe welcomed a new day in every sense of the word. The streets were now filled with cleaning Snake-folk. Bones, vomit from drunken revelers, and various unidentifiable food scraps were scattered everywhere, and the entire city was filled with an indescribable smell.

It was worth noting that Fia had heard from the nobles that someone had nearly frozen to death. It seemed that a drunken Snake-person had collapsed on the street before reaching home and had laid there all night in the winter. If not for a Snake-person who had gone out to work the next day and found him in time, not only would the unlucky fellow have died, but his lower limbs would have surely been lost. This left Fia at a loss for words.

As for the worrying earthquake last night, there was already an answer.

Fia was sitting on the sofa in the old residence, holding a report and enjoying the warmth of the winter fire.

In the end, nothing had been investigated.

Even though Claire had flown around a hundred-mile radius with [High-Speed Flight], she had not seen anything like an abyss. If one had to say there was an abyss, it would be the crack Fia had torn at the city gate with [Spatial Rift]. However, although [Spatial Rift] was powerful, it could at most cause the ground to sink by a kilometer. The earthquake was clearly not her doing.

Not only that, but to be on the safe side, Fia had also had Woz send soldiers familiar with the surrounding environment to scout the suburbs overnight. The result was also the same: no abyss was found. At this point, it could basically be ruled out that the earthquake was caused by the Sovereign’s Darkborn. It was most likely just bad luck, a coincidental small earthquake.

For it to happen right after Tilulu’s speech, the timing was truly terrible. If she hadn’t checked and found nothing, Fia would have surely thought there was a grand conspiracy.

She sighed helplessly and handed the report, which was filled with beastfolk script, to Anastasia at her side.

“Hah, I didn’t expect such a coincidence.”

“Reality is always more coincidental than hero legends,” Anastasia responded with a smile. “Fortunately, Miss Claire managed to deceive everyone with illusion magic in time, otherwise it would have been a disaster. In addition, this subordinate has one more thing to report. When I received the report from Priest Woz, I heard a rumor in the street that ‘the White Night Goddess is rejecting Tilulu’s claim to the throne’. Should I tell him about this and have him manage it?”

“Of course. We can’t let the rumors continue to ferment.”

Fia affirmed in a serious tone, then straightened the white hair that was casually draped over her back and shifted her sitting position. Although she was in a homely state and could be a little casual, crossing her legs really wasn’t like a princess. She had already heard footsteps approaching from downstairs. This light and hurried, rain-like pace should be Liti or Tilulu.

Having prepared herself, Fia continued in a queen-like, commanding tone.

“Now that Tilulu has claimed the throne, she should do something to accumulate prestige and merits. We need to let the Snake-folk see her in action. It would be best to send some of their soldiers to follow us.”

“Yes, this subordinate will inform Priest Woz later.”

“Also, what about yesterday’s investigation?”

The investigation here referred to the letter sent by the Snake-folk girl yesterday afternoon. The content of the letter was very simple. The other party stated that they were a group of Tiger-kin royals who had been lucky enough to escape when they were hunted down by the Lionfolk a hundred years ago. In order not to be targeted, they had hidden their names and disguised themselves as Cat-folk, living in the mountains.

They had not forgotten their hatred for the Lionfolk’s usurpation and had been accumulating strength, intending to counterattack. However, as time went by, the Lionfolk’s control over the Cold Night became stronger and stronger, and their power grew faster than theirs. So, the leaders of this group had died out one after another. At first, it was Tilulu’s father’s uncle who led them, then her father’s older brother, and now, it was her uncle’s son who was in command.

As for why they had sent the letter, the reason on paper was that they had heard news of her in the Snake-folk city and wanted to invite her to return to the tribe and contribute to the future counterattack against Chazo.

It sounded nice, but in reality, their purpose was already revealed in the letter. They needed her to bring Radric and her nearly one hundred followers with her, and they had also mentioned the Holy Son Faction. From the praise in their words, it seemed they had already cooperated with them, and had even known about Tilulu’s situation long ago.

To be honest, Fia didn’t want her daughter to have anything to do with such relatives. Since they had known about her long ago, why didn’t they take her in when she was being hunted? Why did they have to wait until her uncle had committed suicide because she was staying with him, and she had to flee to Silvar, to send a letter? They were clearly using her, having their eyes on Radric by her side.

If she hadn’t met Fia, Tilulu would have had no choice but to accept this invitation. Unfortunately, she no longer needed their “protection.” Their plans had failed. As for whether they had sent the letter after knowing that she was under Fia’s protection, judging from the distance between them and the city, these people did not know that her situation had taken a 180-degree turn.

As for the investigation Fia mentioned, it was to find possible spies in the city through the information provided by the Snake-folk girl.

As if feeling ashamed, Anastasia’s azure eyes drooped.

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“Priest Woz said that there are no other Tiger-kin in the city, and because of the recent war, no non-residents have entered.”

“In other words, they did indeed send this letter without knowing about me. In that case, I’m afraid the address on the letter is not the real one.”

After all, there was a possibility that the letter would be intercepted and reported to Chazo. The address written on it was probably just a random small village. The other party had to first confirm if the person who came was Tilulu, and then see if she had brought her followers. If she didn’t, they would just find an excuse to abandon her.

Tilulu herself couldn’t help with the restoration of the kingdom, and at the same time, she was the orthodox royal. To appear in a force led by another orthodox royal would make her a potential political enemy. Only children would believe in the sibling love between royals. Even Silvar had had a prince who coveted the king’s power, and similar things had happened more than once. Erin Slate had been implicated in her uncle’s coup and had been demoted from a duke’s daughter to a commoner.

Her beautiful and mature face showed indignation, and the blonde-haired Anastasia’s words were filled with contempt.

“They just have their eyes on the Moon Dragon by Princess Tilulu’s side. They are not sincerely providing her with protection. It’s possible that even the timing was deliberately calculated to offer help when she was at her most helpless. That way, she would be grateful and forever attached to them. There is no need to pay attention to such people. There’s no need to give them a good face.”

“Hmm…”

The logic was sound, but Anastasia’s words made Fia a bit embarrassed. She had also made a move when Tilulu was at her most helpless, and from the beginning, she had the thought of making her grateful. While Anastasia was scolding them, she had also implicated herself. Of course, there was still a big difference between her and this group. When she had met Tilulu, her situation was already very bad. She had never done anything like refusing to save someone who was dying.

Anastasia did not know Fia’s thoughts. In her view, her hesitation was because she was considering whether to cooperate with these people.

She bent down slightly and leaned closer to Fia’s face. Her golden hair slipped from behind her pointed elven ears to her face. The distance was so close that Fia could smell the scent of her body wash. Under the flickering firelight, Anastasia’s fair skin was dazzling.

Even though she trains with Tilulu and Milu every day, why is there no trace of a warrior in her? And she always has an alluring girlish fragrance. Does she secretly bathe every day?

Because Anastasia always kept her distance, now that she was so close, Fia couldn’t help but take a deep sniff, letting the mature fragrance that filled the air flood her brain, making her thoughts sluggish.

No, calm down, Dofilia. This is your older sister.

Quickly regaining her senses, Fia immediately stopped her secret sniffing and put on a serious expression.

Fortunately, this series of actions had been very quick, and Anastasia had not noticed her abnormality. In her view, Fia was someone who could not possibly have any improper thoughts about her, so she would not have guessed in that direction.

Anastasia continued to persuade.

“Your Highness possesses the great power to change the landscape. Yet these people even want to latch onto the power of a ‘half-dragonoid’. They are not qualified to cooperate with you. Even if they immediately swear allegiance to Tilulu, they will surely become an obstacle for her in the future, and may even try to seize her throne when you are not around. It’s best that we ignore them.”

“Ah, I know. I have no intention of cooperating with them.”

Cooperation only existed when the other party was beneficial to oneself. These people clearly did not have that qualification. However, if they could swear allegiance to Tilulu, things would not be as bad as Anastasia imagined. When she was not by her side, Tilulu had the Seventh-Tier Moon Dragon Radric to protect her. These people who could only live in the mountains would not have Seventh-Tier strength. Even a strong country like Silvar couldn’t produce many Seventh-Tier individuals.

What Tilulu lacked most now were trustworthy and capable supporters. A single tree cannot make a forest. A powerful person could easily conquer a country, but they could not rule it with their own power. No matter how wise a king was, they still needed trustworthy subordinates to carry out the many details. In this case, if these Tiger-kin could be loyal to Tilulu, she could select capable confidants from among them.

This was not to say that confidants had to be Tiger-kin. But compared to other races, the Tiger-kin and Tilulu had similar experiences, a common enemy and goal, and a natural affinity due to being of the same race. This made them more trustworthy.

The Snake-folk were not impossible, but the fact was that before Tilulu met Fia, besides Woz’s brother, no one was willing to stand up and help her. Therefore, Fia’s attitude towards the Snake-folk was that they could be rewarded as subordinates, but were not suitable as confidants.

Correspondingly, the same was true for people of other races.

However, this was just Fia’s thought and not something that had to be implemented.

Tilulu had to have her own ideas. She was the queen of a nation, and it was not appropriate for Fia to interfere too much. Whether she sought change or stability, it was a choice she should make. What Fia had to do was to give the best answer at the moment, explain the pros and cons of various choices, and let her make her own decision. Unless she felt that she couldn’t bear the choice and didn’t dare to move forward, then, according to her promise to her, Fia would help her choose.

But a confidant was her confidant, not Fia’s. In this aspect, Fia could only help to check, not directly choose.

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Fia looked up, her magnificent eyes reflecting Anastasia’s slightly stunned face.

“I was just thinking whether Tilulu should choose companions from among these fellow Tiger-kin. There might be some among them who are capable but have not been given a chance and are frustrated.”

“Can’t similar people be found among Princess Tilulu’s followers?”

“One can never have too many talented people. There are thousands of tribes in the Cold Night, and with the complex terrain, there will be many places where people are needed in the future. We have to consider it early,” at this, Fia curved her lips and turned to the door. “Look, they’re here.”

As if in response to her words, with a creak of the exquisite wooden door, the room door was pushed open from the outside by Milu. The figures of her and Tilulu then appeared before Fia and Anastasia.

For some reason, both of them were panting, their hair stuck together with sweat, as if they had just finished a long run.

“Milu? Tilulu? What were you two doing?”

Fia stood up and walked to them, casting [Cleanse] on them. The beads of sweat on their bodies quickly disappeared under the blue light particles.

“A competition.”

A hint of triumph appeared on Milu’s well-hidden face. Compared to the resentful Tilulu, who was gritting her teeth, it was clear that Milu was the winner.

Fia couldn’t help but ask with a smile.

“What kind of competition?”

“Whose strength is greater, and who runs faster.”

The competition was very childish, so Fia didn’t pay much attention. But she noticed that both of them had exhausted their magic power, so she handed them each a bottle of the lowest-grade magic potion.

She led the two flushed little girls to the sofa. Since Tilulu had already seen the letter last night, Fia asked without any reservation.

“What do you think, Tilulu? Are you going to see that brother?”

Fia also repeated what she had said to Anastasia earlier.

It was worth noting that Milu took the opportunity to lie on Fia’s lap from the side, a look of great enjoyment on her face. Tilulu, on the other hand, just watched, her mouth bent into a resentful ‘へ’ shape, not saying a word of refutation.

Fia guessed that she didn’t protest because she was bound by a bet.

“…That’s about it. I’ve said all that needs to be said. What are your plans, Tilulu?”

Tilulu did not answer Fia’s question. She just pursed her lips tightly and looked at Milu on Fia’s lap with a look that was on the verge of tears.

At this moment, Milu had changed from lying on Fia’s lap to lying on her back, her body stretched out comfortably on the sofa. Her blood-red vertical pupils were filled with joy, and her slightly developed chest, due to the arching of her back, was outlined by the white cloth in a subtle and sensual curve. Fia even felt that if Milu weren’t so short and her arms weren’t long enough, she might have already hooked her hands around her neck.

She was just like a small animal declaring its ownership.

Fia had no choice but to tap Tilulu’s head and remind her in a slightly louder tone.

“Tilulu, are you listening?”

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“Ah! I-I’m listening!” Tilulu finally came back to her senses. She blushed and answered in a flurry, “I… I want to see my brother.”

“Because of the confidants?”

As if embarrassed, Tilulu’s voice grew smaller.

“No, it’s because I want to see my own people…”

“I see.”

That was also a reason. Most of these Tiger-kin were her relatives. Even if she had never met them, they were still related by blood. For her, who had lost her parents at a young age, it was only natural to want to see people who were related to her. It was what she had been looking forward to all this time.

“I understand. We’ll pack up and set out. The location they gave is two or three days’ journey from here. It’s very close to the Holy Son Faction’s main camp. We might have some unexpected gains.”

With those words, Fia, who could no longer stand Milu, pressed down on her head to keep her from getting too close. Milu had already started to act like a kitten, pulling at her clothes with both hands and burying her nose in her skirt to sniff. The hissing sound not only made it impossible for Tilulu to concentrate, but it also made Fia feel itchy. More importantly, after lifting her skirt, too much of her thigh was exposed, which was very embarrassing.

In addition, Fia also noticed that Anastasia’s expression had become strange. Perhaps in her view, Milu’s sniffing was very rude. Anastasia was her teacher. If she let her continue, Anastasia might punish her for not teaching her well. Although Fia felt it was just a child’s way of being affectionate and didn’t think it warranted punishment, it was not good to let her be too unruly. A child should have the most basic upbringing and politeness.

“Milu, sit up.”

“Mm, I’m the winner.”

Milu looked up stubbornly, her body not forgetting to rub gently against Fia’s thigh. The skin-to-skin contact from her boneless back, as well as the fair collarbones exposed under her neck, made Fia feel a hint of guilt. At this position, if Milu were to open her clothes a little more, she would be able to glimpse the rise and fall of her chest, a large area of smooth and white skin exposed, which was dazzling.

Although Milu was still small, she already had the makings of a beauty. Her appearance was no worse than the Eldest Princess’s, and because of those blood-red vertical pupils, she even had a more bewitching feel.

Fia looked away and sighed helplessly.

“So what was the bet you two made?”

“A day of Fia’s ownership.”

“Huh?” Hearing the unfamiliar address, Fia tilted her head slightly. Milu usually called her ‘Master’. “Is it ‘Fia’ and not ‘Master’ anymore?”

“It has to be ‘Fia’ here,” Milu emphasized stubbornly, then turned her face away like a tsundere and muttered, “Other times it’s ‘Master’.”

She was less than ten years old, yet she was already so hard to understand. Both she and Claire were girls. Why didn’t they have such thoughts?

To delve into a little girl’s heart was to be unromantic. Fia did not delve deeper. She understood why Tilulu was just drooping her beast ears and watching Milu mark her scent. Since the bet was Fia herself, then she was admitting defeat.

Exceptionally cute.

But then again, Liti was also very affectionate with her, but Milu didn’t show the same competitiveness as she did now. Just one word, ‘mom’, had made Milu treat them differently. It was both amusing and exasperating.

She held Milu’s shoulders and made her sit up.

“Alright, alright, I didn’t agree to be a bet. You didn’t ask for my opinion, so this bet is not valid. I declare it void.”

“No,” Milu pouted and, as if she were going to stick to Fia, hugged her arm tightly and protested stubbornly, “No, no, no.”

Why is Milu so clingy today?

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Fia had never seen her act this way before.

Suddenly, Milu looked up from below. She stared into Fia’s eyes, which were filled with seriousness and a feeling that was like a grievance.

“I want to sleep with you too…”

“Uh.”

Fia instantly understood the reason for her clinginess.

Tilulu told her about the other night.

She couldn’t help but feel the urge to facepalm… Of all things to say, she had to say this. Tilulu had no idea how much effort Fia had put in to stop Milu and Liti from clamoring to sleep with her, their master and sister.

Fortunately, Liti didn’t know about this yet. She would sleep with Milu tonight and barely manage…

Just as Fia was rolling her eyes and thinking, the room door was pushed open from the outside again. However, the person who came was not the worst person she had imagined, not Liti, but a team of panicked soldiers. They opened the door and asked anxiously.

“Lady Witch of Calamity Flame, have you… have you seen a young dragon and a silver wolf? We received a report that monsters were running rampant in the street and finally hid in your residence! They damaged many things in the shops. They are violent and ferocious monsters. Please be careful!”

“…”

In an instant, Fia felt Milu’s and Tilulu’s bodies stiffen. She subconsciously looked at them, whom she was patting on the head, and thought of the competition they had mentioned, and how they had rushed in, drenched in sweat. She probably understood that she had underestimated how much trouble these two little ones had caused.

To win the competition, the two of them must have used [Beastification], which could turn them into a dragon, and [Ancestral Spirit’s Possession], which turned them into a white tiger. No wonder their magic power was all exhausted when they came in. The young dragon must be Milu, and the silver wolf was definitely people mistaking Tilulu’s gray hair for silver.

But how could they have mistaken a humanoid creature for a four-legged monster… could it be that the two of them had run so fast that people couldn’t see them clearly?

Speechless as she was, it was better to calm the soldiers first. A silver wolf was a cunning and ferocious Second-Tier monster, while a young dragon was at least a Third-Tier power-type monster, a great threat to ordinary soldiers.

She stood up, hid the two troublemaking young girls behind her, and said seriously.

“I haven’t seen any monsters, but since they’re hiding here, I’ll be responsible for catching them. You go back and wait for my news.”

With Fia’s assurance, the anxious look on the soldiers’ faces quickly eased, and they bowed happily.

“If the Lady Witch of Calamity Flame is taking action, then we’re relieved. Thank you, Lady Witch! Then we’ll be going back?”

“Yes, go back.”

After smiling and watching the soldiers close the door, Fia turned around with a blank expression and looked down at the two stiff-bodied young girls, who seemed to know they had made a mistake. She ordered Anastasia in an emotionless tone.

“Anastasia, you handle it. You don’t have to give me face.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

For some reason, Fia had a feeling that Anastasia was gloating. She took out a wooden stick with a smile, and had Milu and Tilulu lie on the sofa with their buttocks up, and administered the primitive and crude punishment of spanking.

Until Fia used healing magic on the two of them that night, the two young girls only dared to sit on soft cushions.