“Huh. So even you can’t do it, sis.” Angela sprawled across the bed like a lazy cat, watching Edlyn pour mana hard into a Holy Light orb.

“That shouldn’t happen.” Edlyn bit her lip. Why no response? The Holy Light element had acknowledged her.

Edlyn felt humiliated in front of her kid sister. She pinched Angela’s cheeks, annoyed. “You little brat, what are you showing off for? I’m still your sister, even if I flop. Think you’ve grown wings and don’t fear death now?”

“Heh—no way. I’m just kidding.” Angela stretched her grin, showing she was trying.

“I’m so good to you. Are you moved?”

“Uh. Don’t dare be moved.”

Edlyn let go, still baffled. Her affinity with Holy Light felt high, yet the element wouldn’t budge. Could it actually tell she was the Demon King?

“Hey, sis, let’s go out.” Angela pouted, clamped a pen between her nose and lip, and flopped over the desk, bored. Edlyn arched a brow. “What attitude is that? When the Hero taught me, I studied like my life depended on it.”

“Magic’s just… boring. Mana composition, arcane continuity—no clue, no clue.” Angela took the pen down and gnawed on the end.

Edlyn plucked it away. “Gross.”

“Ahhh! Sis! How’re you more annoying than Mom now!” Angela flipped off the chair, vaulted to the bed, hugged a pillow, and rolled like a storm cloud.

Edlyn stared, speechless.

“Fine. Let’s go out.” Edlyn rolled her eyes. Beating the girl wouldn’t help; the brat didn’t fear pain and would be the same in two days.

Someone teach a Demon King how to raise a kid.

She was losing it. Thinking of those days playing both father and mother, she felt her mighty Demon King image cracking.

“Eh, the Hero’s soft-hearted. I’ll dump it on him later.” She shook her head, as if heaven had signed off on it.

She pushed the door open and found Eli—and his chair—gone. Edlyn blinked, puzzled. “He’s in a paralysis state. He can still move?”

“What’s up, sis?” Angela popped her head out, eyes wandering, hopeful.

“Nothing. Let’s go.” Edlyn patted Angela’s head. Bundled up like two little bears, the sisters went out hand in hand.

Elsewhere, Liqianyu sat on the chair Eli used to play the invalid, chomping on a snow fruit with zero decorum. “Hey, Xili, this stuff from your country is delicious. Teach me how you cultivate it. I’ll bring some back when I return to the Far East.”

Xili scratched his head. “It spoils fast. The Far East is a long way. It’s not convenient, Miss Li.”

“Ah… then forget it.” Liqianyu didn’t look disappointed; she kept eating one after another. Xili opened his mouth, ready to say something. Seeing her eat with bright-eyed joy, he shut it.

Eli noticed and murmured, “Your Highness, Ninth Prince, what did you want to say?”

“Uh. Nothing… Just, the fruit clears the bowels. Eat too many and you’ll get diarrhea. But Miss Li trains Battle Aura exclusively, so… it should be fine.” Xili looked awkward.

Eli got it and shrugged. “Oh, it’s a laxative. No worries. That fool’s built tough.”

“Where’s that guy Tengger?” Eli asked. “Still buried in Moon City’s affairs. He can’t get away yet.” Xili sank into the sofa like a cloud, took the milk a servant handed over, and stared into the white surface like quiet moonlight.

“Oh. So you’ve only got one city lord backing you. Why’s someone still targeting you?” Eli rubbed his forehead. The more he thought, the more he felt he’d miscalculated.

He’d thought helping a fallen royal would grant him access to that slice of history. Ten minutes of talk and introductions shattered that fantasy.

This little pseudo-princess had supporters besides his old family retainers only in that idiot Tengger.

Oh right—plus Eli himself.

Even together, they weren’t a fraction of the Third Prince’s strength. Eli wasn’t sure he’d make it out alive.

“Your Highness, your Third Brother’s coming to see you soon. Being this calm isn’t great,” Eli said, headache blooming.

Xili’s mouth tipped up. “Relax. Third Brother’s focused on Second and Eldest. If something happens to me now, they’ll boot him out at once.” He shrugged, unbothered.

Eli clicked his tongue and kneaded his scalp, irritation crackling like dry thunder.