“Stop running. No one nearby will notice us…” At some point, the blue-haired woman popped back in front of Jiuqi like a shadow stepping out of moonlight.
“I really didn’t expect this. We poured our hearts out just ten minutes ago, and you already forgot—sob, sob. Is it because the memory wasn’t deep enough?”
Panic spiked; a big scarlet DANGER sign flashed in Jiuqi’s head like a warning lantern. “W-what do you want?”
“Ehehe~ Of course I’m here to teach little Jiuqi how to be a succubus~”
“…Wait! Don’t come any closer!” She edged back, a cornered cat bristling in the rain.
Afterward.
Hollow-eyed, heart scraped clean, Jiuqi lay sideways on her soft, wide bed, like a tired boat drifting to the shore. Face-up hurt; side-sleeping at least flattened the ache—and her chest.
“Your Majesty, do you really not need me to look after you? I could bring dinner in,” Kaleya murmured from beyond the curtain, voice like a careful moth against silk.
“No. I don’t have the mood to eat.” Bitterness pooled first; then she forced the words out. “Kaleya, send Sister Xuewei back. Tell her I’m fine. I don’t want to see anyone for now.”
“…I understand, Your Majesty.”
“How is she, Kaleya? Is little Jiuqi any better?” Xuewei had been waiting outside; the moment Kaleya stepped out, she rushed over like wind sweeping fallen leaves.
“Her Majesty’s okay…” Kaleya offered a wan smile. “It’s the old trouble again, and worse this time.” The shell had closed; her gaze had gone sea-cold.
This girl… Xuewei raked her hair, helpless as a wave breaking on rock.
She had woken hours earlier. When her eyes opened, the woman was gone, like frost evaporating at dawn, yet the memory had been etched deep, a blade carving bamboo.
First thing, Xuewei called Tangxue. Learning her brother was safe and back in Starfate City, her stormy heart finally stilled, like a lake under starlight.
So that woman only meant to warn her; she hadn’t planned to strike at her or her brother.
Once she confirmed her brother was fine, Xuewei headed for Jiuqi. On the way, she ran into Kaleya pacing the corridors, and the two went to Jiuqi’s palace together.
“If that’s the case, I’ll head back. Next time, I’ll bring that rascal to visit little Jiuqi.”
“…Thank you for understanding, Miss Xuewei.” Kaleya could only give a wry smile. Ten-plus years of friendship meant meanings passed like lantern light without blunt words.
Xuewei disliked honorifics between friends, but she didn’t press Kaleya. That habit had stuck for a decade like old ink; scraping it off would only tear the paper.
“Kaleya, I’ll leave little Jiuqi in your care. I have to go.”
“Mm. Goodbye, Miss Xuewei. Come play again next time.”
After the farewell, Xuewei left Jiuqi’s bedchamber by the quickest route. She took the sky.
That night, across the Demon God Federation’s stars, a bright meteor flashed—silver fire stitching the dark.
Bang!
Inside the Duskmoon Empire’s palace, Edgar hammered the table, anger smoking like a brazier kicked over.
Since waking, he’d never suffered such a humiliating council. Being mocked in the hall was bad enough; in the end he’d bolted, tail tucked, and the more he replayed it, the hotter the bile burned.
He would make those two cursed punks pay.
Merfolk, huh? Think a patron over your head lets you do whatever you want? Whoever crosses me, Edgar Warren, dies—no matter who they are.
Edgar stared at the token in his palm, the contact that man had left him, a thin card like night pressed into bone. If needed, the man would help. It still wasn’t enough. As long as Ling Xuewei hovered by that little merfolk girl, he couldn’t touch her. He needed a way to draw Xuewei off, like bait tugging a hawk from the field.
He brooded, the thought condensing like stormcloud. Looks like I need another trip to the Radiant Empire’s capital.
Last time, he’d slipped into Duke Slenwiton’s manor on skill and shadow, a fox through reeds. This time wouldn’t be so easy.
Since returning from the conference, the Queen had begun suspecting her own people. Why had the enemy struck Starfate City the moment Xuewei left?
Xuewei’s movements were always classified, sealed like letters under wax. If the operation was exposed, there was only one reason: a mole.
Everyone who’d discussed the plan was a suspect, Duke Slenwiton included. Her Majesty set watchers on the duke’s estate; even his steps were counted, like beads on a string.
But the duke was a seasoned old fox. He was sure he’d left no trail. As long as that idiot didn’t blow the cover, he wouldn’t be found. Since the Queen hadn’t arrested him upon her return, it meant nothing had snapped on Edgar Warren’s side. So the duke looked flustered on the surface, but inside he sat steady as a mountain.
Unfortunately for him, Edgar Warren came knocking today…
