Luo Yu had only exchanged a few words with the old coot before he dozed off.

"Ninety-something and already this frail? What a total pushover."

Watching the Headmistress sleep peacefully, Luo Yu sighed in relief. She pulled the hidden envelope from her pants again.

"Phew. If that old coot found out Miss Mei wrote to me, he’d ruin her for sure."

Leaning against the railing, Luo Yu read the letter, memories of her time in the brothel flooding back.

"Reuniting with Miss Mei again… It’s been a year. I actually missed her."

After finishing the last line, Luo Yu crumpled the letter into a ball and tossed it into the trash.

"Better focus on that Champion coming to the Demon Realm. He won’t just waltz off with the Demon Princess that easily."

As Luo Yu muttered this, a sharp cramp shot through her lower abdomen.

"Hold on—I almost forgot."

"Damn it. Last time I passed out in the Champion’s tent… what exactly happened to me?" The thought sent panic surging through her chest.

Bathed in moonlight, she sat on the floor, hunched over with one leg extended. She began examining herself.

She tugged off her pants carelessly, tossing them aside.

Luo Yu lowered her head, scrutinizing her legs intently.

Slowly, her gaze traveled upward.

Studying.

Studying for a long while.

"Huh?"

"Hmm…" Luo Yu frowned. "Looks perfectly fine. No blood, no scars."

"This tiny cut must be from overexertion back then…"

"So." Luo Yu’s eyes widened in confusion. "Why have I been feeling weird between my lower belly and thighs lately? Never happened before…"

"…Could it be…" After a long silence, dread crept in. "Even if we *did the deed*… maybe I wasn’t *broken*…"

"I heard… when Demon Kind bear crossbreed offspring, the mother often feels unwell too."

"*Gulp*…" A chill ran down Luo Yu’s spine. "Don’t tell me… I’m actually…?"

"…"

The girl paced frantically in place.

"…"

"So… it’s true?"

"Luo Yu, you idiot. You’ve been taken. And you’re carrying a child." She slapped herself twice, tears streaming down. "Stop lying to yourself. You’re not an innocent girl anymore. How can you even face the Princess now?"

"*Sob*."

"What do I do?" Despair clawed at her throat. "Is there anyone in the Demon Realm who can reverse time? I refuse to stand before the Princess already carrying a Champion’s child…"

"…Ugh…"

"*Sigh*."

"Life has no meaning anymore."

She moped on the spot for ages, barely pulling herself together.

Finally, she stood up, tugged on her penguin-print pajama pants, and tiptoed to the Headmistress’s wheelchair. The old man snored softly.

Luo Yu shook him violently.

"*Whoa!*" The Headmistress jolted awake from his earthquake-like nightmare. "What’s wrong? What’s wrong?"

"*Hmph*."

Luo Yu snatched off his hat, staring at his gleaming bald head. "How can you sleep at your age, old coot? Wake up and talk to me."

"…" The Headmistress deadpanned. "What nonsense are you spouting at this hour?"

Luo Yu planted her hands on her hips, pouting. "Hey! You’re always pestering me for chats, clinging to me like glue. Why the reluctance now?"

"I *tried* talking," he sighed wearily. "But after you harassed every female student—stealing their underwear daily—the Academy demanded serious talks. I had no choice."

"…" Luo Yu looked away. "Past is past. Maybe I’ve forgiven them already."

"*They* haven’t forgiven *you*."

"Why dwell on the past?" She forced a grin, then turned serious. "Anyway, listen up!"

"Fine." The Headmistress shook his head helplessly.

"Today, this Emperor graciously grants you an audience. Ask anything. I know all truths, master all wisdoms."

"Can I just sleep?" He rubbed his aching back, utterly drained. "Child, I’m ninety. I can’t handle this."

"No." Luo Yu tilted her chin up imperiously.

"You little…"

"If you won’t ask, I’ll start." She sidled up, pulling two newspaper-wrapped pills from her pocket. "Old coot, look! These candies look yummy. Wanna try one?"

"What garbage is this?"

He took the "candy," his brow furrowing instantly. "This is medicine. Where’d you get it? Did someone trick you?"

"Don’t pry! I was gonna say Miss Mei left them for me—they prevent… *oops*." She clamped a hand over her mouth.

"You’re acting strange again, Xiao Yu."

The Headmistress sniffed the pill. His expression darkened.

"Is it expired? Still effective?" Luo Yu pressed anxiously.

"Not expired. Active ingredients intact." He scowled. "*Damn*. This is combined chlorodimethyldihydroprogesterone. Looks deceptively like candy."

"So it still works?" Luo Yu’s eyes sparkled. She licked her lips. "Guess your nose isn’t useless after all, old coot."

"Of course. I’ve been a magical pharmacist for decades. Think I can’t ID a pill?"

"Great. Then I’m safe." She snatched the pill back and popped it into her mouth.

"Wait—why are you eating that?!" His face paled. "Are you… *pregnant*?"

"Just hungry." She shoved the second pill in before he could react. "Snack time."

"*What?*"

"Old coot, this tastes just like candy. Not bad." She crunched noisily, swallowing with a gulp.

"You’re not *hungry*!" He grabbed her shoulders, shaking her fiercely. "Luo Yu, you reckless child! Do you know what you just swallowed? At your age—!"

"It’s just candy! Double-duty protection. Good stuff. Why panic?"

"You *are* pregnant?!" The ninety-year-old’s frail body surged with strength. He nearly leapt from his wheelchair, spittle flying. "Luo Yu! Tell me what happened at the border! I’ll fix this—don’t worry—"

"*Ugh*, you’re annoying!" She shoved him back into his wheelchair, turning away with a huff. "I just needed you to check the pills. Why all the questions?"

"No—first we must understand what happened! Even if pregnant, you can’t just—"

"*So* annoying."

"Don’t do anything rash! Listen to me, Luo Yu—"

"*Hmph*." She gripped his wheelchair handles and shoved him down the hallway. He shot away, his protests fading into the distance.

"Bye, old coot." Luo Yu waved, hands on hips.

But her expression twisted with frustration.

She stepped into the stairwell, watching dawn’s light creep over the horizon. Her teeth gnashed.

"If all of you fear that so-called human Champion… then this Emperor will handle it alone. I’ll bear the weight of the Demon Kind myself."

Luo Yu pulled another candy-shaped contraceptive pill from her pocket and swallowed it dry.

"Four Heavenly Kings? Demon King? All useless old coots."

"The debt for making this Emperor take emergency contraception… I’ll repay it alone."