This was the first time Eliya had ever shared a bed with both Mom and Mother overnight.
Mother had always kept a reserved distance. For as long as Eliya could remember, Mother embodied coldness; Mom, warmth.
She’d learned the phrase “strict father, kind mother” from books—stories where wives stayed home while husbands worked.
Though Eliya had two mothers, her family felt no different. She saw Mom as the nurturing mother, Mother as the stern father figure.
Vaguely, she recalled Mom and Mother not getting along when she was little. Mother’s gaze toward Mom had once been icy.
But things changed. As Eliya grew, her memories sharpened. She noticed Mother’s gentleness toward Mom deepening.
She felt the love between them.
That’s why Eliya willingly gave up her bedtime spot with Naya to Elise—to help nurture harmony between Mother and Mom.
Dawn.
Naya’s internal clock stirred her awake.
Blearily opening her eyes, she found not familiar softness beside her, but Eliya’s small, plump-cheeked face.
Eliya?
This was Eliya’s room?
Right—she’d fallen asleep mid-story last night.
Her gaze drifted past Eliya’s baby-soft cheeks. In the dim morning light, a flash of deep crimson caught her eye.
Elise was there too—awake, watching her.
“Awake?”
“Mm.”
Naya slipped quietly from the covers.
Why was Elise sleeping with them?
In all five years since Eliya’s birth, Elise had never once held her to sleep.
Except last night.
The very night Naya revealed her restored memories.
Was Elise protecting Eliya?
As Naya hesitated with her back turned, Elise’s arms gently encircled her slender waist.
One perk of being Dragonkin: dragon eggs were tiny. Even forming internally, they wouldn’t alter one’s figure—though a distinct foreign presence would be felt.
(Not that Naya was there yet.)
Perhaps guilt over wrongly suspecting Naya yesterday softened Elise’s tone.
“You must’ve been tired last night.”
Just thinking of it made Naya’s legs wobble, a dull ache blooming in her lower back.
*Good heavens—flirting now?*
Annoyed, she swatted Elise’s hands. “Let go.”
Elise lightly nipped the upper curve of Naya’s ear.
“Eep… Elise, don’t! This is Eliya’s room.”
“Still angry with me?”
“Why would I be?”
“About last night.”
(Worried Eliya might overhear, Elise kept it vague.)
“A little.”
“I’m sorry. I don’t doubt you anymore. Please don’t be mad?”
Hearing that humble apology, Naya’s heart melted. She bit her lip, fighting the tiny upward tug of her mouth.
*What’s there to be happy about?!*
Elise’s actions hadn’t changed—apologizing while still sleeping beside Eliya last night… clearly to watch her.
“Let’s go back. We’ll disturb Eliya.”
“Mm.”
Tsundere thoughts swirled in her head, but her hand obediently followed Elise’s back to their room.
When Naya instinctively reached to help undress her, Elise gently refused.
“Sometimes I feel wrong treating you like a maid. From now on, we’ll change separately.”
*Love her more. Win her heart.* Elise resolved to leave servant days behind.
And with Naya’s memories restored, seeing them unclothed clearly flustered her. Better to ease that discomfort.
Naya stood frozen, watching Elise undress and change.
Logically, this should be good—no more blushing, no more awkwardness.
So why did it feel like rejection?
Not just rejection… suspicion.
After five years living as Dragonkin, Elise must assume Naya knew their vulnerabilities.
If Naya’s hands could roam every inch of her body… fear was inevitable.
*This is what the System meant—“defeat across stages.”*
Naya didn’t know Elise’s weak points. But Elise *thought* she did. And that assumption bred distrust.
Slightly displeased, Naya sat on the bed, back turned, staring at the fiery sunrise.
*Fine. No touching.*
*As the Chosen Hero, I’ll defeat you honorably—no tricks.*
Yet being doubted by Elise still stung.
Her love for Elise and Eliya hadn’t changed. Only her memories returned.
After changing, Elise turned. Seeing Naya’s lonely silhouette, mischief sparked in her eyes.
She tiptoed over, cupped Naya’s face, tilted it gently—and kissed her.
“Mmph…”
Naya’s fingers gripped the sheets. Her neck strained awkwardly mid-kiss.
*Testing my neck strength?*
*Trying to snap it? Then switched to a kiss when it failed?*
*So calculating, Elise.*
Pulling back with a satisfied sigh: “Hah… Still as sweet as ever.”
Naya wiped her lips.
Body: soft.
Cheeks: flushed.
Mind: burning.
This body loved Elise fiercely—a single touch unraveled her.
She remembered: after losing her memories, Elise ran experiments—drawing blood, injecting magical concoctions.
Without them, Eliya wouldn’t exist.
But surely there were other experiments too. Why else do so much?
Now, her body reacted this fragilely to the slightest touch…
*Could it be?*
*Did Elise plant the seed back then?*
