“Why the sudden apology?”

Naya studied Elise with quiet confusion.

Just moments ago, the scene had been warm and cozy—why did Elise suddenly seem so melancholic?

“I’m apologizing for the years I missed… for not realizing sooner…” Elise cradled Eliya’s cheeks, locking eyes with her. “For not realizing sooner that Mom is the gentlest, most beautiful Dragonkin in the whole world. Right, Eliya? Isn’t Mom the most amazing Dragonkin ever?”

“Of course! Mom is the best mom in the world—the most beautiful Dragonkin ever!”

Like devoted fans of Naya’s fan club meeting for the first time, pure joy lit Eliya’s face.

*Praise my mom? We’re practically siblings by spirit!*

Wait—no.

Mother *is* my mom too. Gotta keep the family roles straight.

Hmm! Since Mother praised Mom… I’ll forgive her for hogging Mom’s attention.

After watching Naya finish breakfast from Elise’s arms, Eliya scrambled straight back into Naya’s embrace.

Since Naya had woken up late, the maids had already prepared lunch. They’d carefully recreated the intricate Eastern dishes Naya usually made. Truthfully, the maids were more skilled—it wasn’t hard for them to replicate her cooking. But to Eliya and Elise, Naya’s meals carried a special warmth, making them taste better.

By the time the dishes arrived, Naya was already full from bread. Still, it was rare for the three of them to share a meal. Naya settled Eliya on her lap and began feeding her, just like when she was little.

Ever since Eliya learned to eat on her own, her appetite had become insatiable. Spoon-feeding her slowly was far too time-consuming—better to let her devour food in a whirlwind. Now, Naya patiently offered bite after bite.

Her thoughts drifted back four years.

Back then, Elise wasn’t by her side.

Elise had even looked down on sharing a table with her.

Naya ate out daily, returning to the castle only to sleep—alone with Eliya.

“Mommy, all done!”

So fast?

When little, Eliya would chew each bite for a full minute.

Naya scooped another spoonful. Eliya opened her mouth and swallowed instantly.

“Naya, you’ll spoil Eliya,” Elise murmured.

Eliya puffed her cheeks.

“Mother, mind your own business!”

“Eliya, you’re almost six. Come down and eat yourself.”

Elise felt a sharp pang of envy.

But as a centuries-old Dragonkin… how could she ask to be fed?

If she couldn’t have it, neither could anyone else—not even her daughter.

“No! I want Mom to feed me!”

“Here you go, Elise. Open up.”

While mother and daughter bickered, Naya had already prepared a fresh spoonful of rice and meat, holding it gently to Elise’s lips.

An awkward silence fell.

“Ahem… Don’t encourage her, Naya.”

“If you won’t eat it, I will.”

In a split-second hesitation, Eliya couldn’t stand it. She pressed her hands on the table, tugging Naya’s wrist—the spoon slipped, scattering rice on the floor.

Elise and Eliya glanced down simultaneously.

Not even three seconds passed!

Nidia swiftly appeared and cleared the mess.

Naya stole a glance at Elise—unreadable, calm, distant as ever.

*If I’d held it just a moment longer… would you have taken it?*

She lowered her head, resuming feeding Eliya, dropping the tease.

Elise suddenly found her food tasteless. She listlessly pushed the steak with knife and fork, appetite gone.

*Never thought Eliya could be this annoying.*

*Skip a second child. Definitely no third.*

She couldn’t imagine Naya’s attention fractured among more children.

But Naya noticed every flicker.

A faint smile touched her lips.

*So you *did* want me to feed you…*

*But I gave you the chance. You hesitated.*

After a few more spoonfuls, Naya sighed. “Alright, Eliya—eat on your own. This is too slow.”

“Okay~”

Satisfied, Eliya slid off Naya’s lap onto the chair and cleared the table in seconds. Her eyes locked onto the lone steak on Elise’s plate—the one Elise had been poking at for half an hour.

“Mother, are you still eating that?”

“Eat it. It’s yours.” Elise shoved it forward, grumbling. *For such a tiny girl, her stomach’s a bottomless pit.*

“Hehe…”

Unaccustomed to cutlery, Eliya—taking after Naya—grabbed chopsticks, lifted the steak, and devoured it. Her tiny sharp teeth tore effortlessly through the tough meat.

Scientifically? A little dragonkin girl shouldn’t hold this much. But this was fantasy—Newton could take a hike.

When Eliya first hatched, she fit in a palm.

During shapeshifting phase? About watermelon-sized.

Now five, her true dragon form likely stood around 178 centimeters.

So yes—by true form standards, this appetite made perfect sense.

“Uh…”

A soft burp escaped. She patted her barely-bulging belly.

*All the food’s going to my true form.*

Per Elise’s true form scale, Eliya wouldn’t fully mature until three meters—then her appetite would settle, even allowing days without food.

“Eliya, I’m going to shower. Stay seated nicely after eating, okay?”

“Okay~”

Full and drowsy, Eliya didn’t move.

After tucking Eliya into her room, Naya returned to pack clothes for their shared bath—washing away the strange sweet scent, soaking sore muscles strained from last night’s activities.

*Is that scent… universal among Dragonkin?*

She watched Elise selecting clothes by the wardrobe.

*To confirm if only mine smells sweet… I really need to make a move on Elise!*

[System, what do I do?! How do I get Elise to willingly let me make a move on her—and spank her butt ten times?!]

[Still hung up on this task? I thought you’d forgotten.]

[Forget?! I need the Holy Lance! I need power!]

Only with strength could she avoid holding Elise back—and protect Eliya.

[Host, I’m tired. Figure it out yourself.]

You refused to drug her. You can’t beat her fairly. You won’t hurt her feelings, yet crave task success. Impossible. System threw in the towel.

[System, that’s not fair! Slack off and Supreme Deity might dock your pay!]

[Yeah. Fire me. Bring on the apocalypse. The sooner, the better.]

*System… are you really that disappointed?*

Naya sighed inwardly—then perked up.

[Watch me, System! There’s always a way!]

“Elise~”

Naya wrapped her arms around Elise’s waist.

“What is it?”

*Something this sweet had to be suspicious.*

Naya’s saccharine tone made Elise cringe.

“I heard… after eating pineapple, *down there*… smells sweet. Eliya said I smelled nice this morning—it piqued my curiosity. But I can’t smell it on myself. Can I… try it on you?”

Elise’s silence made Naya want to vanish from embarrassment.

*Please, just say something! I’m dying!*

Unable to bear the silent treatment, Naya pressed on:

“Elise, you didn’t finish lunch, right? Perfect—we’ve got leftover pineapple from the milk tea. I’ll bake a pineapple pie… and feed you myself~”