Thankfully, Eliya mistook “this tofu” for “that tofu.” Otherwise, Naya—who already cringed at the mere word—would’ve been utterly lost for an excuse.
“Yes! It’s a special kind of tofu, brimming with magic,” Naya said, forcing a straight face. “Only by eating it can you gain enough magic to… create baby dragons.”
Eliya’s eyes lit up with sudden understanding.
“So that’s how it is! His late Majesty, the former Dragon Sovereign, truly did not deceive me!”
“Eliya, what else did he tell you?”
“He didn’t say much. Just that the steps were roughly like that. Then he asked my age. I said six.”
“Almost six,” Naya gently corrected.
“I feel six! Then the former Sovereign was shocked—‘Six?!’ He said it’s young, but not impossible. Once you become Dragon Sovereign, you unlock your full power, earn the title’s blessing, and freely control your body’s evolution and size.”
“Huh?”
“Mm. He also said only the Dragon Sovereign grants this ability to female Dragonkin.”
*Wait—the real point was controlling her own growth?*
*Does that mean… Elise can actually turn into a “loli”?*
*Naya suddenly wondered what Elise would look like as a little girl.*
“Mom? Are you listening?”
“I am, I am. So, Eliya—you’re not the Dragon Sovereign yet. You can’t make baby dragons.”
“I have an idea!”
“What idea?”
“Mom can just lend me the Dragon Sovereign title for one day! Then I’d be the Dragon Sovereign, right?”
“The title isn’t something you can ‘lend.’ Did he say anything else?”
Eliya hung her head sheepishly.
“Nope. Then I woke up. His story went on so long I got sleepy… I only remember this much.”
*Falling asleep… inside a dream? Seriously?*
Alright. Time for a serious, heartfelt talk.
“Eliya, listen carefully. You and I cannot make baby dragons.”
“Why not?”
“Because I’m your mother’s wife—not yours. And you’re our daughter. If we somehow had a baby dragon… what would it call me?”
Naya’s question completely fried Eliya’s CPU.
Eliya blinked blankly, then murmured, “Nanny?”
*Nanny?! Don’t be absurd!*
Naya glared at her through gritted teeth.
“This goes against ethics and family order. Creating a child is only for two people who share romantic love.”
“But…”
“I know what you’ll say. What I mean is *romantic* love—the kind in Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, The Little Mermaid. Those stories only work because they’re *not* family. Family love is *familial* love. Romantic love is for someone with no blood tie. Understand?”
*(A bit absolute, but Eliya’s young. Clear lines are all she can grasp for now.)*
“Oh…”
“Why did you want to marry the princess before?”
“Because she longed for freedom… and I wanted to give it to her.”
“Not all princesses lack freedom, Eliya. There’s still so much you don’t understand…”
Naya’s voice caught.
*She’s been locked in this castle for years. No wonder she lacks basic ethics.*
*Elise takes them out sometimes—but barely a few times a year. Eliya only remembers the fun, not the world.*
Naya’s irritation melted away. She gently stroked Eliya’s hair.
“Eliya… what do you think of Mom and me? Do we love each other enough?”
“I think… Mom loves Mother more. Mother was a big meanie! She used to bully you and ignore you on purpose.”
“Things are different now.”
“Mm… a little. She even competes with me for you now. Maybe she finally noticed how wonderful you are.”
A faint smile touched Naya’s lips.
*So she sensed Elise never truly cared before?*
“The love between your mother and me—that’s romantic love. Remember this: I love her. Only her. I choose to be her wife, her one and only—and I hope I’m hers too. *That’s* love. Understand?”
Eliya shook her head.
“But history books say Dragon Sovereigns take many consorts. Isn’t marriage… casual?”
*Another book lesson. Maybe she reads too much.*
“That’s not love. Marriage doesn’t equal love. Love doesn’t always lead to marriage. Eliya—if you ever meet a girl you like, a princess or another Dragonkin—I hope you love her wholeheartedly. Like your mother and I do. Eyes only for each other.”
Eliya’s pink eyes swirled with effort.
“It’s okay if you don’t understand yet. Just remember my words.”
“Mm!”
“Alright, time for lessons.”
“Mom… can I touch your belly?”
“What for?”
“To listen to my little sister.”
“Can you even hear her?”
“Let me try! The former Sovereign taught me something new last night!”
“What *exactly* did he teach you?”
“I dunno! Bits just pop into my head… Pleeease?”
“Fine…”
Naya set her down. Eliya pressed her ear against Naya’s stomach through her clothes.
“Wow… it’s real! So magical.”
“What do you feel?”
“A living presence! And a strange, flowing magic inside.”
“Is she talking? Can you understand her?”
“Nope.”
Naya stroked Eliya’s pink twin tails.
*Of course not. There’s not even an egg yet—no organs, no signals. Impossible.*
“Hmm… weird.”
“What is?”
Eliya let go—then suddenly lifted Naya’s skirt and ducked underneath.
“Eliya!”
After her earlier nonsense, Naya froze in panic, fearing the worst.
But Eliya’s warm cheek simply pressed against her belly.
“Um… I think there’s more than one little sister.”
*What?*
*More than one?!*
*Twins?!*
*Congratulations, Elise. You hit the jackpot.*
