Elise had already briefed the maids beforehand: Bella and Flanna would escort Naya and Eliya on a tour of the Dragon Royal Palace, while Nidia stayed behind to guard the castle.
Though Naya and Eliya faced no real danger within the Dragon Royal Palace, without the maids, gossip and guards could still be tricky to handle. After all, this was the Dragon Royal Palace—heightened security was Elise’s own order.
And Elise had duties of her own; she couldn’t accompany Eliya and Naya all day.
After listening to Elise’s explanation,
Naya got up and changed.
She slipped into a lovely white dress, tightly fastening the corset to accentuate her slender waist and ample bust.
She felt confident about her figure.
Before, she hadn’t paid much attention. During her amnesia, she’d assumed this was just how she was born. Surrounded by beauties, her standards had risen. Now that her memories were back, she had a clearer perspective.
By ordinary human standards, her physique was the “ideal motherly type”: fair skin, delicate features, long legs, and a curvy silhouette with a tiny waist.
Glancing sideways at Elise’s chest—*if* she had to compare—her bust was a full size larger.
*No, no!*
*Naya, what are you proud of?!*
*You used to be a guy! How are you getting smug about these feminine traits?!*
Naya moved to the vanity and adjusted the ornaments in her hair.
Years of attending to Elise had refined her feminine aesthetic.
Dressing up was never a challenge.
This wasn’t last night’s midnight escape—it was broad daylight. As Elise’s queen consort arriving at the palace, she had to present herself as worthy of standing beside Elise.
*Phew…*
She took a deep breath.
So nervous. After nearly six years as a shut-in, could she really handle the palace crowd?
She *would* steel herself—no dragging Elise down, no letting Eliya face harm.
How could she protect her family without strength?
She recalled her chat with the System.
Forging the Holy Lance required high-grade dragon scale armor. If using Elise’s scales… could it pierce every defense except Elise’s? Maybe even hers…
"Elise."
"Hmm?"
Elise sat on the bed, watching Naya prepare. Her gaze lingered on her wife—every gesture radiating quiet grace.
"Will you always stay by my side?"
"Of course."
"Even outside, even if we travel someday… don’t leave Eliya and me behind."
"Do you really think I would?"
"Don’t answer with a question. Just yes or no."
"I won’t leave you."
"Okay… I feel better."
"Why ask this now?"
Naya smiled faintly, eyes crinkling.
"Just… a little uneasy. Today feels like stepping out into the world. I’m scared dangers might come."
"With me here, you’re safe."
Naya nodded.
*Depriving Elise of her dignity? Never.*
*Someday—find a diamond-rank Dragonkin sacrifice, or buy scale fragments in the human kingdom. Money would work.*
*Even if Elise doted on her, exploiting that affection was wrong.*
Once ready, it was time to wake Eliya.
Naya and Elise entered Eliya’s room, gently rousing her and explaining the day’s plan.
Hearing they were going out, Eliya cheered:
"Yay! We get to go out again!"
"It’s not *playing*. We’re visiting your mother’s palace. Mind your manners, Eliya—no shouting. No one knows you’re the princess yet. We must make a good first impression on the other Dragonkin."
"Okay! I’ll listen to Mommy!"
Eliya’s eyes sparkled with excitement as she tugged Naya to dress her.
Naya chose a pink princess dress, tied cute twin tails with matching bows, and slipped white stockings on her—soft, warm whites all around.
Only Elise stood apart in cool, deep crimson.
Well… she *was* a red dragon.
Not a festive red—but a shadowy, blood-tinged crimson.
After breakfast, Naya reached for Eliya’s hand.
No—*Eliya* was pulling *her*, having wolfed down her meal, eyes already fixed on the sky.
Naya lifted Eliya onto Flanna’s back and shouted upward:
"Let’s go~!"
Elise mounted Bella.
The little family, maids in tow, left their hidden realm—their secret home.
Dragon maids soared through clouds, landing atop the Dragon Royal Palace.
They dismounted at the dragon landing platform.
The maids shifted back into dragonkin forms, guarding Naya and Eliya closely.
Eliya gazed around, awestruck.
"Is this the palace? It’s so huge!"
"Hush, Eliya. Don’t gawk like you’ve never seen a palace before."
She was a princess—no acting like a country bumpkin in a grand hall.
"Oh!" Eliya quickly covered her mouth.
"Naya, Eliya—take a casual stroll around the Heavenly Dragon Hall with Flanna and Bella. I must attend court at the main hall."
"Go ahead."
Naya watched Elise walk away.
For the first time, she truly *felt* Elise as the Dragon Sovereign.
(Well… in aura. Her power? Naya had *definitely* felt that.)
"Let’s go, Miss Naya."
The Heavenly Dragon Hall held few important figures.
Here, Eliya could play freely—shouting, running, exploring under Flanna’s watch.
Naya sat in a garden courtyard, watching.
But her own excitement had faded. Last night’s wonder was gone.
She stared at the towering walls, the shimmering magical barrier.
What mattered wasn’t the palace’s grandeur. It was *being with Elise* that made everything feel fresh, joyful.
Boring.
So boring.
She’d thought Elise would introduce her to key figures. Instead… just a new place to zone out.
[System, can you analyze this place?]
[What do you need?]
[Any useful details.]
[Dragon Royal Palace? Similar to ancient Chinese imperial palaces on Earth—just scaled up. I’ll map the routes so you don’t get lost.]
[System… was last night pure coincidence? Why bring me here *after six years*? If I hadn’t asked to transform, hadn’t impulsively flown, hadn’t crossed the hidden realm’s boundary… would she have brought me?]
[If I say *one* negative thing about Elise, will you silence me again? If you just want a romance-chat bot to gush over her—I’m logging off.]
The System knew Naya too well.
Sowing discord? Impossible. This host was hopelessly, deeply love-struck.
[Okay, okay—drop it. Serious question: why didn’t you detect the castle was inside a hidden realm earlier?]
*So the System still disapproves of us…*
Winning over the System would take time. To grow stronger, she needed its help.
She disliked its meddling… but for a transmigrator, the System *was* a cheat tool. No denying that.
