Chapter 147

This tactic worked instantly.

Although Timani was still somewhat conflicted, she could only compromise a little with herself in order to learn the identity of such a powerful figure.

As for the result of that "compromise"~ when she finally lay on the soft mattress she had long been away from, the whole dragon seemed to melt and could no longer get up.

After confirming that Timani had fallen asleep, Xiarette gently grasped the doorknob and quietly closed the room door.

Timani was staying in a small room that had been temporarily vacated, and as for pajamas, that was also conveniently resolved. A few days ago, Xiarette and Sheffy had gone shopping and bought a bunch of new clothes. There happened to be a new pair of pajamas that hadn’t been worn yet—just perfect for Timani.

Closing the door without making a sound, Sheffy clicked her tongue in amazement at the recent pajama fitting.

“Who would've thought, Xiarette? Someone could actually fit into your size pajamas. That means the fire lizard is just like you—really big!”

“Hss…! Don’t say things like that! If you really want to get into it… Sheffy, didn’t you give your extra pajamas to little Sylatrella? They fit her perfectly too. So I could also say… I didn’t expect someone else could wear your size pajamas. You’re the same—really small.”

“Hey now, be fair. I was basically complimenting you, and you turn around and insult me? That’s not cool.”

“No I didn’t.”

Though Xiarette was naturally shy and not particularly fond of this kind of topic, when she turned away, she deliberately stood very close to Sheffy, causing those two marshmallows of hers to lightly brush against Sheffy’s cheek—perhaps a silent way of sending her a message.

—If we’re really talking size... I definitely have the advantage, right? So Sheffy, don’t go drawing conclusions too fast.

Girls’ thoughts really were hard to grasp~

Timani had fallen asleep.

But the two who had listened to her story couldn’t calm down so easily.

In silent understanding, the two of them walked to the windowsill bathed in moonlight from the twin moons, each pulling out a wicker chair and sitting down.

They looked at each other, then gazed out at the sparkling, tranquil surface of the lake.

Above the lake, fireflies flitted back and forth, like twinkling stars floating on water.

After a long silence.

It was Xiarette who broke it with a soft sigh.

“Sigh… The world is full of suffering. Everyone has their own hardships… Even the mighty Fire Dragon Clan might not be living carefree lives. Timani always said she did all that to go home, but in reality, she has no home to return to. Saying those things… maybe it was just to give herself a reason to keep going. Compared to her… Sheffy, maybe we’re actually the lucky ones.”

Fate had burdened them with much. That couldn’t be helped. Otherwise, they wouldn’t have ended up hiding here.

But at the very least, they had a home and parents.

They could look up and see the scenery, lower their heads and see each other.

Even moments of emotional confession could be shared with such leisurely ease.

Sheffy agreed with Xiarette’s words.

There’s that saying, right? “Comparison drives people mad.” Whether your life is comfortable or not, only you know for sure—but when you compare yourself to someone less fortunate, you realize you might already be quite blessed.

That may be true.

But Sheffy’s attention wasn’t solely focused on sighing over Timani’s pitiful past.

Having already changed into her pajamas, Sheffy didn’t like wearing slippers. Her two bare, crystal-clear little feet were crossed together, glowing like amber under the moonlight.

“You’re right, but I still think there’s something odd about Timani’s story.”

“Sheffy, you mean Timani still didn’t tell us the whole truth...?”

“No, she’s already told us everything she knows, with nothing held back. The Eye of True Sight isn’t just for show. Besides, even if I didn’t read her mind, do you really think that dim-witted fire lizard has any schemes in her? That girl’s a bit stubborn, but her personality is pretty straightforward.”

“Then what do you mean by ‘odd’?”

Alright, alright—so Xiarette, you really just listen to a story for the story, huh?

If you want to grow smarter, you need to learn to pick apart a story while listening!

Sheffy held up two fingers.

She didn’t know why Xiarette suddenly squeezed her legs together when she did, but that didn’t stop her from continuing.

Raising her first finger, this was the first suspicious point she had noticed.

“Think about it. Timani said everything was normal when she was little. Her parents even helped hide the truth about her ears. Say she herself didn’t know what those ears meant—fine. But her parents must have known, right? If it’s really like she said, that her father had an affair with an elf and gave birth to her, then her dragon mother—clearly not her biological parent, given how obvious those ears are—still raised her with care and devotion? Xiarette, you heard her too—Timani said her family was harmonious and never fought. Isn’t that strange?”

“You’re right…!”

Now that Sheffy pointed it out, Xiarette also felt the story’s logic was kind of weird.

Though it wasn’t entirely impossible.

“Maybe… after her father brought her back, her mother had no choice and just decided to raise her anyway? Even without blood ties, time could’ve built up familial affection...? But even that doesn’t quite add up... That would’ve been really unfair to her mother in the Dragon Clan...”

“We’re just speculating anyway.” Sheffy waved off the topic. “There’s definitely something strange about it. I just don’t understand how her parents could avoid fighting in that kind of situation. Look at my family. My father and mother argue over the smallest things. Mother has thrown Father out of the Demon King’s Castle more than once. Sometimes, in a fit of rage, she even throws me out too. An enraged mother is terrifying—definitely not that calm and harmonious.”

"Sheffy, your examples are always so vivid and expressive... So besides that, is there anything else you found strange?"

"Yes."

Sheffy slowly raised her second finger.

"Xiarette, stop staring at my fingers. You need to listen to what I'm saying."

"Oh... I’ll try. Ahem, go on."

"Alright. The second thing I don’t quite understand is how the Fire Dragon Clan’s chieftain spared Timani and let her live in the end."

"Wasn’t that because their chieftain had a change of heart and showed mercy?"

"A clan leader isn’t someone who goes soft that easily..." Sheffy shook her head, her silver hair swaying with the motion. "The pursuers chased her that far—it had already reached a point of no return. And according to Timani’s account, the Fire Dragon Clan has absolutely no tolerance for mixed blood. Once discovered, they’re hunted down without exception. But the chieftain spared Timani just because her parents protected her? That’s weird too... If he was so easily moved, then what about the other half-blood Fire Dragons who were killed before? Didn’t their parents plead for them too? Why didn’t he show mercy then?"

Xiarette mulled over Sheffy's words, nodding repeatedly in agreement with her reasoning.

"Then is it possible... that the Fire Dragon Clan’s chieftain spared Timani because he still intends to use her for something?"

"Right on the mark. But if that’s really the case... heh."

"Sheffy..."

"Ha, it’s fine, really~ Anyway, when we get a chance, let’s go visit the Northern Flaming Lands! Travel more, see more—there’s never anything wrong with that~"

Xiarette and Sheffy shared a silent understanding.

Naturally, Xiarette could empathize with that brief moment of anger Sheffy had just now.

Timani knew nothing.

She was just a girl who should have lived a peaceful, ordinary, and happy life.

But a sudden upheaval had left her battered and broken. Before she could even let go of her inner demons, she was already facing another danger.

If the Fire Dragon Clan still intended to use Timani for some purpose... if they planned to keep exploiting this poor soul with no home to return to—wouldn’t that be just too inhumane?

That was why Sheffy felt an unexplainable discomfort and anger.

Anger was fire.

But thankfully, right beside Sheffy was the one person who could always soothe the flames in her heart—like water.

Xiarette stood up and circled behind Sheffy.

She sat on the floor, her nightdress spreading out like ripples, and embraced Sheffy from behind, pressing her chest gently against Sheffy’s back.

"Sheffy has unknowingly learned to empathize with others’ hardships now... becoming gentler by the day."

"It’s not empathy..." Sheffy leaned back slightly, her tone much softer than before. "I just can’t stand certain things. If I see something I can’t tolerate, then I have to speak up. Otherwise, it’ll suffocate me."

"Mm-hmm... I understand. I’m the same. If I don’t know about it, fine. But if I do, and pretend I didn’t—then it just eats me up inside. So, if you’re set on heading to the Northern Flaming Lands, I’ll go with you, okay?"

"Ha, are you really trying to fight injustice, or just looking for an excuse to stay with me?"

"Maybe both? Hehe... Honestly, big sis thinks... we don’t need to worry about uncertain things just yet, Sheffy."

"Hmm?"

"Shouldn’t we, maybe... go to sleep too?"

"..."

Xiarette, seriously...

After hearing such a heartbreaking story, how could she still be in the mood for that kind of thing?!

To Xiarette, the more sorrow one carried, the more necessary it was to find a way to release it.

Water had to flow. If tears wouldn’t come, then another outlet had to be found.

Ahem... Put more elegantly...

—It was that when feeling down, one needed a warm embrace to comfort the soul.

Xiarette stood up and scooped Sheffy into her arms in a princess carry.

Since Sheffy didn’t refuse, that was her silent consent.

Steadily, Xiarette carried her toward the bedroom they shared.

The light from the Light Magic Crystal in the living room dimmed and extinguished in response.

And soon, everything sank into silence.

Only, as night deepened, a different kind of noise began rising and falling—adding quite a few new notes to that silence.

Timani was destined not to sleep peacefully.

Throughout the entire night, no matter how deep she buried herself under the covers, she kept hearing strange sounds!

Was this house haunted or something?!

---

58. Morning Chitchat

The next day, dawn barely breaking.

Timani, who had woken up early, had just entered the living room when she saw the Demon Clan Princess holding her waist like a withered old tree, pouring herself a cup of morning tea to savor a moment of rest after an exhausting night.

Sheffy hadn’t been resting long...

When she suddenly heard Timani say something inexplicable:

"Demon Clan Princess, I think your house is haunted."

"Oh, haunted you say... WHAT?! Seriously?!"

The tea in her hand suddenly lost its flavor, and Sheffy hurriedly pressed Timani to explain clearly.

Haunted? That was unacceptable! Sheffy was afraid of the dark—mainly because she feared ghosts!

However, after Timani described hearing a repeated “mmph-uhh” and “shhh-shhh” noise throughout the night...

Sheffy thought about it, and her furrowed brow gradually relaxed.

She continued sipping her morning tea.

"Oh, that’s nothing. That might happen pretty often from now on. You’ll get used to it."

"Get used to it...? Well, I suppose it’s fine... the bed here is so comfortable. Even if it’s haunted, it’s worth it. But you... why are you holding your waist like that? Did you twist it?"

"No, something worse. Fought a battle all night. I’m exhausted."

"Ohhh... that must’ve been tough. Fighting battles late at night... so that’s the Demon Clan for you—truly a warlike people."

Timani didn’t expect that while she was asleep, the Demon Clan Princess had to go off and wage war somewhere. She must’ve slain countless enemies through the night to be this worn out—what a tough life, huh?

Sheffy figured Timani’s understanding probably didn’t quite match the reality, but she had no intention of correcting her.

Some things... couldn’t be explained.

And were too embarrassing to explain anyway.

Timani glanced at the tray filled with morning tea and snacks, swallowed hard, but still tried her best to look away.

"You’re here alone? The Hero isn’t around?"

"Xiarette? Xiarette’s still sleeping. She fought too. She’s tired."

"Hss... You two are really busy, huh? Don’t even have time to sleep...? Uh, I... I don’t need it. I’m not hungry."

"If you’re not hungry, then give it back. I’m not forcing you to eat."

"......"

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