“For some unknown reason, the life fluctuations in the Golden Cradle suddenly began to wane. Every day was weaker than the last. If this continued, the Demon King Highness might have died in the cradle in less than a week. However, the gestation of a giant’s offspring takes at least another month.”
The Black Cat glanced at the frowning Vyea and lay back on the windowsill with its chin lowered.
“The Elders in the Demon King City tried various methods, but they couldn’t stop the life force from leaking. Seeing the Little Demon King’s life force fluttering in the wind like a reed, liable to vanish at any moment…”
“The Elders couldn’t wait any longer. They didn’t have the time. So, they began preparing to help the Little Demon King emerge from the Golden Cradle early.”
“In human terms, this is a premature birth… and it was far too early.” Seeing Vyea remain silent, the Black Cat continued helplessly.
“The newborn Little Demon King was frail. One of her arms and one of her legs were in an imperfect state. Moreover, she had a half-demon body, which the Demon Race loathes.”
“Faced with such a result, the Elders of the Demon King City had no choice but to accept it. The newborn Little Demon King had no power to protect herself. To prevent accidents, her range of movement was restricted to the Demon King City from birth. She could only go to the outer residential areas if accompanied by a Demon.”
“In our Demon Race, those without power will never be respected. Especially for the Demon King Highness, being in a position of danger while having such weak power.”
“However, as a subordinate of the former Great Demon King, I still occasionally looked after her.”
The Black Cat was about to continue when the bathroom door was pushed open.
A soft *click* broke the heavy atmosphere in the room.
Vyea’s heavy mood was stirred. She followed the source of the sound and looked over.
A small figure in a bathrobe appeared behind the bathroom door. She poked her head out first, found Vyea standing by the French window, and gave a bright, shallow smile.
Then, she tiptoed to the cabinet where the change of clothes was kept.
“To change clothes…” Taking the clothes from the bottom shelf, the little girl held them and looked at Vyea with a hint of joy in her voice. “…Are they all for Jasmine?”
Vyea smiled and nodded. She left the cat’s side and went to her daughter. She took a dry towel hanging nearby and placed it gently on the girl’s head, tenderly drying her damp, beige hair.
The little girl’s body was stiff, and her eyes were closed tight as if facing a great enemy.
Only after feeling the other’s kindness and the warmth of her movements did her body slowly relax. She curiously opened her eyes to peek at this Mother she had just met.
Vyea dried her hair and noticed her cheeks were as red as a scorched apple.
‘Did she give herself a fever while bathing?’
If she had known, she wouldn’t have let her wash alone. Vyea sighed and touched the girl’s forehead, only to see her face grow even redder.
‘Is she shy?’
Realizing this, Vyea withdrew her hand. Before their relationship matured, she shouldn’t do things that might make her feel awkward.
“How is your leg feeling?” Vyea changed the subject, kneeling before her daughter. She looked at the leg that had difficulty moving and hesitantly reached out to touch the skin, which was unnaturally pale.
Jasmine stammered, “It’s… it’s fine.”
But at the moment of contact, she visibly flinched like an electrified raccoon. Vyea felt more heartache than amusement.
“Don’t worry. I’ll see if I can find someone to help you look at it later. Human healing techniques are much better than those Demons.”
Vyea let go and said softly, “I almost forgot, you haven’t eaten yet. There’s nothing in the house right now, so let’s go out and eat together.”
Once Jasmine finished changing, Vyea took her hand, ready to take her out.
As a qualified parent, wasn’t letting your children eat well and stay warm the most basic requirement?
Besides, she was an adult who had been married. Even if she was usually too lazy to speak, act, or show extra expressions, she had researched how to please a little girl.
Especially when that girl was her own daughter.
This was called happiness.
It was nothing more than taking her out to buy beautiful clothes, finding good food, and fun things to do. If she was bored, she’d chat with her; if she was thirsty, she’d prepare a cup of warm water…
So easy.
Vyea felt, for the first time, that the little tricks she’d learned from her neighbor, Mrs. Weier, were actually useful. She felt a bit proud.
Suddenly, Vyea noticed that Jasmine, whose hand she was holding, wasn’t moving. The girl stared blankly at her with her fair face tilted up. Her strange, beautiful green eyes seemed filled with something she wanted to say.
“Is there something you want to tell me?” Vyea asked with a smile, her voice uncharacteristically gentle. “I’m listening.”
The Black Cat on the windowsill rolled its eyes and made a gagging motion, but was silenced by Vyea’s murderous gaze that seemed to say, ‘Are you sick?’
“That… actually, I want to say something to Mother. Something important.”
Jasmine fidgeted, her hands sweating. Finally, she looked up at Vyea. Though she was only a child not even 1.2 meters tall, her gaze was bright, vivid, and brave—like a tiger reigning over the world!
Finally, Jasmine seemed to give up on something and blinked at Vyea.
“Mother, I really like you! S-so…”
Vyea was stunned, then couldn’t help but laugh. “I like you too.”
Hearing the response, Jasmine’s face turned red, whether from the beauty of the moment or happiness, but her voice grew smaller.
“Then… Mother, in the future, can you please not leave me alone again?”
Seeing Vyea’s delayed response, Jasmine quickly grabbed her hand, sounding anxious.
“I’ll be good from now on… really. I promise not to cause Mother any trouble… and I’m not a picky eater. I’ll eat anything!”
“I won’t leave you behind anymore.”
Vyea smiled easily. At this moment, she felt that all her previous worries about not being accepted or being misunderstood by her daughter were just bubbles that didn’t exist.
A flash of lightning fell from the dark clouds, lighting up the rain curtain outside and catching Vyea’s attention.
The weather was annoying. It had been sunny when she left the Priory in the morning, but by noon, it was raining this hard.
“I’ve heard humans say that whenever there’s lightning and rain, bad things happen. Maybe we shouldn’t go out. Anyway, we already starved for a night; the Little Demon King Highness can starve one more day, right?”
“Scram! You’re a Demon, yet you’re superstitious about human sayings? You’re becoming more senile by the day.”
“Your daughter is right there. How can you teach her to starve?”
“Do you have a fever, or did a human hit your head while you were stealing this morning? Why are you talking nonsense?” Vyea was shocked.
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