Chapter 16 : I Idolize My Aunt—Wouldn’t Dare Badmouth Her!

While the two sisters were bonding, Lorin had just finished her bath and was now being dressed in an extravagantly elaborate gown, with the help of the maid.

And of course, that included the part she hated most—those damn white stockings.

To be clear, she voluntarily put them on after Grace’s gentle persuasion and logical reasoning.

It definitely had nothing to do with Grace being a fifth-tier mage or Claire’s intimidating authority.

She wasn’t scared of Claire at all.

“All right, that’s enough!”

Lorin huffed, visibly annoyed.

She quickly stopped Grace when she saw the maid was about to put the stockings on for her.

Grace felt a little disappointed deep down—Her Highness really had such lovely skin…

Still, professionalism was her armor, and Lorin couldn’t read her expression at all.

“I’ll take my leave now. If you need anything, Your Highness, just call,” Grace said with a curtsy before gracefully exiting the room.

“Do blood clan princesses not need to breathe or something?”

Dressed in the heavy gown, Lorin felt utterly stifled.

Breathing was a chore, and nothing fit right.

Deciding she’d had enough, she slipped out of the room to explore the colossal castle.

Naturally, Grace followed her closely, never more than a few steps behind.

“I’m not going to run away,” Lorin grumbled, glancing sideways at Grace.

She genuinely had no plans to escape at the moment.

After all, she was nearly at fourth-tier—once she got there, she could maintain transformation magic much longer.

Maybe then, she could recreate the item that had vanished from her side.

So many romantic entanglements in her past life, and yet not a single one had made it past theory.

Thinking back now… what a waste.

Lorin sighed with genuine regret.

Grace shook her head gently.

“Of course I trust Your Highness. But it’s the Princess I can’t explain this to.”

“I hope you’ll be understanding.”

“Fine, fine!”

Lorin waved her hand impatiently.

She could understand Grace—but who was going to understand her?

Claire?

That woman was a professional daughter-scammer.

In fact… Lorin was beginning to suspect Claire had already figured out her true identity.

Her only hope now was that Claire wouldn’t spill the beans to Phyllis.

If that happened, she was truly doomed.

“Oh, right. Where’s the dressing room?”

At her question, Grace visibly tensed, clearly startled.

“Your Highness… are you not satisfied with this dress?”

She had taken forever to pick it out—it suited the princess’s current temperament perfectly.

“Don’t you have any normal clothes around here? Like shirts and pants or something?”

Lorin asked in genuine curiosity.

Grace blinked, stunned, then shook her head.

“Those would undermine your noble image, Your Highness. And… the Princess would not approve.”

“Don’t worry about her. She’s not even here. Just say you didn’t notice.”

Sensing an opening, Lorin began to gently coax her.

But before Grace could respond, her eyes went wide in terror, as if she’d just seen something out of a nightmare.

Then she shook her head vigorously.

Lorin’s face hardened.

“Grace! If you take me there, I’ll put in a good word for you with Cl—my royal mother.”

Still shaking her head, Grace frantically gestured behind Lorin.

Only then did Lorin sense something was off.

She was in her loli form right now—what could scare Grace that much unless…

She turned her head stiffly and found Claire standing directly behind her.

Next to her stood the Blood Queen herself—Phyllis—smiling sweetly.

“Holy crap!”

Lorin shrieked in terror and bolted, legs moving like twin engines on overdrive.

Her silver hair whipped behind her with every desperate step.

But she didn’t make it far.

Claire stepped forward in a blur, grabbed her by the back of her collar, and hoisted her into the air like a squirming kitten.

Sensing she was outmatched, Grace quickly excused herself.

This was no scene for a humble maid to witness.

“Put me down! Claire!”

Now that the coast was clear, Lorin snarled with all the ferocity of a cornered cat, thrashing in Claire’s grip.

Claire ignored her completely and carried her over to Phyllis like she was showing off merchandise.

“Look—this is my daughter,” she announced proudly.

“I’m not her daughter!”

Lorin snapped.

“She’s the one who insisted on being my mom!”

Phyllis stared at Lorin with great interest but said nothing.

Ever since Claire suggested that she might know this little girl, Phyllis had been paying close attention.

And yes, there was a strange sense of familiarity—but she just couldn’t place it.

“Come on now,” Claire said, smirking.

“You know the truth. Don’t lie to yourself. Otherwise, you’ll regret it tomorrow.”

“Tch.”

Lorin scoffed and turned her head away in disdain.

Regret?

What was there to regret?

Just then, her eyes accidentally locked with Phyllis’s curious gaze.

Her heart clenched.

“Uh… Hello!”

“Call me Auntie.”

Claire smacked the top of Lorin’s head lightly.

Lorin glared at her, then squeezed the words out between clenched teeth, “…Auntie.”

A part of her soul died right there.

Even Phyllis had climbed onto her head and claimed seniority over her.

And honestly, seeing Phyllis now, all refined and elegant, Lorin almost laughed.

Back in the glory days of the Northern Continent, she had been the one to drag this noble young lady out of her polished shell and turn her into a wild girl.

And now here Phyllis was, playing prim and proper in front of her?

“You’re thinking bad things about me, aren’t you?”

Phyllis looked at Lorin, eyes narrowed.

Startled, Lorin shook her head vigorously.

“Nope! I idolize you, Auntie! I wouldn’t dare think anything bad!”

Phyllis’s instincts were still terrifyingly sharp…

“You better not!”

Claire finally set Lorin down.

The girl immediately bolted a few meters away and only then turned to shout, “Claire! This isn’t over between us!”

“Oh?”

Claire smirked and stepped toward her.

Lorin’s heart dropped.

She knew that look.

Quickly, she activated her wind magic and took off running.

“How was it?”

Claire asked, turning back.

Phyllis smiled brightly.

“Can’t quite explain it, but she’s so much fun!”

With Lorin around, she wouldn’t feel so bored anymore, even if Claire wasn’t home.

“Still… Are you seriously not going to teach her any basic etiquette?”

Claire shot her a look.

“You’re one to talk!”

“Hehe… just saying.”

“We’ll deal with that later.”

Phyllis couldn’t help but look forward to the future—one filled with chaos and squabbling and wild affection between aunt and niece.

After all, everyone in this castle was always focused on improving themselves, too busy to just play with her.

Being queen was getting far too lonely…