Qin Yu sat at the dining table, looking at the abundant food laid out before her, feeling her appetite surge.
After an exhausting afternoon of fierce battle, Qin Yu was so hungry she felt like her chest and back were pressed together.
Opposite her, Luo Shangyu held a pouch of gold coins, carefully counting them one by one.
“There are two hundred and twenty-two gold coins in total.” After thorough counting, Luo Shangyu announced.
“Half of this is for you.” She pushed half of the coins toward Qin Yu.
“Eh?”
“This is our joint victory; you should have half as well.”
“But… this is your money, isn’t it…”
“There’s no need to make such a clear distinction between yours and mine. Aren’t we good friends? What’s mine is yours, and what’s yours is mine.”
“But even friends have boundaries, don’t they…” Qin Yu said softly.
“But we’re best friends! Everything I have is open to you.” Luo Shangyu stared earnestly into Qin Yu’s slightly puzzled eyes.
Meeting Luo Shangyu’s sincere gaze, Qin Yu nodded firmly, “Thank you for treating me as such a good friend. I will open everything I have to you too…”
Nearby, a maid standing at a distance whispered softly.
“Is that a confession?”
“Not really, there was no kiss after all. I think it’s more like they’re forging the closest of friendships rather than a romantic relationship…”
“But their behavior together is really intimate!”
“Last night, they both slept on that small bed, right?”
“Yeah, I saw two pillows side by side on the bed, but only one blanket!”
“Oh ho ho! I’m shipping them! May they end up together in the end…”
***
The autumn sea breeze was cool, and even on such an unusually hot day, the wind from the tundra brought waves of refreshing chill.
Valya stood on a rock by the sea, gazing out at the vast, dark ocean.
Only a few distant sailboats’ lights tore through the darkness.
Her waist-length black hair fluttered in the wind, blending seamlessly into the pitch-black night.
Behind her, Lilith held a coat and asked, “You should put on this coat, or you’ll catch a cold.”
She sighed as she looked at Valya’s black Gothic swimsuit, made only of ribbons and fabric patches.
Valya didn’t turn around and replied leisurely, “My resistance is strong. You don’t need to worry. But I want to ask you, what’s your impression of Qin Yu and Luo Shangyu today?”
Lilith paused for a moment before hesitating, “Luo Shangyu is strong and has excellent potential. Qin Yu is a bit weaker, but her talent is extraordinary, especially in domain magic. It seems she can naturally master All-Element Magic.”
“Hmm, that’s a fair assessment. But Qin Yu strikes me as quite cute—makes me want to tease her a little. I want to grab her long, snowy white hair, pin her beneath me, and watch the tears well up in her bright blue eyes as she stubbornly refuses to beg for mercy…” Hidden from Lilith’s view, Valya licked her lips, revealing a tiger tooth, savoring the joyful image in her mind.
Lilith shivered involuntarily.
As the one “teased” most by Valya, she knew Valya’s techniques well.
Thinking this, Lilith mourned silently for the young girl she had only known for a few hours.
“Why so quiet? Jealous?” Valya teased.
“…”
“Don’t worry, I only love you~ Even Qin Yu will only be my ‘toy’.” Valya turned and walked over to Lilith.
Lilith was already silently mourning Qin Yu’s fate.
As the nominal Grand Duchess, Valya was already harsh enough when playing with her—there was no telling what kind of “abuse” Qin Yu would endure if treated like a toy.
“Let’s go, don’t keep them waiting~” Valya took Lilith’s hand and left the shore, heading to the place she had arranged to meet Qin Yu.
***
Valya arrived at the hotel bar and immediately spotted Qin Yu and Luo Shangyu sitting upright at a table.
Qin Yu had changed into a fluffy white long-sleeved dress, while Luo Shangyu wore pajamas with a long-sleeved jacket over them.
Qin Yu and Luo Shangyu sat side by side.
Valya and Lilith pulled out chairs and sat down, then waved their hands to set up a barrier around the table to block outside noise.
Valya caught a whiff of a fresh ocean scent in the air.
She sniffed carefully.
This was clearly not the salty, fishy smell brought by the sea breeze.
Upon closer smell, there was a faint, subtle fragrance of a young girl’s body scent.
“Qin Yu, you smell so nice!” Valya said.
“!?” Qin Yu was shocked.
Valya’s words short-circuited her brain.
Beside her, Lilith helplessly wiped her forehead—this wasn’t the first time Valya had teased someone like this.
Luo Shangyu’s expression darkened, as if she had just swallowed a fly.
“Haha, just kidding.” Valya carefully observed Qin Yu’s wide-open blue eyes startled by her words.
Valya extended her right hand and introduced herself solemnly, “I am Valya Ratmos, Grand Duchess of the Boermai Empire. I am the current Demon King and the head of the Ratmos family of the demon clan.”
Qin Yu reached out her right hand and shook Valya’s firmly.
“I am Lilith Velastan Countess of the Boermai Empire and Grand Duchess by title. I am the current head of the Velastan family of the Blood Clan.”
After the two introductions, Qin Yu began, “I am Qin Yu, Crown Princess of the Chengji Empire.”
“I am Luo Shangyu, Prince of Zhenping of the Chengji Empire and Imperial Guard before the Eastern Palace.”
***
After everyone stood, shook hands, and then sat down again, Valya pondered, “Luo Shangyu, I think I met you once a long, long time ago when your master brought you to my grand duke investiture ceremony.”
“That’s true. My master was an old acquaintance of the previous Ratmos family head. You must have already been a few hundred years old then, right?”
“Just over a hundred.” Valya humbly replied.
“By the way, what brings you out this time?”
“Vacation.” Qin Yu answered.
“But I want to ask you—what about you? I heard you’re plotting some ‘big plans’?”
“Heh, as expected of the Crown Princess, your information is sharp. I am indeed planning something big. Since Qin Yu, you already know, let’s speak openly.” Valya’s expression grew serious.
“We are currently on vacation, but after this, I plan to overthrow the Boermai royal family.”
Taking a sip of the drink the waiter had just served, she continued, “The Boermai royal family is decadent and immoral; someone must stand up. I know that although the Boermai royal family is incompetent and tyrannical, they are not fools. They have sent out calls for aid to other nations.”
At this, Valya paused, glanced around, and lowered her voice solemnly, “I know your families have long-standing relations with the Boermai royal family. Seeing how divided the Boermai family is, other countries probably won’t send troops, but I know you will genuinely send aid. However, I advise you not to actually fight, not to let your soldiers appear on the front lines.”
“…” Since crossing over, Qin Yu had never met anyone who dared speak to her like this—especially when this conversation touched on her empire’s dignity.
Her tone stiffened, “Should I take this as a joke?”
“No, no, it’s not a joke. It’s advice. Crown Princess, times have changed. Your Chengji Empire has dominated for too long and made many enemies. All the countries of the world are planning to attack Chengji.”
Valya patiently explained the geopolitical situation, “Over thirty years ago, magic technology advanced rapidly. Media capable of efficiently storing magical power was discovered, leading to breakthroughs in magic weaponry and devices. Now, nations are restless, and international tensions run deep. If the Chengji Empire tries to hinder my Ratmos family’s plans, I will lead the allied nations to punish you!”
That was a blatant threat.
Qin Yu didn’t back down, “Oh? Then we’ll see it through to the end! Let’s see who is truly the century-old overlord of the Illusion Realm!”
“Heh~ so proud!”
Qin Yu knew well that after her foolish father’s misrule, the Chengji Empire was no longer the Illusion Realm’s overlord.
An awkward silence fell between them.
“Ha ha, it seems no one likes this topic! Let’s switch to something else to talk about!” The usually aloof Lilith tried hard to ease the atmosphere.
Everyone began exchanging lighter stories, like amusing events from their days by the sea.
The mood gradually relaxed.
***
Late into the night, exhausted from chatting, everyone stood and raised their glasses, downing their drinks before bidding each other farewell and departing.
Valya watched Qin Yu’s retreating figure as she headed to her hotel room and murmured, “Are they really going to send troops? Looks like once I take the throne, I’ll have to destroy your empire. Then, you’ll become my ‘toy’…”
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