50. Who Could It Be~
"Miss, why are you about to cry? Are you thinking of your mother?"
The child next to her tugged at Xia Yi's sleeve.
Eh…?
Xia Yi realized her nose was getting sour, and her eyes were moistening.
What am I doing?
"Sorry, Miss Magician, my child was rude just now."
The mother quickly picked up the child.
This was the mother and daughter who had been talking earlier.
Xia Yi, realizing she had lost her composure in front of the child, hurriedly lifted her head and blinked hard, trying to hold back her tears.
"Little friend, you're mistaken~"
She smiled and patted the little girl's head, then looked at the girl's mother.
"It's okay, I don't mind, ma'am. Your daughter is very cute."
"Miss Magician, if there's any trouble, I can call a crew member over for you…"
"No need, I just want to be alone for a while."
"Alright, then I won't disturb Miss Magician."
The mother, holding her daughter, went back inside the cabin.
"But Miss was clearly thinking of her mother, just like I was before. Why won't she let me say it…"
The little girl was still muttering.
Xia Yi's mood had become somewhat downcast.
Am I thinking… of Xia Lulu?
"…How could that be!" Xia Yi immediately denied, "No, no, no, that's impossible. Xia Lulu and I are mortal enemies!"
Yes, that's right.
Xia Yi believed she definitely wasn't thinking of Xia Lulu. After all, she had always wanted to leave her side and return to the human world.
How could she possibly have any lingering feelings for that person?
The ones she should be missing are the little animals she raised in the garden!
Those animals, she had raised them all by herself, and suddenly left without a proper goodbye…
It must be that, nothing to do with Xia Lulu!
Better to think of something happy.
For example, what expression would Xia Lulu have when she finds out I've run away?
"She'll cry, right? Xia Lulu will definitely be so upset she'll cry. Just thinking of that scheming, millennia-old loli, all pitiful and wanting to cry, it's…"
Xia Yi had never seen Xia Lulu's tears, and if there were any, they were to tease her.
She really thought about it, Xia Lulu hiding away, secretly shedding tears.
"…"
Xia Yi inexplicably couldn't laugh.
"I can't stand it, why do I keep thinking about that woman's affairs!! What does it have to do with her how I am! I just want to leave the Dragon Kingdom and return to the human world!"
Right, that's it!
She was a human after all, just temporarily turned into a dragon due to an accident. Now that she had finally found a way to turn back into a human and had left the dragons, she should return to the human world!
But…
Where would she go?
Until now, Xia Yi hadn't thought deeply about this question, as if she was avoiding herself.
Even if she returned to the human world, to the Rhine Kingdom, then what?
She felt like she was falling into an endless sea, like a leaf floating on the waves.
In the human world, she had no place to call home anymore.
The Schubert family had long since abandoned her, needed her when she was the heir, discarded her when she was the Sword Saint…
To go back, to experience being abandoned once more?
The little princess looked down, trying to see a resolute human Sword Saint in the reflection on the water, but… there were only ripples.
Does anyone in this world still need her?
A memory surfaced in her heart.
It was from years ago, when she was still a young and naive Dragon Princess, and Xia Lulu sat alone on the Dragon Throne, her silver eyes dim and tired, only exhaustion within.
She had run out from behind a pillar, thrown herself into Xia Lulu's arms, and smiled at her.
"No matter what happens, I will stand by your side, Mother. I won't be like the others!"
There was only one reason, very simple.
She didn't want to see Xia Lulu cry.
To this day, Xia Yi remembered that.
In her vision, the waves beneath the ship seemed to vanish, and the reflection on the water was not of a human, but of a silver-haired, silver-eyed Dragon Princess, who seemed to whisper something.
"Ah! A dragon?!" A crew member, seeing Xia Yi, was so startled that he fell to the ground.
Xia Yi stepped onto the ship's railing and leaped, her petite figure blending into the night, disappearing from sight.
…
"Sister."
"What is it, Sera?"
"The Queen hasn't eaten for many days, just staying by herself, not seeing anyone," Sera said with a hint of worry, "Has the Queen encountered some problem? Shouldn't you persuade her?"
The royal maids, sisters, were conversing.
Some time had passed since the internal strife in the Blackstone Kingdom had ended.
The Dragon Clan had acquired the magic crystal mines of the Blackstone Kingdom, which was indeed a cause for celebration.
But some had noticed that the Silver Dragon Queen had not appeared before them for many days, and they couldn't help but worry.
Now, only the royal maids knew that the Queen had been staying alone in the grand palace hall.
"Sera, the Queen has her own considerations, and we are not in a position to disturb her. Normally, we just need to fulfill our duties," Lucia replied.
"But ever since the Princess left, there hasn't been a single word from her, and she hasn't returned even once."
The astute Sera seemed to have grasped the underlying reason.
"Sister, did the Princess run away from home?"
Lucia was caught in a dilemma. Although she knew more than the average person and had guessed the situation—that the Queen had deliberately allowed the Princess to run away—she couldn't speak of it without the Queen's permission.
She had to gloss over it!
"Sera, about that matter, I can only say that those who understand, understand; those who don't, won't benefit from an explanation. It's complicated, the waters run deep, so it's best not to delve too much into it."
"…"
Sera was left confused by her sister's cryptic words.
Yet, she understood that neither she nor anyone else could be of help; perhaps… they could only wait for the Princess to return.
…
Tap.
Xia Lulu heard footsteps approaching the grand hall from outside.
Who would come at this time?
After some thought, she figured it could only be Lucia.
But Lucia had been following her for many years and knew her character well; she wouldn't disturb her.
Surely, it couldn't be an assassin or the like…?
Xia Lulu lifted her head and indeed saw a figure.
The person seemed to realize Xia Lulu's reaction, got startled, and hid behind the door.
This scene made the Silver Dragon Queen chuckle to herself.
Although they had hidden, the little silver dragon's tail was still sticking out. Who else could it be~
Yey😌
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