Chapter 12: Daughters’ confrontation
Liang Lai decided to register Asteris the next day.
Delucia, however, couldn’t be registered.
The church would never allow an obvious Shadowborn as a potential heir to the Pope.
But Asteris, the Light Devourer among the Shadow Twins, could pass undetected.
“Now, I’ll take you to meet your sister.”
“Her name is Duoluosa, and she’s a very cute child, just like you.”
Liang Lai spoke gently.
“Okay~”
Asteris and Delucia nodded obediently.
When Liang Lai opened the door, Duoluosa sat on the windowsill, combing her hair.
Sunlight filtered through the stained glass, casting mottled shadows on her.
Her expression was unreadable.
“Little Duo, come meet your new sisters””
“There are two of them, and they’re both so well-behaved
Liang Lai waved happily.
Her crystal hair accessories jingled in her silver hair.
Asteris and Delucia peeked from behind her, like timid animals.
Duoluosa’s nails scraped the windowsill, making a harsh sound.
She eyed the two girls.
One hid behind Liang Lai, showing only half her face.
The other boldly clung to Liang Lai’s arm.
Their star-shaped pupils glowed eerily in the dim light.
“This is Asteris and Delucia.”
Liang Lai, oblivious to the tense atmosphere, introduced them enthusiastically.
“They’re younger than you, so they’re your little sisters.”
“Asteris, Delucia, call Duoluosa your big sister~”
Delucia let go of Liang Lai’s hand and bounced forward.
“You’re Sister Duoluosa, right? Mom just mentioned you!”
Her smile was dazzling, her voice sweet as honey jelly.
Duoluosa seethed.
She stared at Delucia’s outstretched hand.
Dark shadows flickered at the fingertips, like the tentacles that had wrapped around Liang Lai’s ankle.
“Duoluosa?”
Liang Lai tilted her head, confused.
“Why aren’t you talking?”
The room’s air froze.
Asteris tugged at her sister’s sleeve.
But Delucia kept her hand extended, her smile growing stiff.
Finally, Duoluosa hopped off the windowsill.
She brushed Delucia’s fingertips lightly, then yanked her hand back.
Her body was tense, her blue eyes flashing with wariness.
“Okay, let’s get to know each other.”
Liang Lai clapped her hands.
“I’m going to the kitchen to check on dinner.”
As she turned, her silver hair traced a graceful arc.
She was completely unaware of the tension behind her.
Her plan was simple: let the kids play together, and they’d bond.
Children’s minds were straightforward, right?
The moment the door closed, Delucia’s smile dropped like a mask.
She withdrew her hand.
Her shadow stirred restlessly on the floor.
Asteris took a cautious step forward.
“Sister Duoluosa, we…”
“Who’s your sister?”
Duoluosa’s voice was icy.
“Don’t call her that so casually.”
Delucia’s pupils shrank to pinpoints, then reverted to their sweet facade.
“Mom said you’re our sister~”
She emphasized “Mom” deliberately.
“Look, we brought you a gift.”
She pulled an exquisite box from the shadows.
Inside was a color-changing candy, identical to the one Liang Lai bought at the market.
Asteris chimed in:
“It’s delicious. We saved it for you.”
Duoluosa stared at the candies.
She remembered Liang Lai’s gentle smile when feeding her one yesterday.
Now that gentleness was being stolen… no, snatched by these two frauds.
“I don’t eat things from unknown sources.”
She pushed the box away, stepping back irritably.
“What’s your real goal?”
Delucia’s smile froze.
Asteris tried to smooth things over:
“We just want to be friends… We’re all Mom’s children!”
“Hmph.”
Duoluosa sneered.
“You think calling ‘Mom’ a few times makes you her child?”
She stepped closer, trembling with anger.
“I’ve seen Shadowborn like you—parasites leeching off others’ shadows!”
Delucia’s shadow reared up like a venomous snake.
Black tentacles lashed out wildly.
Asteris grabbed her sister’s shoulders, pleading with Duoluosa.
“We just want to get along. If you do this, Mom will be sad…”
“Don’t call her Mom!”
Duoluosa’s hand shot out, traces of crystallization glinting.
“You don’t deserve it!”
Delucia dropped her facade.
Her shadow flooded the floor like a tide.
Her voice turned shrill and grating.
“You think you’re special? You just got here a few days before us!”
Asteris was nearly in tears.
“Sister! Stop!”
She turned to Duoluosa.
“Please, we don’t want trouble…”
Asteris was used to being timid.
She worried that fighting with Mom’s first child so soon would ruin their image.
Duoluosa saw Asteris’s red eyes and softened for a moment.
But when she noticed Delucia inching toward Liang Lai’s dressing table, her anger flared again.
“Listen,” Duoluosa lowered her voice, each word gritted out.
“Stay away from Liang Lai.”
“She’s too kind to see through your tricks, but I know your kind.”
Delucia provocatively picked up the silver comb on the dressing table.
The one Liang Lai used to comb Duoluosa’s hair daily.
“Mom said she loves combing our hair.”
She deliberately ran the comb through her white hair.
“They say our hair is like silk…”
The comb flew from her hand, snatched by Duoluosa.
“This was a gift from Liang Lai!”
Duoluosa gripped it tightly, her nails carving grooves into it.
“What do you want? Money? Food? Or…”
“We just want Mom.”
Delucia cut her off.
A dangerous, fanatical glint flashed in her star-shaped pupils.
“All of her!”
Asteris covered her sister’s mouth in panic, but it was too late.
Duoluosa’s pupils tightened.
Her fingers crystallized again.
She was certain now—these Shadowborn weren’t seeking refuge.
They were here to take everything.
“Don’t even think about it!”
Her voice was barely audible, but it carried unshakable resolve.
“Now. Get out of my room.”
Delucia opened her mouth to retort but was held back by Asteris.