Chapter 23: Water (between) 🤤
“Mom~”
Duoluosa’s syrupy voice shattered the room’s tender moment.
She stood at the door, golden hair cascading over her shoulders, a practiced smile on her face.
But her blue eyes betrayed a shadowed gloom.
Liang Lai turned, surprised.
“Little Duo? You…”
She hadn’t expected Duoluosa to call her “Mom.”
Before, the girl bristled at the term, flushing with shy anger when teased.
Why the sudden change?
Duoluosa strode forward, wedging herself between Liang Lai and the twins.
“I want a hug too~”
Her coquettish tone masked the force in her arms as she shoved Delucia out of Liang Lai’s embrace.
Delucia stumbled back, her hexagram pupils narrowing to dangerous slits.
But she quickly pouted, feigning grievance.
“Sister Duoluosa, you hurt me…”
“Oh, sorry~”
Duoluosa’s apology dripped with exaggeration as she threw herself into Liang Lai’s arms, burying her face in her chest.
She inhaled deeply, savoring Liang Lai’s scent, absent from her for days.
Asteris stepped aside quietly, a cold glint in her pentagram eyes.
She tugged Delucia’s sleeve, and they exchanged a knowing glance.
“Mom,” Duoluosa lifted her tearful face, blue eyes glistening, “I’ve missed you so much. You haven’t come to see me…”
Her fingers clutched Liang Lai’s collar, knuckles white.
Liang Lai stroked her golden hair tenderly.
“I’m sorry, I’ve been negligent.”
These children lack security. It’s my fault for not doing better.
She didn’t notice the twins tense behind her.
Delucia suddenly clutched her chest, groaning in pain.
“It hurts…”
She staggered to her knees, her hexagram pupils flickering erratically.
“Delucia!”
Liang Lai released Duoluosa, rushing to her younger daughter.
A fierce glint flashed in Duoluosa’s eyes, quickly masked with concern.
“What’s wrong? Is your injury not healed?”
She knelt, touching Delucia’s forehead with feigned worry, her nails digging subtly into her shoulder.
Delucia trembled but leaned into Liang Lai’s arms.
“Mom, my heart hurts… like something’s grabbing it!”
She shot Duoluosa a provocative glance.
Asteris joined in timely.
“Maybe it’s aftereffects from last night’s ritual.”
She leaned weakly against Liang Lai’s back.
“Mom, I’m dizzy too…”
Liang Lai, flustered, hugged all three, soothing them.
Duoluosa trembled with rage at the twins’ theatrics.
She grabbed Liang Lai’s wrist.
“Mom! They’re faking! I saw—”
Delucia’s violent cough cut her off, blood trickling from her mouth.
Asteris collapsed in Liang Lai’s arms.
Liang Lai, panicked, released Duoluosa and ran to fetch a nun, missing Delucia’s fleeting smug smile.
Duoluosa stood, fists clenched, staring at Liang Lai’s frantic back.
Her eyes turned icy.
“All you know is faking illness.”
She sneered, glaring at the twins.
“Keep pretending to be weak, Asteris, Delucia. Only I can help Liang Lai achieve her dream. You two? A Shadowborn and a mutant. Papal heirs? Dream on!”
“I’ll make Liang Lai proud, be the child she loves most…”
She sneered again, turning to leave.
Asteris and Delucia exchanged looks.
“So, you just want to be Mom’s child?”
Asteris’s tone teased.
Duoluosa’s body jolted.
What did that mean?
If not her child, what else could she be?
Her feelings for Liang Lai… weren’t they the same?
“Hehe…”
Delucia giggled softly, saying no more.
A strange unease stirred in Duoluosa.
She slammed the door and left without looking back.
In the room, after the nun’s check, Asteris and Delucia “woke.”
“Mom, can you stay tonight?”
Asteris’s eyes brimmed with tears.
“We’re… really scared…”
Liang Lai hesitated, Duoluosa’s pitiful face flashing in her mind.
She wanted to refuse, but the twins’ fear stopped her.
“Sigh…”
“Alright, just tonight. Tomorrow, I’ll be with your sister Duoluosa. She’s been upset lately; I need to comfort her.”
Asteris and Delucia exchanged glances, nodding obediently.
“Yes~ Okay, Mom~”
That night, Liang Lai told the twins a story, planning to check the parchment in the kitchen once they slept.
But an overwhelming drowsiness hit her.
Her words slowed, her mind muddled.
No way. Too tired lately?
She fought to stay awake but couldn’t.
Deciding to rest, she closed her eyes.
Once she slept, Asteris and Delucia sat up simultaneously.
“Even asleep… she’s so charming~”
Delucia caressed Liang Lai’s face obsessively.
Her body shifted, nearly merging into Asteris’s shadow.
“But she’s a Saintess. Without consent, I can’t enter her shadow.”
Asteris straddled Liang Lai’s waist, licking her dry lips.
“Let’s have some close contact~”
“Lady Saintess~”