Chapter 26: The eldest daughter’s troubles
“Ahem…”
Liang Lai’s strained cough snapped Duoluosa out of her trance.
Realizing she’d gripped the Saintess’s neck too tightly, she released her in a panic.
“I’m sorry!”
She bowed her head, shame washing over her as she faced the truth: her feelings for Liang Lai weren’t pure.
“Okay, I understand,” she muttered, curling up beside Liang Lai, clutching her arm tightly.
“Asteris and Delucia were right. I… I do like you, Liang Lai.”
By the Saintess’s side, she felt safe, whole.
She didn’t want anyone else to touch her, didn’t want Liang Lai to love others.
But Liang Lai’s boundless kindness meant she would—caring for those pitiful children.
Jealousy burned in Duoluosa’s chest, a fire with no outlet.
She wasn’t cruel enough to sabotage Asteris and Delucia; kindness still lingered in her heart.
Nor could she harm herself for attention—she’d endured too much in childhood to ruin her newfound happiness.
She nestled closer, inhaling Liang Lai’s sweet scent.
“Then… I have to make Liang Lai hate them. It’s the only way…”
Her voice broke, tears threatening.
At sixteen, she was at her wit’s end.
“Annoying.”
She closed her eyes.
“If Liang Lai weren’t so kind, she wouldn’t bring home those strange kids. I need to work harder. Maybe if I fulfill her dream—our dream—she’ll stop taking them in.”
With that, Duoluosa drifted into sleep, unaware that Liang Lai would continue adopting stranger children.
Days passed in uneasy peace.
Duoluosa stopped clashing with Asteris and Delucia, only occasionally reporting their misdeeds to Liang Lai.
The twins, relieved by her restraint, brushed off her accusations with feigned pity, infuriating her.
Liang Lai felt helpless.
She sensed Duoluosa’s dislike for the twins but couldn’t force harmony.
Their personalities clashed—what could she do?
She marveled at Duoluosa’s rapid growth.
After nearly two months in this world, Liang Lai was settling in.
She slacked less at work, her early outrageous behavior fading.
Her masculinity had waned, a relief but also a quiet panic—she’d fully embraced being a woman.
Duoluosa, Asteris, and Delucia had been at the Immaculate Courtyard for nearly two months.
Next month was their assessment.
Delucia, a Shadowborn, couldn’t attend—too many people meant danger for her.
Duoluosa was nervous.
Beyond fearing her abilities wouldn’t be recognized, she dreaded Alphonse VII.
What if he recognizes me?
She stared at her reflection, sighing as she touched her cheek.
“They look more and more alike. What do I do?”
Her voice carried unrelenting sorrow.
She avoided mirrors—Claudius appeared in them when she was vulnerable, disguised as a thirteen-year-old boy to break her will, paving the way for a Darkborn to replace her.
After a quick glance, she’d cover them with cloth.
But today, the mirror warped again.
Duoluosa gasped, grabbing the cloth.
As it fell, Claudius’s voice slithered out:
“Duoluosa, afraid of Alphonse VII finding you~?”
His boyish tone was bewitching.
She swallowed hard, turning away, ignoring him.
Sensing her resistance, Claudius chuckled, unperturbed.
“Alphonse VII didn’t know you before, but this time’s different. Think he’ll toss you back to the Underground Sanctuary once he knows who you are? Oh, my dear child… I miss you, long for your return to us. But I despise traitors most of all…”
His voice echoed, halting her.
A blatant threat.
Duoluosa clenched her fists, turning slowly, glaring at the cloth-covered mirror.
“So? What are you saying?”
Her voice was hoarse, brimming with suppressed rage.
Claudius laughed heartily.
“My lovely child! You know exactly what I mean!”
“You tried to kill me!” she roared.
“You wanted a Darkborn to replace me, to stay by the Saintess’s side! Why play the good guy now?!”
Her outburst drew Liang Lai, standing outside with dirty clothes.
She hesitated, then pushed the door open a crack.