“Little fox, why do you have such a surprised expression on your face?”
“Geweia, why would you say that?”
“What do you mean? Are you talking about what I just said—the thing your mother used to say to you when you were little?”
“Yeah…”
Liuli hadn’t expected those words, which she used to say when bidding her mother goodnight as a child, to be learned by Serveyia. She certainly didn’t expect the other girl to say them directly to her. Although they were only three simple words, they held a special meaning for Liuli. They were precious memories unique to her childhood.
However, as she grew up, especially after leaving home for university, the opportunities to say those words to her mother became scarce. Thus, hearing them from Serveyia’s mouth was quite unexpected.
“I heard it from your mother once when we were chatting. I thought it was a cute way of saying it. You don’t mind me using it, do you, little fox?”
“I don’t mind. It’s just that…”
‘It makes me feel a bit dazed.’
Liuli didn’t say the second half of the sentence out loud. In truth, she didn’t even know what she was dazed about—whether it was her childhood or her mother.
Even now, she had been away from home for a long time. Since becoming a princess, the opportunities to go home were even fewer. Although she still called her parents from time to time, she no longer had that almost unconditional dependency she felt as a child.
“Don’t worry, little fox. I’ll take good care of you, so it’s perfectly fine to think of me as your mother too.”
‘Is it really fine?’ Liuli couldn’t help but think. No matter how she heard it, that sentence sounded a bit strange.
“Serveyia, I don’t think it’s a matter of whether it’s fine or not. It’s just that… well, a mother is a mother. They are irreplaceable. No matter how much I might try to suppress that, it would just be suppression. It can’t be real.”
While many boys might have a bit of a mother complex to some degree and seek it in their girlfriends, many are stubborn and refuse to admit it. Liuli was the same. Furthermore, what Liuli wanted was maternal tolerance and affection, not endless nagging and criticism.
Therefore, it didn’t really matter if the person was actually her mother or played the role of one. Often, what Liuli wanted was a feeling—a feeling of being accepted and even pampered.
“I know that, of course. After all, if I really became your mother, I wouldn’t be able to be intimate with you, would I?”
“So, Serveyia, were you just teasing me?”
“Half and half. I truly think that dialogue between you and your mother is very cute. It makes me a little envious.”
Liuli didn’t intentionally ask why she was envious. After all, as the heir to a nation, what one gained was balanced by what one lost. Perhaps Serveyia truly envied the family dynamics of ordinary people.
“Well then, goodnight?”
Since she didn’t know what else to say and it was getting late, it was better to just go to sleep.
“Little fox, aren’t you going to say that phrase to me too?”
“…” Liuli was a bit surprised. Was Serveyia acting spoiled? Honestly, having Serveyia make such a clear request made Liuli feel somewhat flattered. After all, Serveyia had always been the more dominant one; it was usually Liuli who was the one asking for things from her. “Serveyia, what do you want to hear?”
“Are you joking, little fox? You should know what I want to hear.”
“Fine. Goodbye, goodnight, see you tomorrow…”
Since Serveyia wanted to hear it, it didn’t hurt to say it a few more times. Regardless, it wasn’t an embarrassing phrase, so there was no harm in saying it.
“All right. Goodnight, little fox.”
Serveyia seemed satisfied. She lay down beside Liuli and naturally pulled one of the fox’s tails into her arms.
Liuli didn’t have any objections to this move. This was how Serveyia always treated her when they slept, so she had long since grown used to it.
When she woke up the next morning, what greeted Liuli wasn’t the usual sound of an alarm, but Serveyia’s calling.
“Serveyia, why did you wake up so early…”
Although she didn’t usually wake up late back at the Qingli Court, she was always woken up by an alarm. To be honest, Liuli hadn’t actually developed a habit of sleeping early and waking up early on her own.
“Because we’re on a diplomatic visit. We have official business to do today.”
“No, no, no. I mean, how do you manage to get up this early? I remember back at the Qingli Court, you woke up around the same time I did.”
“Because I’m used to it, little fox. I don’t have the opportunity or the luxury to sleep in.”
Honestly, hearing those words, Liuli felt a sudden pang of sadness. What exactly did her princess identity bring to Serveyia? And what had her own princess identity in Saint Laya brought her?
Strictly speaking, being a princess definitely brought more benefits than drawbacks. A life she once wouldn’t have dared to dream of was now within reach. But for Serveyia, if she had a choice, would she still choose to be the heir?
However, Liuli didn’t know how to bring up that question. Should she just ask it directly? Even Liuli knew that now wasn’t the time to ask such a thing.
“Little fox, why are you still dazed? It’s time to head out.”
“So early?”
“It’s not early. By the time we tidy up our clothes and makeup and finish breakfast, it’ll be time to leave. You can’t keep Mr. Seth waiting forever, can you?”
“Fine…”
Liuli felt like she must not have fully woken up; otherwise, she wouldn’t have asked such a pointless question.
After spending some time getting ready, Liuli and Serveyia walked out of the room together. They just happened to run into Fina and Aili coming out from the room next door.
“Liuli, are you heading out?”
“Yes. Fina, do you want to come with us?”
“No, the Elf King invited you, Liuli. I won’t go just to get in the way. I plan to take this chance to walk around on my own, assuming the Elf King agrees.”
Fina had indeed mentioned that learning about the local customs of different regions was one of her hobbies. Close contact with the locals was indeed one of the best ways to experience those customs. Liuli just hoped Mr. Seth would grant Fina’s small request.
She just wondered if Fina, a mermaid, would be able to integrate into the social circles of the Elf Race.