Chapter 30: The Conceited Little Girl

Zhu Xiaxia didn’t expect Zhu Qiu to make a request of her so soon.

She had thought it would take a long time for them to bond.

With those words from Zhu Xiaxia, Zhu Qiu felt she could finally rightfully propose lessons regarding magic.

However, when Zhu Xiaxia heard those words, she interpreted them in an entirely different way.

‘My daughter is asking me for guidance? What does this mean?’

‘It means she has already accepted her identity as part of the Dragon Race and is ready to move on to the next stage of her education.

For example, what a Dragon Princess should pay attention to in her daily life.’

“My daughter has grown up, hasn’t she~?”

Zhu Xiaxia said with relief.

“Well, since you’ve requested lessons, I certainly cannot refuse as your Mother.”

Hearing that Zhu Xiaxia agreed to teach her, Zhu Qiu sat up in bed, ready to state her specific requirements.

“Zhu Xiaxia, I want…”

Before Zhu Qiu could finish, Zhu Xiaxia interrupted her.

“When do you want to start your studies?”

‘Eh? I haven’t even asked yet? Why is Zhu Xiaxia just assuming we’re starting already?’

‘Could it be that she understands what I mean?’

Zhu Qiu’s eyes darted around in their sockets, and her eyebrows rose slightly.

‘That’s great! As expected of a Dragon King, she understood my meaning in a second.’

“Let’s do it tomorrow then. Not today. Half the day is already gone, it’s already afternoon. Besides, I was just disgusted by your Dark Cuisine, so I need to rest for a while.”

“Of course, daughter. Rest well today and prepare yourself fully for tomorrow. Mother believes that you will surely become the most polite and excellent Dragon Princess. Perform well—Mother has high expectations for you~”

Zhu Xiaxia left, leaving Zhu Qiu alone in the room.

‘Perform well? What on earth is that woman talking about?’

‘Besides, I’m going to run away as soon as I learn it tomorrow. I don’t want to be your “most polite Dragon Princess” or whatever.’

‘The next time we meet, it will be on a blood-pumping battlefield!’

“Holy Sword, JIAN GE YI!”

The Holy Sword, radiating a golden light, appeared in Zhu Qiu’s hand.

She chose to summon the Holy Sword now just to celebrate.

“Eeeeek~”

Zhu Qiu pressed the Holy Sword under her pillow.

She hugged the pillow and rubbed her head against it frantically, squirming her body on the bed.

It felt incredibly comfortable.

‘Old friend, you’ve followed me for so many years. We’ve seen all sorts of storms together. I’ve really let you suffer these past few days, but those days are about to end. Once I learn the magic to transform back tomorrow, we can officially face Zhu Xiaxia on the battlefield.’

‘I’m so looking forward to it!’

The Holy Sword hidden under the pillow flashed twice in agreement, but Zhu Qiu couldn’t see it.

—

The day passed quickly, and a brand-new day arrived.

Before 8:00 AM, Zhu Qiu woke up early and ran to Zhu Xiaxia’s wardrobe to rummage through it.

That Zhu Xiaxia was really something.

Even with the entire afternoon yesterday, she wasn’t willing to proactively buy her a set of appropriate clothes.

Last night, when Zhu Qiu was taking a bath, she had finally managed to secure a chance to bathe by herself.

After finishing with a flushed little face, she discovered that the clothes Zhu Xiaxia had prepared were still that same kind of outfit.

When Zhu Qiu questioned whether Zhu Xiaxia was doing it on purpose, Zhu Xiaxia claimed she had simply forgotten and that it was definitely not because she liked seeing her daughter in such small dresses.

There was nothing she could do but make do for now.

Now that she was about to leave, she absolutely could not wear such a shameful dress.

She had to change into something that matched the dignity of a Human Sword Saint.

Zhu Xiaxia had many clothes, but everything that met her eyes was a dress.

To make it easier to search, Zhu Qiu simply crawled into the wardrobe like a little squirrel looking for food, tossing things here and there.

“Zhu Qiu, my lovely daughter, it’s time to get up.”

Zhu Xiaxia had also woken up early.

She had changed into an elegant, long blue dress and came to Zhu Qiu’s bedroom immediately.

However, at first glance, there was no one on the bed.

‘Could Zhu Qiu have already gotten up?’

“Zhu Qiu, where are you?”

“Mmph, mmph, mmmph! (I’m over here!)”

‘Eh? Where is that sound coming from?’

Zhu Xiaxia looked toward the source of the sound, which was her wardrobe.

She walked over and pushed aside the piled-up clothes, just in time to see Zhu Qiu’s little head.

Zhu Qiu took the opportunity to crawl out, collapsing weakly on the floor and panting.

‘Phew… puff… I almost got solo-killed by the clothes. Who knew the clothing rod was so flimsy that it would break now?’

“Is my daughter playing hide-and-seek with Mother?”

Zhu Xiaxia helped Zhu Qiu up with a face full of smiles.

“Hmph! It’s only because you didn’t buy me clothes that I had to do this! Also, you’re not allowed to laugh at me!”

“Fine, fine. Mother promises to buy you new clothes. I only came to check if you were oversleeping. I didn’t expect my daughter to be so self-disciplined today, waking up even earlier than Mother~”

“Of course! Back in the day when I was studying Swordsmanship, I woke up every day before dawn just so I could defeat you one day.”

“All right. Mother really wants to see what kind of person Zhu Qiu will grow into when that time comes. You should be exceptionally excellent by then.”

“Naturally.”

Zhu Qiu put her hands on her hips and raised her little head proudly.

“Mother will go prepare the teaching materials first. Breakfast is on the table, it’s your favorite Nainai.”

“Yay! …Ahem! I mean, that’s very good.”

Seeing Zhu Qiu’s refusal to admit her excitement, the corners of Zhu Xiaxia’s mouth curled up.

She felt the girl was becoming more and more adorable.

Either way, the girl would admit it eventually, and that day wouldn’t be far off.

After completing a vast amount of preparation work, Zhu Xiaxia was finally able to start the teaching process.

She brought Zhu Qiu to a large, empty room on the first floor of the Imperial Palace.

“Zhu Xiaxia, aren’t you going to teach me something? Why did you pick a room for the venue?”

Zhu Qiu was confused.

According to what Xiaguang had told her, Magic, like Swordsmanship, should be learned in an open area. But the place Zhu Xiaxia chose was a small room.

“It has to be in a room.”

‘Oh well, whatever. As long as I can learn it. It’s possible this kind of magic doesn’t need a large space and I’m just overthinking it.’

“Then let’s begin.”

Zhu Qiu walked onto a rug near the window.

“Let’s begin, then.”

Zhu Xiaxia stood by the door and said, “First, regarding Etiquette. Mother will first teach you social etiquette, starting with forms of address.”

“No matter the occasion, Zhu Qiu needs to call me Mother. This is the basic politeness a Princess should show her mother. You haven’t done that yet, daughter.”

“?”

“??”

“???”

‘What is all this? What’s with all this “etiquette” and “politeness”? Wasn’t Zhu Xiaxia going to teach me magic?’

“Zhu Xiaxia, what kind of things are you teaching? Are you intentionally fooling me?”

“Remember to call me Mother next time. I’ll let it slide this once.”

‘Hey!’

Those words made Zhu Qiu a little angry.

“Aren’t you going to teach me the magic to change back? Why is it this?”

“Huh? Who said I was teaching Magic?”