“The exam has officially begun. Show me everything Teacher Ilanka taught you. Let me see how much my precious daughter has grown.”
“Fine! Zhu Xiaxia, you’d better watch closely.”
Zhu Qiu stood under the sunlight.
She followed the same steps she had used the first time she performed this Magic, but after closing her eyes and trying to feel for it for a long time, she couldn’t find that sense of freedom.
‘Wait? That’s strange. I remember it was just like this?’
“Is my precious daughter performing a standing nap? That is certainly an impressive skill,” Zhu Xiaxia teased.
Ilanka hid behind the back door, paying close attention to every move the Princess made.
This exam concerned the survival of her teaching career, so she couldn’t afford to be careless.
Watching Zhu Qiu’s actions, Ilanka grew truly anxious.
‘I told you it has to be used in the darkness! How can you use it in the middle of such bright sunlight! How are you supposed to merge with the shadows!’
“Princess, you have to use it in the dark!”
Ilanka could only endure the immense pressure and whisper to Zhu Qiu.
She couldn’t exactly create a zone of darkness right now; Her Majesty the Queen would surely judge that as cheating.
The Little Princess was bright enough to catch the hint.
“Oh right, it has to be in a dark place.”
Zhu Qiu opened her eyes.
“Precious daughter, do you want to give up on the exam?”
“Of course not. It’s just not suitable for me to show you here. Let’s go inside the Imperial Palace, and I’ll demonstrate it for you.”
Zhu Qiu walked into the Imperial Palace and took a deep breath.
“Zhu Xiaxia, watch.”
“SHADOW INTEGRATION!”
In the blink of an eye, Zhu Qiu’s body vanished from the spot, leaving only her voice echoing through the Imperial Palace.
“Zhu Xiaxia, see how amazing I am!”
Zhu Xiaxia was genuinely surprised. Ilanka had given her such a big surprise.
She knew this Magic was a legacy of the Dragon of Darkness.
It was passed down within their lineage and never taught to outsiders.
Even she, the Queen of the Dragon Race, did not know this Magic.
Yet, Ilanka had actually taught it to Zhu Qiu, and Zhu Qiu had surprisingly managed to learn it.
“As expected of the Dragon King’s daughter, a natural-born magical genius.”
Zhu Xiaxia sighed in admiration and gestured for Ilanka to come over.
“Your Majesty, are you satisfied with my teaching?”
“Satisfied, very satisfied. However, won’t your father scold you for doing this?”
“I am a teacher; it is my duty to teach my students.”
Ilanka spoke the words clearly, but in her heart, she thought: ‘It’s just one spell. I’ve taught it, so I’ve taught it. Why would he scold me? Being kicked out of the Imperial Palace is what would actually get me scolded.’
Zhu Xiaxia showed a gratified smile. She had truly hired a gem.
“Alright, precious daughter, you passed the exam. Come out now.”
“I don’t want to. I want to play a bit more.”
“Of course, Mother keeps her word.”
“Then I can leave now, right?” Zhu Qiu was already impatient.
“You can. However, shouldn’t my daughter pack her things first? You can’t secretly wipe away tears like you did last time,” Zhu Xiaxia said with a devious grin.
“I didn’t secretly wipe away any tears! Don’t talk nonsense, hmph.”
Saying that, Zhu Qiu ignored Zhu Xiaxia and went upstairs alone to pack her things.
Ilanka listened from the side, feeling dazed.
‘A vacation? Where is the Princess going?’
Even though it was none of her business, she couldn’t help but wonder.
“Ilanka.”
“Yes?”
“Your Majesty.”
“The vacation has officially begun. You may go home and rest now. After all, you are the daughter your father dotes on most in Soderland’s House.”
“Alright, thank you, Your Majesty.”
‘The daughter he dotes on? I’m already this old, how can you use “dotes” to describe it?’
Ilanka returned to her room and also began packing her things.
Zhu Xiaxia went to the second floor, retrieved something from her own bedroom, and arrived at the door to Zhu Qiu’s room.
At that moment, Zhu Qiu was frantically packing.
‘Hmm, let me think. What should I take back?’
‘A bed, a quilt, a pillow? Those are all too big. They’ll be hard to carry.’
Even though her room in the Human Race’s world had a bed, quilt, and pillow, the ones in the Imperial Palace were softer and more comfortable.
Since they were hers anyway, there was no harm in taking them.
‘Maybe I should bother Zhu Xiaxia and ask her to help me send the bed home?’
“Is my precious daughter looking for her Mother?”
Zhu Xiaxia walked forward with a beaming face.
“Zhu Xiaxia, you’re just in time. Can you help me send my bed to my house?”
“Of course I can,” Zhu Xiaxia agreed without hesitation.
“However, what should my daughter call me?”
“Mo — Mother.”
“Hee hee!”
Zhu Xiaxia picked Zhu Qiu up again and kissed her.
“Zhu Xiaxia, can’t you be a little more normal?”
Zhu Qiu was speechless. They had just kissed earlier, and now she wanted more. She was like a child.
“Oh, my dear daughter is about to be apart from Mother for two weeks. Mother will be lonely. I just want to kiss you a few more times now. Just let me have my kisses.”
“Ugh… whatever you want.”
Zhu Xiaxia kissed her for several minutes before reluctantly setting Zhu Qiu down.
“Alright, alright. Zhu Xiaxia, go away first. I need to pack my things.”
“Don’t be in such a hurry, precious daughter. Mother has a gift for you.”
Zhu Xiaxia pulled out a Silver Bracelet from behind her and placed it on Zhu Qiu’s left hand.
“Eh? Mother, what is this?”
“This is a Silver Bracelet. It can ward off evil and disasters, ensuring my daughter grows up healthy. It also represents Mother’s love for you. It is Mother’s invisible protection.”
“I see.”
Zhu Qiu was both surprised and impressed.
She hadn’t realized Zhu Xiaxia could be such a thoughtful person, even preparing a Silver Bracelet for her.
She stared at the bracelet on her hand, looking it over from every angle.
‘Hee hee, it’s actually quite nice.’
“Does my precious daughter like it?”
“I love it! Thank you, Mother!”
Zhu Qiu jumped up in joy and took the initiative to give Zhu Xiaxia a kiss.
“Hee hee hee.”
“Finish packing your things first. After you’re done, Mother will resolve the method for your return and the issue with your identity. If you run into any problems, don’t keep them to yourself. You must tell Mother.”
After saying that, Zhu Xiaxia left the room.
“Wait a moment, Zhu Xiaxia.”
Zhu Xiaxia, who had just reached the door, turned her head.
“What is it, precious daughter?”
“I… I’ll miss you.”