“So, Zhu Xiaxia, isn’t there any way to avoid the characters? Like, not using textbooks or something?”
“That definitely won’t work. Since it’s a school, how can we not use textbooks? Besides, isn’t this good? Having something to do will solve your boredom problem.”
Zhu Qiu thought about it for a moment.
That seemed right.
She was bored anyway, so she might as well study seriously.
“Alright then, I’ll go study now. Zhu Xiaxia, see you later.”
“Okay, dear daughter. Mother has high hopes for you.”
And so the days passed.
Soon, only three days remained before Zhu Qiu’s school started.
Nidege Family, Second Major District of the Dragon Kingdom.
Ilanka had previously received a mission from her father Nidege: go to the surface and search for unevolved dragons. Unfortunately, she hadn’t found any.
As a result, the first thing she did when she got home was complain to her father.
“I said, are you getting old and senile? There’s nothing like what you mentioned on the surface, okay? You made me waste so many days for nothing.”
“How can you blame me? If you can’t find them, that’s your problem. Go down again. This time I’ll help you. Maybe you’ll find them.”
Ilanka was speechless.
“Anyway, I’m too lazy to bother with you anymore. I’d rather lie in bed and sleep. This is my vacation, you know, vacation? Her Majesty the Dragon Queen personally gave me this vacation.”
Ilanka lay on the bed, holding a novel, snacking while reading.
“Last time I went, I met the Princess.”
“The Princess? That female dragon’s little brat?”
“Yeah, you know what? She looks really dumb. Doesn’t seem like someone who could get the throne at all. I feel like all our worries are unnecessary.”
“But if you keep being this lazy, we Dark One Dragons will never turn things around! This will affect the survival of our entire race, got it?”
Nidege deliberately made it sound serious.
“I don’t know about survival, but based on my guess from the surface, by the time she develops, you won’t have a single chance. Ilanka, I advise you to take this matter seriously.”
“Impossible! She only looks dumb. In fact…”
“Oh, I know, I know. Is there anything else? If not, get out. And close the door for me. I want to rest.”
“No. To make sure everything is foolproof, go to the Dragon Race Imperial Palace right now. Observe that female dragon brat’s every move. Get all the information first.”
Hearing that she had to go to the Imperial Palace early, Ilanka became unhappy.
“I’m still on vacation. Her Majesty the Queen definitely won’t let me go.”
“How do you know if you don’t try? Maybe she’ll agree. Hurry up, don’t just lie in bed. Get down and move quickly!”
“So annoying. Is it really that hard for me to just rest properly?”
“Never mind resting. The Dragon King’s throne is at stake, and you still want to rest? Go.”
Ilanka was speechless again.
She knew her father Nidege’s personality well.
Once he set his mind on something, he either had to do it now or later.
He almost never canceled plans at the last minute.
“Fine, fine. I’ll go tomorrow, tomorrow. Is that okay?”
To get rid of Nidege, Ilanka could only delay by a day.
After all, she could still play today, right?
“Okay. I’ll supervise you.”
The next day, Ilanka indeed set off for the Dragon Race Imperial Palace.
Coincidentally, this was also the first of the three days before school started.
When she arrived at the palace gate, the door was open.
Ilanka didn’t care and walked straight in.
As soon as she entered, she saw a dragon carrying a bag on the first floor.
But this dragon wasn’t one she had encountered in the palace before.
To be precise, it was a new face.
“Hello, do you know where Her Majesty the Queen is?”
Ilanka greeted her.
The dragon turned around at the sound.
“I’m not sure either, but I came to deliver something to Xiaguang. She should know.”
Ilanka looked at the face that had turned.
There was a seventy percent resemblance to Xiaguang.
“You… you’re Xiaguang?” she asked suspiciously.
“Of course not. I said I’m here to deliver something to Xiaguang. I’m not her.”
Not her?
“Then who are you?”
“I’m Xiaguang’s mother, Xiali. You must be a regular in the palace. A few days ago, Her Majesty the Queen saved my life. Otherwise, I would have already met my end.”
Ilanka couldn’t understand at all.
Saved?
Met my end?
She had never even heard of such a thing.
Or maybe Xiaguang is pretending to be dumb, and that actually was her, but she chose to lie to avoid admitting the small changes in her appearance?
That’s unlikely.
Just then, Zhu Xiaxia, who had been upstairs tutoring Zhu Qiu in writing, came down, her face full of exhaustion.
Teaching was too hard.
Even harder than learning.
Seeing both Ilanka and Xiali there, Zhu Xiaxia casually said, “Everyone’s here.”
“Your Majesty the Queen, thank you for your meticulous care over these past days. This is a small token of my gratitude. Please accept it.”
Xiali shoved the bag into Zhu Xiaxia’s hands.
“How embarrassing, haha,” Zhu Xiaxia said, but she happily took it.
“It’s nothing. This is the least I can do. If it weren’t for you, I might not be here today.”
“As the Dragon Queen, that is what I should do. Now that the crisis is over, we can return to normal life.”
The two talked back and forth, enjoying the conversation immensely.
“Then, Your Majesty, I’ll take my leave. Because of my identity, you understand, right?”
“Of course. Go slowly. Be safe on the way.”
After a brief chat with Xiali, it was Ilanka’s turn, who had been waiting nearby.
“Ilanka, are you here to see me?”
“Your Majesty, how is the Princess doing lately?”
She ignored Xiali’s interference and went straight to the point.
“Her? She’s been doing very well. Very fulfilled. Hmm, that about sums it up.”
“Is that so? That’s nice. But Your Majesty, what does ‘very fulfilled’ mean?” Ilanka was puzzled.
“It means studying. Laying a foundation for school so she doesn’t end up in an awkward situation.”
“Studying at school?”
Ilanka was stunned.
Wasn’t I the teacher Her Majesty hired?
Instead of asking me to teach, she’s sending her to school?
Is that right?
“Yes. She said she wanted to go, so I helped her enroll. But that means, Ilanka, your position as teacher will have to be canceled.”
“Ah!”
Ilanka let out a shocked cry.