Chapter 137: Plan Changed, Ilanka, Go Gather Intelligence

Ilanka was dumbfounded.

Wasn’t she the teacher invited by Her Majesty the Queen?

Instead of being asked to teach, the princess was being sent to school?

Was that right?

“Yes, she said she wanted to go, so I helped her sign up. But in that case, Ilanka, your position as teacher will have to be canceled.”

“Ah!”

Ilanka let out a gasp.

Canceled?

Wouldn’t that mean the princess’s growth trajectory would be decoupled from hers?

The position of Dragon King was already tricky enough; this would only make it harder to control.

And if her father found out she’d been fired, he’d definitely scold her to death.

“Your Majesty, really… won’t you reconsider? I think I’m a bit better than those school teachers. Well… not just a bit. A lot better.”

Ilanka said nervously.

To be honest, those teachers were definitely better at teaching than she was.

Besides, she hadn’t come to teach at all—she’d just come to play.

“Ilanka, you know this is the princess’s own decision. As a mother, I should respect her choice.”

Well, it seemed persuasion was useless.

There was no chance.

“However, Ilanka, according to the Dragon Race’s Labor Law, I have no legitimate reason to fire you, so I’ll compensate you with half a year’s salary. You won’t lose this job for nothing.”

Although that was a lot of money, Ilanka didn’t care about money at all.

Her family was wealthy; she didn’t need such a sum.

“Alright, I’ll send someone to deliver your salary to your home later. Please leave now. I’m very busy.”

Ilanka wanted to say something more, but seeing how eager the Queen was for her to leave, she didn’t feel comfortable insisting.

“Very well, Your Majesty. I’ll take my leave.”

“Take care. I won’t see you out.”

It wasn’t until evening that Ilanka returned home with regret.

As soon as she pushed open the door, she saw her father, Nidege, waiting at the entrance.

“Ilanka, why are you back so early?”

“Don’t even mention it. I got fired.”

“What?”

Nidege was shocked.

“Didn’t you successfully get hired as the princess’s exclusive teacher? It’s only been a month. She fired you after a break?”

“Yes. The princess said she wanted to study at some school, so she no longer needs me. But they gave me half a year’s extra salary, though it’s useless.”

Hearing this news, Nidege frowned and paced back and forth at the door.

“Father, if there’s nothing else, I’ll go rest in my room.”

“Wait!”

Nidege stopped Ilanka just as she was about to enter her room.

“What’s wrong? Is there something else?”

“You go too.”

“Go where?”

“To the school.”

“To school? Me? Are you joking?”

“I’m not joking. I’m being very serious.”

“But I’m so old. The princess is so young. Am I supposed to sneak into kindergarten with her?”

“And are you sure she’s going to kindergarten?”

“I’m not sure.”

Ilanka shook her head.

“Exactly. The princess is so talented. How could the Queen send her to kindergarten? She’s definitely sending her to a school that accommodates all ages and is specifically for learning.”

“Whatever school the princess goes to, you enroll too. Preferably in the same class as her. Our Dark Tribe must plant an informant by the princess’s side. That’s called keeping an eye out, gathering information, and seizing the initiative. It’s suitable no matter where you use it.”

Nidege said very seriously.

“…You’re right about everything.”

“But what do I do if I don’t know the name of the school the princess is going to?”

“You don’t know? Didn’t you ask when you went today?”

Nidege shot her a suspicious look.

“…No, I don’t know.”

“If you don’t know, go ask again tomorrow. Find some excuse. I really don’t know what to say to you. That’s it.”

“Fine.”

Ilanka reluctantly agreed.

—

Dragon Race Imperial Palace.

The next morning, there were still two days until Zhu Qiu’s school started.

Ilanka arrived at the Dragon Race Imperial Palace early again today and asked for the name of the school Zhu Qiu was going to.

This was all part of the plan.

At noon, Zhu Qiu woke up from bed.

The first thing she did was close the curtains because they were too blinding.

For some reason, the weather had been getting hotter and hotter recently.

To adapt to the temperature, Zhu Qiu had to wear short sleeves; her old little dragon pajamas were no longer suitable.

However, she quite liked the white short-sleeved shirt she was wearing now.

It was printed with many cartoon characters, and the shirt was slightly bigger than her size, making it very loose and cool.

These were all bought by Zhu Xiaxia.

Our little princess was too lazy to go out and buy clothes herself.

“Mm… I didn’t expect to sleep until noon again.”

Although she’d slept until noon, Zhu Qiu wasn’t in a hurry to eat like the previous days, nor did she continue studying.

Because she’d almost finished learning the dragon script, so today she had to rest well.

After a quick wash, she lay back in bed for a second round of sleep.

Downstairs, Zhu Xiaxia was standing behind Xiaguang, staring intently at her hands.

Faced with such unusual behavior from Zhu Xiaxia, Xiaguang couldn’t help but ask:

“Your Majesty, why are you staring at me like that?”

“Nothing. I just want to supervise you. It’s not like there’s much work lately anyway.”

Supervise?

You’ve got to be kidding.

She’d worked in the Dragon Race Imperial Palace for quite a few years.

Shouldn’t she have earned the Queen’s trust by now?

Why was she being supervised?

Something was definitely fishy.

Xiaguang guessed that the Queen was definitely using the excuse of supervision to secretly learn how to cook, because the stuff she made… could only be described as indescribable.

And she was right.

Zhu Xiaxia did want to learn secretly.

Xiaguang deftly finished all the dishes and placed them on the dining table.

“Your Majesty, do you need me to go call the princess?”

“No need. Based on the pattern from the past few days, she’ll come downstairs right on time.”

“Right on time?”

Zhu Xiaxia held up three fingers:

“Three.”

“Two.”

“One.”

Still no reaction.

“That’s not right. My daughter knows she has to study. She shouldn’t be lazing in bed.”

“Xiaguang, wait here. I’ll go upstairs and wake Zhu Qiu up.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

After all, she was just a maid.

With the Queen away, Xiaguang didn’t dare touch the food alone.

Otherwise, her position as exclusive maid would definitely get fired just like Ilanka’s.

Zhu Xiaxia went up to the second floor and knocked on Zhu Qiu’s door.

“Sweetie, time to get up~”

But after waiting a minute, there was no answer.

Zhu Xiaxia didn’t want to wait any longer.

She pushed the door open decisively, but didn’t see even a trace of Zhu Qiu.