Chapter 32: What an ominous morning

The next morning, Vylian woke up bright and early.

She had woken up completely naturally, enjoying a rare good night’s sleep. It had been a long time since she felt this well-rested.

“You’re awake.”

Vylian sat up, about to stretch her limbs, when a faint, almost lifeless voice came from beside her.

“Ah, Anlis, what a coincidence, you’re awake too.”

Vylian was startled for a moment, having forgotten there was someone else lying beside her. She quickly composed herself, flashing a sweet smile and casually greeting her.

Anlis sat up, yawning repeatedly.

“Hm? Did you not sleep well? You look so haggard.”

‘As if I could sleep well,’ Anlis thought, wanting to glare at her.

It was all this girl’s fault!

She held me so tightly, I couldn’t sleep at all!

She only managed to get about three hours of sleep in the latter half of the night, only to be woken up by this person again just now.

Her nerves were indeed a bit frayed.

But there was nothing she could do about it.

Forget the fact that this loli’s body was indeed soft—‘bah!’

Forget the fact that this loli’s scent was indeed pleasant—‘bah!’

She should first forget the fact that this loli was, in essence, the Corrupt Monarch, her archenemy, the formidable opponent she would have to defeat in the future.

No one could sleep well when being treated like a body pillow, held as tightly as a snake constricting its prey.

“Haha, I just had a great idea.”

Vylian was baffled by Anlis’s sudden loud laughter.

“What’s wrong?”

“I’ll just sleep in the living room.”

“What do you mean…”

“Miss Vylian, I realized today that being used as a pillow is really uncomfortable.”

“Huh?”

Vylian could easily catch her implied meaning. She was hinting at Vylian’s poor sleeping posture.

“I should sleep pretty soundly, you know.”

Vylian clearly remembered that when she woke up, she was neatly lying in her own spot.

Anlis stared at her, her young eyes filled with a sense of weariness.

Indeed, if this girl hadn’t loosened her grip just before dawn, she wouldn’t have enjoyed those precious three hours of sleep.

“If you think you’re quiet, then you are. Sigh.”

Vylian blushed.

What did that mean?

That indifferent feeling of not wanting to argue about right or wrong, and even that faint sense of death, as if nothing mattered anymore.

Damn it, was her sleeping posture really that bad?

“Then, get some more sleep. I’ll explain things to your parents.”

Anlis didn’t say a word, just went back to sleep.

Youth is great, huh?

Cough.

Using the Hero as a body pillow…

That could basically be considered a dark history.

Good thing no third person would ever know about this.

Damn it!

Was Anlis’s body really that soft, that comfortable?

Had she lost control in her sleep without even realizing it?

“Vylian, you’re awake! Up so early? Huh? Why is your face so red?”

Lisina had already prepared breakfast and, seeing her standing at the bedroom door, smiled and greeted her.

Today’s breakfast wasn’t anything special—a piece of butter and a slice of bread.

Barely enough to fill the stomach.

Vylian didn’t complain. The taste was passable, and she wolfed it down in a few bites.

“I’m fine. Maybe it’s a bit warm this morning. It’ll pass.”

She brushed it off casually, too embarrassed to talk about what happened during the night.

“What about Anlis? Why hasn’t she come out?”

“Oh, right. She didn’t sleep well last night, so she might need to catch up on sleep. Let’s not disturb her for now.”

“Didn’t sleep well? Catch up on sleep?”

Lisina didn’t think much of it at first, just assuming it was a typical case of sleeping in.

But somehow, she remembered that incident from yesterday afternoon.

And then she connected it to Vylian’s flushed face.

She recalled her own experiences from when she was younger.

Suddenly, a lot of thoughts came together.

Her gaze gradually turned meaningful.

“Could it be?”

She stared at Vylian’s back, watching her hum a tune while tidying the dishes, looking as cheerful as a spring breeze. The more she looked, the more suspicious it seemed.

It fits. It really fits.

It’s exactly like she was back in the day.

“Could it be… I actually gave birth to a son?”

Lisina fell into deep contemplation.

“No, I clearly remember Anlis being a girl from childhood. I couldn’t be wrong as her mother.”

“But then why… is Anlis the one who ended up looking haggard? She didn’t have to release anything, unless it was some strange magic?”

Unable to figure it out, she simply decided to stop thinking.

As long as she reached a final conclusion, it was fine.

So, Lisina did what most parents would likely do upon discovering such a situation.

“Vylian.”

“What is it?”

“It’s normal for young people to have abundant energy, but you still need to practice moderation.”

Lisina walked up to Vylian, raised her hand, and gently patted her shoulder, her expression serious.

“Huh?”

Strange. Too strange!

This look was far too strange.

Vylian wasn’t stupid. She immediately sensed something was off.

“Auntie, are you misunderstanding something?”

“Still calling me Auntie? You should call me Mom now.”

Vylian’s face flushed bright red in an instant.

What was all this about?!

“Auntie, it’s really not what you think!”

After much explanation, she managed to clear up the misunderstanding, and Vylian let out a sigh.

Her original plan was to pose as Anlis’s Justice Companion.

Do you know what a Justice Companion is?

It’s the kind of companion who lives and dies with the Hero, someone you can trust with your back, who helps punish evil and overcome wickedness.

Not this vague, easily misunderstood relationship.

At first, Vylian had been building herself up as a Justice Companion.

Like when she showed off in front of those villagers.

But then came Anlis’s second Curse Outbreak.

That filter was completely shattered and replaced by something indescribable and confusing.

“Sigh, it shouldn’t have turned out like this.”

Vylian walked to the door alone to get some fresh air, sighing quietly, when a vaguely familiar female voice came from behind her.

“Miss Vylian.”

She looked up to find a chestnut-haired girl she vaguely recognized, dressed in a simple yet slightly ornate Long Skirt for the village, standing beside her.

“Miss Fula, is there something you need?”

Vylian remembered her name.

The first harem member in the original story, the one who got intimate with Anlis first.

Her sudden approach caught Vylian off guard, but she still tried to maintain a polite smile.

“Um, I came to see Anlis.”

“She’s still sleeping. I’m afraid you’ve made a wasted trip. Why not come back later?”

“I see.”

Fula nodded and turned to leave, but after a few steps, she abruptly stopped.

She took a deep breath, as if she had made a great decision, and turned to look at Vylian, her expression becoming deadly serious.

“Miss Vylian, there’s something I feel I must tell you.”

“I’ve been by Anlis’s side the longest. If her Curse Outbreak happens again, please, Saintess, do not interfere.”