“Your Highness.”
Xing Yue put down the chopsticks and looked up at Emily. The other girl’s cheeks were tinged with a light blush from eating the hot food, and she looked much more lively than she had this morning.
“What is it? Want more?”
Xing Yue packed up the lunch box as she continued, “Sorry, there’s none left. I didn’t know how big your appetite was, so I brought a medium portion.”
Emily shook her head.
“No, that’s not it… I wanted to say…”
She paused, her voice soft but with a bit more seriousness than before.
“Thank you.”
“Sorry to trouble you with these little things again.”
Xing Yue’s hands stopped for a moment.
Feeding the pink-haired girl porridge was indeed just a “little thing.” It really wasn’t a big deal to her.
After all, Emily had just woken up, so it was natural that she needed some care.
At most, it just felt like she had now become the full-time nanny for this pink-haired piggy.
“It’s fine.”
Xing Yue waved her hand, put away the spoon and lunch box, and set them on the table nearby.
“For now, you just need to rest and recuperate. Don’t say things like ‘sorry for the trouble.’”
“Alright, I’m going to read for a while. Call me if you need anything.”
Emily nodded obediently, blinking her pink eyes as she watched Xing Yue pick up a magic book from the bedside table and start flipping through it.
This was a book Xing Yue had brought from the treasure room—an advanced theory on elemental magic.
Most of the time, she holed up in the treasure room, either studying magic or reading historical records about this world.
After all, there were no other entertainment facilities in this world.
Rather than spacing out or wandering around the Demon King Castle, she might as well learn something and expand her skill set.
Magic was just like math—once you learned it, it was yours, and it helped her survive better in this world.
Why not?
And after her battle with Gaierte, she had a certain understanding of her own strength, as well as a basic grasp of the combat power outside.
Though she wasn’t some small fry outside, being invincible at the same level was like a smurf dominating low-rank games. But in the Demon King Castle, she was still just a nobody on the street and needed to train.
Xing Yue focused on the book, occasionally tracing patterns in the air with her fingers, trying to communicate with the elemental spirits and simulate those complex mana circulation paths.
Time passed little by little.
The sunlight outside the window gradually softened from the brightness of noon, tinged with a faint golden hue.
The room was quiet.
Only the occasional sound of pages turning and their soft breathing could be heard.
Xing Yue was so absorbed she didn’t notice—
The pink eyes beside her were also cautiously peeking at the magic book in her hand.
Emily didn’t dare make a sound or get too close. She just slightly turned her head, her gaze crossing over Xing Yue’s shoulder, landing on the dense text.
She was the mage of the former hero party.
Though she was young, she had absolute talent in the field of magic.
Those complex theoretical knowledge and application scenarios—others had to read several times to understand, but she could grasp the core in one go.
Those tedious magic incantations—others had to memorize for days, but she could recite them after just one look.
So—
Even though Xing Yue turned the pages quickly, so fast that ordinary people couldn’t keep up.
For Emily, it wasn’t difficult at all. She could follow perfectly, and she even felt that this was the normal reading speed for someone studying a magic book.
Her eyes moved along with the pages, her brain working at high speed, comprehending the meaning of the text and the purpose of the magic.
Even though this was just a magic book recording fourth-tier spells and below, Emily still found it fascinating.
Time passed in silence.
The two of them sat quietly, reading the same book.
One turned the pages, one peeked.
Neither spoke.
Sunlight seeped through the gaps in the window lattice, falling on Xing Yue’s silver hair, on Emily’s pink hair, dyeing the whole room a warm color.
Occasionally, a breeze would blow, making the curtains sway gently, creating a faint rustling sound.
Tranquil.
Cozy.
Like an afternoon where two friends were holed up together, each doing their own thing, yet keeping each other company—everything felt so natural.
After who knows how long.
Xing Yue felt her eyes getting a little sore, so she raised a hand to rub them.
Just then, she remembered something—
It was about time, wasn’t it?
She needed to take Emily to the dungeon to see Wei Anna.
She turned her head to check on Emily’s condition.
And then—
She met a pair of pink eyes.
Those eyes were staring straight at the book in her hand, focused and serious. By the time they realized Xing Yue had turned around, it was too late to look away.
The two of them locked eyes again.
Emily froze.
Those eyes blinked blankly.
Then—
“Mm!”
She panicked and lowered her head, fidgeting with her fingers again, looking busy but not knowing what she was busy with.
Seeming to realize that her behavior was only making it more obvious, the little pink-haired girl finally resigned herself and apologized sincerely.
“I-I’m sorry, Your Highness…”
“Did… did I disturb your reading…”
Xing Yue blinked, a little puzzled.
Was she… just now… peeking at the magic book in my hand?
What was there to apologize for?
“No.”
Xing Yue shook her head.
Emily cautiously looked at her and asked weakly, “Are you sure I didn’t disturb you?”
“Really, no. And if you want to read it, just read along. No need to sneak around like a thief.”
Hearing this, Emily let out a small sigh of relief.
Watching her reaction, Xing Yue suddenly remembered something.
Before, when Emily was unconscious, she could read in the room without worrying about her.
Now that she was awake, she couldn’t just let her stare at the ceiling or gaze out the window in boredom, could she?
When they went to the dungeon later, she could stop by the treasure room on the way back and bring a book for her.
“By the way.”
After making a mental note, Xing Yue asked, “How are you feeling now? Do you have any strength?”
Emily paused, then tried moving her fingers.
“I think… a little better…”
“Can you walk?”
“I’ll try.”
Emily pushed back the covers, carefully moved to the edge of the bed, held the edge with both hands, and slowly stood up—
Then her legs gave way, and she pitched forward!
“Careful!”
Xing Yue’s reaction was fast—she caught her by the waist and pulled her back.
Emily fell into her arms, as soft as a ball of cotton, completely unable to support herself.
“I… I…”
Her face flushed bright red, her voice tinged with grievance.
“I thought I could…”
Xing Yue looked down at the limp pink-haired girl in her arms, then looked at the distance from the bed to the door, silently estimating in her mind.
Let her walk to the dungeon?
She’d probably collapse halfway.
Had my healing not been thorough enough?
Maybe she should take her to see Wei Anna, a proper healer, and let her figure it out.
As for now…
“I’ll carry you.”
Xing Yue said.
Emily froze and looked up at her.
“C-carry me?”
“What else?” Xing Yue’s tone was calm. “You think with your current condition you can walk to the dungeon?”
She had already anticipated this scene—that in the end, she might have to carry the girl to the dungeon.
Sigh, no help for it. This little pink-haired girl was still too weak.
Emily opened her mouth as if to say something, but found she couldn’t refute.
The facts had proven that she really couldn’t walk.
Helplessly, she lowered her head in shame and said dejectedly, “Alright… alright…”
“I’ll trouble you again, Your Highness…”