Chapter 196: Charlotte and Iris Come with Worries and Lyra’s Jealousy
“Really? You’re serious, aren’t you?” Liliana asked, her eyes wide with surprise and disbelief.
Throughout history, in conflicts between the Demon race and mankind, the Demons have never had the upper hand, making Lyra’s statement both astonishing and difficult for Liliana to believe.
Seeing the disbelief on Liliana’s face, Lyra, still smiling, nodded and explained, “Of course I’m not joking, Your Majesty. Just moments ago, I received news from spies at the border stating that our demon forces are gaining the upper hand over humanity in this war.
“Additionally, there’s news that our two Demon generals, Her Highnesses Lilith and Garan, are currently battling the leaders of the human army, the Great Mage Rain Violet and General Natasya Nox. Although the outcome of the battle remains uncertain, reports indicate that our Demon generals are currently gaining the upper hand.”
As Liliana listened to Lyra’s explanation, her astonishment deepened, especially upon hearing about their Demon generals successfully suppressing the leaders of humanity’s armies on the battlefield.
“How marvelous…” Liliana murmured, taking a deep breath as she leaned back in her chair, an amazed smile spreading across her lips.
Although she had complete trust and confidence in Leon’s plan, she had not expected it to achieve such success.
Trusting Leon with the matter of strategy in war had indeed proven to be an excellent decision!
Letting out a small sigh, Liliana turned her gaze back to Lyra, her expression growing serious. “Although we currently have the upper hand over humanity in this war, we must not let our guard down. After all, a sudden reversal is always possible in war.”
“Therefore, stay alert and keep me updated every few hours. Do you understand, Lyra?”
Lyra nodded slightly and bowed her head respectfully. “I understand, Your Majesty. Leave it to me.”
Liliana smiled with satisfaction at her response, saying nothing further.
Picking up her coffee cup and taking a sip, Liliana closed her eyes, feeling her happiness grow with each sip of coffee.
‘Is this a taste of victory? It’s truly delicious,’ Liliana muttered to herself in a joking tone, her smile widening slightly.
*Knock!*
“Mommy, are you in there? Can I come in?”
Just as Liliana was experiencing happiness, there was a sudden knock on her workspace door, accompanied by a little girl’s voice.
“Charlotte?” Recognizing the familiar voice, Liliana couldn’t help but feel a bit surprised; she hadn’t expected her little girl to knock on her workspace door.
Setting her coffee cup down, Liliana rose slowly from her work chair and replied in a calm yet gentle tone, “Charlotte, I’m here. You can come in; the door is unlocked.”
Shortly after she spoke, the door to her study slowly opened, revealing two little girls in beautiful white and blue gowns—Charlotte and Iris.
Upon noticing that Charlotte was accompanied by Iris, Liliana was pleasantly surprised but quickly wore a gentle smile on her lips.
“Why are you two standing there? Come on in,” Liliana said warmly, motioning them inside.
Charlotte and Iris exchanged worried glances, as if they were in trouble, before slowly walking towards Liliana.
“Good afternoon, Mommy. Sorry for interrupting your work,” Charlotte greeted with a sweet expression, yet tinged with a hint of sadness.
“Good afternoon, Mommy,” Iris echoed, her expression mirroring Charlotte’s.
Witnessing her two daughters’ unusual expressions, Liliana couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow. However, instead of asking immediately, she approached them and enveloped them in her arms.
“Good afternoon, Charlotte and Iris,” Liliana replied gently, stroking their hair lovingly.
Each time she saw her daughters, a wave of guilt washed over her, especially after promising to spend more time with them earlier.
Yet, amidst the demands of war and other responsibilities, she found herself unable to keep that promise, leading to deep regret and self-criticism.
As Charlotte and Iris felt their mother’s embrace, the anxiety melted from their faces, replaced by joyful smiles.
After a while, Liliana loosens up her embrace and lifts both of them in her arms, gently asking, “So, why were you two looking for me? Is there something you need?”
Seeing their earlier anxious expressions, she sensed there might be an issue she wasn’t aware of.
Charlotte and Iris exchanged glances and nods before Charlotte finally met Liliana’s gaze with a somber expression.
“Mommy, we came to ask about Daddy and Fiona’s whereabouts,” Charlotte replied, continuing, “We went to Daddy’s room earlier, but they weren’t there. We searched the whole palace, but we couldn’t find them anywhere. Do you know where they are?”
“Yeah, Mommy! Do you know where they went?” Iris added, her expression mirroring Charlotte’s concern.
Due to their father’s absence from their lives for a significant period, Charlotte and Iris harbored some trauma and anxiety about being abandoned by him again.
This anxiety heightened when they couldn’t find him after searching the palace earlier.
Adding to their distress, Fiona, who had been left sleeping alone in their father’s room, had also disappeared.
Upon hearing their question, Liliana was startled. She glanced at Lyra, who wore an equally surprised expression.
They exchanged a brief, meaningful look before Liliana turned back to Charlotte and Iris, managing a helpless smile.
“Well, you two don’t need to worry about them. Your Daddy and Fiona are out together,” Liliana replied reassuringly.
“Out? Mommy, where did they go?” Charlotte inquired with curiosity.
“They went to the capital for a walk,” Liliana continued as she settled back into her chair with Charlotte and Iris in her arms.
Charlotte and Iris looked at each other in disbelief.
“To the capital for a walk? Mommy, you’re not joking, are you?” Charlotte asked urgently, her expression filled with concern.
Iris, though she didn’t speak, mirrored Charlotte’s anxious expression.
Liliana shook her head and replied with a slight sigh, “Why would I lie to you, my dear? If you don’t believe me, just ask Lyra; I received this news from her as well.”
Charlotte and Iris quickly turned to Lyra, seeking confirmation, and Lyra nodded in response.
“His Majesty Leon and Young Lady Fiona are indeed going to the capital for a walk, Young Lady Charlotte and Young Lady Iris,” Lyra confirmed in a flat and indifferent tone.
Lyra’s confirmation sparked jealousy between Charlotte and Iris toward Fiona, evident in their adorable faces as they exchanged glances.
Liliana, noticing their jealousy, could only sigh softly and mutter, ‘Leon, you’ve really stirred things up this time.’
She had already suspected that her other daughters would feel jealous if Leon took Fiona alone for a walk.
Although she didn’t know why Leon had left Charlotte and Iris, Liliana knew she had to address this problem immediately.
Otherwise, allowing hatred and animosity to grow between them was something Liliana, their mother, couldn’t tolerate.
With a slight shake of her head, Liliana slowly rose to her feet once again, holding Charlotte and Iris in her arms. In a soothing tone, she said, “Alright, let’s not feel jealous. Today, I’ll spend time with both of you instead. How does that sound?”
Charlotte’s and Iris’s expressions shifted subtly as they heard her words.
“Mommy, do you really want to play with us today?” Iris asked hesitantly.
Liliana nodded and kissed her cheek, replying lightly, “Of course. After all, I promised that I would spend more time with you and accompany you, didn’t I?”
A look of joy lit up Charlotte’s and Iris’s faces as they quickly hugged Liliana, radiating happiness.
“Thank you, Mommy!” they said together in a sweet tone.
Even though they couldn’t spend time with their daddy today, having quality time with Mommy was just as precious!
Liliana smiled at their excitement and then turned to Lyra, calmly stating, “I’ll step out first. Please take care of the palace while I’m away.”
With the Demon race gaining the upper hand in the war, she could afford to relax a bit more.
Upon hearing this, Lyra bowed respectfully and replied, “Yes, Your Majesty. Enjoy your leisure time.”
Liliana nodded and slowly walked out of her workspace with Charlotte and Iris in her arms.
Watching Liliana depart, Lyra couldn’t help but sigh softly to herself: “Her Majesty the Demon Emperor has been happier since His Majesty Leon arrived. It’s a positive development, but it does stir a hint of jealousy in me.”
As Liliana’s personal maid, Lyra had been by her side since childhood, intimately familiar with the complexities of “Liliana Crimson,” the woman destined to be the Demon Emperor known for her cold demeanor and ruthless nature.
Hence, she was genuinely pleased that her Demon Emperor could find a suitable life companion like His Majesty Leon, despite their contrasting identities.
Yet, despite her happiness, she couldn’t help but feel a twinge of jealousy towards Liliana, longing to experience the feeling of being loved by someone herself.
Although she understood the irrationality of her jealousy, she found herself unable to shake it, which left her feeling frustrated.
With a sigh, Lyra pushed aside these fleeting emotions and turned her gaze towards the brilliantly clear blue sky, her expression indifferent.
“Love, huh?”
———–
A/N: Thank you for your support, my handsome readers!
It doesn’t feel like this month is coming to an end, and we are about to enter a new month. I apologize for only being able to update one chapter for the past few days due to a lot of business to be done.
Instead, I will mass release it in the new month. However, now that my laptop is broken again, it might be a bit delayed, but don’t worry. Once it’s done, I’ll upload maybe five or seven chapters? Well, we’ll see! o(〃＾▽＾〃)o
Once again, I would like to thank you very much, and don’t forget to support me for the next month! Stay tuned! (❁´◡`❁)
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