Boom—
At the harbor of Fengxiang Town, a massive ark, towering like a skyscraper, sailed in from the far side of the sea, cleaving through a thousand layers of waves before docking at the pier, its turrets aid toward the sky.
The season was about to shift from spring to the heat of sumr.
The weather was growing warr. In every shaded corner of the streets and alleys, adventurers, ordinary townsfolk, and a few vagrants could be seen resting from the sun.
The harbor, usually bustling with noise, suddenly seed to fall still, as though a block of ice had been dropped into boiling water.
Vieya, carrying bundles and bags, had co to see Aislin off. Today was the day Aislin would hitch a ride ho on the ark—the end of the month and a half they had spent together.
“All right, all right, I told you not to co see off. It’s so hot—wouldn’t it be better to stay ho?”
Aislin wiped the sweat from her face, took two large bundles from the white-haired girl’s hands, and smiled helplessly.
“Then I’ll be off first. Thank you for taking care of all this ti... Goodbye, Vieya—and little Jasmine.” Her eyes fell on the child. “Make sure you listen to your mother, all right? Take good care of her~”
“Mm-hm! Elf sister, travel safely!”
Jasmine waved hard, her lips pouting, her face showing how much she didn’t want Aislin to leave.
Boom—
The colossal ark roared to life again. The elven girl stood on the deck, gazing as far as she could toward the shrinking harbor.
The two small figures on the dock grew smaller and smaller, until they—and the pier itself—vanished into the endless blue horizon.
“What’s the matter? Missing that life already?” said Rotisha, the blue-haired Hero, walking up behind the elf. “You could have stayed a little longer, you know. When I sail back, I could’ve taken you ho myself.”
Aislin didn’t answer.
She lowered her head, drew the bone flute from her pocket, and pressed it to her lips. Her eyes narrowed slightly.
Soft, winding notes drifted through the air, drawing in a few strange white seabirds that circled above the ark, following the lody.
Unusually, none of the crew mbers said a word to stop the elf from playing.
“...That tune makes want to quit this job,” the fat first mate muttered, resting a hand on the white-painted railing of the observation deck. “Makes want to go ho and see my son.”
...
At the harbor.
“Mama, let’s go ho... The elf sister went ho too...”
Jasmine tugged lightly at her mother’s hand. Hearing the faint sigh that escaped her, the little girl hesitated, then tried to comfort her.
“Don’t worry, Mama. I learned so of the elf sister’s cooking! From now on, I’ll be the one to feed you!”
“...”
How are you talking to your mother like that?!
Vieya narrowed her eyes, turned, and pinched her daughter’s soft cheeks rcilessly until Jasmine squird and cried, “Nooo!” Only then did she release her with satisfaction. “Hmph, Jasmine, you’re getting awfully bold!”
Hands on her hips, she let out a proud laugh. “I guess you haven’t been copying enough of your magic notes. From now on, you can make up all of Aislin’s afternoon lessons with your teacher Anna!”
“...” Jasmine froze.
Vieya looked at her daughter with triumphant amusent, the good mood bubbling up from within.
Ignoring the girl’s dismay, she brushed back her moon-white hair, tousled by the sea breeze, and gazed toward the departing ark, a faint ache welling in her chest.
Now that reliable big-sister Aislin was gone, she’d have to manage the house alone—with three monsters under her roof.
Looks like... things were about to get busy. None of those three were easy to deal with.
As Aislin had said, when it ca to monsters, strength was the surest way to command them—but maintaining communication was just as important. It was like keeping pets: you had to feed them and train them too.
The cat was fine—she’d been around the longest. Though prone to stress fits now and then, she was usually obedient.
The other two Demon Kings, however, were a constant headache. Apart, they were tolerable—but the mont they t, they’d start trading jabs and snide remarks until the whole house filled with smoke.
It was hard to imagine how those two had ever managed to cooperate in the first place.
From now on, she’d follow Aislin’s advice—balance hardness with softness, tailor the thod to the problem.
“Make those two Demon Kings completely submit to !”
...
No. 66 Nicks Avenue.
The sa three-story villa, the sa familiar °• N 𝑜 v 𝑒 l i g h t •° ho.
But today, a group of uninvited guests had arrived.
Vieya and Jasmine had barely returned when they saw a crowd gathered at the gate—every one of them dressed to impress, polished noble shoes gleaming in the sunlight.
“Mama...” Jasmine whispered nervously, hiding behind her mother.
Vieya frowned slightly, tightened her grip on the girl’s hand, and walked through the middle of the crowd into the courtyard.
“Save your fancy talk. I don’t understand it and I don’t care to. My mistress isn’t ho, so get lost already! I don’t have ti to babysit you!”
Elizabeth sat cross-legged on the sofa, exuding a regal, commanding aura—graceful and haughty, like soone born to rule. Were it not for the neat, custom maid uniform she wore, anyone who saw her would’ve thought she was the true mistress of the mansion.
“Miss, we’ve co on important business for Miss Vieya. If you delay us, can you take responsibility for the consequences?” the young man standing across from her said sternly.
“She’s not here ans she’s not here. Ask a thousand tis and it’s still the sa. Now get out.” Elizabeth fiddled lazily with her nails, her tone dripping with disdain. “I get annoyed just looking at people like you.”
“Hmph, a low-class maid like you... who knows where she even found soone like you!” The young man finally snapped after being insulted all morning. “A maid with nail polish! Do you have any idea how unprofessional that is?”
“Heh.”
Elizabeth sneered, her red lips parting to utter a single word—
“Get. Out.”
“You! You—you—!”
The young man’s face turned scarlet—not from embarrassnt but from pure fury.
“You foul-mouthed, classless, inferior maid! I’ll be reporting you to your mistress! You’ll be fired and thrown out on the street!”
“Gladly,” Elizabeth replied cheerfully. She’d been hoping to be fired anyway!
Her dark-red eyes were fearless—but then, from the corner of her vision, she caught sight of the small figure standing at the doorway, bathed in sunlight.
Crap. The little white-haired one was back! When had she returned?
Had she heard everything just now?!
Elizabeth froze.
In a flash, she jumped to her feet, hurriedly smoothing the lazy, defiant expression off her face, replacing it with a sweet, docile smile. Her hands folded gracefully in front of her waist, her voice dripping honey.
“Welco ho, Mistress.”
The transformation was so instant it left the young man’s mind blank.
“You... even if you apologize, you—wait, what? Mistress?” he stamred, stunned.
At the sa mont, a small, clear voice ca from behind him.
“Who are they?”
Vieya led Jasmine into the house, scanning the room before looking calmly at Elizabeth.
“And where’s the other maid?” she asked.
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