CHAPTER 47: TEASING

Edna knew she sounded ridiculous — no, worse than ridiculous.

She sounded like a jealous child.

And even a bit possessive.

But even so, she couldn’t stop the thought circling in her head like a vulture:

Who was this woman Lillia called Mama before me?

The idea gnawed at her. It wasn’t logical. It wasn’t imperial.

But her chest twisted painfully at the thought of Azel being so close to another woman that his daughter would grant her that title so easily.

Her arms tightened instinctively around the pink-haired girl sitting in her lap, hugging her close.

Lillia was so warm, so soft, her giggles feather-light against Edna’s ear.

The feeling was alien yet intoxicating.

’It’s been so long since I felt this way,’ Edna thought, almost dazed.

She was feeling... Happiness.

Actual happiness.

She loved her daughters, of course.

Watching Naelia and her sister grow strong filled her with pride, but this — this quiet warmth bubbling in her chest from Azel simply being here, this was something else entirely.

It felt like youth.

Like the young love she had read of.

Like the impossible dreams she’d abandoned when duty had bound her in chains of silk and gold.

If she’d been younger... Gods, if only she had been younger.

Maybe around Naelia’s age.

Then she could have clung to Azel shamelessly, stolen every ounce of his attention, and never let go.

But she wasn’t.

She was supposed to be dignified, poised — the mature one between them since she was older.

And yet, despite every ounce of restraint she’d built over the years, she found herself feeling jealous of a faceless woman she didn’t even know.

"Erm... she calls every beautiful woman ’Mama,’" Azel said casually, clearly misinterpreting her silence.

Edna blinked and forced a faint chuckle, her lips curving upward in what she hoped was an effortless smile.

Of course he’d think that.

He always had this maddening ability to read her wrong at the exact right time, disarming her before she even realized it.

It had happened many times before.

Still, his words didn’t truly soothe her.

If anything, they made her heart thrum harder.

Beautiful woman.

He’d called the mystery woman that, hadn’t he?

Had he called her beautiful to her face yet?

Instead of answering, Edna lowered her gaze to Lillia, who peered up at her with wide, curious eyes.

"Lillia," Edna murmured softly, her voice warm but teasing, "is your first mommy prettier than me?"

The little girl tilted her head, as if the question was the most serious thing in the world.

For a brief moment, she pouted thoughtfully, and then her expression lit up with radiant joy.

"No!" she exclaimed, hugging Edna’s neck tightly. "You’re far prettier, Mama!"

Edna’s heart melted.

The laugh that bubbled out of her throat was light and unrestrained, and she hugged Lillia back fiercely, delighting in her tiny arms squeezing her shoulders.

The sound of her laughter — the innocent, unrestrained joy was so pure it made Edna’s lips tremble.

She brushed her fingers gently through Lillia’s silky pink hair, savoring how soft it felt, while Azel — seated right next to her leaned lazily back in his chair, his crimson eyes studying them both with amusement in his eyes.

He was grateful that he made Edna smile, the events of the game had made her lose her smile once... and even if she wasn’t a heroine, he didn’t want to see her lose this smile.

Seizing the lull, he reached out and plucked the open book from the table beside her, flipping it casually in his hands.

"I wondered what you’ve been reading since I left," Azel said lightly, flipping to a random page.

"The last time we read together, it was The Tale of the Ninth Circle Mage and the first Great War."

Edna froze.

A prickling heat shot up her neck.

He was holding that book.

Her fingers twitched uselessly at her side.

That particular novel wasn’t one of her "innocent" reads — it was one of the more deliberate ones.

A romance novel dripping with tension, commissioned privately because the palace shelves lacked what she truly craved.

And worst of all, she had insisted the male lead’s name be "Azel."

She couldn’t help it... he couldn’t get out of her head...

Her breath hitched.

Azel flipped through a few more pages, scanning the ornate handwriting as his expression shifted faintly before he closed the book with a quiet sigh.

"I see..." His tone was even, neither mocking nor scolding.

It was almost resigned, as if he’d expected this outcome the moment he saw her library.

Edna’s face burned hot. She couldn’t meet his eyes.

Of course he’d figure it out.

In her desperation to escape the tension, she focused instead on Lillia, brushing her hair gently to soothe her own frazzled nerves.

"Are you... disappointed?" Edna asked at last, unable to keep the tremor out of her voice.

She hated how fragile it sounded, but it slipped out anyway.

Azel glanced at her, and for a moment those crimson eyes softened.

"No," he said firmly.

"Not at all. Honestly?" He smirked faintly, leaning an elbow against the armrest. "Sometimes I check out things like that too."

Her head snapped toward him, stunned. "You do?"

He chuckled, the sound low and infuriatingly self-assured.

"Sure," he admitted, resting his chin on his hand. "Though compared to some of the novels I’ve seen before... this is mild."

And he wasn’t lying, the smut novels on his world made this look like a night time story, those were incredibly detailed.

Edna blinked rapidly, her blush deepening.

Her lips trembled faintly before she forced out the only word that came to mind.

"P-pervert..."

But inwardly she barely restrained herself for asking from recommendations.

Azel only grinned wider.

He leaned closer, his voice dropping into that dangerously teasing tone she’d come to dread and crave all at once.

"Though I am curious," he said slowly. "Why is my name the name of the male lead?"

Her entire body jolted.

"I-I-I d-d-don’t k-k-know w-w-what you’re t-t-talking ab-b-bout!" she stammered violently, tripping over every syllable as her fingers curled helplessly into the fabric of her dress.

She wanted to die.

Right there.

And of course, fate chose that exact moment to throw her into further hell.

The library doors creaked open with a loud groan.

"Mom?" Naelia’s voice rang out, brisk but curious. "Did you see Azel yet? He hasn’t come—"

The words died on her lips.

Naelia stepped inside, her gaze sweeping the room — only to freeze the instant her eyes landed on him.

Azel turned his head toward her calmly, their gazes locking.

Naelia’s breath caught.

Her heart skipped a beat.

He was...

Beautiful.