Chapter 31: Such a Good Person

After Chloe left, the fear on Larvia’s face vanished, replaced by an indescribable, subtle expression.

Her lips twitched, her small hands clenched tightly, veins popping on her arms. Her breathing was noticeably quicker.

Larvia pinched her thigh hard, desperately holding back laughter.

‘No way! I can’t laugh!’

‘She might still be at the door!’

After several deep breaths, Larvia finally suppressed her amusement.

She didn’t know exactly which book held the transformation potion recipe.

But she remembered it.

So, she’d forged a page and slipped it into a book.

She’d tweaked it, adding a few non-magical ingredients that wouldn’t affect the potion’s effect.

‘Soul-scanning machines? Haha, unbeatable.’

‘Little dummy, you got played by the human empire’s church~’

‘Can’t wait to see you come crying back to Mommy~’

Creak—

Just as Larvia was reveling in her thoughts, the door opened.

“Don’t come in yet, give me a sec.”

Larvia took a deep breath, rubbed her cheeks, and forced her face back into its usual calm smile.

She didn’t need to look to know who it was.

Only one person in the palace entered her room without knocking—not even Chloe, the little dummy, did that.

“Silia? What’s up?”

“Good morning, Mother~”

“Good girl~ Come for a hug~”

“Hug~”

Silia hurried to Larvia, diving into her arms.

“Mm… sniff, sniff…”

Silia suddenly frowned.

“What’s wrong?”

Larvia asked.

“Nothing… Um, Mother, why did I see little Chloe leaving your room just now?”

“Hm…”

Larvia rubbed her chin, thinking briefly.

As a mother, she knew Silia’s nose was sharper than anyone’s.

She’d likely already smelled Chloe’s scent on her.

“Little Chloe had some trouble and needed my help.”

“What trouble? I smelled her on you. Could it be…”

Silia’s face flushed, trailing off.

“…Nothing like that happened. We just… well, Chloe’s been a bit gluttonous lately, and her clothes are getting tight, so I helped her out.”

“Oh, that makes sense.”

Silia thought about it—she did often see Chloe sneaking sweets in the kitchen.

And she always left the durian pastries!

‘Must be saving them for me!’

‘Little Chloe’s such a good person~’

“I thought… well, never mind. Yeah, with how she eats, no wonder she’s gaining weight~”

Silia nuzzled into Larvia’s arms, inhaling her scent deeply.

“Silia, don’t you like little Chloe?”

“Huh? No way! I love her!”

Silia quickly protested.

“But the way you said that, it sounds like you don’t want me close to her.”

“Um… it’s not that I don’t like it…”

Silia thought for a moment before continuing.

“Little Chloe’s great, so I really like her. And because she’s great, it’s normal that you’d like her too.”

“But for the past fourteen years, it’s only been me cuddling with you. If Chloe starts cuddling too, it feels… um…”

Silia struggled to find the right words.

“Ugh, I don’t dislike Chloe! Even if she does cuddle with you, I won’t hate her!”

Larvia nodded, satisfied.

Chloe was her second daughter. As a mother, she hoped her daughters would get along harmoniously.

And that truth would have to be revealed someday.

If their relationship soured, the “task” she’d given Chloe would be nearly impossible.

But from what she saw, their relationship didn’t need much meddling.

Larvia was pleased.

She didn’t want her daughters at odds, especially not over her.

‘Well, I’m not that biased, am I?’

Hours later, the kitchen.

Chloe gripped a kitchen knife, cutting fresh beef into small pieces.

The thawed meat was soft, and without a sharp blade or precise force, the knife could easily slip, making it hard to cut.

Chloe had only been on this task a few days, but she was getting the hang of it, unlike newbies who struggled to cut a single piece.

Today, though, something was off.

Her head was down, but her gaze wasn’t on the beef—she stared blankly at the cutting board.

Since leaving Larvia’s room, Chloe had been distracted all day.

Her mind was consumed with how to write the paperwork, unable to focus on work.

Luckily, her morning tasks didn’t require much attention, so no one noticed her odd behavior.

But now was different.

Chloe sawed at the beef with the knife, making no progress.

‘How do I write the application? Larvia said it needs at least 3,000 words.’

‘3,000 words…’

‘Ugh, so annoying.’

‘How do I even get to 3,000?’

She recalled her early days in the palace, locked in a room to write a self-reflection.

She’d struggled all night and barely managed it, and that was maybe not even 1,000 words.

‘3,000 words… where am I supposed to get that?’

‘List my demands, then explain why?’

‘That won’t hit 3,000, will it?’

‘What else can I write?’

“Little Chloe, the beef’s not done yet?” the head chef suddenly called.

Chloe snapped out of it, realizing she’d done nothing this whole time.

Panicking under the chef’s urging, she started cutting.

But in her haste, the knife slipped, leaving a cut on her delicate finger.