On this midsummer night, moonlight poured down, gently caressing the seaside mansion.
Beside the bed in the top-floor bedroom, warm yellow lamplight intertwined with the silver veil of moonlight, illuminating the only two figures in the room.
"Hyperion..."
Lanqi, seated on a chair beside the bed, had a trace of concern in his eyes.
"Don't say anything right now. Please!"
Hyperion's voice trembled, her tone completely unlike her usual self.
"..."
Lanqi seemed genuinely worried now.
Whatever else he had intended to tell her momentarily became unimportant compared to her well-being.
He worried whether she had stayed too long inside the Fall Lord's spell barrier and suffered some injury; if necessary, he would call a doctor immediately.
Yet he could not see Hyperion's face.
She had hidden away, ducking behind the blanket.
"I'm fine..."
Her voice was faint and muffled as she curled deeper into the covers, seeking a shred of solace.
Having finally composed herself, she responded to Lanqi.
On this midsummer night, the gentle sea breeze carried the sound of the tide and a delicate coolness.
Night had deepened outside, but the moonlight filtering through the window seemed to cast an enchanting glow over the entire room.
"If you still prefer the dream, you can sleep a bit longer. I'll stay right by your side," Lanqi said, watching Hyperion for a moment and speaking with relief once he was certain she truly was fine.
His voice was like a lullaby, gently drifting into every corner of the room.
"...Lanqi."
After a brief silence, Hyperion called his name.
"Hm?"
Lanqi looked back toward her.
"Were you keeping watch beside me the whole time I was asleep?"
Her thoughts seemed to wander through the tranquility and sea breeze of this summer night, gradually emerging from the dream.
"Yes. The Fall Lord said the spell wouldn't harm you once it concluded, but sweet dreams are hard to come by. Since you were caught in it anyway, you might as well finish the dream. Sometimes her innate magic isn't just an offensive spell against enemies; it can also heal mental exhaustion for allies," Lanqi explained with a nod.
It was said that in the Demon King's Castle, Naicalis, one could not secure a psychiatric consultation with the Fall Lord simply by paying a price. Only demons with close ties to her could be healed by her Gentle Land of the Fallen.
However, he had never seen Hyperion sleep so deeply before, so he had still felt uneasy and stayed seated at her bedside to watch over her.
"Thank you. You always protect me like this. Aside from becoming a duchess to fulfill your retirement dream, I have no other way to repay you."
After a moment's thought, Hyperion finally lowered the blanket and revealed her face to Lanqi.
Her cheeks were slightly flushed, which she assumed was merely from a lack of oxygen.
Lanqi blinked, feeling a bit bashful at her sudden words.
"Haha, a duchess? You're a princess now," Lanqi praised with a smile.
Even the Fall Lord had acknowledged Hyperion. Now Caliera would no longer manipulate the throne from behind the scenes, but would wholeheartedly assist Hyperion instead. That was a genuine Tier 9 demon—neither of them could ever encounter a demon that powerful back in the real world.
Things in this Shadow World had turned entirely in their favor.
Once they returned to the Polant Empire, it would be smooth sailing all the way.
Boss Cat had even joked that he'd pay Lanqi fifty to let him hop on the account and play.
"Could we let Lanfu be the princess instead? I'll go back to the Polant Empire with you and just be an ordinary woman..." Hyperion's voice grew quieter and quieter.
Back on the Northern Continent, she had been startled when her teacher, the Ice Snow Witch, told her she was the last surviving princess of the demon race. Now, she had never imagined that in a Shadow World from tens of thousands of years ago, she would actually become a princess recognized by the demons.
The weight of an endorsement from a Tier 9 demon was simply too heavy for her to bear.
"To be honest, not just anyone can be a princess. Think about our old friend—do you think Caliera would ever acknowledge her?"
Lanqi couldn't help laughing as he spoke, raising a hand to cover his mouth.
"Don't talk about my aunt like that..." Hyperion said with a pout, though there was no real reprimand in her tone, as if she couldn't bring herself to blame Lanqi.
She knew that even if Lanqi said that to Talia's face, Talia wouldn't actually do anything to him—at most, she would administer a bit of disciplinary education.
As long as Lanfu didn't cause trouble and Lanqi didn't drink, virtually nothing would go wrong.
Yet Hyperion still worried that Lanqi, growing ever more brazen, would eventually end up cornering himself again.
"..."
After Hyperion's scolding, Lanqi fell silent as if at a loss for words.
"Never mind, say whatever you want," Hyperion softened upon seeing his aggrieved look.
"You're the best, Hyperion," Lanqi praised, giving her a thumbs-up.
"Stop saying things like that..." Hyperion sighed helplessly.
Both laughed and fell into conversation as they always did.
The sound of waves outside now resembled their quiet murmurs, rising and falling with the rhythm of their emotions.
Sitting on and beside the bed, they looked at each other, chatting about amusing topics they never tired of discussing, the awkwardness completely gone.
Inside the bedroom, a warm bedside lamp cast a gentle glow as the curtains swayed softly to the sea breeze. Here, time seemed to slow down, allowing them to forget the clamor and bustle of the world, leaving only inner peace and deep relaxation.
A bookshelf in the corner was filled with demon books weathered by the years, their edges slightly curled.
A small clock by the bedside quietly marked the passage of time.
From carved armchairs to demon-style oil paintings, the plush carpet absorbed every footstep, preserving the room's serene quiet.
"Looks like you're well-rested now?" Lanqi asked with a smile. He stood up and pushed back his chair, clearing space for Hyperion to get out of bed.
"Yes, I rested very well."
Hyperion nodded, shifting her body and setting the blanket aside. She swung her legs down, lightly resting her bare feet on the carpet, feeling the soft texture beneath.
"Then let's head downstairs. Boss Cat went to prepare dinner just now," Lanqi gestured toward the door.
"Alright. By the way, where are we?" Hyperion finally looked around the room and asked.
Since arriving in this Shadow World, she hadn't left Naica Island, where the royal palace was located, for an entire month.
Now Lanqi had finally brought her away from their starting point, and this mansion was somewhere entirely unfamiliar.
"This is Lis Island. It was prepared specifically for you," Lanqi explained, pointing toward the bay outside the window.
Chapter 588