A Summer Chat Between Lanqi and Talia

"—This is Antanas Radio." "Hey, darlings, your host today is still me, Antanas." "Are these placid, uneventful days so dull they're making you drowsy?" On an August summer morning, a wooden roadside restaurant was nearing its opening hour. The soft murmur of a radio broadcast drifted through the window. Dawn had not fully broken; faint starlight still lingered as pale teal morning light fell as usual across the streets of Hutton's royal capital, Ikerite. In the misty, sleep-drenched dawn, the world welcomed a deep wash of indigo. Inside Boss Cat Restaurant, Pranay was already standing behind the bar counter wiping a glass. Across both the first and second floors, Antanas's broadcast voice could be heard with crystal clarity. "Good morning, Pranay." Accompanied by a prolonged, crisp jingle of bells at the entrance, a pair of hands pushed open the heavy wooden door. A light breeze swept across the counter, bringing a touch of cool relief. "Good morning." Pranay set down the glass and greeted Lanqi, who had arrived so early. "Where's Sinora?" Lanqi glanced around the dining hall, not seeing Pranay's sister anywhere. "She accompanied Hyperion to the ducal manor. She probably won't be back at the shop all morning." "Oh, I see." The two slipped into easy small talk. The restaurant's interior was simple yet distinctly stylish. Wooden tables, chairs, and floorboards emitted a faint scent of pine; handicrafts and old books were arranged in the corners, while the sofa Boss Cat had brought back earlier was placed on the second-floor terrace. Some time ago, Antanas had possessed far too much excess energy, so Pranay had eventually procured a small magic apparatus broadcasting kit for her. Every day when Boss Cat Restaurant opened and closed, Antanas would turn on the broadcast to share stories with the customers. As time passed, she had even gained quite a few fans. Lately, it was not just Boss Cat Restaurant; nearby patrons in Ikerite would tune in after heading home as well. Quite a few women even came to the restaurant to visit or contact her for relationship advice, especially young students from Ikerite Academy. "Did this week's issue of Ikerite Gourmet Weekly come out?" Lanqi asked, catching sight of the corner of a low bookshelf. "It did." Pranay gestured toward the spot where the new issue lay. Lanqi quickly went over and picked up a copy. Boss Cat Restaurant was rated very highly in Ikerite Gourmet Weekly, receiving a steady stream of glowing praise from regular patrons every week. Recently, there had even been reviews regarding Antanas's broadcast. Listeners sought her advice on all sorts of romantic matters, even asking her to coach them on how to interact with their partners, all with excellent results. At first, it had merely been a way for Antanas to pass the time. Now, having gradually gained a loyal audience, she could hardly afford to miss a session. Whenever she had other business, she would ask Sinora or Talia to fill in for her. "Here's what everyone says about Miss Sinora—'She must be the young lady of some noble household, so well-read, courteous, and gentle, always sharing literary topics with everyone.'" Leaning against the counter, Lanqi flipped through the pages and read aloud, "'Having her step in as host in place of Miss Antanas on occasion is remarkably pleasant, bringing a sense of inner peace.'" "They have a sharp eye. You two siblings truly hail from an ancient, illustrious clan—anyone can tell at a glance," Lanqi said, glancing at Pranay. "That is all in the past," Pranay replied with a helpless little smile. Lanqi turned the page. "And what everyone says about... ahem, is—" When he reached the name, Lanqi's throat seemed to catch, and after clearing his throat twice, he simply skipped right over it. "'I understand the appeal, but could the host please refrain from sneaking late-night snacks while on air? It's making me hungry just listening.'" "Pfft, hahaha!" Lanqi burst out laughing, slapping the counter as he turned the pages. He failed to notice that this time Pranay was not laughing at all; instead, he was silently wiping a glass. Lanqi looked up at the abruptly quiet Pranay. Before he could ask anything, a sudden chill crept down his spine. He glanced over his shoulder. At the foot of the stairs, a pair of aloof, golden eyes belonging to an absolute superior were staring right at him. Talia clenched her fists. She felt that Lanqi wasn't even bothering to pretend anymore. In the past, the fellow had at least kept his thoughts to himself. Now he had practically said it right to her face. That expression of his was truly infuriating! Talia flexed her hands again, seemingly debating whether to teach him a lesson. "No, no, no, Tata! I'm sure if the radio listeners could see your face, they'd realize what a cute girl you are," Lanqi hurriedly called out to her. "Is that so?" Startled, she relaxed her grip. Though Lanqi had called her cute several times before, she still never quite knew how to respond whenever she heard it. Wait. Talia paused and replayed his words in her mind. What did he mean, they would only think she was cute if they saw her? It sounded an awful lot like he was saying she had nothing going for her besides her looks. "Good morning, Tata," Lanqi greeted her with a smile, cutting through her train of thought. "Good morning." Talia's voice was devoid of emotion, matching the neutral expression she wore most of the time. She walked over to the first floor, pulled a box of biscuit-shaped pet treats from a cabinet, and headed toward the stairs. For a moment, the ground floor of the restaurant fell quiet once more, leaving the playing radio broadcast as the only sound in the entire space. "—In an unpredictable season of winds and waves, amidst the bustling crowds of humanity, as long as I have you, even bitterness turns sweet." That gentle, intellectual female voice was like a night breeze, tender and delicate. Accompanied by carefully selected, soothing music, the melodic tune flowed slowly, weaving together with Antanas's words to infuse the morning with warmth and serenity. "—The weather has grown warm, summer is here, and certain stories are about to begin." A moment passed. "..." Lanqi watched Talia's back disappear up the staircase. Confirming that she did not seem angry, he let out a sigh of relief. Saying a brief goodbye to Pranay, he followed the creaking wooden stairs up to the second floor. At the far end of the hallway, Talia had just opened her door. Glancing back and noticing Lanqi right behind her, she left the door unclosed. Even after reaching that familiar doorway, Lanqi still gave the open door a light knock. Talia, who was feeding the little fox its breakfast, lifted her head. Though she said nothing, the look in her eyes signaled permission to enter. She was sitting in the living room's lone armchair. Beside her, on the small coffee table, sat the box of fox treats along with a few newspapers and periodicals. This was the Demon Realm Moonshadow Fox Lanqi had brought back from the Northern Continent; in the shop, it usually took the form of a small animal. At first, Talia had only watched the fox from afar without offering any comment. Later, she had started feeding it. By now, it was plain to see that she truly adored it. Lanqi had heard from Pranay that during the days he and Hyperion were away, Talia's sole spiritual solace each day was feeding the fox, walking the fox, and sometimes even talking to it. She was acting more and more like a retiree enjoying her golden years. Just as Lanqi was thinking this, Talia's gaze turned toward him once again. "..." Talia merely looked at him for a moment before speaking. "If you're looking for Hyperion, you can head straight to the Aransal Ducal Mansion." Her tone sounded as though she wanted to see him off. Early this morning, Hyperion had set out because she needed to deliver some paintings to the ducal manor and retrieve a few items from there, so Sinora had accompanied her at first light. If Antanas had not had her broadcast program, she too would have clamored to go see the ducal estate. The three of them had always gotten along splendidly. After Duke Mikhail went missing, ancient barriers had sealed off several rooms in the mansion that even Hyperion could not unlock. Sinora, however, possessed a unique Spellbreaker talent that allowed her to analyze and dismantle those barriers. "I came here to see you," Lanqi said, looking at Talia with an earnest, slightly puzzled gaze. "..." Talia glanced at him. She went back to feeding the fox, offering no reply. Yet she made no move to chase him away either. The room remained silent for quite a while. "What did you come to see me for this time?" Having finished feeding the fox, Talia scooped it into her arms and asked. Normally, when Lanqi came to learn Demonic script card-crafting from her, it was in the afternoon; he rarely came to Boss Cat Restaurant to see her first thing in the morning. Now, the two of them could talk comfortably just as they had in the beginning, without the awkwardness that had plagued their meetings before departing for the Shadow World. Provided, of course, that neither side brought up remarks like "so cute I want to eat you up." "Did Hyperion tell you about what happened during our time in the Shadow World?" Lanqi asked. "Only a little. After returning yesterday and freshening up, she chatted with me in bed for a bit before drifting off to sleep." Talia shook her head. "It seems she still feels safest by your side," Lanqi remarked with a sigh. "Why do you say that?" Talia asked, perplexed. "Hyperion doesn't seem like the type to fall asleep easily, yet beside you, she can sleep with complete peace of mind." Lanqi had only ever seen Hyperion fast asleep once, back when she had been hit by Caliera's full-power Fall into Gentle Slumber and sent back to the palace dining hall. According to Caliera, Hyperion had suffered frequent insomnia at the palace dining hall. To ensure the princess's body received proper rest each day, Caliera had secretly cast magic to put her into deep slumber. Lanqi hadn't even known how to evaluate that; he could only marvel at how intense demon mothers were—if their child couldn't sleep, they simply used magic to force them under. By comparison, Talia truly felt like a loving, gentle mother. "I seem like a gentle mother?" Talia suddenly asked. She did not sound angry, however. "Uh, well, you really are very gentle toward Hyperion—thoughtful and attentive. It makes total sense that she'd be fond of you," Lanqi explained, startled, rolling with Talia's question. He simply could not fathom the astonishing speed at which Talia's mind reading was evolving; she could now intermittently pick up fragments of his inner thoughts. Fortunately, he possessed Sinora and Pranay's Spellbreaker Mark and Mark of Truth, which could weaken magical effects and detection spells to a degree. "Then do you want me to treat you that way too?" Talia asked. "..." Lanqi froze. Just imagining Talia treating him the way she treated Hyperion—suddenly turning gentle like a virtuous wife and loving mother—made his mind go completely blank. He was already accustomed to how she was now. If she turned into someone else, he wouldn't be able to handle it! "It seems you don't want that." Talia frowned slightly, studying Lanqi. She felt that this fellow was acting infuriating again. Yet she suddenly realized something. It seemed that compared to glaring at him, treating him with exaggerated gentleness was far more effective at making him squirm—perhaps even grossing him out. Even if it disgusted her as well, they could go down in flames together.