Selene was chatting animatedly with Viola about the new kiln's magic array, her eyes gleaming with curiosity and focus.

  Draven stood off to the side, expressionless, as if completely detached from the surrounding excitement. He had been waiting here for over half an hour, and time felt unusually slow.

  Liliana squatted beside him, her face full of confusion and boredom. She couldn't understand a word of what Sister Viola was saying. Next to them, Martha's eyes sparkled with excitement. Though she didn't understand the array either, she had already managed to strike up a conversation with Selene.

  Draven had no interest in listening to complicated magical theory. He sat idly next to Liliana. The arrays meant nothing to him.

  Both of them looked quite bored. Draven chuckled softly, gave his wrist a twist, and pulled out two marbles from his pocket. You guys talk your talk, his smirk seemed to say, we'll play our own game.

  The two of them bent over, placed the marbles on the ground, and knocked them against each other with a loud click, quickly becoming absorbed in their game.

  As a mid-ranked lord, Selene was not someone Draven could easily deceive. He knew full well that nothing he did would escape her notice.

  Sure enough, Selene cast him a sidelong glance, the corners of her eyes filled with amusement. Then she turned to Viola and asked curiously,"Is he always like this?"

  Viola had been mulling over a suggestion Selene had just made, and the question caught her off guard. It wasn't until Selene gave her a meaningful glance that she noticed Draven and Liliana's little distraction.

  She stifled a laugh and gently tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. A soft, unfamiliar expression crossed her face—a look Selene had never seen on her before. With a tone that was warm and just a touch tender, she replied,"Not always. He only acts like this—like a child—when he's in an especially good mood."

  "Your presence must have made Draven very happy."

  Selene was taken aback—not because of what Viola said, but because for a fleeting moment, she thought she saw the blurred, distant face of her long-departed mother.

  The brief trance was broken by the flicker of the foxkin girl nearby. Selene blinked, her expression growing faintly distracted. Her enthusiasm for the array discussion diminished noticeably.

  Viola, ever perceptive, noticed the shift in her mood but continued to smile gently, saying nothing.

  Martha, on the other hand, was confused. Just a moment ago, they were deep in conversation. Why the sudden silence?

  As Draven flicked another marble, he suddenly looked up—only to find Lady Selene towering above, pointing her sharp chin in his direction.

  He stood up quietly and glanced at Viola, silently asking for help.

  Viola quickly explained on his behalf,"Selene would like to see the Violet Carpenter Bee's nest."

  Before Draven could say a word, Liliana sprang to her feet. Her voice rang out sharp and firm:"What's there to see? No one's allowed!"

  She stood tall and defiant, shouting without the slightest trace of fear.

  Draven gave her a mental thumbs-up, all while putting on a troubled expression.

  Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

  "My lady," he said,"as you may know, the Violet Carpenter Bee belongs to Liliana."

  "She doesn't let anyone near it, right, Liliana?"

  "That's right! It's mine! Nobody gets to see it!" Liliana nodded along, her tone unwavering.

  She didn't back down in the slightest. Just that sheer boldness alone made her a thousand times braver than Draven.

  He couldn't help but smirk inwardly, watching Selene rendered speechless by Liliana's refusal. Maybe tonight, he thought, I'll let Liliana have a taste of the honey too.

  Selene had already heard about their relationship from Linda. Whatever offense was committed, it had long been attributed to Draven. As a visiting noble—and more importantly, a guest—Selene knew better than to show Liliana any disrespect.

  Watching the two of them glare at each other, Draven felt a burst of satisfaction. Now he understood what Selene truly came for.

  It was the honey all along.

  With that certainty in his heart, he no longer tried to stop her.

  With her identity as a Demon Lord, Selene would never truly lay a hand on Liliana. Besides, Liliana was not the kind of girl one could bully easily. With a demigod standing behind her, who would dare to provoke her lightly?

  Sure enough, just as Draven had predicted, Selene was the first to break the silence. She withdrew her sharp gaze and gave a faint smile. Before Draven could react, she said,

  "I don't watch for free. There'll be a reward once I've seen it."

  Her words rippled through Draven's mind like a gentle disturbance, leaving him momentarily dazed. As for Liliana, who was standing closest to her, her eyes grew unfocused, clearly caught in the enchantment of the moment.

  Just as Draven began to worry, a faint but chilling snort echoed from midair. It was barely audible, yet carried an undeniable force.

  Liliana flinched violently, as if suddenly awakened. She darted behind Draven, frantically scanning the surroundings, her anger at Selene completely forgotten.

  Selene's smile froze. Her pupils shrank as terror surged in her eyes. That snort had not only shattered her charm spell—it had exploded in her mind like a clap of thunder, leaving her visibly shaken.

  The sudden shift in atmosphere had Draven's eyes darting in all directions, just as panicked as Liliana. His mind raced with questions, unsure of what was happening.

  Fortunately, Liliana quickly peeked out from behind him and patted her chest, still slightly heaving from the scare. She muttered,

  "That scared me half to death… I thought it was meant for me…"

  Draven knew exactly whom she was referring to—her father. But with Selene right there, he didn't dare ask further. As long as he didn't appear, Draven wasn't too worried. In fact, a strange sense of boldness crept into his heart, emboldened by borrowed power.

  "Selene, as you can see," Draven said with a grin,"Liliana isn't someone to mess with."

  "If you really want to see the Violet Carpenter Bee's hive… maybe it's time to offer something in exchange?"

  The fear in Selene's eyes gradually faded. She glanced deeply at Liliana, then turned her attention to Draven.

  Her lips parted slightly, but she didn't ask about the source of that snort.

  Instead, she silently reached into her storage ring and pulled out a small pouch, tossing it to Draven with clear reluctance.

  Draven caught it and opened it for a look. Inside were seeds, smaller than mustard grains.

  "Aetherbud seeds," Selene said coldly."They bloom upon touching soil and flower year-round."

  A flicker of annoyance passed through her eyes, and her tone was laced with displeasure.

  Draven's eyes lit up. He felt like he'd just struck gold.

  —

  Meanwhile, atop the snowy peaks in the far north, a handsome middle-aged man sat upon the corpse of a ferocious beast.

  His brown hair danced in the wind, and atop his head were two spiral-shaped horns identical to Liliana's.

  Having just caught his breath from battle, he gazed into a floating ring of light before him, which displayed the scene between Draven and the others. Every word and sound reached his ears without distortion.

  Benedict frowned slightly, his expression distant. With a sigh, he muttered,

  "Did you see that? Our daughter is already starting to find herself a man…"

  No sooner had the words left his mouth than a terrifying roar echoed around him. With a wave of his sleeve, he dismissed the viewing circle.

  The aura of this druid—one who rivaled demigods—suddenly surged.

  Facing hordes of frenzied, black-skinned monsters, his lips curled into a cold, ruthless smile.

  "If not for these damn beasts, how could I not be there by my daughter's side—only for her to fall for a black-furred werewolf?!"

  As the words trailed off, Benedict's form shifted abruptly. He transformed into a massive dragon, jaws wide, as if to unleash all his pent-up rage in one fiery breath.

  Where the dragon's breath swept, the black monsters were reduced to ash.

  Yet the tide of monsters surged on, wave after wave, endless and unrelenting.