Rearing Demons-Chapter 98: Better Back Then

Yur entered the castle with a calm expression, Xia locking arms with him. 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝒆𝒘𝙚𝓫𝙣𝙤𝒗𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

"Alright, when the meeting starts, you can either stay with me or do your own thing." Although he wanted to keep her next to him to help speed up the process of the mark, it was slowly beginning to irritate him—the constant touching, the endless need for words of affirmation; it was tiring, even irritating.

"I’ll go hang out with Ley then," she replied, placing a finger on her chin.

Thank God, he thought inwardly, but still managed a dull smile. "That’s fine."

They walked through the halls, with Xia excitedly pointing out places that Yur had yet to see—her favorite flowers, the rooms where she used to run around.

"Alas, if my mom were still here, things would have been much better," she sighed. "Did you know my mom was the Queen’s older sister?"

"Really?" Yur looked at her with interest.

"Yeah. They both came from a different kingdom, marrying the two Princes of Freau," she explained. "Back then, my dad was actually supposed to be the King."

"Why didn’t he?" Yur probed further.

"When my mom died, he decided not to focus on it—instead, he focused on me," she sighed. "My dad... he’s been lonely ever since."

So, the crowned prince is Julian? Yur noted this inwardly. Originally, it made no sense to him why the current King was not Julian—the man was stronger and older. Now, it made sense.

"You know, after my mom died, everything was a mess..." As she spoke, her mind traveled back in time to the days when she was just a little girl.

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"Mom, when will Dad come back?" In bright halls, a little girl ran barefoot.

"Baby, put some shoes on!" Behind the running girl, a beautiful woman chased after her with an exhausted expression. "I told you so many times not to run around barefoot."

"The floors are always being cleaned, so what’s the issue?" the girl retorted, pouting as she looked at her mother. "Look, the servants are already cleaning it," she added, pointing at a few maids on their knees, wiping the floors.

"Hey, no pointing. I told you, that’s rude," the woman scolded, shaking her head. "Come, let’s get ready and go for a walk. Dad will be home later tonight—you know how it is."

The little girl nodded. "Dad is always so busy. We never get to do anything together."

"How do you think I feel?" the woman asked, smiling with a hint of annoyance. "But I’m not complaining, am I?"

"You just did," the girl teased with a sly smirk.

"One time," the woman replied, rolling her eyes. "Alright, enough wasting time. Lift your feet."

Xia complied and lifted her small feet.

"Look at this... see, I told you, no running in the halls." The woman glared at little Xia as she gently slapped the dirt off her soles.

After putting her shoes on, she stood up and grabbed her daughter’s hand. "Hold it," she said sternly. "If you run around again, I’ll go out with Renri instead of you."

"No!" Xia complained, pouting. "Renri always gets what he wants."

"Well, if you behave, then maybe you will as well," the woman replied as she walked with her daughter into a large hall. "Vilis?" Entering the banquet hall, the woman and girl were met by four others.

"Aunty Willow!" another little girl called out, rushing over. "Hey, Xia, ready?"

"Yeah, Ley!" Xia smiled brightly, her face flushed with excitement, as the two girls hurried toward a gentle woman seated in the hall. "Aunty Vilis, how are you?"

The gentle woman smiled and patted Xia’s head. Her hands moved expressively.

"Huh?" Xia looked confused, glancing at her mother.

"She’s saying, ’I’m good, how about you?’" Xia’s mom, Willow, rolled her eyes. "I told you to practice sign language, didn’t I? Don’t you care how Aunty Vilis feels?"

Vilis glared at Willow and pulled Xia toward her, patting her hair and giving her a small peck on the head.

"Vilis, if you keep letting her get away with this, she’ll never learn how to communicate with you," Willow chided, taking a seat beside her sister. Her eyes then landed on a little boy not too far away. "Renri, come here."

"Yes, aunty," he replied, walking over with a calm gaze tinged with childishness.

"Are you sure you don’t want to come along?" she asked, pinching his chubby cheeks.

"Mom, no!" Xia protested. "He can’t come."

"I didn’t ask you, Xia," Willow said, glaring at her daughter. "Renri is my little baby too." She hugged him tightly and kissed his cheek. "What do you say? I’ll buy you lots of candy."

The boy’s eyes brightened, but before he could speak, a gentle chop landed on his head.

"Ouch," he mumbled, rubbing his head and turning around, staring at his mom as she shook her head.

"Hey, don’t hit him," Willow said with a frown.

Vilis gestured to explain something to Willow.

"Oh, you have plans with Julian and Bryant?" Vilis said, glancing at the chubby boy in surprise.

He nodded. "Dad and uncle want to take me to the forest to help me tame my first beast."

"No way," Willow said, shaking her head. "Taming a beast? You’re too little for that."

Vilis nodded, moving her hands more animatedly.

"Agreed," Willow nodded. "Those two are treating him like he’s some teenager. He’s only nine."

The sisters exchanged annoyed looks. Vilis waved her hands.

"Don’t worry, I’ll talk to Bryant. And as for Julian, he can shut up." Willow said, causing Vilis to cover her mouth and giggle.

"I want to go, though," Renri piped up.

"I said no," Willow glared. "You’re coming with me, my cute chubs." She pinched his cheeks and wrinkled her nose. "Xia, why are your shoes off again?" she scolded, noticing a pair of red shoes thrown aside.

"Ah!" Xia turned her head in panic before running away.

"You little..." Willow got up and chased after her. "Ley, put your shoes on too!" Seeing Ley also walking barefoot, Willow glared at her as well.

"No!" Ley began to run, forcing Willow to chase both girls.

Vilis shook her head.

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"Times were better back then," a young woman murmured as she clung to Yur’s arms, smiling wistfully at the memories. "We were all happier."

Yur listened quietly—or at least pretended to—as he focused on the auras pulsing within the castle.

[New Luminous Heart cultivator detected!]

At the sight of the notification, Yur’s face fell. Another one? He tensed, keeping his guard up, ready to identify this new threat.

"Xia, I am here. I want you to tell me more about this, alright?" He patted her cheek and planted a small kiss. "It’s good for me to know about your past so we can understand each other."

Hearing his words, she smiled and nodded. "I will." After giving him a quick kiss on the lips and a firm hug, she turned and walked away.

Yur watched her leave, his expression growing dull as he stared at the door. Slowly, he pushed it open, and then he felt it: a sudden, overwhelming surge of anger mixed with something dark and unfamiliar.