Just stating the facts

No matter what, Lili would not change her principle.

Since Mira had ties with the dragon clan, everything she saw or heard might be passed on to Aunt Karina, and then things would spiral out of control.

Lili had to play along with Letia’s act — and “show off their love” in front of Mira!

“Sorry, but Letia fell in love with me at first sight.”

“Huh? When did you two meet?”

“That was not long ago, on a bright and sunny morning.”

“Eh? That sounds kind of like my story too?”

“At the time, Letia was being hunted by dragon slayers. She was wounded and searching for herbs in the forest when she met me.

Even though she was hurt, Letia was still so beautiful. I was captivated by her graceful figure and felt she must be my one and only destined person!”

“Guh!” Mira clutched her chest and stepped back two paces. “I also have a romantic story with Letia! Back then I was injured, and Letia carefully nursed me back to health…”

The more Mira talked, the more unconvincing it sounded. There didn’t seem to be anything romantic about it at all.

She had to embellish it, even if it meant bluffing!

“Letia gently patted my head and even helped me bathe when I was hurt…” Mira blushed and began spouting nonsense. “After the bath, she even groomed my tail… I was so embarrassed!”

“What…” Lili shot a mocking glare at Letia. “Oh-ho, so you’ve even been bathing together with other girls?”

“No! I don’t remember anything like that at all,” Letia stammered defensively. “Wait—why do I have to explain this to you? Who I bathe with has nothing to do with you!”

“Of course it doesn’t. I’m just making fun of you.”

“You make it sound like I’m some shameless flirt!” Letia fumed, then turned to Mira. “And you—stop making things up! Rescuing a small animal, sure, maybe I forgot. But bathing together with a girl? There’s no way I’d forget something like that!”

“Eh?” Mira flinched nervously. “B-Back then I was in my little fox form… maybe Letia forgot…”

“No, no, no. If it was a cute girl, maybe… but a small animal? I’d never bathe with one. I do have my dragon pride — n-not that I’m insulting you…”

“Right, Letia just likes to tease little girls, doesn’t she?”

“You! …Hmph!” Letia turned away in a huff.

Mira had been gloating, thinking their relationship was finally cracking. But from the looks of it, things somehow seemed to get even more solid between them.

What the heck? This wasn’t a lovers’ quarrel at all — it was pure flirtatious bickering!

No, calm down, Mira. Their relationship already has issues.

All you need to do is expose them at the right moment in public and embarrass them. That way the sly cat will have to back off!

Mira took several deep breaths to calm herself.

“You two… huh? Where did they go?”

She looked up — Letia had pulled Lili aside and pinned her against the wall.

At first glance it looked like an argument, but it was clearly just more flirting!

“Can you two please tone it down a little!”

Thankfully, the coffee table in the living room was quite heavy. Otherwise Mira would have flipped it over in frustration.

Mira sat gloomily on the sofa, cradling a teacup as she sipped her tea.

Letia sat on another sofa. She wanted to drive Mira away as soon as possible, but as the host she couldn’t just throw a guest out without offering anything — that might spark resentment from the fox clan.

Lili took charge of pouring tea and preparing sweets for the guest.

She couldn’t let Mira learn the truth and had to keep up the act with Letia.

Letia played the role of the dignified head of the household, while Lili played the part of the gentle, dutiful young wife.

To stay in character, Lili made sure to personally serve the tea and sweets.

“Letia-sister, I cannot approve of your relationship!” Mira declared solemnly. “It’s far too hasty. Why did you two get together so quickly?”

“We already told you, we fell in love at first sight.”

“Even if it was love at first sight, you still need time for your feelings to grow deeper!”

Mira wasn’t wrong. Love at first sight might be a spark, but feelings needed time to develop.

Letia and Lili seemed as if they had decided to spend their lives together the instant they met, and even spent the night together right away — and hit the bull’s-eye in one go?

Letia couldn’t help but laugh bitterly to herself. Do dragons really have that kind of one-shot accuracy?

If it hadn’t been a one-shot hit, their situation wouldn’t have developed this far.

“Sorry to keep you waiting!”

Lili saw that Letia was at a loss for words and stepped in at just the right moment to change the subject.

She came over carrying two small plates, each holding a soft, jiggly pudding.

Mira shot her an annoyed glare: Don’t interrupt my precious time with Letia-sister!

Lili just smiled sweetly and let it slide.

Mira wanted to get angry, but she held herself back.

If she kept acting petty, Letia might start to dislike her.

Fine then. I’ll try the pudding. No matter how good it tastes, I’ll just act all snarky about it.

Mira picked up a small spoon and scooped up a bit of pudding, putting it in her mouth.

“Mm!” Stars seemed to sparkle in Mira’s eyes. “S-So good…”

“I’m glad you like it,” Lili said with a gentle smile.

“Eh? Ah! I didn’t mean it like that…”

Tch. Failed. I didn’t expect Lili’s dessert to be this good. I let myself get charmed for a moment… but I won’t be fooled! Don’t think you can win me over with a mere pudding!

“By the way, I brought a bottle of fine honey wine!”

“But… what if we get drunk?”

“It’s fine,” Mira boasted. “The alcohol content is really low, it’s basically just like fruit juice. You can drink a whole bottle and not get drunk at all.”

“If it’s that low, I suppose it’s not a problem…”

Mira pulled out the honey wine from a black vortex.

*Heh, got you! The alcohol content may be low, but it’s still wine.

Look at how frail you seem — one sip and you’ll be tipsy for sure!*