Have you become weaker?

The gemstone veins in the cave shimmered with dazzling light, like stars in the night sky illuminating the scenery within.

The cave was a little cold, but it didn’t feel damp.

Letia used magic to keep the cave tidy and orderly—not for Lily, but for their child.

After noon, the temperature rose, and the environment inside the cave became more pleasant.

Lily placed her daughter Amy on the soft bed.

From the toys left behind by Karina, she picked out a rattle and shook it in front of Amy, producing a crisp sound.

“Ah, ah-woo—” Amy made unclear noises, her chubby little hand reaching for the rattle, her face carrying a puzzled smile.

“What is it, do you want to play?” Lily asked playfully.

“Want… want play?” Amy tilted her head.

She didn’t seem to understand the meaning of the words, merely trying to imitate Lily’s speech.

Lily laughed happily.

She placed the rattle in her daughter’s hand.

Amy clumsily held it up, seemingly trying to mimic Lily in making it sound, but she couldn’t manage it.

Her silly and adorable appearance only made Lily laugh even more.

“Careful now, don’t put it in your mouth!”

The rattle had two thin strings with small wooden balls tied on them—these must be the “small parts” Karina had warned about, right?

Lily dared not be careless, staying close by Amy’s side, afraid the little wooden balls might be swallowed.

After fumbling for quite a while, Amy finally grasped the trick.

Her tiny hands gripped the handle, and like starting a fire with wood, she spun the rattle.

It gave off a crisp ringing sound.

“Oh, amazing! Amy is amazing!”

“Mama… eat food!…”

“Hm? You want me to eat?—No, wait, are you hungry?”

Amy gazed longingly at Lily’s chest.

Lily felt a little embarrassed, but feeding her daughter was the most natural thing in the world—there was no reason to feel ashamed.

So Lily carefully picked Amy up and lifted her clothes.

Amy nestled in Lily’s arms, drinking happily.

Watching her daughter feed, Lily felt especially gratified and proud.

It was about time to prepare weaning food for Amy.

Although Lily wanted to continue breastfeeding, her daughter was growing too quickly.

Perhaps in another month, breastfeeding would no longer be suitable.

But then—what food should be prepared for weaning?

She vaguely remembered porridge or other easily digestible things.

Would cow’s milk work instead?

But Letia probably wouldn’t allow Lily to leave the cave, and Letia herself was such an idiot, she likely had no idea what counted as easy-to-digest food.

Lily could picture Letia gobbling food down without a care.

Letia would even say: “We dragons don’t need weaning food!”

“Ah, what a troubling future… maybe I should just keep feeding her myself?”

It was only a thought.

Lily didn’t want to spoil Amy.

Her duty was to raise and teach her—not to dote on her like a treasure.

She didn’t want to raise Amy into an evil dragon.

A pervert like Letia was absolutely unacceptable!

“Ahh, what am I even thinking!—”

Lily shook her head, trying to calm her restless thoughts.

At that moment, her daughter, satisfied, pulled away from her and slowly drifted to sleep.

Lily didn’t dare speak.

She gently placed Amy back in the crib.

With nothing else to do, Lily decided to check through the baby toys Karina had given her.

Most of the toys were brand new.

A few looked used—perhaps things Karina had once used when raising her own daughter.

For example, the crib mobile.

It showed some wear, but it was still perfectly usable.

Lily discovered a red box.

Curious, she opened it, and seeing the contents, she broke into a delighted smile.

As expected of Auntie—so thorough in her preparations.

But if she used them casually, wouldn’t Letia be annoyed?

Letia would definitely say: “The pride of dragons does not allow me to accept another’s charity!”

Then she’d grumble on and on.

Lily really couldn’t understand her values!

At that moment, footsteps came from the cave entrance.

These footsteps were very familiar.

Lily knew it was Letia returning.

At first, she wanted to go welcome her, but then thought there was no need to curry favor.

Letia had forced her into H things.

Though Amy’s birth brought Lily great joy, it could not erase the harm Letia had caused.

“Lily?—Lily, are you in the cave?”

As expected, it was Letia’s voice.

She sounded a little anxious.

Should Lily answer?

But she worried about waking Amy, and besides—why should she always respond to Letia’s calls?

While Lily hesitated, Letia hurriedly rushed into the room.

Seeing Lily and Amy in the crib, her expression finally relaxed.

Lily and Letia’s eyes met, and then Lily snorted and turned her gaze away.

“You!” Letia flared up instantly.

“What’s with the barrier at the cave entrance? I thought you and our daughter had been kidnapped!”

“That was set up by a kind aunt!” Lily replied righteously.

“A kind aunt? Someone entered the cave?”

“You’re one to talk. Your barrier was broken through easily.”

“Impossible!” Letia protested angrily.

“The barrier of a dragon can’t be broken so easily! I even used a double barrier this time!”

“How would I know?” Lily mocked with a smirk.

“Maybe you just got weaker?”

“You!” Letia’s veins bulged, her patience clearly at its limit.

But then Amy stirred and made indistinct sounds, as if she had been awakened.

Letia immediately fell silent.

Her face softened with guilt as she looked at her daughter.

Lily’s attitude also softened.

She went to her daughter’s side, gently stroking her head and soothing her softly.

Amy settled down again, breathing evenly with her eyes closed.

Letia noticed that many baby toys had appeared in the room—there was a crib mobile, a rubber duck, and the rattle.

Especially the crib mobile—it looked particularly familiar.

“Where did you get these things?”

“They were given to me by Auntie.”

Lily proudly puffed out her chest.

Her once flat figure, thanks to nursing, was now full and heavy.

“Auntie? Who’s Auntie?—Some relative of yours in the Empire?”

“How could it be? Auntie was a passing adventurer.

She easily broke through your barrier, and then she even set up a new one, following the pattern of yours.”

“A passing adventurer?—What’s her name?”

“Telling you would be pointless… you wouldn’t know her anyway.”

“You!” Letia nearly exploded with rage, but she didn’t dare raise her voice.

So instead she stormed over to Lily.

Lily was stunned.

Before she knew what was happening, Letia had seized her wrist.

Letia’s strength was overwhelming.

Lily felt pain and struggled desperately, but Letia ignored her.

Forcing Lily along, she dragged her to her own chamber.

At the doorway, Letia set up a soundproof barrier.

Then she turned to Lily with a wicked smile on her face.