My Love Debts Are Everywhere!

"Lady Lyra, I apologize for interrupting your break. Can you tell me where Her Majesty Liliana is? General Merlin has come from the outer palace and urgently needs to speak with her."

The moment those words were heard, Liliana and Lyra both paused their conversation. Their expressions shifted as they turned toward the door, surprise flashing across their faces.

"Merlin? What could he possibly want?" Liliana murmured, her voice laced with confusion.

As the Demon Emperor, Liliana's time was precious, and anyone seeking an audience with her had to request permission first, though even that was no guarantee it would be granted. She clearly remembered that no one from the outer palace had received permission to come to the inner palace today.

How could Merlin dare to come without her permission?

Liliana's gaze darkened, her narrowed eyes reflecting a chill as a tense, cold aura began to gather around her.

Sensing Liliana's rising displeasure, Lyra stood and asked respectfully, her tone calm and composed, "Would you like me to send Merlin away, Your Majesty?"

Liliana inhaled deeply, calming herself as she rose gracefully to her feet.

"No need, Lyra," she replied coolly, a dangerous undertone in her voice. "I happen to have time right now, and I'm curious to hear what he wants."

Lyra blinked once before bowing slightly. "As you command, Your Majesty."

***

"Hahaha! You're caught, Fiona!"

In the inner palace garden, Iris and Fiona were engaged in a lively game of chase. But since Iris was faster, Fiona was finally caught, making her pout.

"Humph! You caught me because I was careless," Fiona huffed, puffing up her cheeks.

Iris chuckled at Fiona's adorable expression and teasingly pinched her right cheek. "Hehehe! You're still a hundred years too early to beat me, smelly girl. Now it's your turn to chase, and mine to run!"

With that, Iris released her pinch on Fiona's cheek and sprinted away from her.

Fiona blinked, momentarily stunned, but her round eyes quickly lit up with determination, as if accepting the challenge.

"Humph! I'll definitely catch you!" She snorted, then sprinted after Iris.

The chase continued, filled with laughter and excitement.

Meanwhile, Charlotte and Stella sat on a garden bench, watching the playful scene with faint smiles, each sipping a glass of milk.

"Don't you want to join them, Sister Stella?" Charlotte asked softly, her curiosity evident.

Stella smiled shyly and shook her head. "I'm too old to play with them."

At six years old, Stella felt that games of chase were no longer for her. Moreover, having faced numerous obstacles and hardships in her past, she had matured far beyond other children her age.

She turned her gaze to Charlotte and asked, "What about you, Charlotte? Don't you want to join them?"

Charlotte smiled faintly and shook her head. "I feel the same as you, Sister Stella. That kind of game just doesn't feel right for me anymore."

Her words left Stella momentarily puzzled. She scratched her head in confusion. "But... aren't you still a child, just like them?"

Charlotte sighed softly, her voice tinged with melancholy. "Yes, I'm still a child like them, but for some reason, I've never found interest in games like that."

At times, Charlotte felt uncertain about herself. Compared to her younger sisters and other children her age, she felt her mind and attitude were far more mature.

Rather than joining in childish games, Charlotte preferred to be alone in the library, reading captivating books.

In her solitude, a question often crossed her mind, making her doubt herself: "Am I really just three years old?"

She longed to share her confusion with her mommy and daddy, but she was afraid—afraid they might think she was strange and stop loving her.

So, she kept her thoughts to herself, never revealing them to anyone.

Stella listened quietly, unsure of what to say. She could sense that Charlotte was different from other children she had met in the capital, but it didn't make her uncomfortable or fearful. On the contrary, she felt proud. After all, Charlotte was Uncle Leon's daughter, and now she was her sister.

Who wouldn't be proud to have a smart and talented sister like Charlotte?

With a warm smile, Stella gently reached out and stroked Charlotte's head.

"You don't need to feel down, Charlotte. The things that make you different are what make you special. You're a genius. Don't ever feel inferior. Okay?" Stella said lovingly.

Charlotte could feel Stella's genuine care, and her heart warmed. A small smile tugged at her lips as she nodded and replied, "Um... thank you, big sister."

At that moment, hurried footsteps echoed from the front, startling both of them.

Instinctively, they turned toward the sound and saw Fiona and Iris running toward them with panicked expressions.

"Sister Charlotte! Sister Stella!" Fiona and Iris shouted, breathless, as they came to an abrupt stop in front of them.

Charlotte and Stella exchanged confused glances before looking back at the frightened duo.

"What's wrong? Why do you two look so scared?" Charlotte asked softly.

She slowly rose from her seat and approached them, gently rubbing their heads in an attempt to calm them down.

Her comforting gesture worked. Slowly, they began to catch their breath, their nerves easing under her touch.

Iris lifted her head, still nervous, and explained, "Sister, while we were playing, we saw a strange man in the palace waiting room. He was staring at us with such a sharp, shocked gaze—it was terrifying."

"Yeah! Sister Iris is right! That uncle was really creepy!" Fiona added seriously, nodding her head like a chick.

Charlotte and Stella's expressions shifted. Charlotte's, in particular, grew serious as she looked at them with deep concern.

"Why were you playing all the way in the waiting room? Didn't Mommy tell you not to go that far? What if someone from the outer palace saw you? How am I going to explain this to Mommy?" Charlotte asked, her eyes narrowing slightly.

For reasons unknown to her at the time, Mommy had strictly forbidden them from going to the palace's parlor or waiting room. At first, Charlotte didn't understand why, so she had asked Lyra about it.

Lyra explained that the restriction was to prevent them from being seen by demons from the outer palace. However, she didn't elaborate further, only telling Charlotte that she would understand when she grew older.

Now, her two little sisters had slipped into the waiting room and encountered an unknown man, which naturally made Charlotte feel both upset and worried.

If Mommy found out, they'd all be in big trouble!

Sensing the anger in Charlotte's voice, Iris and Fiona were immediately taken aback and lowered their heads, looking guilty.

They quickly realized the serious mistake they had made and were unsure of what to do next.

Noticing the fear and guilt in their expressions, Charlotte's annoyance gradually faded. She sighed softly and gently rubbed their heads.

"Alright, don't worry. If Mommy scolds you, I'll stand up for you," Charlotte reassured them, then added firmly, "But you mustn't make this mistake again. Understood?"

Iris and Fiona looked up, their faces filled with guilt, and murmured, "Understood, big sister. We're sorry."

Stella, who had been quietly observing, quickly stood from the bench and approached them.

"If Aunt Liliana gets angry, I'll help you too," Stella offered kindly.

Iris and Fiona felt a wave of relief at Stella's words.

"Thank you, Sister Stella," they replied, their voices lighter and more at ease.

***

In the waiting room, a handsome man in slightly grayish-black armor stood rigidly, his gaze fixed on the door with a look of shock and disbelief.

"Did I... see that correctly?" he muttered, rubbing his eyes in surprise.

This man was none other than Merlin, the First General among the eight Demon Generals in the outer palace. His purpose for arriving at the inner palace had been urgent: to meet Demon Emperor Liliana and deliver some critical news.

However, to his astonishment, he had just witnessed two adorable little girls playing chase.

The girls, who appeared almost identical to each other, took him by surprise not only because of their sudden appearance but also due to their striking resemblance to Demon Emperor Liliana. The snow-white hair and nearly identical facial features made him feel as though he were looking at miniature versions of the Emperor herself.

If it weren't for the glaring difference in their eye colors, he might have collapsed from the shock of the resemblance.

Shaking himself from his thoughts, Merlin furrowed his brow and lightly rubbed his forehead.

"No... I must be imagining things," he muttered, shaking his head in disbelief. "There's no way there are little girls who look so much like Her Majesty Liliana."

Merlin attributed the strange vision to the exhaustion that had built up over the past few days. Yet, the more he thought about it, the more the two little girls seemed undeniably real, and his doubts returned.

"Could they... be Her Majesty Liliana's daughters?" The thought struck him like a bolt of lightning, and his expression immediately stiffened. His body trembled as a chill ran down his spine.

After a moment, he took a deep breath, trying to dispel the absurd idea.

"No! That's impossible! Her Majesty Liliana is an honorable woman. She couldn't have daughters without a husband. Besides, I clearly remember that she doesn't like any men. I must be mistaken," Merlin said firmly, trying to convince himself.

Just then, the sound of footsteps approached, accompanied by the soft voice of a young woman.

"Apologies for the wait, General Merlin. Her Majesty Liliana has granted your audience and is expecting you in the parlor. Please follow me."

Merlin was taken aback by the unexpected news. He had assumed his request to see Her Majesty Liliana would be denied, yet here it was granted.

Suppressing the surge of excitement, he nodded slightly and replied, "Thank you."

The maid soon escorted Merlin to the parlor, unaware that a young girl, her gaze fixed on his back, watched quietly from a distance.