"Empress Mother, I don't want to be the general's son here. I hate it. But if I continue being that mad Emperor's son, I could at least get back at him for separating us."
Xati continued chatting, completely unaware of the change in Yeri's expression.
"Anyway, this prince will definitely have his revenge."
"Xati..." Yeri's voice was almost a whisper. "Who is the Demon Emperor?"
Xati tilted his head, seemingly thinking she was asking him to confirm what she already know.
"It's that ugly human you just called Brother Shin."
Yeri's mind buzzed.
For a moment, everything around her seemed to disappear.
It was as though a bomb had detonated inside her head.
"Empress Mother, why are you marrying him again?" Xati continued innocently. "Do you love him that much even after what he did?"
Yeri felt dizzy.
Shin Keir...
Was the Demon Emperor?
"This prince understands that you were strong and that no one could ever defeat you back in the demon realm," Xati continued, completely oblivious to the storm building inside her. "But he was always mean to you. He often punished you, throwing you into prison and even sending you to the Abyss many times..."
Yeri stared at him, her entire body going cold.
The pieces she had been desperately trying not to connect were suddenly falling into place.
However, the mad Demon Emperor in her memories and Shin Keir in this human realm... somehow, they just didn't fit.
It also didn't make sense. If he had truly been the one responsible for her death, the one who had ended her existence with his own sword, then why would he resurrect her? What was the conspiracy behind it?
"Empress Mother, what's the matter?"
Xati finally noticed her unease and looked worried.
"Are you cold? I don't like that you've become this weak and dependent on that mad Emperor. Back then, he couldn't do anything to you no matter how enraged he was."
Yeri's eyes narrowed. It was as if she had just heard the answer to her question.
"Xati-"
"What are you two doing here?"
Shin's voice echoed through the garden, every one of his approaching footsteps hammering against Yeri's heart.
"Hmph! As always, you just have to bother us when you're not welcome," Xati snarled.
Seeing the little troublemaker sitting on Yeri's lap, Shin's expression darkened.
He grabbed Xati by the collar and lifted him. "What did I tell you? She's no longer your Empress Mother. Are you trying to ruin her—"
"Stop."
Yeri quickly snatched Xati away and put him down.
"I think you're the one trying to ruin yourself, or ruin us, manhandling a child in public and broad daylight. Paparazzi follow you everywhere. Aren't you afraid they'll catch you in action?"
Shin glared at the little demon, who was now sticking his tongue out at him.
"You're taking his side?"
"He's a child," Yeri reasoned.
Noticing the sweat on her forehead and the discomfort in her expression, especially the fact that she wouldn't even meet his eyes, Shin looked at Xati suspiciously.
"What did you tell her?"
A shiver ran down Yeri's spine.
She quickly answered, "He just asked if he could call me Big Sis, and I'm the one who agreed that he could call me whatever he wanted when it's just the two of us."
"Right, right! Jealous, aren't you?" Xati said proudly. "I know Empress Mother still loves me the most."
"We should go back," Yeri quickly said, afraid Xati would say something else. "I think it's getting colder, and I'm feeling unwell."
Shin stared at her intently before removing his suit jacket and draping it over her shoulders.
"What about me, Dad? Never mind that you don't have another jacket, but you still haven't given me your bank card," Xati suddenly asked provocatively.
Shin had the overwhelming urge to bury this little demon six feet under, especially since they were already at a funeral.
His gaze blazed at Xati, silently telling the little demon that he'd better watch himself once they returned to the villa.
"Go ask Tristan. He's your father."
"Even if Empress Mother can't be my mother in this world, you are still my father. Where's your honor? Aren't you ashamed of pushing your responsibilities onto your commanding general?" Xati complained.
Shin wasn't the least bit guilty.
"In human age, you're more than a grandpa, aren't you? Aren't you ashamed of pretending to be a child?"
"I am a child!" Xati stomped his feet angrily.
Yeri looked at the two of them.
One was fully grown, the other was considerably smaller, yet somehow they were bickering like two children.
She really couldn't connect Shin to the mad Emperor from her memories, the one who could make every demon tremble simply by showing his presence.
If anything, the only connection was Xati, who was obviously far too accustomed to having these confrontations with the Demon Emperor.
"I still have that black card you gave me before, and I've barely used it. I could give it to him," Yeri offered from the side.
But both of them simultaneously refused.
"I gave that to you. It has nothing to do with this brat whether you use it or not," Shin said displeasedly.
"Empress Mother, how could this prince impose on you?" Xati said with all the dignity of a prince before sneering at Shin. "Why must you cover up someone else's responsibilities and obligations?"
Yeri: "..."
"Since you insist on talking about my obligations, then I think what's best for you is to go back to where you belong." Shin flicked Xati's forehead.
With his powers sealed, that seemingly harmless flick was enough to send Xati tumbling backward, his butt hitting the ground.
Before he could jump back up and engage in another fight with his father, a hoarse, shrill voice suddenly cut through the garden.
"Shin Keir!"
Elder Madam Keir looked as though she wanted to jump straight out of her wheelchair.
"Are you really a demon? Now that Hadi is gone and you have no one to vent your anger on, you're targeting my great-grandson?"
The three of them: "..."
Well, it was ironic that the old matriarch couldn't have been more accurate.
Yeri couldn't help but whisper to Shin, "Does she know?"
Shin snorted and gave her a meaningful glance.
Yeri immediately understood the answer was no.
Otherwise, Elder Madam Keir would have already erected a church in every Keir household and summoned every master, priest, shaman, and exorcist she could find.
"As long as I'm still alive and breathing, I won't allow you to harm Tristan's son. Don't think that just because I'm in this state, you're already entirely in control."
Elder Madam Keir said this while catching her breath. Then her gaze shifted toward Yeri, and her expression became even grimmer.
"From now on, Xati will be staying with me in the main house. Let him accompany this old woman. I can raise him properly, just like I raised you and your other cousins."
Amusement flickered in Shin's eyes.
It seemed the old woman thought he was wary of the little demon when it came to matters of heir succession, and apparently, she thought the same of Yeri.
After all, to everyone else, Xati was Tristan's son. With no other children in his generation, he was currently the most eligible candidate to become the next Keir heir.
"Sure. I think it's a good idea. Tristan got hit by a tornado and has no time to look after his son," Shin said indifferently.
Elder Madam Keir was stunned that he had agreed so readily.
Also, did he just say tornado?
Xati, however, wasn't clueless and immediately refused.
"I don't want to!" he shouted, clinging to Yeri's dress. "How about I live with you, Big Sis? I like pretty sister the most!"
"Xati, mind your manners and get away from her," Elder Madam Keir demanded.
She then looked at Yeri as if she were some two-faced stepmother.
"Child, you're still so innocent, and Great-Grandma is worried. You shouldn't trust people so easily and let them fool you with their appearance. There's really so much I have to teach you."
Yeri: "..."
"Hmm...Are you implying I'm stupid? Or is Big Sis a bad person?" Xati looked unhappy. "You're mean. I don't think I like you, Great-Grandma."
The old matriarch looked as though she had been struck by lightning.
She clutched her heart while looking at Yeri and Shin as if they were her greatest nemeses.
"How could the two of you be so vicious as to scheme with a child? Shin, Tristan is your closest cousin. Does he know what you're thinking?"
Yeri: "..."
This misunderstanding was getting completely out of hand.
"If he knew what I'm thinking, then he wouldn't have eyed my fiancée, even if it was just a game," Shin said coldly.
Yeri felt a headache coming on. He still hadn't gotten over the Tartarus issue?
Elder Madam Keir assumed he was merely issuing a threat and became even more determined to take Xati with her.
Allister Keir also arrived and immediately joined the misunderstanding, opposing his own mother because, as Xati's supposed father, this was ultimately something that required Tristan's approval.
Yeri, meanwhile, wanted Xati to stay somewhere she could easily visit him. She still had far too many questions, and he was the only person who could answer them.
Unfortunately, the old matriarch was looking at her more and more suspiciously, as though Yeri were some witch secretly plotting to harm Xati.
For the first time, Shin and Elder Madam Keir, two people who could barely stand being in the same room, found themselves on the same side.
"I'm not going anywhere because I'm already with my dad!" Xati suddenly blurted out, pointing directly at Shin.
Everyone: "..."
"You demon! What are you up to?" Elder Madam Keir exploded. "You're even going as far as stealing your cousin's son! If you can't wait to have a child before marriage, then why don't the two of you have your own child?!"
She was so furious that her wheelchair was practically shaking.
Master Keir held his forehead, not taking Xati's words seriously at all. To him, the boy was simply being mischievous for someone his age.
Xati looked around at the adults, realizing that no one was taking his words seriously, then glared at Shin.
He must have said something beforehand.
"Tristan did mention that he fell down the stairs and that it could have confused me with him. Must be his poor eyesight," Shin commented casually.
Xati's eyes widened.
Was that his excuse? How utterly ridiculous!
"Lies! This prince never fell down!"
"You just did," Shin replied.