27 Destined for No Royal Life (Minor Revision)

There is an old saying: acting on impulse feels great for a moment, but you’ll be left digging your own grave afterward.

When anger flares, people become incredibly brave, easily driven to reckless actions. But once reason returns...

After landing four or five blows, Pei Nana gradually stiffened, her sobbing fading into silence.

*Oh my god, what have I done?!*

*Ah—?! What am I doing?!!*

As a parasite clinging to someone else for survival, where did she find the courage to throw a tantrum and hit her own benefactor? What if he gets angry?

Pei Nana was terrified. She held her breath, stealing a cautious glance at Aether’s reaction, and then let out a quiet sigh of relief, her limbs turning to jelly.

She felt a sense of relief, as if she had just survived a disaster.

The beautiful, youthful boy, who looked like a little prince, wasn't angry at all. Instead, he played along, pretending that her blows caused him great pain, making her catharsis feel all the more satisfying.

Even though the disparity in their strength was vast, he had sacrificed his own dignity just to appease her...

Pei Nana couldn't help but laugh through her tears. Her eyes warmed, and tears began to roll down again. In that moment, she longed to throw herself into the boy's arms and have a good cry.

Unfortunately, along with her reason came the shame of adulthood.

Aether heard the crying stop and thought it was over. But when he looked up, he saw her tears falling like beads from a broken string.

Aether: "..." Fine. What else could he do?

He simply closed his eyes, shielded his face, and slumped over the table, assuming a posture that invited her to vent as much as she liked.

Pei Nana couldn't help but smile, then quickly covered her mouth, silently chiding herself.

*(If he’s willing to indulge you, it’s because he’s generous and doesn’t hold a grudge. You can’t take advantage of his good temper to be truly lawless and unreasonable. Otherwise, if he ever gets fed up... it’ll be too late for regrets.)*

She wiped her eyes, her gaze falling on the spot she had just struck. Her voice was slightly hoarse, still carrying the remnants of her tears, but she couldn't help letting out a tentative, cautious probe, "Does it... really hurt that much?"

The Traveler was still putting on a show. Normally, he wouldn't even blink at a bowl-sized wound, but now, clutching an arm that didn't show a single red mark, he looked pained and teary-eyed, nodding pitifully, "Yeah, it hurts so much."

Pei Nana: "..."

Seeing him still joking, she knew he hadn't taken her earlier 'disrespect' to heart at all.

Her heart lightened, filled with gratitude and relief. Seeing that youthful, pitiful baby face of his, her feelings instantly melted into boundless tenderness.

Pei Nana smiled and gently pressed against the arm she had struck. "Shall I rub it for you?"

Aether: "?"

The boy froze. In that moment of distraction, Pei Nana’s hand had already reached out.

Her fair hands were warm and soft, like the most delicate silken tofu, as if they would shatter at a touch. Though there was no discernible scent, the soft, refined sensation made her feel as if a rich, fragrant aroma was wafting through the air.

It seeped in from the air, from his skin, from every direction. Like a fine, lingering web, it compressed and eroded his space for freedom.

He felt like a poor frog caught by a beauty-snake, a vast shadow looming over him. He wanted to leap away immediately, but found himself trembling, with nowhere to escape...

The Traveler stood frozen, his muscles as tense as steel. Where she touched him, it felt as if a terrifying caterpillar were crawling across his skin. A strange, inexplicable sensation surged into his very marrow like an electric current, making his scalp tingle and his hair stand on end!

After 'enjoying' it for less than two seconds, he sprang up like a startled jerboa, retreated to the side, and laughed nervously, "Cough! Okay! Enough! It—it doesn't hurt anymore!"

He sat back down, two seats away from the woman. He secretly rubbed the spot where Pei Nana had pressed, the stinging, numbing pain overpowering that creepy, unsettling feeling until he finally returned to normal.

However, he had rubbed too hard; as soon as he moved his hand, a large red patch appeared on his arm. Unless Pei Nana were blind, she couldn't miss it.

She had just been coaxed into laughter, but now she was teary-eyed again, her moist, reddened eyes staring at him with shock and hurt.

How was this any different from those people who shake your hand politely only to wipe their hands ten times over the moment they turn away!

Why did it feel like she was something dirty when she touched him? Was Aether’s friendliness just a lie?

A chill ran through her heart.

...If Aether were truly that kind of person, then her assessment of the 'game protagonist's' character might be fundamentally flawed. For the sake of long-term safety, she should perhaps make more preparations.

As soon as Aether saw her expression, he knew he was in trouble and hurriedly explained, "I just, I just have a ticklish spot. I don't like being touched, especially, especially that kind of light, feathery touch.

—You know what I mean, right?

Otherwise, otherwise I wouldn't have come back to find you, would I?"

Pei Nana couldn't help but be a bit cynical, throwing a small jab at him: "Isn't that because of your sister?"

Aether’s expression shifted slightly, a trace of dangerous coldness flickering across his youthful, smiling face. He said, as if joking, "If you really betrayed us, do you think I wouldn't be able to find you?"

Pei Nana: "..."

He seemed to be joking, but Nana felt like he might be telling the truth.

If she really had sold them out, he would never let her go.

*(Is this a warning?)* Pei Nana bit her lip, staying silent.

*(I shouldn't have brought up his sister.)*

The two locked eyes, both fully aware of the other's bottom line, tacitly agreeing to treat their veiled confrontation as if it had never happened.

Aether looked her up and down, his gaze finally landing on her clothes, hesitating, "Is this... pajamas? You’ve already turned in? This early?"

Pei Nana wiped her damp, blurry eyes and beckoned to Paimon. Paimon checked her expression, confirmed that everything was alright, and flew over timidly, "Nana..."

"I'm sorry, little Paimon. I scared you just now."

Pei Nana pulled her into her arms, first patting her back to soothe her before holding her tightly.

Paimon said softly, "It's, it's okay! We were wrong too. We were the ones who made Nana worry. Don't worry, Nana, I promise, next time I won't leave you alone again!"

Pei Nana stroked her again. After venting her emotions, she had calmed down significantly. Using the time spent interacting with little Paimon, she set aside her excess emotions and began to re-evaluate her relationship with Aether while multitasking.

Rationally speaking, it was very difficult for her to survive on her own—perhaps she could once she was familiar with the world, but as someone with nothing and knowing nothing, it was nearly impossible.

Just like the wild boar and monsters she encountered on the first day; before she met them, she didn't know such dangers existed. And once she did, she couldn't even run away.

She needed someone who could shelter her through the beginner stage.

If this role wasn't filled by Aether, it would be someone else. But would anyone else be safer than Aether?

*(It's not that I'm playing favorites.)*

The game world was full of violence. As the protagonist, Aether might not kill the innocent at will, but he certainly wouldn't shy away from bloodshed. She held a secret that could threaten the safety of the siblings, yet Aether hadn't silenced her. Instead, he brought her back from the wilderness, entrusted her to a reliable friend, and didn't forget to prepare pocket money for her even when he had to leave... One could say he was thorough and magnanimous.

No one is perfect; she couldn't dismiss his overwhelming virtues just because of a few minor flaws.

*(So, I'm really not playing favorites.)*

She had expressed her grievances, and Aether and Paimon could have ignored her. It was she who needed them, not the other way around. Yet they not only apologized to her but promised repeatedly not to repeat their mistake. If it were someone else, would they respect her and treat her as an equal 'person' the way Aether did?

*(I'm just stating the facts.)*

Earlier, when she was angry and hit him, Aether—as powerful as he was—had let her hit and scold him. With such a sincere attitude... to keep being unrelenting would be nothing more than being unreasonable.

*(If you want to have a princess complex, you first need a king behind you. And I... am just a 'distressed orphan girl.' Since I don't have the life of a princess, I shouldn't have the princess complex.)*

Pei Nana smoothed out her thoughts and felt much better. She once again reached the conclusion that 'Aether is honest, kind, and tolerant, and he is the best, safest golden thigh to cling to.'

She stroked little Paimon and answered Aether’s earlier question with a light, soft tone, "You guys didn't come back, and I didn't dare go out, so I just stayed in my room all day. I thought I might as well rest early.

Actually, I wasn't sleeping; I was reading in bed. By the way, you came back so late, have you eaten yet?"

Before Aether could answer, Paimon in her arms spoke up first, "No, no! It was already afternoon when we came out of Dragonspine. Once we reached the Adventurer's Camp at the foot of the mountain, Aether couldn't wait to bring me to see you.

Nana, you really wronged us, you know. We were so worried about you and missed you so much on the way, but the person we needed to find was living in seclusion in Dragonspine. It was full of vast, white snow everywhere, and we got lost for a long time."

"Right!" Aether nodded quickly, seizing the chance to defend himself, "You know we can use Teleport Waypoints. In theory, we can cover thousands of miles in an instant! My going out is no different from an ordinary person going for a stroll!

I intended to come back as soon as I found the person; maybe you wouldn't have even woken up yet. Who knew the magnetic field in Dragonspine would be so strange? Paimon and I were lost there for days and couldn't find our way out!"

"Ah..." Pei Nana was startled, unable to help but feel anxious and frightened for them, while also feeling a bit guilty for suspecting them. She secretly glanced up at Aether. The Traveler was deliberately putting on a 'the baby is wronged but the baby won't say it' look.

And honestly, combined with the bright red mark he had pinched on himself, he really did look miserable, like a little puppy that had been kicked for no reason.