Chapter 1604: The Cold in Her Eyes ( 1604 )

Meanwhile.

Armand Island Dock.

"Liana!!!"

Qamara and Enania rushed down the gangplank, Enania holding her wide-brimmed sun hat with both hands to keep it from flying off. They ran toward Liana, who stood at a distance with Gloria and Lyzia behind her. Liana watched them come, a calm, warm smile on her face.

They threw themselves at her, hugging her from both sides.

"Liana~ Liana~ We missed you!"

Qamara glanced at Gloria, still hugging Liana tight.

"Oh, hello cousin~"

Gloria shook her head and let out a quiet exhale.

"Mm."

Behind Liana, Lyzia puffed her cheek and grumbled under her breath.

"I’m here too, you know."

Qamara and Enania both narrowed their eyes toward her.

"Oh, hush, little sister. You’ve only been gone a week."

Lyzia’s cheeks flushed red. She hissed at them, her voice rising in protest.

"It’s more than a week!" She glanced sideways at Gloria. "Umm... how many days have I already stayed in Armand?"

Gloria shrugged. "Don’t know. We don’t count."

Lyzia puffed her cheek and huffed, crossing her arms.

Liana smiled and looked at both Qamara and Enania.

"I’m glad to see you both healthy. You look well. Both of you."

Qamara smiled and tilted her head, her eyes fixed on Liana’s face. She studied her closely, tracing the delicate line of her jaw, the soft curve of her cheek, her beautiful, natural full pink lips, the graceful point of her ear. Her gaze lingered, sharp and appraising.

Liana narrowed her eyes, her brow furrowing slightly. "What?"

Qamara leaned closer, her face inches from Liana’s. Her hand reached out and gently caressed Liana’s hand, her fingers slow and deliberate.

Liana’s expression shifted, her lips pressing thin. She swatted Qamara’s hand away and took a step back.

"Don’t tell me, Qamara... You have a thing for girls now?"

Qamara puffed her cheek and hissed. "No!"

She rolled her eyes, crossing her arms.

"The last time we met was months ago. When you and Gloria came back to the Elven Nation and stayed for a few days. You didn’t look like this back then."

She paused, her eyes sweeping over Liana again.

"Your skin. It’s... glowing. Softer. Brighter. Even your lips look different. Fuller. Pinker." She paused, tilting her head. "Don’t tell me... you’re pregnant?"

Liana pinched the bridge of her nose and let out a long, weary exhale.

"Don’t joke like that. I’m not pregnant." She dropped her hand and shook her head. "And none of my co-wives are going to be pregnant before marriage."

"Really?"

Enania glanced at Liana, her eyes drifting over her sister’s figure. Liana’s dress draped elegantly over her curves, the silk flowing over her hips, her smooth hands resting gracefully at her sides. Her skin carried a soft, luminous glow.

"What’s the secret? I want to know too."

Liana rolled her eyes.

"Ask Gloria."

Gloria glanced over at them. She deliberately shifted her shoulders, letting her huge breasts bounce gently beneath the silk of her elven dress, then nudged her glasses up her nose with one finger. A slow smirk spread across her lips.

"It’s a secret~"

She tilted her head.

"And it has nothing to do with fruit, or food, or exercise. Though training does help a little~"

Qamara stared at Gloria’s breasts as they swayed with every small movement. Her eyes narrowed, her lips pursing.

"Not fair. Not only are you both keeping the secret about how you got more beautiful... but you’re both glowing. Even when I know elves stay youthful, we don’t glow like you do."

Enania pursed her lips. "Just tell us already!"

Liana smiled slightly.

"If you really want to know the secret... just get married."

She turned toward Qamara.

"How long are you going to make your fiancé wait? I’m sure Kieran won’t be able to wait too long. Even if you’re both elves and have centuries ahead of you."

Liana smiled, her expression softening.

"I might have only met him once, but he seemed like a good man. Patient. Kind. Devoted." She paused, her smile turning sly. "But even the most patient man has his limits. And with how beautiful he is, I’m sure he has a few admirers of his own~"

Qamara bit her lower lip, frustration flickering across her face.

"Don’t tell me you have eyes for Kieran?"

Liana’s expression shifted. The playful teasing faded from her face. Her eyes turned serious, calm, and sharp.

"Let me make one thing clear." Liana’s voice was quiet but firm. "I already have the perfect man in my life. Even if he’s human. Even if his life is shorter than mine. Even if the world tells me it won’t last. He is special to me. More special than anyone I have ever met. I gave him everything. My body. My time. My love. My loyalty. Everything I am, I gave to him. And my love for Javier will never change. Not now. Not ever. Not for anyone."

She took a step closer, her eyes narrowing.

"Never ever question my loyalty to him. Because if you do, I will not forgive it. Even if you are my blood sister."

Liana tilted her head slightly, her silver hair cascading over her shoulder. Her eyes, usually warm and calm, turned cold and sharp, carrying a weight that made the air around them feel heavier.

"Even if he wasn’t a genius. Even if he wasn’t royalty. Even if he was a poor man working on a farm from dawn until dusk, I would still love him. I would still choose him. Nothing in this world could change that."

Gloria let out a long, weary exhale. She shook her head and nudged her glasses up.

She moved between the serious Liana and the pale-faced Qamara, then turned and lifted both hands, palms out, in a slow calming gesture.

"Liana... calm down. She doesn’t mean that. You know Qamara. She speaks before she thinks. She didn’t mean to question your loyalty."

Liana kept staring at Qamara, her eyes still sharp, still cold.

Then she turned the moment she heard two children’s voices from a distance.

"Aunty Liana!!!"

Two of Azariah’s children came running down the gangplank, their arms open wide with excitement. Liana moved past Gloria and Qamara, gaining some distance, and crouched down low, arms open. The children ran into her embrace, hugging her tight, giggling softly against her shoulder.

Gloria let out another weary exhale and turned, glancing at Qamara and Enania. She nudged her glasses up.

"Next time... never mention anything about her loyalty to Young Master. Not in any way. Not even as a joke. Not even as a question."

She moved between them and stopped, her eyes fixed on Liana, who was smiling at the children.

"She would kill for him. She would burn the world down if it meant protecting him. Anyone who questions her devotion, anyone who stands in his way... she would end them. Without hesitation. Without regret. Without a second thought."

She paused.

"My advice to you both. Don’t ruin the mood of this vacation. And don’t test her patience again. Because I won’t always be there to stop her."

( End Of Chapter )