As soon as they entered, her mother, the Empress, personally took the fish, her face full of curiosity. "Oh? Is this Heavenly Mountain Snow Fish? Is it for Little Shrimp?"
Damian nodded.
"Even Doctor Zhong said so! He said this fish is especially good for Little Shrimp's recovery, and you actually brought it!" Empress Clarissa happily handed the fish to a palace maid to take to the Imperial Kitchen.
Then she pulled Damian to sit down and warmly asked, "Last time you came in such a hurry, I didn't get to ask—what's your name?"
"Mother!" Lily Bai rushed into the hall. "Um, I have something to do—I need to go!"
"Go where?" Empress Clarissa grabbed her and pulled her back. "What is it this time?"
"...It's still about my master—"
"You're lying! Last time I spoke to your master, he said you left because of Little Shrimp and never went back. He didn't give you any new tasks at all."
"Uh..."
"Do you think I don't know you? You're just trying to avoid my marriage talk, aren't you?"
"Huh?" Empress Clarissa blinked, surprised. "Who gave you that name?"
"I did," Damian replied, straight-faced.
Clarissa laughed, shaking her head. "I knew it! Spirit Beasts all worship the Demon Emperor, everyone wants to call themselves Damian! You know, I’ve met ones named Damian Number Two, Three, Four!"
Damian raised an eyebrow. "Why not Number One?"
"Number One is that villain Damian himself! Listen, he’s awful—and ugly! Blue face, fangs, eight legs! You’re way too handsome to use that name!" Clarissa declared dramatically.
Lily started sweating. "Mother..."
"Let me give you a name! Since you’re Lily’s Spirit Beast, you should take our family name—Bai. How about... Bai Little Crab! That way, you’ll match Little Fish and Little Shrimp, and you’ll be part of the family!" Clarissa announced with a big grin.
Damian paused, then replied dryly, "I think I’ll stick with Damian Number Five."
"You don’t like Little Crab? But the grandmaster says all White Clan kids—" Clarissa protested, still trying to convince him.
"Mother!" Lily grabbed her and dragged her away. "Didn’t you say the crown princes of Vermilion and Great Yue both proposed to me? Tell me about them—what are those two like..."
She practically hauled Empress Clarissa off by force.
Empress Clarissa had always struggled with childbirth.
When Lily was born, it was a difficult labor—mother and daughter nearly died.
Ever since then, Clarissa cherished Lily even more, fiercely protective and determined to see her happy.
So whenever anyone brought up marriage, Clarissa would get all worked up, wanting only the very best for her daughter.
Lily knew this all too well, and every time her mother started talking about her future, she felt both loved and a little trapped.
But today, with Damian sitting awkwardly at the table, all the usual family chaos felt even more intense.
Clarissa, undeterred, kept glancing at Damian, clearly sizing him up as a future son-in-law, while Lily just wanted to crawl under the table and disappear.
Damian, for his part, maintained his cool, but even he seemed a little rattled by Clarissa’s enthusiasm.
The whole room buzzed with laughter, teasing, and the kind of wild energy only the White Clan could muster.
And for just a moment, with soup simmering and snow fish on the menu, Lily almost forgot about all the outside chaos—just enjoying being home.
But deep down, she knew that soon, she’d have to face the world again—danger, secrets, and all.
For now, though, she could let herself laugh, surrounded by family, even if her ‘Spirit Beast’ was secretly the Demon Emperor himself.