Two months elapsed...

  "Tia, what are you engaged in?"

  "Ah! Master!" Tia abruptly concealed her hands behind her back, making it abundantly clear that she was attempting to hide something.

  "Let me take a look," Kenley said in a tone that brooked no argument.

  Tia was visibly reluctant.

  "Tia," Kenley seemed to have already surmised what was afoot.

  "Very well," Tia murmured timidly. Finally, she held up the object and presented it before her, allowing Kenley to examine it.

  It was a purple stone. Kenley didn't need to authenticate it to discern what it was.

  Kenley rubbed his forehead and exhaled a gentle sigh."Tia, I'm aware that you harbor misgivings about Normani, yet there's no necessity for such behavior. I cherish you deeply, and my affection for you shall remain unaltered regardless of her arrival."

  The purple stone in Tia's possession was a Violet Veined Prismatic Stone, the very same type of stone Kenley had discovered within the Crystal Nest previously. This stone was one of the favored crystals of the dragon lineage, and Normani held a particular fondness for it, frequently amassing similar stones.

  After all, dragons all share the common trait of being drawn to collecting objects that glisten, especially those imbued with magical energy.

  "Master, Tia isn't as you presume. Tia merely..." Tia blushed and lowered her head.

  Kenley drew Tia into his embrace, gently caressed her tresses, and spoke softly,"What would you like to dine on today? I'll prepare it for you."

  Tia suddenly raised her head."Tia will relish whatever master prepares."

  "It's quite all right. You can be more specific," Kenley smiled helplessly.

  "Then let's have grilled meat. Tia adores it."

  "Excellent!" Kenley clapped his hands lightly."We shall have grilled meat this evening."

  Two hours later

  "Wow! What on earth is that? It smells absolutely divine!" Just then, a pink-hued figure suddenly pushed its way onto the table.

  "Normani," Kenley snapped, calling her name irritably.

  "Master! Normani is here!" Normani nestled up beside Kenley with an air of docility, a sensation that often reminded Kenley of the pet dog he once owned.

  Gazing into Normani's eyes, she had been by his side continuously for the past two months. Even when he and Tia were asleep, she would insinuate herself into their space.

  To be candid, to onlookers, it might seem enviable to have two alluring women vying for his attention. However, what vexed Kenley was that Normani would often, without rhyme or reason, deposit an assortment of stones on the bed while they slept, rendering it exceedingly uncomfortable for both Tia and himself to lie down.

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  This was precisely the reason why Tia persistently hid Normani's stones...

  Kenley had broached this subject with Normani on more than one occasion, imploring her not to bring those shimmering stones to the bed during sleep. Yet, despite his numerous admonitions, she seemed to pay them no heed. Each time he was on the verge of asking her to sleep in another room, the sight of her large, sparkling eyes compelled him to hold his tongue.

  "Normani, be honest with me. Why do you possess knowledge of the codes?" This was already the tenth time Kenley had posed this query.

  The instant she heard Kenley's question, Normani would immediately sit upright and respond with remarkable docility,"Normani is a superbeing!"

  This time was no exception...

  "Normani is a superbeing."

  Kenley:"Then why are you a superbeing? Who transformed you? And who imparted those codes to you?"

  "I've no idea."

  So blunt and straightforward that Kenley felt his frustration mounting.

  She must surely know something, yet she steadfastly refused to disclose the truth. The most exasperating aspect was that she was exceptionally clingy to him. Each time he inquired as to why, she would invariably claim that he emanated a delightful fragrance that she adored.

  The scents that could endear a dragon to him, Kenley could only conceive of a few possibilities: 1. The aroma of parents; 2. Precious gems; 3. Gold; 4. Some form of magical crystal.

  "Master."

  Just then, Tia, attired in an apron, joined them at the table. Kenley offered a gentle smile."Tia."

  Kenley tenderly kissed Tia on the cheek.

  Normani's eyes lit up."Master! Normani desires a kiss from master too!" With that, she leaned towards Kenley.

  "Normani, sit still," Kenley firmly pressed Normani down.

  "Why not? Normani wants a kiss too," she pouted, leaning in towards Kenley's face.

  Just then, Tia sprang into action. Exuding an ominous aura, she forcefully plunged a fruit knife she held into the table.

  "Do you wish to engage in a bout with me?" Normani ceased her advance. She smiled faintly, seated herself, and fixed her gaze upon Tia's eyes.

  Confronted with the charged atmosphere before him, Kenley broke into a cold sweat."You two, compose yourselves."

  Upon hearing Kenley's words, Tia's expression softened somewhat, and she finally said,"Master, Tia will prepare some blanched vegetables for you."

  "Very well." As Kenley responded, he stole a glance at Normani. Observing that she was no longer in direct conflict with Tia, he heaved a sigh of relief.

  Tia grilled some mutton and then, using a fork, placed a piece of mutton in Kenley's bowl.

  Normani sniffed the air and then, without hesitation, seized a piece of meat with her hand and stuffed it onto the iron plate. She was even oblivious to the fact that her hand had made contact with the plate. This sight caused Kenley to break into a cold sweat and Tia's expression to darken.

  Tia sharply tapped Normani's hand with a fork."Normani, this is not the proper way to eat grilled meat. What distinguishes using your hand in such a manner from that of a barbarian?"

  "But it's so cumbersome, and it's not even hot. Master, employ Normani's flames. They're certain to be more intense than these charcoal embers." As she spoke, Normani opened her mouth, prepared to spew fire onto the iron plate.

  Kenley promptly reached out and covered Normani's mouth. Kenley was truly at a loss for words.

  Indeed, Normani was a Dragon Lady, and the temperature of the iron plate was as innocuous to her as warm bathwater. Evidently, it would take a considerable period for her to acclimate to life within human society.

  Kenley had inquired whether Normani was human or a dragon, and Normani professed not to know herself.

  Yet, based on various indications, Kenley harbored doubts that Normani had ever been human. Firstly, her behavior invariably reminded him of a young girl, and her mental state consistently gave him the impression of immaturity.

  However, whenever he delved into Normani's past in detail, she remained oblivious to the answers. When asked how she had come to be imprisoned by the Church of the Desecrated Dragon, she merely stated that those humans had promised her an abundance of beautiful stones, which had ultimately led her to choose to remain with them.

  Moreover, the members of the Church of the Desecrated Dragon seemed to hold Normani in high regard and would frequently administer various types of dragon blood to her, rendering Normani's body highly abnormal.

  Could it be that Normani had not originated from a human mutation? Kenley entertained such doubts, yet he lacked the evidence to substantiate them.