I Just Want to be a Throwaway Character - Chapter 32

Chapter 32: A Visit from the Princess

Ji Wan rubbed her forehead, a slight headache from the official documents in her hands. The demons’ literacy was a recent addition, thanks to her training program. The handwriting was beyond words, and every day she had to spend a lot of energy just to decipher it.

“Report, young master. The Demon Beast Princess has arrived,” a demon maid reported.

“Understood. Have her come here,” Ji Wan said, her eyes still on the documents. A moment later, she looked up. The three maids had already set up the gazebo in the middle of the courtyard. Ji Wan stood up, adjusted her robes, and walked toward the stone table.

Her long red dress accentuated her delicate beauty, and her dark hair was simply tied back, giving her a unique, seductive elegance amidst her otherwise pure and calm demeanor. To be honest, Ji Wan really didn’t want to deal with this Demon Beast Princess. She didn’t know her, but her father insisted she meet with her.

As Ji Wan walked toward the gazebo, a person was already sitting there. Looking at the slender, small figure and the distinct fox ears on her head, Ji Wan felt a strange sense of familiarity. Then, the girl turned around. She looked very young, perhaps only twelve or thirteen, but the enchanting fox eyes suggested a future of breathtaking beauty. The girl’s expression was excited, and her two ears twitched from side to side.

The moment Ji Wan appeared, the girl’s eyes lit up with recognition. She suddenly stood up and threw herself into Ji Wan’s arms, rubbing her waist against Ji Wan’s chest. Ji Wan staggered from the impact, tasting blood in her throat. The force of the collision was considerable. Seeing the little girl rush into her arms, Ji Wan was surprised. The collision nearly made both of them fall. The action reminded her of the little white fox she had raised years ago, who also loved to run into her arms.

Ji Wan instinctively stroked the girl’s fluffy head. The girl didn’t resist and gave a contented whimper, shaking her head.

“Um, can you let go of me for a moment?” Ji Wan said helplessly to the little girl who was clinging to her.

“No. I miss hugs. It’s been so long since you’ve hugged me,” the girl said, her eyes welling up with tears as she whimpered.

“Uh, I don’t think I know you,” Ji Wan said, feeling a little helpless. This kid seems normal, so why is she mistaking me for someone else?

“You… you don’t want me anymore? Waaahhh!” The little girl started to bawl.

Ji Wan’s head throbbed. She quickly comforted her, “Okay, okay, don’t cry. Tell me, and maybe I’ll remember.”

“Waaah, you used to love hugging me to sleep.” “You also loved stroking my head.” “You also gave me little jerky treats.” …

The little girl spouted everything she could remember, then stared at Ji Wan with hopeful eyes. Ji Wan’s mind went blank. This description, this voice. She vaguely remembered the little fox being able to talk, but since it didn’t seem very smart when she was raising it, she had forgotten.

“Are you… the little fox?” Ji Wan asked, unsure.

“You finally remember me!” Ji Wu Shuang said happily, jumping up to hug Ji Wan’s neck tightly.

Oh, my old back. Ji Wan was crying on the inside, but she maintained her smile. “Good girl, get down first,” she said through gritted teeth.

“No,” the little fox whined.

Unable to stand it, Ji Wan gave her a gentle smack on the head. The little fox cried out, covering her head in pain as she hopped down. “You hit me again,” she accused.

Ji Wan casually blew on her knuckles and sat down on the stone chair. A maid quickly came and poured her a cup of tea. Ji Wan took the cup and gently blew on it. Seeing the little girl pouting, she picked up a pastry from the table and held it out. “Come here.”

The next second, Ji Wu Shuang was sitting on the chair next to Ji Wan, happily eating from the plate of pastries. Only when the plate was nearly empty did Ji Wan begin her questioning.

“Are you the Demon Beast Princess, Ji Wu Shuang?”

“Mmm,” Ji Wu Shuang mumbled, her mouth full of pastries, nodding her head.

Ji Wan looked at her with slight disgust. Who did she learn to eat from? Can’t she be a little more elegant, like me? The Demon Queen later expressed her own fury. My little darling went to play for a few years and came back with these eating habits. Who the heck taught her this?! Of course, Ji Wan knew nothing of the Demon Queen’s resentment.

She continued, “When did you go back to the Demon Realm? Was it that time I couldn’t find you?”

Ji Wu Shuang nodded, then shook her head, her mouth too full to speak. Ji Wan handed her a cup of tea. “Eat slowly, no one’s going to steal it.” But Ji Wu Shuang immediately looked at Ji Wan warily, then at the pastry plate. Ji Wan felt a bit guilty. “I won’t steal it either.”

Finally swallowing her food, Ji Wu Shuang spoke. “Last time, I got hurt in a fight and couldn’t gather my demonic power, so I turned back into a little fox and lost my memory. When you couldn’t find me, my demonic power was recovering, and I found a place to fall asleep. I never left. I just slept for a long, long time. I woke up two years ago and remembered everything. I went back to look for you but couldn’t find you, so I returned to the Demon Realm. Then someone told me you were in the Demon Realm. My mother showed me your portrait, and that’s how I found you.” As she spoke, she started to get sad, and tears dripped down her cheeks. “I looked for you for so long.”

When she had no memory, Ji Wan was the kindest to her. She fed her, bathed her, groomed her fur, and even let her sleep in her arms. It was the happiest time for the little fox, a time with no cultivation, no responsibilities, no… But one day, the gentle person she loved suddenly disappeared.

Ji Wan stroked her head softly. “It’s okay. I’m here now, aren’t I?” Ji Wu Shuang laid her head on Ji Wan’s lap, just like she used to. Ji Wan gently patted the little girl’s back, her expression tender. It was a beautiful, almost comically perfect scene of a caring mother and a filial child.

But Ji Wu Shuang soon broke the illusion. “If I marry you in the future, will you steal my jerky?” Ji Wu Shuang asked innocently, looking up at her.

Huh? What? Marry who? Ji Wan’s mind short-circuited. She pressed the little fox down onto the chair, her expression turning a little strange. “Listen to me and answer, no nonsense,” Ji Wan said with a headache. The little fox nodded blankly.

“Did you come to the Demon Realm not to reminisce, but to get into an arranged marriage with me?”

The little fox nodded, not understanding why Ji Wan was suddenly so agitated.

“Who arranged it? My father, the Demon Lord?” The little fox nodded again. To be honest, she didn’t know what an arranged marriage was. She just knew it meant she could be with Ji Wan forever, so she agreed.

Ji Wan was on the verge of tears. Even though she was 22, this was too fast! And it was with a child who knew nothing, a child she had watched grow up!

Wait, this sounds familiar. Ji Wan pictured herself as an old-fashioned child bride. My goodness, a child bride?! Looking at Ji Wu Shuang, who was stuffing another pastry in her mouth with an innocent look, Ji Wan felt a pang of guilt. In the modern world, she’d be having tea with the police and be the subject of major headlines. Shocking! An adult woman lures an ignorant minor… for what?!

“Ahem, Wu Shuang,” Ji Wan said awkwardly, which earned her a strange, confused look from the little fox. “You’re still young. You can’t just agree to marry someone.”

“But I’m 120 years old. Even though we demons don’t become adults until 180, I’m definitely older than you,” Ji Wu Shuang said honestly.

Ji Wan took her first hit.

“Uh, you still don’t understand what a marriage contract is. You can’t get married yet,” Ji Wan tried to persuade her.

“But my mother said I’ll understand after I marry you,” Ji Wu Shuang tilted her head, looking at Ji Wan with her adorable eyes.

Ji Wan took her second hit.

“But you don’t have anyone you like yet, and you might later, so you can’t be in a marriage contract right now,” Ji Wan tried to find a loophole.

Ji Wu Shuang pondered for a moment. Ji Wan felt a surge of hope, thinking she was getting through to her.

“But I like you,” the little girl said innocently, her eyes pure.

Ji Wan was speechless. She took her third hit.

“I can’t get pregnant,” Ji Wan said, biting the bullet. The silence was deafening. Ji Wu Shuang looked at Ji Wan in shock. Ji Wan thought she had finally won.

But Ji Wu Shuang quickly smiled and said, “I thought it was something serious! Don’t worry, our demon beast race has an easy time with pregnancy. If my mother hadn’t felt bad for my father, I would have so many siblings. So don’t worry, I’ll give birth.”

Ji Wu Shuang’s words were the most practical and innocent in the world. To be honest, Ji Wan was a little touched. But you’re just a little kid!

Ji Wan had failed. She had no more cards to play. She decided she couldn’t convince the little fox. She would find her father.

The Final Wish

In the study, the Demon Lord was looking at a war map. Hearing a familiar footstep, he looked up, his expression softening. Just as he expected, Ji Wan’s voice came before she did. “Father!”

“What is it, my dear daughter?” the Demon Lord asked, putting down the map and looking at his anxious child.

“What’s going on? Why did you set me up for an arranged marriage?” Ji Wan’s voice was filled with a hint of a whine.

“Isn’t it good?” the Demon Lord chuckled, picking up a teacup and taking a sip.

“No, it’s not! The little fox is someone I raised!” Ji Wan said, slamming her hand on the table.

“Oh? Then it’s even better. You already know each other,” the Demon Lord said calmly.

“No! I will not marry the little fox!” Ji Wan declared.

“Then who do you like?” the Demon Lord asked, a gentle teasing note in his voice.

“I…” Ji Wan’s face flushed, and Lin Morou’s face flashed in her mind. “No one. But I can’t be with the little fox.”

Ji Wan’s shame and anger grew. The Demon Lord’s expression became serious. “Wanwan, be a good girl. Listen to me this time. Your father would never hurt you.” The room fell silent. Ji Wan stared intently at her father.

“Father, are you trying to entrust me to the Demon Beast Princess so you can face this war alone?” Ji Wan’s eyes were sharp, and her voice was filled with accusation.

“Wu Shuang is a good child. Although she is young, she is responsible. The entire Demon Beast Realm will protect you.” The Demon Lord turned his back to Ji Wan, unable to face her questioning eyes.

“And what about you? Are you planning to face this war by yourself?” Ji Wan’s voice broke, the original host’s emotions rushing out and overwhelming her.

The Demon Lord was silent. He let out a helpless sigh. His daughter had indeed guessed his plan. Ji Wan suddenly felt a burning hatred for her own helplessness. She couldn’t change the plot’s ending. She could only watch as her kind and loving father walked toward his destruction. She couldn’t convince herself to be indifferent.

The Demon Lord walked toward Ji Wan, wiping away her tears. “This is the last time you will listen to your father. I don’t have much time left. Your mother has been waiting for me for a long time.” His voice was filled with a sense of relief. “Just grant me this one last wish, okay?” Perhaps death was his only release.

After a long time, Ji Wan choked out a single word. “Okay.” She threw herself into her father’s arms, crying like a child.