Shin clearly wasn't convinced. "We're on our honeymoon. Stop thinking about other things and unnecessary people."
Yeri nodded rather half-heartedly, but soon her attention shifted to the breathtaking view beneath their private plane.
When they finally landed, her eyes wandered everywhere in amazement.
"Do you like it?"
Yeri nodded absentmindedly.
It was an island with crystal-clear blue waters and pristine white sand, exactly what one would expect from a tropical paradise. However, what shocked her most was the lush scenery surrounding it.
"Are those autumn trees? It's so hot here, though. How can there be autumn trees?"
Shin wrapped his arms around her from behind. "Silly. How could there be autumn trees on a tropical island? Guess again."
Apart from the striking red, yellow, and orange foliage, the island was filled with all kinds of flowers, particularly roses. A massive villa stood at its centre, with a beautifully maintained garden stretching out behind it.
Yeri could immediately tell that this wasn't something that had been created in a matter of days, weeks, or even months.
Upon taking a closer look, Yeri gradually realised that the villa wasn't merely peculiar. It was also strangely familiar.
It resembled a replica of the Demon Palace, complete with its surrounding grounds and even the Forbidden Crimson Forest.
Of course, it couldn't perfectly recreate the palace in her memories. The demon palace walls had been made of a rare gem resembling black diamonds, and its immense size could easily have covered an entire town. Yet, somehow, a part of that Demon Realm palace now stood right before her.
"A black palace on a tropical island..." Yeri muttered.
"You don't like it?" Shin asked.
Yeri shook her head, laughing softly. "No, I love it. But whoever built this must have thought you were the most unhinged client they'd ever encountered."
Not to mention, the architectural style was incredibly unique. It wasn't quite medieval or Victorian, but possessed a distinct character of its own.
Shin shrugged. "As long as you like it."
In fact, the architectural firm had been so impressed with the design that they even asked to sign a contract to acquire the design patent. Shin had refused, however.
Money was the least of his concerns. As a present for Yeri, he wanted this place to remain one of a kind, the only one of its kind in the world.
Several people greeted them as Shin introduced them as the island's staff.
"Take a look around. If there's anything you don't like or anything you'd like to change, just tell me," Shin said.
Yeri immediately headed towards the back garden, where the Crimson Forest was supposed to be. Although it wasn't nearly as dense or expansive as the original forest, the resemblance was still astonishing.
"These... aren't ordinary trees from this realm. How did you... I mean, are they from the Demon Realm?" she asked, turning towards Shin.
Shin smiled meaningfully, recalling that little abomination, Xati. Since the boy had chosen to remain in that realm, he might as well put him to some use.
"I bought decades-old trees from different sources and had them replanted here," Shin explained. "As for how I managed to turn their leaves red, who else here has the ability to do that?"
Yeri "..."
Only she could do that. Not even the demons of the Demon Realm possessed the same ability, for one simple reason: the blood of naturally born demons was gold in colour.
"I don't remember doing any of this."
"Hmm, but someone managed to imitate you." Shin reached out and touched one of the trees. "Someone who shares your essence."
Yeri stared at him in astonishment. "Xati?"
But that was impossible. Xati didn't have her blood.
"You know how obsessed he is with you. I wouldn't be surprised if he started a fan club or even founded a cult in your name. It's simply an ability he learned to use, combined with the forbidden magic books he stole."
Yeri searched her memories and recalled that Xati had often been punished by the demon elders and mages for sneaking into forbidden areas. He had always been fond of meddling with forbidden scrolls and whatever magical books he could get his hands on.
"Do you remember when I used to practise my sword aura here?" Shin pointed towards an open space in front of a massive tree, its dense network of aerial roots hanging down like a curtain. He then gestured towards a stone chair nearby. "You would sit over there and watch me, or spend your time painting."
Yeri listened as Shin grew increasingly animated, recalling their days in the Demon Realm.
Perhaps this was one of the rare moments when he spoke so much, his voice filled with enthusiasm and nostalgia as he revisited those memories.
Suddenly, Yeri felt a pang of guilt and bitterness. Although she retained her memories, she had been devoid of emotions back then.
She couldn't emotionally connect with those memories, and listening to Shin recount them felt almost as though he were talking about a stranger.
"What's the matter?" Shin asked, approaching her when he sensed her silence.
"I'm sorry I took everything you did for granted back then," Yeri said, her eyes growing slightly moist. "I honestly don't remember what I was thinking whenever we were together... Perhaps I was always thinking of ways to anger you or scheming to ruin your day?"
Shin pulled her into a tight embrace, breathing in her familiar scent.
Indeed, the Yeri he had known as Empress Jewel had been cheerful, always smiling and seemingly innocent. Yet, underneath it was someone who could anger him to the point where he had wanted to kill her on countless occasions.
"I don't mean to make you remember how horrible you were," Shin murmured. "I just want you to know that, to me, those will always be treasured moments because you were part of them."
Yeri felt her heart gave a sudden lurch.
Who wouldn't feel happy hearing the person they loved speak so fondly of their shared memories?
"If that's the case, then I won't dwell on them from Jewel's perspective anymore. I'll cherish them as the me I am now," she said.
Shin couldn't have been happier thinking his purpose in going to that realm had finally been fulfilled.
All he had ever wanted was to spend time with her, just the two of them, sharing moments together, no matter how uneventful, random, or ordinary they might be.
He cupped her face and leaned closer, about to kiss her, when a loud, childish voice suddenly interrupted them.
"Empress Mother! How do you like this place? Are you surprised? Doesn't it remind you of the Forbidden Forest where we used to live?!"
Shin's expression changed in an instant. A vein throbbed on his forehead as he prepared to send the little intruder into oblivion.
Yeri awkwardly slipped out of Shin's embrace and turned towards the unexpected visitor.
"Xati?"
"Perfect timing. There are only a few humans here, so I can send you back to the Demon Realm right away," Shin said, grabbing Xati by the collar.
With the key no longer in his possession, Xati was terrified. He kicked his little legs in protest, dangling helplessly from Shin's grip as he screamed.
"All right, let's talk this out," Yeri intervened, stopping the two.
"I made these trees! Of course I'll come here! Or is it that you want to take all the credit and don't want me around?!" Xati shouted.
"Shut up! Don't you understand what a honeymoon is? There are plenty of other opportunities for you to talk to her, but you just have to come here and play the third wheel! Do you really think I don't know you're doing this on purpose?" Shin gritted out.
"Honeymoon? What's that? You're just using human nonsense as an excuse to hide Empress Mother from me," Xati sneered.
"How did you get here?" Yeri interrupted.
Xati proudly lifted his chin. It turned out that he had taken advantage of Elder Madam Keir's authority and booked a chartered flight to the island, supposedly under her instructions.
Yeri sighed. "Xati, listen to me. Your father didn't take credit for your work. In fact, he proudly told me that you made these trees yourself. I'm genuinely surprised, and I'm proud of you. I can see that you haven't neglected your cultivation."
Xati froze, then glanced suspiciously at Shin before muttering to himself, "It must be because he stole my red bonsai tree that he's finally developed a little conscience. Anyway, who would trust a thief?"
Yeri fell silent.
Shin had had enough. He turned away and went to make a phone call.
That afternoon, when Xati was about to ask the staff to move his belongings into one of the guest rooms, a team of highly trained Keir family security personnel arrived and promptly bundled him back to the capital.
Yeri could only watch as Xati was carried away, screaming like an angry little cub. After all, this was their honeymoon.
"Uhm... Maybe he could stay somewhere else on the island? We could have some of the staff look after him?"
Shin gave her a displeased look. "Do you think he'd stay out of our sight even then?"
Yeri couldn't assure him.
"Besides, he's now the heir apparent of the family. If he wants to remain in this realm, he'll have to live according to the expectations and rules that come with his position," Shin said.
Did Xati think he could continue doing nothing, wandering around as he pleased and remaining completely unconcerned with his responsibilities?
Well, from now on, he would make sure Xati wouldn't even have time to throw a tantrum.
"I'm sure he wouldn't mind playing the tank, drawing the old hag's aggro along with those other geezers, all for your sake," Shin said sinisterly.
Yeri frowned in disapproval, knowing he was referring to the clan elders. But Shin merely shrugged.
"They'll have to train and educate him anyway. Since he's such a genius, why not start his lessons right away?"
Meanwhile, Xati, who was now literally tied up inside the jet, suddenly felt a shiver run down his spine.
Could it be that he'd caught some human flu simply because his abilities were sealed?
Nah, impossible!
He, the great Demon Prince, refused to believe such nonsense.