Evan's POV
Evan slowly opened his eyes.
Morning light poured gently through the small window, painting soft golden lines across the wooden floor.
For a moment, everything was peaceful.
Too peaceful.
Evan lay silently in the bed, staring at the ceiling.
Last night's events replayed in his mind.
Lyra's crimson eyes.
The suffocating pressure outside the house.
The faint sounds of men collapsing in the darkness.
Even now, remembering it made his chest tighten.
That woman…
She was terrifying.
Evan slowly turned his head.
Lyra was sitting beside the window.
Sunlight poured over her figure as she quietly braided her long, dark hair.
Her expression was calm.
Gentle.
Almost lazy.
If Evan hadn't witnessed what happened last night, he would have believed she was nothing more than a devoted maid.
But now he knew the truth.
She was a monster.
A beautiful monster.
Lyra suddenly noticed his movement.
Her eyes brightened immediately.
"My prince~."
She stood up and walked toward the bed.
"You're awake."
Her voice was warm, just like always.
As if nothing unusual had happened during the night.
Evan blinked.
Did she really just wipe out a group of bandits and then casually sleep as if nothing happened?
Lyra gently lifted him from the bed.
"Did you sleep well~?" she asked softly.
Evan stared at her face.
Her eyes were normal again.
Deep black.
Calm.
Not a trace of the terrifying crimson glow remained.
Was that some kind of combat state?
A bloodline ability?
A cultivation technique?
Evan's mind began analyzing everything he saw.
If Lyra were this powerful…
Then the enemies that forced them to flee must be far worse.
Lyra walked toward the window while holding him.
Outside, the land stretched quietly toward the forest.
Nothing looked unusual.
But Evan knew better now.
This peaceful place was not safe.
Lyra suddenly spoke again.
"Some pests came during the night."
Evan blinked.
Her tone was completely casual.
"As expected, rumors about abandoned houses attract thieves."
She lightly brushed a strand of hair behind her ear.
"But don't worry."
Her voice softened.
"They won't come again."
Evan stared at her.
Yes.
He was absolutely certain they wouldn't.
Anyone who experienced that pressure would never return.
Lyra gently tapped his nose.
"You don't need to worry about such things, my prince."
Her smile returned.
"You just need to grow strong~."
Evan fell silent.
Grow strong…
That was exactly what he had been thinking.
Last night proved something important.
The world of cultivation was not peaceful.
Strength was the only thing that truly mattered.
Right now, he was completely helpless.
If Lyra wasn't here…
He wouldn't even survive a single night.
Evan looked down at his tiny hands.
Small.
Weak.
But inside this body was a second chance.
A new life.
And this time…
He refused to remain weak.
His eyes slowly narrowed.
If his Celestial Bloodline allowed him to cultivate even while sleeping…
Then he would take full advantage of it.
Step by step.
Day by day.
He would grow stronger.
Strong enough that one day—
Even the enemies chasing them would have to bow their heads.
Evan suddenly felt a gentle poke on his cheek.
He blinked.
Lyra was smiling at him.
"You look very serious for a baby."
Evan froze.
Did she notice something?
But Lyra simply laughed softly.
"It seems my prince is thinking about something important."
She lifted him slightly.
"Well then."
"Let's start the day properly."
Evan had a very bad feeling about what she meant.
Lyra picked up a familiar bottle from the nearby table.
"Breakfast time."
Evan stared at the bottle.
His grand determination to dominate the cultivation world…
Had been interrupted by milk again.
He sighed internally.
Fine.
Even great cultivators had to start somewhere.
◇ ◇ ◇
Later, Lyra carried him toward the back of the house.
Evan blinked sleepily at first.
Then he noticed something strange.
Steam.
Warm steam slowly drifted through the air from the next room.
Lyra pushed the wooden door open with her shoulder.
Inside was a small bathing room.
A wooden tub sat in the center, already filled with warm water. Thin curls of steam rose from its surface.
Evan froze.
Wait.
…Bath?
Lyra smiled proudly.
"My prince's first proper bath in our new home."
Evan immediately realized what was about to happen.
His mind—still that of a twenty-seven-year-old man—entered full panic mode.
Hold on.
Hold on.
Hold on.
I can bathe myself!
Unfortunately, his tiny infant body had absolutely no way of expressing that opinion.
Lyra gently placed him on a folded towel beside the tub.
She hummed happily as she rolled up her sleeves.
"You must stay clean and healthy while you grow," she said casually.
Evan stared at the ceiling.
This was humiliating.
In his previous life, he had lived twenty-seven years without anyone helping him bathe.
And now—
He had been reborn only to immediately lose all personal dignity.
Lyra dipped her hand into the water and tested the temperature.
"Perfect."
Evan braced himself.
A moment later—
Splash.
Warm water surrounded him.
Evan stiffened.
His brain short-circuited for a moment.
Lyra gently supported his back so he wouldn't slip.
"There we go," she said softly.
Evan stared blankly at the ceiling again.
This is happening.
This is actually happening.
Meanwhile, Lyra looked completely normal.
Calm.
Professional.
Like this was the most ordinary thing in the world.
Which, to be fair… it probably was.
She carefully poured warm water over his head.
Evan squeezed his eyes shut.
Water dripped down his face.
He flailed his tiny arms in mild protest.
Lyra chuckled.
"My prince seems energetic today."
Energetic?
That was one way to describe it.
Inside, Evan was having a full existential crisis.
I used to file taxes.
Now I'm being washed like a potato.
Lyra gently cleaned his tiny hands and feet.
Her movements were surprisingly careful for someone who could probably destroy a mountain.
"You must grow strong," she murmured.
"Strong and healthy."
Evan sighed internally.
At least the water was warm.
And… admittedly…
Kind of relaxing.
His tiny body slowly loosened.
Lyra noticed immediately.
"Oh?"
She smiled.
"My prince likes the bath."
Evan refused to acknowledge that statement.
A few minutes later, Lyra lifted him out of the tub and wrapped him in a large towel.
She gently dried his hair.
"There," she said proudly.
"All clean."
Evan looked like a small wrapped dumpling.
Lyra nodded in satisfaction.
"Now my prince is presentable again."
Evan stared up at her.
Honestly…
For someone who could casually crush bandits with cultivation pressure…
She seemed suspiciously happy about bath time.
Lyra carried him back toward the bedroom.
Sunlight was now filling the house.
The quiet morning felt peaceful.
But Evan knew better.
This peaceful life wouldn't last forever.
Still…
For now—
He supposed surviving bath time was victory enough.