Chapter 386: Little firebirds
Yuel looked at Vincent with undisguised exasperation.
At this point, he finally understood something.
Any beast who played politics had a dirty heart.
To avoid giving him those fleets, Vincent had deliberately said those things even after guessing that Rory was sitting right beside Vangar.
Rory would not think too deeply about it.
To her, it would sound like Vincent was simply trying to bargain with Vangar for a few fleets.
But Vangar would absolutely understand what Vincent really meant.
He would know exactly who those fleets were being requested for.
Yuel sighed and finally answered.
"Rory comes from a place called Blue Star. As for Nix, he added Rory to our private group chat. She doesn’t want anyone to know about it, so just pretend you never heard this."
Vincent had already guessed most of the first answer while questioning Yuel earlier.
Now he simply had confirmation.
The second answer, however, made him want to strangle Nix.
After that, the conversation ended.
Yuel and Vincent soon returned to the lounge.
The others were gone.
Only Vangar remained, sitting alone on the sofa.
Vincent walked over.
"Where’s Rory?"
Vangar pointed toward Vincent’s room.
"She’s waiting for you."
The moment Vincent heard that Rory was in his room, he immediately stood.
"Then I’ll head back first."
After he left, only Vangar and Yuel remained in the lounge.
Vangar lifted his head and studied Yuel carefully.
"What do you need fleets for?"
His voice was calm but probing.
"Give me one reason that will convince me."
Yuel met his gaze without flinching.
"Marshal, don’t you already know?"
"I don’t."
The corner of Vangar’s mouth curved into a faint smile.
"A commander asking for three fully staffed primary fleets."
His eyes narrowed.
"I thought perhaps you were planning to become Marshal."
The remark was anything but friendly.
Authority and warning laced every word.
It felt as though one wrong answer would immediately trigger a storm.
"Nothing as dramatic as that."
Yuel remained completely unbothered.
He calmly crossed the room, pulled out the chair opposite Vangar, and sat down.
A small smile touched his lips.
"I simply want to slaughter a few disobedient beasts."
Besides, he had never asked for three fleets.
He only wanted one.
It was Vincent who had attempted to pocket two additional fleets for himself.
Vangar let out a cold laugh.
"A few disobedient beasts?"
Yuel made it sound so casual.
Why not mention exactly which beasts he intended to kill?
Any one of them falling would shake the Empire to its foundations.
This man’s ambitions were growing larger and larger.
Vangar looked at him seriously.
"It seems the position of First Commander is no longer enough to satisfy you."
Meanwhile, Vincent returned to his room.
The moment he stepped inside, he saw Rory lying on the bed with her eyes closed.
She looked as though she had fallen asleep.
Quietly, he removed his coat and walked over.
Then he gently pulled the blanket up over her shoulders.
"You’re back sooner than I expected."
Rory opened her eyes and immediately wrapped her arms around his.
"Have you already figured out how you’re going to explain yourself?"
Vincent sat down beside her and carefully brushed a loose strand of hair behind her ear.
His movements were gentle and affectionate.
"What kind of explanation would make you happy, Rory?"
Rory narrowed her eyes.
"Where did you go just now?"
"The observation lounge."
Vincent answered smoothly.
"I sat there for a while with Yuel and Lian and watched the scenery outside."
Just watched the scenery?
Rory was not convinced.
Every one of them was scheming enough to make a sieve look solid.
She released his arm, yawned softly, and scooted farther toward the inside of the bed.
"There is still some time before dinner."
Her eyelids were already growing heavy.
"Stay here and sleep with me for a little while."
Vincent’s eyes softened instantly.
Without hesitation, he lay down beside her and pulled her gently into his arms.
The familiar warmth settled between them.
For the moment, all the schemes, secrets, and calculations outside the room seemed very far away.
Only the two of them remained.
"I thought you’d ask what we were talking about."
Nestled comfortably in Vincent’s arms, Rory closed her eyes. Her voice was soft with drowsiness.
"I can already guess. It was definitely something related to me."
She shifted slightly, finding an even more comfortable position against his chest.
"And no matter what you discussed, it was probably for my sake."
A faint smile curved her lips.
"Whether I ask or not, you’re all going to do whatever you’ve decided to do anyway. So why should I bother asking?"
As she spoke, she gently rubbed her cheek against his chest.
"Managing everything is exhausting."
Rory had never considered herself someone suited for leadership.
Nor was she arrogant enough to think she could outmaneuver people like Vincent and Yuel.
She knew perfectly well that she couldn’t.
Besides, both men understood exactly where her boundaries lay.
Whatever they wanted to do, they would do it.
She trusted them.
She didn’t need to interfere.
She didn’t need to ask.
If she ever wanted to know, she would ask.
If she didn’t, then she wouldn’t.
Hearing those words, Vincent’s arms tightened around her.
Warmth flooded his chest, accompanied by a tenderness so profound it almost hurt.
His Rory was always like this––so understanding that it made his heart ache.
Lowering his head, he pressed a gentle kiss to her smooth forehead.
One hand settled protectively over her flat stomach through the soft fabric of her clothes.
The warmth of his palm was steady and reassuring.
"Go to sleep."
His voice was low and affectionate.
"I’ll watch over you."
"Mhm."
Rory’s response was sleepy.
Then something suddenly occurred to her.
"Vincent, I just remembered something."
"Lian said firebirds hatch from eggs."
She opened one eye and looked up at him.
"How many eggs am I going to lay?"
Earlier, Lian had explained that all he could currently determine was that the child carried firebird bloodline traits.
It was still too early to tell how many eggs there would be.
Although he had also mentioned that Vincent had recently broken through to Rank Thirteen.
Because of that, there would most likely only be a single egg.
Vincent couldn’t help laughing.
"Rory, the higher a beastkin’s Rank becomes, the more difficult it is to have offspring."
He gently stroked her hair.
"This pregnancy will most likely result in only one child."
His answer was almost identical to Lian’s.
Rory sighed dramatically.
"That’s such a shame."
Her eyes sparkled mischievously.
"I wanted to give you lots of babies."
Vincent immediately sensed danger.
Rory continued happily.
"I really wanted to see you running around in complete chaos while trying to take care of them."
The image instantly surfaced in her mind: Holding one baby while another escaped. Chasing one child while two more ran off in opposite directions.
The thought of Vincent surrounded by tiny firebirds climbing all over him made her want to laugh.
The smile on her face widened.
Meanwhile, Vincent had gone completely rigid.
"Rory."
His expression became unusually serious.
"Please don’t."
One child was perfect.
Any more than that and he genuinely might lose his mind.
The mere thought of an entire bed covered in tiny firebirds flapping around uncontrollably was enough to give him a headache.
Then, after a brief pause, a wicked gleam appeared in his eyes.
"Actually, that’s not a bad idea."
Rory narrowed her eyes suspiciously.
"But I’m not the right candidate."
His smile grew brighter.
"I think Xarion would be much more suitable."
"Just look at him."
"He spends every day looking half dead."
"If he had several children running around, it might finally bring him back to life."
Rory stared at him.
This man was terrible.
He didn’t want a house full of babies himself, so now he was trying to drag Xarion down with him.
Seeing her remain silent, Vincent continued enthusiastically.
"If Xarion isn’t suitable, then Nix would be perfect."
"Nix is so innocent and kind."
His expression remained completely sincere.
"I’m sure his children would be just like him."
"Kind children like that should come in large numbers."
Rory nearly laughed out loud.
Yet Vincent wasn’t finished.
"Or Vangar."
"He adores children."
His smile deepened.
"Imagine an entire bed full of little tiger cubs."
"He’d be so happy he’d lose his mind."
At that point, Rory completely lost any desire to sleep.
Lifting her head from his chest, she looked directly into his eyes.
She was trying very hard not to laugh.
"I don’t want to watch them lose their minds."
A grin spread across her face.
"I want to watch you lose yours."
Vincent froze.
Instantly.
The image appeared in both their minds.
A room filled with tiny firebirds.
A bed covered in fluffy little hatchlings.
Dozens of chirping babies flying everywhere.
And Vincent standing in the middle of the disaster with the hollow expression of a man who had completely given up on life.
The scene was so vivid that Rory finally burst out laughing.
"Rory..."
Vincent looked at her pitifully.
For perhaps the first time in his life, the future ruler of the Firebird Clan looked utterly helpless.
"If there were really that many children..."
He closed his eyes briefly.
"...I would absolutely lose my mind."
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