Chapter 123: Chapter 123: "I Forgive Your Infidelity.
’I’m finally seeing her again.’
’This disobedient little rabbit.’
Since her escape, the Duke had only been able to look at old photographs of her. The spirit letters his servants delivered daily chronicled her every move in the Moon Rising Empire.
The news about the little female rabbit had never stopped.
But today was the first time he was seeing her again, truly and clearly.
In the video, she could be seen sitting at the top of a wooden staircase under dim lighting.
The little female’s frail body was hidden beneath a soft nightgown. Her porcelain-white cheeks had an alluring sheen, like a ripe peach begging for a gentle bite.
The young girl sat up straighter for the video, her rabbit-like eyes holding a trace of anticipation. A cloyingly sweet smile touched her lightly pressed, cherry-red lips.
’I’m so excited.’
’I get to see Little Amon.’
The Duke stared at her, then slowly raised a finger and gestured lightly. The camera automatically panned to a bamboo basket at his side.
In the video, Yu Zhizhi saw a small, snow-colored snake, fast asleep.
It seemed to have grown only a tiny bit. Its slender body was curled up on a soft cushion, pure white all over. It looked completely different from other snakes and was exceptionally cute.
It was sleeping soundly, completely unaware that it had been brought to another place.
Yu Zhizhi’s mood always lifted whenever she saw the Little White Snake.
She cupped her cheeks with both hands, a grin on her face. Watching the sleeping Little Amon in the video, she couldn’t help but wonder what he would look like when he grew up.
In the Beast World, young beasts only began to slowly transform into their human forms at around three years old.
Before that, they would remain in their Beast Form.
Little snakes and Wolf Wolfs alike, they all had the small appearances of young beasts.
The Duke took a drag from his pipe.
He stared intently at the little female rabbit. Her eyes crinkled into crescents, and even her rabbit ears twitched happily a couple of times.
’It made him dazed for a moment.’
The hand holding the pipe began to itch.
’I really want to...’
’...rub her rabbit ears.’
’Just like before, to pull her into my arms and stroke her gently.’
Realizing his own "longing" for her, a suffocating feeling welled up in his chest. He was still angry, thinking about her time in the Moon Rising Empire, especially how she had taken it upon herself to raise a very beautiful Mermaid.
His golden, vertical pupils darkened. He tapped the ash from his pipe and spoke in a low, somber voice, "Are you happy now?"
Without even thinking, Yu Zhizhi nodded lightly. "I’m happy~"
Hearing her unthinking reply, the Duke’s chest felt even tighter.
He knew, of course, that the little female had called as promised just to hear news about the cub.
Although the Duke could remain calm when facing any tricky political matter, his tone couldn’t help but turn a little sour now that he was dealing with this little rabbit.
"Are you happier now, or are you happier when you’re with the Mermaid?"
"Huh?"
Yu Zhizhi froze.
She probably hadn’t expected the Duke to ask such a question.
The Duke knew everything about her.
His Hidden Guards reported every last detail.
He knew exactly how much this little rabbit liked the Mermaid—
from her determined trip to the Lost Tower auction house, to finding the Mermaid’s eyes for him, and even going on dates with the Mermaid.
In the end, she had taken a male favorite.
She had sent away the Wild Dog only to welcome a Mermaid.
’Sigh.’
The Duke sighed softly to himself. His fingers traced the embroidered pattern on the Luck Bag as he asked in a deep voice:
"You... you’ve been gone for so long. Have you ever thought of me?"
The man’s golden snake eyes stared intently at the stunned little female in the video. He clenched his jaw slightly, desperate to hear a certain answer.
Yu Zhizhi had been looking at the Snake Cub, but the camera suddenly swiveled back to the Duke. Just like that, their eyes met through the screen.
The oppressive aura coming from the great snake sent a numbing tingle down her spine. She couldn’t help but shrink back, only to realize that this was just a video call. The Duke was very, very far away.
"I..." Her voice trembled slightly.
The Duke watched her coldly. "Think carefully before you answer."
His voice carried an undisguised threat, as if she would never get another chance to hear about the Snake Cub if she gave him an answer he didn’t want to hear.
When the Duke was angry, he always terrified her.
Perhaps it was a fear rooted deep in her genes...
In the food chain, rabbits are prey for snakes. In ancient times, countless rabbits were eaten by snakes.
Yu Zhizhi replied softly, "I... I have..."
She had thought of him.
On very rare occasions.
Especially on the day she watched the Snake Clan’s live stream of the cub hatching. She had been secretly hoping to see the Duke on screen.
Unfortunately, he never appeared.
Having heard the answer he wanted, the oppressive aura around the Duke lessened somewhat. He lowered his gaze, brushing the ash from the rim of his Mysterious Orchid Pipe, his tone softening.
"In that case, I’ll forgive you this once."
’Even though it was an answer the little rabbit had been forced to give under duress—’
’—as far as he was concerned, it still counted.’
"Forgive me?" Yu Zhizhi was confused. "For what?"
’Did I do something to displease the Duke again?’
But compared to their first call, the Duke’s mood today was definitely oppressive. ’Is he tired from being too busy with official duties?’
In the video, the Duke’s gaze returned to her face. He said, word by word:
"I forgive your infidelity."
Whether as a pet or a lover, from any perspective, she was completely unfit for the role.
The little rabbit had actually dared to keep a male favorite.
For the Duke, this was absolutely unacceptable.
A pet could not have a second master besides him, and a lover could not have a second male besides him.
The Duke’s partner must be unconditionally loyal to him.
But she had been so reckless.
Those written reports describing the little female rabbit’s interactions with the Mermaid were like a dagger to the heart with every word. He had considered abandoning her, leaving her in the Moon Rising Empire to fend for herself.
The situation was growing increasingly tense. Even if she were devoured whole by some other power, what would that have to do with him?
She was the one who had wanted to escape.
Everything was her own damn fault.
But from the moment he answered the little rabbit’s call today and heard her soft, sweet voice, the Duke still couldn’t control his covetous desire for her.
So, he had asked—
"Have you ever thought of me?"
As long as the little rabbit answered "I have," he was willing to forgive her for this one act of infidelity.
Yu Zhizhi was a little dazed by what she heard. She let out a soft "mmm" and seemed lost in thought.
When the Duke saw her "pretending to think," he knew this stupid rabbit hadn’t understood a thing.
’She really is disobedient.’
’I need to drag her back and train her for a few more years. Only then will she become considerate.’
’Sooner or later, her body and her heart will belong only to him.’
However, the Duke was in a very good mood now.
Probably because of her earlier answer.
A smile touched the corner of the Duke’s mouth, and some warmth returned to his golden, vertical pupils. Just as he was about to speak, he suddenly froze, his eyes turning cold in an instant.
His gaze traveled past the little rabbit, landing on the shadow that had appeared behind her.
Through the video, Yu Zhizhi noticed that the Duke’s expression wasn’t right.
’What is he looking at?’
Curious, Yu Zhizhi turned her head. And then she saw Yusen, leaning against the wall, coldly watching the video screen.
