Chapter 24: Chapter 24: Giving Birth to an Eaglet
Ever since hearing that conversation in the drawing room, Dracula had been deliberately avoiding the little female.
He forced himself not to think about anything related to her...
As for the Imperial City of Varolan, the dust had settled.
It was time for him to leave.
Before he left, Dracula still couldn’t control himself and returned to the abandoned church.
The feelings he thought he could easily retract came pouring out the moment he saw the little female, surging into a disastrous flood.
’...She was right about everything.’
’The Cangshan Empire and the other Beast Clans share a feud of blood and vengeance. As a little female of the Rabbit Clan, she should despise me.’
’But why did she mate with me?’
’Was it to control me, or was it—’
Yu Zhizhi felt like she was about to suffocate. She sensed that Dracula was different tonight, and just as she was becoming desperately starved for air, the man finally let go.
She hastily sucked in a breath, only to have her lips sealed again the next second.
’...Could it be a male’s mating season?’
On the Beast World Planet, male Beastmen of different clans had mating seasons at different times. Whenever this period arrived, they would become extremely irritable and filled with lust.
Dracula hadn’t said a word all night.
Yu Zhizhi could only feel something hard and scorching hot.
She leaned forward, her hands bracing against the cold statue of a deity before her. When she lifted her head, she glimpsed his wolfish eyes staring intently at her.
A blush gradually spread across the little female’s fair cheeks.
"Dracula..." She trembled, trying to turn her head back.
But he covered her eyes from behind.
A kiss landed on her delicate back.
The air was filled with a sweet, moist fragrance, mixed with the strong scent of the male...
"Will you come with me?" he asked.
"I hate deception, and I loathe betrayal." Dracula’s voice was low and hoarse. He sat on the floor, holding the soft little female from the Rabbit Clan in his arms. "You don’t have to answer me right away, not before you’ve made your resolve."
"...Resolve?" Yu Zhizhi’s voice was slightly hoarse. The flush on her cheeks had yet to fade as she leaned back against Dracula’s chest, one of her rabbit ears drooping from exhaustion.
"—The resolve to offend the entire Valoran Empire."
Dracula chuckled softly.
’Forget it. It’s come to this. Why keep up the act?’
’All that talk about carrying my cub...’
’My body is naturally sterile. I only believed her because her act was so convincing.’
’In the little female’s heart, she’s been thinking about that wolf the whole time, hasn’t she.’
’Was she sent by the K family?’
’She’s so delicate and fragile, like a gust of wind could knock her over. What could she possibly do?’
’In any case, after tonight, they would have nothing more to do with each other.’
’A wave of mutations is breaking out on the Beast World Planet. This little rabbit has never even seen the world outside the Imperial City.’
’She grew up in the planet’s most temperate and nutritious plantation. Why would she ever want to leave?’
The things Dracula detested most were deception and betrayal.
But when it came to the little female, he found himself completely helpless.
Even though he believed she had been lying all along, he still couldn’t bring himself to rip out her heart.
Whenever he touched her, it was as if Dracula was in a constant state of arousal.
But in reality...
he didn’t have a mating season at all.
In all his long years, he had never felt desire for any female.
Even when controlled by his reproductive genes, he had no interest in mating with females.
This psychology, combined with his sterile body, doomed Dracula to a life without an eagle cub of his own.
And he didn’t care.
Other Beastmen of the Cangshan Empire could carry on their bloodlines.
His only mission was to restore his empire.
Yu Zhizhi was a little dazed.
Dracula had gotten up from behind her and draped his spacious black clerical robe over her.
"Is there anything else you want to say to me?" Dracula’s voice was flat, a stark contrast to the lust-filled tone from before.
"Next weekend..." Yu Zhizhi began slowly, "Are you still coming?"
"I’m not."
Dracula turned away indifferently. "I’ve grown tired of playing along with your act."
Hearing the sound of his footsteps fading into the distance behind her...
Yu Zhizhi clutched the black robe tighter around herself. Dracula’s scent still lingered on it.
’He said he’s "not coming back." Does that mean he doesn’t want the cub either?’
’What am I going to do with the Beast cub when it’s born...’
Yu Zhizhi grabbed her rabbit ears with both hands in frustration. She sat on the floor, head bowed, and let out a soft sigh.
’He must be disheartened because I could never give him a straight answer.’
’After all, Dracula had asked her several times if she would go with him.’
Yu Zhizhi couldn’t answer.
Because...
she had a mission to complete, too.
Only by completing the mission and reaching the max level could she leave this planet and return to her own world.
After resting for a long while, Yu Zhizhi left the church, still wrapped in his black robe.
Back in her room, she quickly fell asleep.
In a daze, she noticed a slight discomfort in her stomach.
Dawn was breaking.
She sat up, turned on the bedside lamp, and looked at her abdomen. It felt like something was flowing out...
"What’s happening to me?"
[System: "Don’t be nervous. You’re about to give birth to the cub. It’s two days earlier than the due date."]
The first time had been a "newbie bonus," so the System had automatically sped up the process and her body had felt nothing. This time, after being pregnant for nearly a month, there were subtle changes in her body.
Yu Zhizhi quickly took out the Painless Instant Birth Pill from her system inventory.
After she swallowed it, the discomfort in her body immediately vanished.
With the experience from the first time, she wasn’t nervous at all now.
She was all alone in the huge bedroom, and the soft bed was much more comfortable than the environment the first time around.
She propped up the pillows, leaned back against them, and waited quietly.
「One minute later.」
[System: "DING! Congratulations, Host, on successfully giving birth to a cub! You have received a reward of 300 points! For giving birth to an eagle cub (Rare), you have received an additional bonus of 200 points!"]
[System: "DING! Congratulations, Host, on successfully reaching Level 2! Multiple benefits in the Good Pregnancy Mall have been unlocked. The Host may exchange points for items at any time!"]
[System: "Friendly reminder: 1500 points are needed for the next level-up."]
Just like the first time, with the help of the "Painless Instant Birth Pill," giving birth was extremely fast.
Yu Zhizhi looked at the snow-white Beast Egg wrapped in the soft bedding. She could faintly make out the silhouette of the cub’s tiny wings.
The Beast Egg would need a period of incubation before the little eagle cub hatched from its shell one day.
Yu Zhizhi gently touched the eggshell with her hand. It was smooth and cool.
After a moment of thought, she immediately got out of bed, found a bamboo basket used for food, lined it with a pillow towel, and gently placed the Beast Egg inside.
’Maybe Dracula hasn’t gone far...’
’If he smells its scent, maybe he’ll come back.’
The sky was already bright.
Outside the door, Lisa called out softly, "Ms. Zhi Zhi, are you awake?"
There was a grand ceremony today that required her to get ready in advance.
"Please, come in." Yu Zhizhi put the lid on the bamboo basket. She sat on the sofa on the terrace, a nervous smile on her face.
Lisa assumed she was nervous because of the ceremony.
"I heard that people from the most noble family of the Rabbit Clan are coming today. It seems they’re here specifically for you—" Lisa took a formal dress from the closet, her voice filled with excitement. "Ms. Zhi Zhi, you might finally have a family of your own!"
