Chapter 31: Chapter 31: Rearing
’It’s the Duke from the carriage!’
Yu Zhizhi tensed instinctively. She tried to shrink back, only to find her hands and feet bound, making it difficult to move.
She felt the mattress beside her dip.
The man sat on the edge of the bed, a small silver teapot in his hand.
"Thirsty?" he asked in a low voice.
"Mhm..."
Yu Zhizhi was extremely thirsty. She had walked for a long time without drinking any water. After sleeping so deeply, her lips were dry, and her throat felt like it was on fire.
The young woman was curled up on the white bed. Her fluffy formal dress was spread out in a mess, making her snow-white skin look even more delicate. Her eyes were covered with a white silk ribbon, allowing her to see only a blurry figure.
The Duke took a sip of tea.
The small teapot in his hand was exquisite. It had a silvery sheen, and a small, thin black snake was carved into it, winding its way to the spout, looking incredibly lifelike.
The man’s voice was languid. "Open your mouth."
Yu Zhizhi froze.
"Aren’t you thirsty?" He sat on the edge of the bed, a faint smile on his face. "The little beast kept at the manor ought to be hungry. It hasn’t had meat in a long time. Especially a lively little rabbit."
The color drained from Yu Zhizhi’s face.
It was the same voice, the same tone, yet the man had become far more dangerous than when she was in the carriage.
Her throat was so dry that even swallowing her own saliva was painful.
’I feel like I’m going to die if I don’t get some water soon.’
Lying on her side, Yu Zhizhi turned her head and slowly opened her mouth.
A thin stream of water was gently poured into her mouth.
It had the delicate fragrance of tea.
The man held the small teapot, giving water to his newfound little pet.
Seeing her obedience, his tone softened considerably. "Take a guess, what kind of tea is this? If you guess correctly, I’ll grant you one request."
’...Huh?’
Yu Zhizhi took two sips of the tea, easing her thirst. She stared blankly for a moment before tentatively venturing, "...Green tea?"
The smile on the Duke’s face faltered. "Even a three-year-old Beast Clan cub knows it’s green tea. Be more specific."
"Mmm," Yu Zhizhi murmured, starting to think.
’I think I’ve read about different types of tea in a book before.’
"Lapsang Souchong...?"
"Wrong."
"Pu’er?"
"Wrong. You have one last chance."
"...Bamboo leaf tea?"
Yu Zhizhi reasoned that snakes liked bamboo. Since Duke Bolan was from the Snake Clan, it made sense that he would enjoy bamboo leaf tea.
The little female had guessed correctly.
The man smiled, tilted his head back, and took a sip of tea.
"You may make your request."
’What would this little female want? Does she want to be unbound? Or perhaps a full meal? Or maybe she’ll ask why she’s here?’
Although Yu Zhizhi was very hungry, the one she was most worried about right now was Dracula.
’I don’t know how much time has passed.’
’Is he okay right now?’
"I want to know..." Yu Zhizhi’s cheek was pressed against the soft bed as she murmured, "The Eagle Clan Beastman... how is he?"
"You’re already tied up here, and you still have the mind to worry about another male?" The man’s voice took on a dangerous edge. "Seeing as this is your first offense, I won’t hold it against you."
"...I want to eat," Yu Zhizhi said, curling up and changing her request.
"Did you hear that?" Duke Bolan glanced behind him.
Two figures bowed. "Yes."
They hurried away.
"Bring some water," the man commanded.
The two figures standing outside the door bowed. "As you command."
"Is this your territory?" Yu Zhizhi asked in a small voice.
"What do you think?"
"Didn’t you say you were taking me back...?"
"I only said I was taking you back, not where I was taking you back *to*. My place is no worse to live in than a wolf’s den."
"..."
Footsteps approached.
Maids placed a basin of freshly fetched hot water on the edge of the bed.
The man picked up a towel, wet it, wrung it out, and then gripped the girl’s slender ankle with one hand.
Yu Zhizhi flinched, trying to pull away.
He easily pulled her back. "You’re filthy. Let me clean you up."
The warm towel covered her foot, gently wiping away the mud. A pair of grimy feet gradually revealed their original appearance—
The delicate little feet of a Rabbit Clan female, flawless and white as a piece of fine jade. They were smooth and soft, with her toes slightly curled, looking utterly adorable.
He re-wet the towel and wiped up from her ankle to her smooth, rounded calf.
A shiver ran through Yu Zhizhi’s entire body.
The sensation reminded her of when she was in the hospital, and her mother would wash her body just like this.
The man’s actions both frightened her and brought back memories.
"Why did you tie me up and bring me here?" she asked, her voice very soft.
"When I was little, I had a pet. I bathed it every day and held it when I slept. Then, one day, it bit me." Duke Bolan’s hands moved with meticulous gentleness, his voice laced with amusement. "So I sent it to the slaughterhouse."
"But I really do love having pets. So I got many more, one after another, of all different kinds. They were so docile at first, but gradually, they became less obedient. It’s alright, though. I have a very kind heart, so I sent them to the hospital..."
"Sent them to the hospital for what?" Yu Zhizhi asked, confused.
"To be euthanized," the Duke said with a smile.
"They were much luckier than the first pet that was sent to the slaughterhouse."
Yu Zhizhi: "..."
’Is this snake... suffering from some kind of mental illness?’
"I really do love having pets."
Duke Bolan sat on the edge of the bed and wet the towel again.
"I want to raise a little pet. A white, small, docile, and well-behaved one. I’ll allow it to eat with me and travel with me. It can even curl up by my legs while I work."
"If it’s cute enough and obedient enough, I might even let it share my bed."
Yu Zhizhi just felt dismayed. "What does this have to do with me?"
"Hm? How could it have nothing to do with you?" The man chuckled softly. "You’re my newfound little pet."
"I’ve thought about it. Those non-sentient ones are just beasts, after all. It’s too difficult to expect them to always understand my thoughts."
"It might be more interesting to raise a little female from the Rabbit Clan instead."
The Duke extended his hand.
The black snake binding Yu Zhizhi deftly slithered up the man’s fingers and quickly came to rest on his shoulder.
Her hands were finally free.
The next second, her wrist was seized by the man before her.
"My requirements aren’t high. Be docile, be obedient, and stay clean every day. Don’t run around getting yourself dirty."
"—I refuse."
Yu Zhizhi’s voice was barely audible, like a stubborn little flower trembling but still trying to act tough.
"Heh..." The man laughed. "You don’t have the right to refuse."
"I just advanced to S-Class. According to the Empire’s laws, you have to protect me."
"How naive." The words floated from Duke Bolan’s lips. "As far as everyone is concerned, you’ve already been abducted by the Eagle Clan Beastman."
"Even if you were to die here tonight, no one would know."
"And if no one knows, how can the Empire’s laws possibly convict me?"
Duke Bolan didn’t want to push his new pet too hard, having only just acquired it.
He tossed her a sweet.
"If you’re willing to be my little pet, I might tell you anything you want to know... when I’m in a good mood."
Yu Zhizhi’s wrist was still clasped in the man’s hand. Lying on the bed, she felt her breath catch.
"Including... news about that Eagle Clan Beastman?"
she asked in a soft voice.
When the little female mentioned the Eagle Clan male, even her tone of voice changed.
Duke Bolan’s eyes narrowed slightly.
