Chapter 37: Chapter 37: "I Want to Carry Your Snake Pup...
Male or female?
Uh...
Yu Zhizhi answered truthfully, "Male."
She had seen clearly during the day. The one kneeling on the ground was a male from the Dog Clan.
A meaningful smile graced the Duke’s face. He gently stroked her soft rabbit ears and mused, "What month is it now...?"
Yu Zhizhi kept her head down. She didn’t change her seated position, her nose buried in his chest, taking in the faint scent of his body wash.
By the door, a servant respectfully replied, "April."
"April," the Duke murmured. "Could it be that the Rabbit Clan’s mating season is during these two months?"
The servant said, "Reporting to the Duke, the Rabbit Clan is different from other races. They have a mating season every month."
Female members of the Rabbit Clan with higher talent would be frenziedly pursued by males from other races.
An S-Class like Yu Zhizhi was considered an absolute treasure!
The reason was—
they had a chance of conceiving every single month.
Some races only had mating seasons for one or two months a year. Even if they copulated at other times, they wouldn’t get pregnant.
"Is that so." A lazy smile touched the Duke’s lips as he looked down at the little female sitting in his lap. "I’ve found partners for my pets before. It makes no difference whether I keep one or a pair."
"But in your case—"
"Why don’t you tell me first, who is it you’ve taken a fancy to?"
Partner?
Mating season?
Yu Zhizhi was very familiar with these words.
She quickly shook her head. "No, that’s not it. I’m not looking for a mate. I... I just want a servant. He’s a Beastman from the Dog Clan, and Miss Mumu has him right now."
"Is there anything special about him?"
"...He’s injured. Very, very badly."
"You pity him?"
"Yes." Yu Zhizhi nodded gently.
The side quest was half the reason. For the other half, seeing the Wild Dog’s blood-soaked back, she truly couldn’t bear it.
’He’s really going to be beaten to death.’
"Saving him is fine." Seeing the little female’s expression, the Duke knew she wasn’t lying. "But you can’t keep him in my courtyard. It’s too dirty."
By the door, the servant bowed and interjected, "Duke, how about placing him in the storage room outside the courtyard?"
"Go get him first thing tomorrow morning," the Duke said listlessly.
"As you command."
The servant gently closed the door.
Yu Zhizhi was overjoyed. ’Once the Wild Dog arrives,’ she thought, ’if I take good care of him, he should have no problem surviving for a month! Then I can complete the side quest and get the single-use Teleportation Scroll!’
Seeing the little female in his arms, her eyes curving into crescents, the Duke’s mood brightened as well.
He lowered his head slightly, moving closer to her.
"While I’m in a good mood, if you have any other requests, you might as well make them all at once."
As long as her requests weren’t too outrageous, he would grant them.
In just two short days, the Duke had already decided to keep her caged by his side.
He would dress her in different clothes each day, hold her while he ate, embrace her as he slept, and stroke her while he worked.
As long as he was home, they would be inseparable...
The Duke was actually asking her himself.
What other requests did she have?
A little drum began to beat in Yu Zhizhi’s heart. She raised her head. She was very close to the man, their noses almost touching.
The firefly lamp glowed faintly, and the entire study fell silent.
The Duke saw a blush creep across the little female’s cheeks, like tempting little cherries blooming on a branch.
"I..." Yu Zhizhi felt extremely shy. To say such a thing aloud was truly mortifying. She clutched the man’s sleeve tightly. "I want... to have a Snake Pup..."
"...What?" Her voice was too quiet; the Duke didn’t hear her clearly.
He leaned in closer.
And then.
He heard the little female say, her breath as soft as an orchid, "I want to have your Snake Pup."
Every word was perfectly clear.
This was Yu Zhizhi’s main quest: to win over a male from the Snake Clan, regardless of his status or position.
Right now, the Duke seemed most suitable.
She was more familiar with him.
If she bypassed the Duke to find someone else, who knew if things would get troublesome?
As a member of the Rabbit Clan, Yu Zhizhi still felt a deep-seated, genetic fear of snakes.
’Other snakes—’
’Just thinking about it made them seem even harder to approach.’
But the Duke... he would always hold her and stroke her for a long time, his scent practically dyeing her from head to toe.
The Duke’s golden, vertical pupils wavered in astonishment.
He turned to look at the little female in his lap. Her cheeks were like ripe tomatoes, and she kept her head bowed, not daring to look him in the eye.
"Do not joke with me," he said grimly.
"It’s not a joke." Yu Zhizhi buried her face in his chest. "I... I really want to..."
’Want what?’
’To have his child?’
The little pet he’d snatched from the K family had been washed clean and was now sitting in his lap, murmuring softly that she wanted to have his Snake Pup.
As an adult male, the Duke naturally understood what her words implied.
He was just very surprised.
’The Rabbit Clan’s genes should make them fear the Snake Clan.’
’To actively seek copulation...’
’Could her mating season be hitting her a bit too hard?’
The Duke patted her back lightly. "Get up."
Yu Zhizhi froze for a moment, then slowly got up from the man’s lap.
She was wearing a loose bathrobe and crossed her arms over her chest, clutching the robe to keep it from falling.
The Duke leaned back against his chair and picked up a long, slender pipe from the side.
"Tell me, what is your identity?"
’Identity?’
Yu Zhizhi mumbled, "A member of the Rabbit Clan... an S-Class female?"
"That’s your identity to the outside world. But to me? I’ve told you many times, haven’t I? What are you?"
"...A pet."
Of course, Yu Zhizhi knew.
The Duke had mentioned it countless times.
She was his little pet, brought back from the outside.
Kept by his side to be teased and played with in his leisure time.
Smoke swirled around him.
The man’s face took on a sinister charm, and his voice was chilling. "As a pet, you must always remember your place and not overstep your bounds."
"In my heart, the Snake Clan is different from all other races. We are the noblest existence."
"All races besides the Snake Clan are inferior."
"A rabbit like you can either be a pet or food. There is no third option."
"Do you understand what I mean?" the Duke said, glancing listlessly at the little female.
She kept her head bowed.
It was impossible to tell what she was thinking.
Yu Zhizhi more or less understood now.
The Duke’s contempt for other races. He seemed to be a mysophobe; whether wiping her body down or bathing her himself, he made sure every inch of her skin was washed perfectly clean.
Perhaps, in his bones, he felt other races were beneath his own.
Thinking about it carefully, his "doting" on her was indeed very much like how a human would treat a kitten or a puppy.
Mmm...
’So, I’ve been rejected.’
Yu Zhizhi grew so embarrassed she couldn’t even raise her head.
But.
’The mission still has to be done.’
She thought for a moment, then asked in a soft, sweet voice, "Can I really not have a Snake Pup? One from another male of the Snake Clan would be fine too..."
The Duke’s hand, holding the pipe, froze slightly.
...?
His golden, vertical pupils constricted slightly.
’What? What was this little female saying?’
’Other snakes???’
