Chapter 60: Chapter 60: "I’m pregnant~
The moonlit night was still, smoke swirling in the air.
The Duke took a drag from his pipe, his gaze fixed on the distant lake. "I, for one, will not choose a wife from any clan other than the Snake Clan."
This was a principle that had been drilled into him since birth.
His mother was the most noble female of the Snake Clan, and his father, its most powerful male.
Together, they had eleven children.
Of all of them, only the Duke was an extreme purist on the matter, finding it impossible to accept a wife from another clan.
Bolun couldn’t remember when it started.
It was as if it had happened overnight.
This stubborn notion had taken root in his mind.
The Duke tapped his slender pipe, glancing at the little female in his arms. She looked a bit bewildered, so, fearing she hadn’t understood, he made himself clearer.
"I will not vie to be your Beast Husband."
Even though they had been intimate, even if they were to have a child—
He would not form a pair bond with a female from another clan.
The Rabbit Clan included.
"Mm," Yu Zhizhi murmured, understanding.
She nodded.
The Duke studied her expression, torn between the fear of seeing her sad and the fear of not seeing her sad.
When the little female showed no strong reaction, a strange feeling stirred within him.
Still, this was for the best.
He could now tell her his true feelings without reservation.
"His Majesty the King is very concerned about when you will confirm your First Beast Husband. I will personally oversee this matter, and in the future—"
The Duke’s voice dropped. "The day I decide you can leave, I will arrange your wedding and personally escort you to the church."
When he was no longer attached to his little pet.
When he grew tired of her.
When he found a replacement.
Or when he no longer had nightmares.
When he met a Snake Clan female who captured his heart.
And so on...
The Duke didn’t know exactly when that day would be, only that it would likely come soon.
So, until then.
He hoped this little female would stay by his side.
"Okay..." Yu Zhizhi responded softly. "Thank you."
The pipe resting in the Duke’s hand trembled slightly. He thought he must have misheard. He looked down, his eyes narrowing as he gazed at the little female in his arms.
’Why a thank you?’
’Shouldn’t she be angry?’
’It’s as if she never even considered me to be her Beast Husband.’
The Duke refused to dwell on the flash of vexation that surged from deep within him, or the reasons for it.
His grip on the pipe tightened, his knuckles turning white.
Seeing the Duke fall silent, Yu Zhizhi worried he might misunderstand. She wanted to tell him she wasn’t the clingy type, that she wouldn’t demand he take responsibility for her.
After all...
’Seducing him is my mission from the system.’
’When you get down to it, I’m the one who’s been hiding the truth.’
She lifted her head, looked earnestly at the man before her, and said, word by word—
"You said it yourself—I am your pet. Lord Bo Lan, rest assured. I will always remember my place and never overstep my bounds."
These were the very words the Duke had once said to her.
He had told her to be mindful of her place.
And not to get any ideas.
Now, hearing his own words thrown back at him, the Duke found them incredibly jarring.
His face darkened. He smoked in silence, not offering a response for a long while.
For a moment—
The Duke wondered if this little rabbit was doing it on purpose.
But that really wasn’t her personality.
She wasn’t the type to speak ambiguously or be full of schemes.
She wore her heart on her sleeve.
After a long while.
Yu Zhizhi heard the Duke’s resigned sigh. He lowered his head, a sense of helplessness about him, and gently kissed the little female’s forehead.
"You were my pet before."
"Now..."
"You have an additional title."
Yu Zhizhi’s rabbit ears twitched. "What is it?" she asked curiously.
The pad of the Duke’s thumb stroked her cheek, his voice returning to its usual languor. "Lover."
She was his pet, and also his lover.
He couldn’t be bothered to think about anything beyond that.
It was as if by not thinking, he could freeze time, locking this night in place for eternity.
The night breeze was perfect for sleep.
Yu Zhizhi gazed up into the man’s golden, serpentine eyes. Being watched so intensely by him made her feel a little shy.
The Duke lowered his head and kissed her.
He took a drag from his pipe.
Then he lowered his head again.
The faint taste of smoke spread between their lips as Yu Zhizhi tilted her head back, accepting his slightly aggressive kiss.
Yu Zhizhi’s hands clutched the lapels of the Duke’s dark blue formal coat. His eyes darkened as his right hand slipped behind her, slowly untying the sash of her light purple dress.
"Wh-what are you doing..." Yu Zhizhi stammered, trying to stop his restless hand.
The Duke chuckled softly. "What lovers do."
...
Later that night, the Duke carried Yu Zhizhi to the bath to clean her up.
He brought her back to bed once she was clean.
The Duke held her from behind.
Yu Zhizhi placed a hand gently on her lower abdomen, murmuring inwardly—
’Did it work?’
They had been together so frequently these past two days. Her entire body was limp, and she had no desire to move an inch as she lay in bed.
The Duke was asleep behind her.
Yu Zhizhi was also too sleepy to keep her eyes open, and she gradually drifted off.
Over the next few days, meals at the book house became much more frequent. She ate five times a day, sometimes even having a late-night snack.
After a week, she finally heard the System’s voice.
[System: Congratulations, Host. Conception detected. Please focus on a healthy pregnancy.]
’That’s wonderful!’
Yu Zhizhi was overjoyed.
Now that she was pregnant, the countdown had frozen. Once the baby was born, her mission would be completely finished!
She sat at the dining table, spoon in hand, but couldn’t bring herself to eat another bite of the fish balls in front of her. When the Duke returned, he saw she had left a lot of food.
Before he could even open his mouth, the little female ran over to him eagerly.
Yu Zhizhi took the man’s hand and said softly, "I’m pregnant~"
"?" A flicker of astonishment crossed the Duke’s eyes.
’It’s only been a short while, hasn’t it?’
On the Beast World Planet, conceiving a child usually took a very long time.
Yet this little rabbit was already pregnant?
The Duke’s golden, slitted pupils fell upon her flat stomach. "...Mine?"
Yu Zhizhi froze for a second, then lowered her head, her cheeks turning pink.
"Of course it’s yours," she said demurely. "There... haven’t been any other males."
A hint of a smile touched the Duke’s eyes. He put an arm around the little female’s shoulders and guided her toward the dining table.
"Since you’re pregnant, you need to eat more."
"Oh..."
After the meal.
The old physician came to take Yu Zhizhi’s pulse.
He gave her a few instructions. The weather was gradually warming up, and although the Imperial City was like spring year-round, she should be careful not to sweat too much.
It wasn’t good for the baby in her womb.
In addition, pregnant females should take frequent walks.
「Three days later.」
Yu Zhizhi was taking a slow walk by the pond at the book house, accompanied by a Hamster maid, when she suddenly heard a system notification.
[System: Ding! Congratulations, Host, on completing the side quest "Save the Wild Dog"! Distributing reward!]
[System: Ding! Congratulations, Host. You have obtained one "Teleportation Scroll (Single Use)"!]
[System: The Host may open the inventory to view or use the item.]
’The time for the side quest is up!’
’By my count, the Wild Dog has survived for over a month!’
Yu Zhizhi made an excuse to sit down in the pavilion while the Hamster maid went to fetch her some fruit.
She summoned a light-blue, floating inventory screen.
Inside, a glowing golden scroll was slowly rotating.
Yu Zhizhi couldn’t wait to tap on it—
