Free Web NovelChapter 357: Stepped on the tail
"Mhm." Rory nodded.
Her gaze swept across the table overflowing with dishes before drifting to the men standing around her, all watching her eat.
A smile touched her lips.
"Why don’t you all eat with me?"
She glanced at the feast again.
"There’s far too much food. I can’t possibly finish it by myself."
The dishes Nix and Wen had prepared smelled incredible. Letting them go to waste would be such a shame.
"Sounds good to me."
Nix had learned his lesson this time.
The moment Rory finished speaking, he immediately pulled out a chair and sat beside her.
Jasper and the others watched his swift reaction, amusement flickering across their faces.
Nix pretended not to notice the knowing looks they exchanged.
Turning toward Rory, he eagerly picked up his chopsticks. fгee𝑤ebɳoveɭ.cøm
"Rory, what would you like to eat? I’ll get it for you."
He pointed at one of the dishes.
"This sea beast is really good. I know you like braised dishes, so I specifically made it that way."
His smile widened.
"It only has one large bone and no small ones, so you can eat it without worrying."
Watching him, Vangar calmly picked up a piece of mutated beast meat and placed it into Rory’s bowl as well.
"Rory, this one’s excellent."
His deep voice carried its usual steadiness.
"It replenishes energy and is good for both you and the baby."
Nix stared at him in shock. Rory? He was already so comfortable calling her by her first name?
Yuel sat quietly at the table, lowering his gaze as he sipped his soup.
Noticing Nix’s astonishment, Vangar calmly addressed Rory.
"Rory, I’ve always felt that calling you Female Master creates a certain distance between us."
His eyes softened.
"Using your name feels more intimate."
A faint smile appeared on his face.
"Especially the way Yuel calls you. I think it’s the warmest and most natural of all."
He looked directly at her.
"Would it be alright if I called you that too?"
He had already done it.
If Rory refused now, it would only embarrass him.
"I don’t mind at all."
Rory smiled.
Then she glanced toward Yuel.
Vangar followed her gaze.
"What about you, Yuel?"
Yuel lifted his head.
His eyes briefly met Rory’s before shifting back to Vangar.
"If Rory has no objection, then neither do I."
The moment he finished speaking, Rory suddenly felt a ticklish sensation around her ankle.
A soft vine had silently wrapped itself around her leg. ƒreewebηoveℓ.com
The slender vine curled upward like it was acting spoiled.
Tiny green shoots sprouted along its surface, brushing playfully against her calf.
Rory nearly laughed out loud.
Startled, she instinctively tried to pull her foot away.
The vine only tightened slightly.
The tender shoots became even bolder, teasing the sensitive skin along her leg.
The ticklish sensation spread from her ankle all the way up her calf.
It took everything she had not to burst into laughter.
But if she laughed, everyone would know exactly what was happening.
Biting back her amusement, Rory shot a glare toward the culprit sitting across the table.
This man was becoming far too bold.
At the table, Yuel continued sipping his soup with perfect composure.
He looked as though none of this had anything to do with him.
Yet the faint curve of his lips and the fleeting smile hidden in his eyes betrayed his mood entirely.
When he caught Rory’s accusing look, he slowly lowered his bowl.
The smile in his eyes deepened.
Under the table, the vine seemed to receive a final command.
Reluctantly, it brushed against her leg one last time before quietly retreating.
Although Vangar could not see what was happening beneath the table, he immediately noticed the subtle change in Rory’s expression.
Without drawing attention to himself, he glanced at Yuel.
Everyone except Nix seemed to reach the same conclusion.
Especially Jasper.
Yuel continued eating in complete silence, as if he were utterly unaware of their stares.
At last, the vine disappeared.
Just as Rory prepared to finally enjoy her meal, something soft brushed against her ankle again.
This touch felt different. Softer. And carrying the faintest hint of something pointed.
Without thinking, Rory immediately shot another glare at Yuel.
The instant she did, Nix’s voice suddenly rang out beside her.
"Jasper, sorry."
He looked genuinely confused.
"I think I stepped on your tail."
Rory froze.
Slowly, she turned toward Jasper.
Jasper had lowered his head so far that his face was practically hidden.
The tips of his ears were bright red.
Meanwhile, Nix remained completely oblivious.
"Seriously, Jasper."
He looked baffled.
"Why would you let your tail out while we’re eating?"
Yuel gently set down his bowl.
Struggling not to laugh, he gave Rory an innocent look.
This time, it really wasn’t him.
Across the table, Wen and Paros wisely remained silent.
Neither of them had any intention of exposing what had truly happened.
Vangar rolled his eyes inwardly.
These people really had endless tricks up their sleeves.
Choosing to ignore Jasper’s and Yuel’s little schemes, he picked up a serving of vegetables and placed them into Rory’s bowl.
"Rory, you’re carrying a baby now. Your meals need to be balanced."
His tone was firm but gentle.
"You can’t keep eating nothing but meat."
He had been paying attention the entire time.
Aside from soup, Rory had spent the meal eating almost exclusively meat.
She had not touched a single vegetable.
That kind of picky eating would not do.
Truthfully, Rory had absolutely no desire to eat vegetables.
All she wanted was meat.
Lots and lots of meat.
Still, Vangar had gone out of his way to serve them for her, and what he said made sense.
So, to humor him, she obediently ate a few bites.
Meanwhile, inside the bathroom, Vincent’s condition was far less pleasant.
"Urgh... urgh..."
His tall, elegant frame was curled up in an uncharacteristically miserable state.
One hand braced against the cold wall while the other pressed tightly against his violently churning stomach.
His face was as pale as paper.
A fine layer of sweat coated his forehead.
The beautiful phoenix eyes that usually carried effortless composure were now shimmering with involuntary tears brought on by relentless dry heaving.
Vincent had barely eaten anything that morning.
His stomach was completely empty.
There was nothing left to throw up.
All he could do was retch helplessly as bitter bile rose from deep within him.
His throat burned. His vision darkened at the edges.
"Vincent, are you okay?"
Xarion frowned so deeply that a crease formed between his brows.
Hadn’t Vincent already taken the medicine Lian prepared?
Why was he vomiting this badly again?
"I... I’m fine..."
Vincent’s voice was terribly hoarse.
He could barely manage a complete sentence.
Before he could finish speaking, another violent wave of nausea struck him.
His body doubled over again.
"And you call this fine?"
Xarion immediately stepped forward.
Seeing Vincent nearly unable to remain standing, he grabbed his arm and steadied him.
"I’m calling Lian."
He activated his communicator.
"Let’s see if he can do something to ease this."
The contact information had been given to him by Yuel.
Yuel had specifically instructed him that if Vincent’s condition became severe, he should contact Lian immediately.
The call connected quickly.
"Who is this?"
Lian’s calm voice came through the communicator.
Looking at Vincent, who seemed moments away from vomiting himself unconscious, Xarion spoke without delay.
"It’s Xarion."
His voice was tense.
"Vincent suddenly started vomiting again. It’s really bad. He looks like he’s about to collapse."
"Can you come take a look?"
At that moment, Lian had just finished applying the sacred medicine to Polly’s face.
Hearing Xarion’s description, his brows drew together slightly.
"The medicine I prepared for Vincent."
His voice sharpened.
"Did he take it?"
"Yes."
Xarion answered immediately.
"He took it. He was doing fine just a little while ago, and then suddenly this started."
"I understand."
Lian rose to his feet.
"I’ll be there shortly."
The call ended.
He carefully packed away the remaining medicine before turning his attention back to Polly.
His expression softened.
"How do you feel right now?"
Polly touched her face thoughtfully.
"The area where you applied the medicine feels warm."
She smiled reassuringly.
"Other than that, I don’t really feel anything."
Then she studied her brother’s face.
"Brother, you look more nervous than I am."
Her smile widened.
"You don’t need to worry about me so much."
"So many years have already passed. I’ve gotten used to it."
She lowered her hand.
"Even if my face can’t be healed completely, it’s okay."
Her gaze drifted toward the men standing nearby.
"Shen and the others don’t dislike me because of the scar."
As she spoke, she smiled warmly at her mates.
Shen immediately reached over and took her hand.
The people who loved Polly loved her for who she was.
Not for her appearance.
Whether the scar disappeared or remained forever, it made no difference to them.
"Your face will be healed."
Lian’s voice carried quiet determination.
"No matter what."
Even if Polly herself no longer cared, he would never stop trying.
This was a debt he felt he owed her.
Polly hated seeing that look of guilt on his face more than anything.
She immediately waved him away.
"Brother, enough."
Her tone turned playful.
"Rory’s mate is waiting for you. Hurry and go. If anything happens here, I’ll contact you right away."
Only then did Lian nod.
With one last look at his sister, he turned and left.
