Free Web NovelChapter 43: Chapter 43: The Engagement
’An old friend?’
A flicker of confusion crossed Yu Zhizhi’s eyes.
She remembered the Duke saying last night that someone from the K family was coming to visit, but that wasn’t for another week.
’If it isn’t the K family’s acting head, Don Nade K, or his younger brother, Don Nal K, then who else could it be that I know?’
Yu Zhizhi stepped out from behind the pillar, smoothed her skirt, and walked outside.
As she left, she didn’t forget to say to the Wild Dog, "Rest up and get well. I’ll come see you again tomorrow."
Back in her quarters, she changed into a more formal noble’s gown. According to the Duke’s instructions, his little pet needed to be dressed beautifully when being shown to guests.
Led by a Hamster maid, Yu Zhizhi made her way to the drawing room.
The ancient architecture appeared all the more mysterious and elegant under the sun’s glow. The archaic roof tiles glinted with golden light, and every slate stone on the path was polished to a mirror-like sheen.
From a distance, one could see the brilliant golden trees in the courtyard, shimmering magnificently.
Yu Zhizhi followed the maid into the courtyard, wound her way around a waterside corridor, and arrived at the Duke Mansion’s drawing room.
Several bronze-colored flower pots flanked the doorway, filled with exotic flowers and plants that emitted a faint fragrance.
Pushing the door open, she was greeted by the sight of a spacious hall.
A deep red carpet covered the floor. Vintage, priceless wooden furniture was arranged neatly. A tea table sat by the windowsill, and the murals depicted carved landscape scenery. Everything complemented each other perfectly.
Yu Zhizhi stepped onto the carpet and saw several figures standing in the drawing room. Seated in the host’s chair, having just returned from the Royal Palace, was none other than Duke Bolan.
In the Valoran Empire, Duke Bolan’s status was exceptionally noble; he had to handle many political affairs daily.
Unlike the loose, deep-purple robes he often wore at home, today the Duke was dressed in navy-blue noble’s formal attire, a medal symbolizing his status and honor in the Valoran Empire pinned to his shoulder.
When he saw Yu Zhizhi, an unreadable hint of a smile flashed in his golden, slitted pupils.
"Zhi Zhi, come and greet the Duke Mansion’s distinguished guest."
Yu Zhizhi walked forward.
She recognized him just from the sight of the young man’s back.
’It’s the prodigy of the Rabbit Clan, Noel.’
She had seen him before at the K family’s ancestor worship ceremony.
The young man slowly turned around. Upon seeing the familiar figure, his pupils constricted slightly in surprise.
’Wasn’t she... kidnapped by the Eagle Clan’s leader?’
The young woman approached slowly, lifting the hem of her skirt with both hands to give an elegant curtsy. Her delicate, charming face was even rosier than the last time he had seen her, like a peach blossom first blooming in spring. A faint, sweet fragrance wafted from her, one that suited the Duke Mansion perfectly.
In that instant, Noel understood why the Duke had tried to arrange a marriage between him and a female from the Snake Clan back at the Royal Palace.
A smile touched his lips as he returned her curtsy with a gentlemanly bow. "We meet again, Ms. Zhi Zhi."
Yu Zhizhi slowly walked to the Duke’s side.
The man gently tucked a stray strand of hair from her cheek, his gesture intimate. "Did you sleep well?"
Yu Zhizhi’s cheeks immediately turned red.
She lowered her head, her voice barely a whisper. "It was fine."
Black Rabbit Noer watched them with a smile; their relationship seemed very close. He had been invited to the Duke Mansion to stay for a while and cultivate his relationship with his fiancée from the Snake Clan.
He had thought it would be boring, but after seeing Yu Zhizhi, he found things were becoming interesting.
"This is Noel of the Rabbit Clan. You two have met."
The Duke had also seen that livestream.
The eye-catching image of the Rabbit Clan’s prodigy male standing with the S-Class female surfaced in his mind, along with the memory of the bullet comments flying across the screen.
Everyone said they were a perfect match.
’If my little pet were to choose a mate, she would probably consider a Rabbit Clan male first.’
’What a shame~’
’Now, she no longer has the chance.’
The smile on the Duke’s face was pronounced. "His Majesty the King has already bestowed a marriage upon Mr. Noel. The Rabbit Clan and the Snake Clan are to be joined by marriage."
Yu Zhizhi blinked. What a coincidence.
She hadn’t expected to run into Noel here.
She wasn’t very familiar with him, which actually made her feel more relaxed.
She smiled and leaned unconsciously toward the Duke.
"As for your matter, His Majesty the King is also aware of it now." The Duke lovingly stroked the little female’s head. fгeewёbnoѵel.cσm
"To prevent you from being snatched away by villains, you need to choose your Beast Husbands as soon as possible. However, I have already requested more time for you from His Majesty the King, so you can take your time choosing."
Yu Zhizhi froze for a moment.
’Everyone knows I’m in the Duke Mansion?’
As for the "villains" the Duke mentioned, all the nobles of the Valoran Empire knew exactly who he was talking about.
If the Eagle Clan’s leader really managed to snatch the Rabbit Clan’s S-Class female, have her pop out a litter of little eaglets every three years, and if those children’s talents were high enough, they would eventually become a grave threat to the Valoran Empire.
Every Empire’s S-Class females were heavily protected.
Other Empires were absolutely forbidden from coveting them.
The higher a female’s Level, the more Beast Husbands she had. Besides procreating, more and stronger males were needed to protect her properly.
Of course, the Duke had no intention of just handing the little rabbit female over.
She was a pet he had gone to great lengths to find.
Before he grew tired of her, he had to keep her by his side no matter what.
So he found an excuse to delay things—for three or five years, or even longer.
As long as he didn’t let go, the little female would have to remain in the Duke Mansion as a "distinguished guest."
Behind the scenes, she would still have to let him pet her and hold her whenever he pleased.
She was his exclusive little pet.
When he one day found her dull and uninteresting, then he would choose an outstanding Beast Husband for her. Until then, no one else was allowed to possess her.
At the same time, Duke Bolan also had to bear the responsibility of protecting her and not allowing other powers to abduct her.
Under the guidance of a servant, Black Rabbit Noer went to meet his fiancée.
Yu Zhizhi watched him go.
As she was watching, the man behind her suddenly bent down and wrapped his arms around her.
With an outsider present just now, the Duke had been restraining himself and hadn’t made any more intimate moves.
He had only been gone for a morning, but he already sorely missed the little female’s scent. As Yu Zhizhi leaned in his embrace, her mind was still on her main quest.
Just then, the Duke’s lazy voice murmured by her ear, "Who do you plan to choose as your Beast Husband?"
"...I don’t know."
"Tang Luo Ke will be out soon. Don’t you miss him?"
The K family’s most talented wolf cub in a century, and also the Empire’s most valued War Weapon. But to Duke Bolan, Tang Luo Ke now had a new identity—
his little pet’s ex.
At the thought of Tang Luo Ke, Yu Zhizhi’s face paled slightly.
During those few short days together on the negative thirteenth floor, she had thought every day that she would die in his arms.
This caused her legs to go weak at the very thought of him.
’No way... I’m not mating with him.’ freēwēbnovel.com
But now wasn’t the time to think about that. Yu Zhizhi looked up at the man behind her and asked softly, "Will you be back for dinner tonight?"
She had to find a way to complete her main quest first.
’That remaining bottle of [Pheromones That Drive Male Beastmen Crazy] will have to come out...’
Right now, seducing the snake was the most important thing.
Everything else had to take a backseat.
Seeing that the little female truly seemed to have no lingering thoughts about that wolf cub and only seemed to care if he was coming back tonight...
The corners of the Duke’s mouth tilted up.
He had to admit, he was very pleased.
—because of his little pet’s "affection."
"Of course, I’ll be back." He ruffled the little rabbit’s head. "Wait for me obediently."
