Free Web NovelChapter 62: Chapter 62: "Tame me.
A hint of an unreadable smile laced the Duke’s deep, lingering voice.
He pulled her into a full embrace.
Yu Zhizhi said softly, "He saved me, you know..."
"I hope he’ll be alright."
The Duke smelled of pleasant body wash. His collar was wide open, and with her back pressed tightly against his chest, she could feel his strong, steady heartbeat.
She gasped.
She felt something suddenly lick her neck.
’The sensation was just like a snake!’
"Was the apple good?"
The Duke’s golden, slitted pupils were filled with mirth. "How come I don’t see you giving me any gifts?"
"Ah!" Yu Zhizhi realized what he meant and gently tugged on the wide sleeve of his robe. "How about tomorrow? I need to think about what to get you."
He had to admit it.
’When he heard the servant’s report, a bitter feeling had soured in his heart.’
’He was just a Wild Dog, after all—’
’He must be going mad.’
’To be so bothered by a single apple.’
Hearing the little female’s soft, sweet voice, his attitude softened. "...Alright."
"There’s one more thing—"
Yu Zhizhi turned to face him. "I want to give him his freedom. His indenture contract, is it here in the Duke Mansion?"
"It is. That’s simple enough. I can give you the contract."
The Duke looked down at the little female before him. "But even if the contract is torn up and he leaves the Duke Mansion a free man, he’ll just be captured by other Beastmen. Anything could happen to him."
Seeing a flicker of confusion in Yu Zhizhi’s sparkling eyes, the Duke couldn’t resist pinching her fair little cheek.
"For a male Beastman, without Strength, freedom is impossible."
This was a planet where the weak were meat for the strong, where only the fittest survived.
The weak could only eke out a miserable existence.
"If he stays at the Duke Mansion, he’ll at least be safe. I can find an easy job for him. The front hall, the rear kitchen, the garden—"
"Anywhere but the study," the Duke added.
’Before, he had considered having the Wild Dog stand guard at the study once his injuries healed.’
’But now, it seemed he had to send him somewhere farther away. The farther, the better.’
The Duke put his arm around her shoulder, guiding her toward the dining table in the adjacent room. The table was laden with delicacies, their enticing aromas filling the air.
After sitting down, he pulled Yu Zhizhi into his lap.
"It’s been a while since I’ve fed you." The Duke brought a spoonful of soup to her lips, watching as the little female obediently lowered her head and slowly drank it.
"He might... want to leave," Yu Zhizhi murmured.
A faint smile flickered in the Duke’s golden, slitted pupils. "You want to send him away?"
"Mm..."
"I hear many females in the domain have been visiting him in the infirmary. They’ve brought so many flowers there’s no room to put them all."
’—Send him away? Could you bear to part with him?’
’That Wild Dog.’
’He has a pretty face.’
’The key is, he has no spiritual power, making him extremely easy to control.’
In the eyes of some females, while he couldn’t be a Beast Husband, he was still good for... other things.
After all, most females on the Beast World Planet were quite free-spirited. When they had the choice, a powerful male could be a Beast Husband to propagate their genes, while a handsome male could be kept for their amusement. ƒrēewebnoѵёl.cσm
As long as their Level was high enough.
The laws of the Empire supported them in this.
The Wild Dog, however, was only one Level higher than a crippled male. Overpowered by the Levels of many females, he could only obediently accept his fate when faced with them.
Mumu of the Snake Clan had once taken a liking to him and wanted to take him back to keep, but he had refused.
He was nearly beaten to death for it.
And now, Mumu had found a new boy toy and taken him out traveling for fun.
Yu Zhizhi took the noodles from the chopsticks held to her mouth. The Duke was slowly feeding her. The noodles were fragrant, and even the broth was delicious.
Hearing the Duke’s words, she said softly, "I just feel like he doesn’t want to stay here."
’He probably doesn’t like being cooped up.’
’Otherwise, he wouldn’t have refused Mumu.’
The Duke put down the bowl, picked up a napkin, and gently wiped the corner of her mouth.
"Have you heard of Sun Ridge?"
The name sounded familiar to Yu Zhizhi. She thought for a moment before remembering she had seen it on a map.
"I know it. It’s not far from the World Tree."
The World Tree was the source of all Strength.
It belonged to no Empire.
The continent where the World Tree grew was an isolated island, home to Sun Ridge and the Knight Alliance.
"The Knight Alliance is in chaos right now."
The Duke used a napkin to meticulously wipe the girl’s fingers. "The fires of war are raging. It looks like the fighting will last for a long time." freewebnσvel.cѳm
"I’ve heard that the one who holds the Bright Moon Divine Position from the Moon Rising Empire has gone to Sun Ridge. The Wild Dog had his Beast Bone extracted, didn’t he? If he can find the Bright Moon Divine Position, he might be saved."
"However, it’s extremely dangerous there. He has no spiritual power to begin with. If he goes, his chances of survival are slim."
"If he ultimately chooses to go..."
"I will give him a pass to ensure he can reach Sun Ridge."
Yu Zhizhi understood.
She looked up at the man before her, who was completely focused on wiping her hands.
The Duke’s deep purple robes were half-open. His ink-blue, shoulder-length hair was slightly curled, and his lowered eyelids hid his wicked, golden, slitted pupils. His perfect jawline exuded an air of nobility, and the faint smile playing on his lips was both lazy and untamed.
Yu Zhizhi’s heart was touched.
"I... I’ll thank you on his behalf."
The Duke’s movements paused. He looked up, squeezing the girl’s small hand tightly. "You can’t thank me for him."
’Her words made it sound as if that Wild Dog was already her man.’
The Duke placed the used napkin on the table.
He stroked the little female rabbit’s lips. "Are you full?"
"I’m full."
"Then... it’s my turn to eat."
The next second, his lips crushed hers.
Mmph—
Yu Zhizhi placed her hands on his chest, trying to push him away, but he restrained her with a single hand.
The Duke lifted both of her fair wrists. A cloud of white smoke appeared, slowly coiling around them.
She sat there, her hands suspended as if by a rope.
Now, she couldn’t move at all...
Gradually, a faint blush spread across Yu Zhizhi’s face. She bit her lip, but an occasional muffled moan still escaped.
...
「The next day.」
Yu Zhizhi went to the infirmary again to relay the Duke’s message.
On the bed, the Wild Dog was stunned for a long while.
’He never thought he would one day be able to leave this place—’
He looked at the girl sitting by his bedside, her smile sweet as she held out the Sun Ridge Pass to him.
The Wild Dog’s gaze fell, and the corners of his eyes grew moist.
"Or..." Yu Zhizhi’s tone shifted. "If you’re willing to stay at the Duke Mansion, that’s fine too. Besides being a guard, there are many other positions."
’If he went out, he could die a gruesome death at any moment.’
"Thank you." The Wild Dog grasped the black and gold pass.
He was determined to go to Sun Ridge.
To find the Bright Moon Divine Position.
’Even if he had to sell his soul, he would become incomparably strong.’
’He was even willing to die.’
’He had never feared death.’
’He only feared being without Strength, having to stand by and watch her get hurt.’
The Wild Dog was leaving.
As per the Duke’s instructions, a carriage would come to the gate to pick up the Wild Dog as soon as he made his decision.
Yu Zhizhi stood at the infirmary window, watching him get into the carriage.
The moment the Wild Dog sat down in the carriage, he glanced back at the infirmary window and saw the girl smiling and waving at him.
He stared deeply at the face of the Rabbit Clan female, as if trying to engrave her image into his very bones.
—She didn’t know.
’He had already decided that night, back in the storage room.’
’If he managed to survive...’
As he lay in a pool of his own blood, his consciousness fading, he had whispered softly, "...Tame me."
In all his long, bleak years...
A rose had bloomed upon his parched heart.
He wanted, so badly—
To protect his little rose.
"Ms. Zhi Zhi, there’s a letter for you here," the Hamster maid said as she walked over.
