Not Xarion’s either?
Rory imdiately turned to look at Jasper.
Seeing her gaze fall on him, Jasper quickly raised both hands in denial.
"Rory, it’s not mine. Believe —there’s no way it’s mine."
Rory’s body tensed. What exactly was wrong with these three? Shouldn’t they be happy about having a child?
Why did it feel, judging by their reactions, as though the baby in her belly had suddenly beco a hot potato none of them wanted to touch?
"What do you three an by this?"
Rory’s gaze swept slowly across Jasper, Nix, and Xarion, her expression growing dangerous.
"You don’t want the baby in my stomach?"
"No, that’s not it, Rory!" Jasper said hurriedly. "We’re not saying we don’t want the baby!"
No matter whose child Rory was carrying, they would be happy about it.
But only if the baby was sothing Rory herself wanted.
Nix spoke next, his face full of guilt.
"Rory... I’m sorry. This is our fault. You said before that you didn’t want children yet, but sohow we still ended up letting you get pregnant."
Xarion suddenly reached into his spatial ring and pulled out a silver whip.
Holding it with both hands, he offered it respectfully to Rory.
"Female Master, if you’re angry... you can whip . Just don’t make yourself upset."
Rory stared at the whip—its color almost identical to Xarion’s silver hair—and the corner of her mouth twitched.
At the sa ti, realization dawned on her.
"So what you three are saying is... I’m pregnant, but you still don’t know whose child it is. Is that right?"
Xarion, Jasper, and Nix all nodded at the sa ti.
Jasper explained, "The doctor said it’s too early to determine which race the cub belongs to."
After saying that, he hesitated for a mont before continuing carefully,
"Rory... if you really don’t want this baby... You could terminate the pregnancy."
He had already asked the doctor.
Rory was only in the early stages. If she decided she didn’t want the baby, it could be ended easily, without pain and without harming her body.
Nix and Xarion both nodded in agreent.
Nix said softly, "Yes. Rory, if you don’t want this child, then we won’t keep it."
All he wanted was Rory. Whether they had children or not didn’t matter to him.
Xarion added calmly, "I don’t want cubs either."
Raising cubs was troubleso. And what if the child turned out just as eccentric as Xarion?
At last, Rory understood why the three of them had been so quick to deny responsibility earlier.
She had said before that she didn’t want children so soon.
But if the cub turned out like Xarion—so lazy little wolf cub lounging around all day...
Or like Nix—a bright, innocent little kitten...
Or even like Jasper—a cool, quiet little snake...
Rory felt that maybe it wouldn’t be so bad after all.
"I did say I didn’t want children for the ti being," Rory said slowly. "But since the baby is already here, we’ll keep it."
As she spoke, she rested a hand on her still-flat stomach.
So there was already a cub in there?
She didn’t feel anything different at all.
"Keep... it?"
Jasper, Nix, and Xarion stared at her in shock.
"Yes. We’ll keep it."
Rory nodded firmly.
Then she turned to Jasper.
"Jasper, could you ask the doctor if I’m allowed to leave the hospital yet? And also... what should I pay attention to now that I’m pregnant? How often do I need to co back for checkups? And how long will it take before we can tell whose cub I’m carrying?"
Jasper snapped out of his stunned state. "I’ll go ask right now."
Compared to the cub itself, what concerned him far more was Rory’s health.
What precautions did pregnancy require?
How should they care for her properly?
He needed to ask the doctor everything.
Perhaps it would be better to hire a private physician for her.
That would make caring for Rory much easier.
After Jasper left the room, Nix hesitated before speaking. "Rory... you really want to keep the baby?"
Rory nodded. "You don’t want to?"
Nix shook his head quickly.
"No, that’s not it. I just... I’m worried that if it really turns out to be my cub, I won’t know how to take care of them."
Other people’s cubs always seed adorable. But when he imagined raising one himself, Nix suddenly felt nervous.
Xarion suddenly reached out and took Rory’s hand.
"Female Master," he said quietly, "if the cub turns out to be mine... can we send it to the Snow Domain for my father to raise?"
All he wanted was to stay with his Female Master.
If he had to raise a cub exactly like himself... He might as well die.
At that mont, Xarion suddenly felt he understood his father a little better.
But his father had already raised one troubleso son.
Surely he wouldn’t mind raising a grandson, too.
Looking at Nix and Xarion—both acting as though raising a cub were so terrifying battlefield—Rory suddenly thought of Gina’s mate, Leif.
Co to think of it... Raising cubs really did seem exhausting.
Just then, Jasper returned from outside and said to Rory, "Rory, the doctor says you can go ho now," Jasper said as he entered the room. "I’ve already completed the discharge paperwork."
He gently took Rory’s hand, his tone warm and reassuring.
"I also contacted an excellent private physician. They’ll co to the estate tomorrow to look after you."
Then he added softly, "I asked the doctor about the pregnancy. Based on the estimated tiline, in about a month, we’ll be able to determine which race the cub belongs to."
A whole month before they could know?
Rory nodded slowly. "Alright, I understand."
Just as she finished speaking, her light-brain chid.
A ssage from Yuel.
Yuel:Sorry, Rory. I was busy earlier and didn’t see your ssage right away. Because of my current surroundings, I can’t make a video call either.
Yuel:I read what you said about Cotton Candy.
Yuel:Since beating him didn’t work... then try deception.
Yuel:If he truly isn’t an ordinary animal but a beastman, then there’s only one reason he’d stay by your side—he wants to beco your mate.
Yuel:Right now, the person he cares about most is you. My Rory is so clever—you’ll surely think of a way to trick him, won’t you?
Rory read the ssage, and an idea imdiately ford in her mind.
She quickly typed a reply.
Rory:I know what to do now. Yuel, please be careful and stay safe.
After sending the ssage, Yuel didn’t reply again—he was probably busy once more.
Closing her light-brain, Rory curled a finger and beckoned the three n closer.
They imdiately leaned in.
"Rory, what’s wrong?" Jasper asked at once.
"The matter of the baby is settled," Rory said calmly. "Now let’s talk about Cotton Candy."
Cotton Candy?
Nix blinked in confusion. "Rory... what about Cotton Candy?"
Jasper looked equally puzzled.
Why bring up the rabbit all of a sudden?
Could her pregnancy sohow be related to Cotton Candy?
Seeing their baffled expressions, Rory explained her suspicions about Cotton Candy. She also described how she had asked Xarion to test the rabbit.
Nix’s eyes widened in shock.
"Cotton Candy... Cotton Candy might actually be a beastman?"
Even Jasper found it hard to believe.
"If Xarion couldn’t figure him out, could he also be Rank Eleven?"
"Whether he’s a beastman or not, we still can’t be certain," Rory said. "But Yuel said that if he truly is a beastman, then the only reason he’s staying by my side... is because he wants to beco my mate."
Hearing that, a sudden thought flashed through Nix’s mind.
"Rory... the cub you’re carrying—"
"It couldn’t possibly be Cotton Candy’s... could it?"
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