At the side, Mumu of the Snake Clan raised an eyebrow. A faint smile touched her brown, slitted pupils. The Antelope Wizard’s predictions for awakening times were always spot on.

She was looking forward to it.

’I wonder what kind of Super Talent Ms. Zhi Zhi will awaken?’

"You have to tell me the moment you awaken," Mumu said, tugging on Yu Zhizhi’s pinky.

"Okay!" Yu Zhizhi agreed cheerfully. Then she remembered something and asked earnestly, "But what if we’re far apart?"

"Then you can write me letters!"

"I will!"

The beastmen in the main hall all offered their congratulations.

Princess Fei’er let out a cold snort and walked toward the Duke.

A smile returned to her face.

In complete contrast to her earlier arrogance, she performed an elegant curtsey, the hem of her fluffy, noble, snow-white dress swaying gently.

"Lord Bo Lan."

The Duke sat in his chair, wreathed in smoke. "Welcome back."

Fei’er stared at him, stunned.

’A trace of sweetness bloomed in her heart...’

’She was so happy.’

’The Duke said, "Welcome back."’

’After returning from the Moon Rising Empire, those were the most wonderful words she had heard.’

The man before her always sat with a languid posture. He held a long, slender silver pipe, and his silhouette in the smoke made her heart flutter even more.

’It’s just...’

The pipe in his hand had an extra "pendant" hanging from it—

a deep-blue Luck Bag.

The Snake Clan maiden’s gaze tightened, and a flicker of resentment flashed through her golden eyes.

’The Duke’s pipe was one of his most frequently used possessions, yet he’d attached the Luck Bag from that little female to it, where he could see it at all times.’

’If I hadn’t gone to the Moon Rising Empire for half a year...’

’How could I have let that little rabbit slip in and take my place?’

However,

the Duke’s requirements for a mate were no secret in the Empire.

He would only consider females from the Snake Clan.

’No matter how interested he might seem, there’s no way he’d actually bond with that female from the Rabbit Clan.’

’Perhaps, once he grows tired of her, he’ll just send that little female rabbit away.’

’Besides—’

’His Majesty the King is concerned with the Rabbit Clan female’s marriage. She has to choose a Beast Husband eventually.’

Fei’er gritted her teeth. ’I will definitely wait for the day the Duke casts that little female rabbit aside!’

’Just like...’

’...all those pets he used to keep.’

’Didn’t he send them all away in the end?’

Fei’er composed herself and, with a bright smile, began telling the Duke about the interesting things she had experienced in the Moon Rising Empire.

In the main hall, many of the females began to walk outside after finishing their spiritual power tests.

Someone noticed that the Duke and Princess Fei’er seemed to be having a very pleasant chat.

Hearing the beastmen murmuring beside her, Yu Zhizhi looked up toward the main seat in the distance.

The man sat in his chair while the Snake Clan maiden standing before him gestured animatedly about something. He watched her patiently, the sunlight from the window behind him casting a pale golden sheen over his ink-blue hair.

Watching the two of them together, Yu Zhizhi found the scene surprisingly harmonious.

’They’re both from the Snake Clan.’

’They both have the same brilliant golden eyes.’

Mumu glanced at the little rabbit, feeling a pang of pity. ’Is the scene over there a little cruel for her?’

"Let’s go." Mumu took her by the wrist and led her outside.

Yu Zhizhi smiled, gathering her skirt with one hand as she followed.

The Duke glimpsed the small, delicate figure leaving with Mumu of the Snake Clan out of the corner of his eye.

He handed the long, slender pipe to an attendant at his side.

He stood up.

’The only reason I came here was to accompany the little female for her test.’

The Antelope Wizard approached. "Lord Bo Lan, the Snake Clan’s tests for today are complete. If you have no further instructions, I will—"

"There is one more matter. Please follow me," the Duke said as he headed outside.

Fei’er froze for a moment, then called out, "Lord Bo Lan, would you care to dine together tonight?"

"No." 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝒆𝔀𝒆𝙗𝓷𝒐𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝓶

The attendant holding the pipe with both hands bowed to Princess Fei’er and followed silently. As he walked, he paid special attention to the blue Luck Bag hanging from it. He absolutely could not afford to lose it.

After returning to the study, Yu Zhizhi grew incredibly excited at the thought that in just over a month, she would awaken her spiritual power and Super Talent.

’I’ve been looking forward to this for so long.’

Plus, once her spiritual power awakened, she could open the letter from the Divine Hall Alliance.

Yu Zhizhi was very curious about what it said.

「At dusk.」

The Duke’s personal attendant arrived outside her door.

"Ms. Zhi Zhi," he reported softly. "The Duke will be staying at the Royal Palace tonight. His Grace says that you need not wait up for him."

Inside the room,

Yu Zhizhi was reading a history book about the Beast World Planet. "All right," she answered.

Aside from the already fallen Cangshan Empire,

three empires remained on the planet: the Valoran Empire, the Moon Rising Empire, and the Deep Sea Empire.

The Moon Rising Empire was located in an extremely cold region, plagued by year-round blizzards.

As for the Deep Sea Empire, its people lived on both land and in water.

The Valoran Empire boasted the most superior geographical location, with vast lands, pleasant scenery, and warm weather year-round.

’Can I get a preview of the fourth mission?’

Yu Zhizhi murmured in her heart.

[System: Negative. The next mission will only be unlocked upon successful completion of the current one.]

"Oh..."

Yu Zhizhi continued to flip through the book in her hands.

’I need to learn about the different factions.’

’That way, when the fourth mission appears, I’ll know where I need to go.’

「Late at night.」

A faint sound came from the door.

Yu Zhizhi’s rabbit ears suddenly perked up. Lying on her bed, she quickly sat up.

The door was pushed open.

The Duke’s figure appeared. He glanced toward the folding screen and saw the little female’s hazy silhouette, and the corner of his mouth lifted slightly.

"It’s so late. You’re not asleep yet?"

’Didn’t I send someone back to let her know?’

Yu Zhizhi closed her book. "I was reading and lost track of time. Lord Bo Lan, I thought you weren’t coming back tonight?"

The Duke had originally planned to stay at the Royal Palace.

He had drunk quite a bit of wine tonight.

But he wasn’t sure if there was something wrong with the wine. The more he drank, the more the image of the little female rabbit’s adorably naive face floated in his mind.

So he came back after all.

The Duke walked toward the backyard.

"Where else would I go?"

Yu Zhizhi placed the book on her nightstand, got out of bed barefoot, and walked across the wooden floor to the backyard, where she heard the SPLASHING of water.

She leaned against the doorframe, thinking aloud, "Princess Fei’er seems to like you a lot."

The Duke paused in the middle of scooping up some water.

A flicker of bewilderment appeared in his golden, slitted pupils, followed by an unconcealable surge of delight. He gripped the water ladle, unable to keep the corners of his mouth from turning up.

’She cares?’

’He remembered how she’d left during the day without a word, how her retreating figure had looked somewhat ’forlorn.’ Could it be that she was unhappy back then?’

The Duke’s voice held a hint of a smile.

"I didn’t see her tonight. I was at the Royal Palace drinking with His Majesty the King. He’s been having a headache over the Little Prince’s studies."

He reported his whereabouts in painstaking detail.

He was afraid his little pet would misunderstand.

In all his years, the Duke had never been so "candid" with anyone.

He felt immensely pleased.

He sat in the pool, resting his elbows back on the edge, his head tilted up and eyes closed.

Waves of emotion surged through the Duke. His joy was so irrepressible that with a great SPLASH, the water in the pool erupted, sending droplets flying everywhere.

A black-scaled tail was revealed in the water. On the pool’s surface, the reflection of the white, jade-like crescent moon looked as if it were branded right onto the serpent’s tail.

Hearing the commotion,

Yu Zhizhi walked over, her curiosity piqued.

However, a layer of white mist hung over the surface of the pool, so she couldn’t see a thing.

All she saw was the bare-chested man, draped in a simple, deep purple robe. His head was thrown back, and his Adam’s apple bobbed.

Without changing his position, the Duke opened his eyes, capturing the young woman’s inverted reflection in the depths of his golden eyes.

"Come closer, little one."

At the bottom of the pool, his snake tail stirred restlessly.

"Let me hold you."