No one had expected Lu Xia to be pregnant with twins this time.

So when he returned home and shared the news with Smelian, Simon, and the old butler, they all looked completely shocked.

Clearly, none of them had anticipated this outcome.

Lu Xia’s abdomen had been slightly larger this pregnancy compared to the previous two, which had worried them. But now they knew why.

All of them instinctively turned to look at Cecil.

They just couldn’t believe this guy had such incredible luck.

It was already a miracle that Lu Xia could conceive and give birth to a cub naturally. But now, he was carrying twins.

Calling it a divine miracle wouldn’t be an exaggeration.

Simon’s gaze toward Cecil was filled with even more envy.

He envied Cecil’s amazing fortune. Not only had he received Duke Lu Xia’s favor, but he was also getting two cubs at once. It was double the joy.

Cecil had been grinning from ear to ear ever since he got back, looking a bit silly. But right now, no one thought he was being foolish. Instead, they felt it was a classic case of a fool’s good fortune.

Even the old butler felt that Cecil was the type to be quiet but make a stunning impact when he finally acted.

"Since Xiaxia is carrying twins now, it must be very taxing. Cecil, you have to take good care of him," Smelian, sitting beside Lu Xia, said admonishingly. He was actually a little worried that Cecil was too young and might be clumsy and unable to look after Lu Xia properly.

But the cubs Lu Xia was currently carrying were Cecil’s. If he interfered too much, he was worried Cecil would mind.

So all he could do was remind him a few more times.

Cecil knew Smelian meant well and nodded. "I know. I’ll definitely take good care of him!"

Lu Xia knew they were worried about his health and smiled. "Don’t be so nervous. For now, I don’t feel any discomfort. Everything is business as usual."

However, though he said it was business as usual, Lu Xia was already starting to wonder if he could still hide his belly.

After all, at this stage in his previous pregnancies, his belly hadn’t been showing. He could wear whatever he wanted without worrying too much about being exposed.

But now, the bump was already becoming a bit obvious. He had no choice but to start wearing loose clothing to conceal it.

He was afraid it would be impossible to hide it well in the later stages.

’I’ll have to think of something.’

But even as he thought this, Lu Xia didn’t say it out loud, lest the others start blaming themselves and worrying again.

That night, back in their room, after Lu Xia had washed up and gotten into bed, Cecil came over and knelt before him. He took hold of Lu Xia’s ankles, having him rest his feet on his knees.

Lu Xia looked at him, a little puzzled. "What are you doing?"

"I asked Doctor Eugene today. He said your pregnancy will be very hard on you, and that even if you don’t feel any discomfort, you still need to be careful. He suggested I could give you foot and leg massages to help you relax. I’ll do it for you every day from now on, okay?"

Lu Xia instantly recalled how Cecil had specifically pulled Doctor Eugene aside to talk before they left No. 3 Courtyard. ’So it was about this.’

A smile touched his eyes. "Alright then. I’ll leave it to you, Cecil."

"It’s no trouble at all, I’m happy to do it. You’re pregnant, and if I can’t do anything for you, I’ll feel useless. So, if you need anything, please don’t hesitate to ask. Sometimes, I might not know what to do, so please teach me."

Cecil gazed at Lu Xia with his clear, gentle blue eyes, his words carrying a cajoling tone.

Lu Xia thought to himself, ’Cecil really knows how to play to his strengths.’

It had to be said, Cecil’s massage technique was quite good. By the time he finished, Lu Xia was already drowsy and half-asleep.

Seeing this, Cecil didn’t disturb him. He just gently wiped the essential oil from Lu Xia’s feet and legs with a towel, carefully laid him down flat, and covered him with a light blanket so he could sleep more soundly.

「The next morning」

News about the Alliance Army’s movements was trending again. This time, the topic was about the commander of the Alliance Army, who was about to arrive and make a public appearance on the Imperial Star—

「The commander of the Alliance Army is making an appearance. Does this mean the Alliance Army has defeated the Imperial Army and completely overthrown the Empire’s imperial power?」

「@poster_above Are you just finding this out? Not long ago, didn’t His Excellency Raymond, the head of the Empire, already announce he was leading the Imperial Army to join the Alliance?」

「I honestly didn’t expect the Alliance Army to take down the imperial power so smoothly. How long has it been since news of the Rebel Army first appeared? I don’t recall many major battles being fought, but it’s already over. Is the Alliance Army just that powerful, or was the Imperial Army completely useless?」

「Isn’t it more that the Imperial Army switched sides too quickly and never put up a real fight? The only way that could happen is if the Imperial Army already knew what kind of person Her Majesty the Queen was, so they felt no guilt in defecting. The only admirable thing is that the Imperial Army could have started the rebellion first, but they held out for so long. It seems our military chief isn’t a very ambitious person.」

「Who knows if he’s ambitious or not, but he probably didn’t want to be cursed by future generations!」

「Imperial power was already corrupt. Overthrowing the old regime is for the good of the people. Why would he be cursed for that? Don’t overthink it. I think it’s better to see it all as the will of heaven.」

「How come no one’s discussing who the Alliance Army’s commander might be?」

「What’s there to discuss? It’ll just be someone we don’t know!」 𝚏𝕣𝐞𝗲𝐰𝕖𝐛𝐧𝕠𝕧𝚎𝚕.𝐜𝚘𝗺

...

Even before seeing this news, Lu Xia had received a message from Graces: 「Arriving on the Imperial Star the day after tomorrow. Can I come home at night?」

Lu Xia smiled as he read the message. He knew Graces must remember what he’d said back then—that he wasn’t allowed home until the matter was resolved.

「If I didn’t let you come home, would you really stay away?」

Although Lu Xia hadn’t directly agreed, Graces knew it was as good as permission.

「I’m coming home.」

Seeing the three words Graces had just sent, Lu Xia didn’t reply. Instead, he turned to the old butler and said, "Prepare some extra food the night after tomorrow. Graces is coming back."

The old butler heard this and nodded with a smile. "The main husband is finally returning home."

"Yes. It’s been quite a long time, now that I think about it. Please inform Duke Leslie the day after tomorrow. I’m sure she’ll want to come over."

The old butler agreed and turned to begin preparations for the reunion.

Not long after he left, Little Pu Tao came downstairs with the Breeding Master, pattering over to Lu Xia. "Mother."

Now almost two years old, Little Pu Tao could not only run and jump, but also speak with exceptional clarity. However, because he was still so young, his voice was soft and sticky-sweet, making him especially adorable.

Looking at his son, who was now leaning against his leg, Lu Xia smiled and handed him a large cherry. "Pu Tao, your Male Father is coming home the day after tomorrow."