Somewhere in the palace.

The envoy led by Leon returned. Some of them, anyway, with Leon in the first car. He’d barely waited for the cars to settle before he jumped out and raced to his chambers.

Three days. Three days and I’ve not seen her. She must be missing me dearly right now. I need to hurry.

He rushed to his chambers and took a thorough shower. Then, he preened himself, groomed his mane before he changed into his General clothes, making sure there wasn’t a wrinkle in sight. Checking his reflection in the mirror, he was extremely satisfied with what he saw.

His thoughts all revolved around the same thing. He hoped Anna would be proud at his heroic act and come rushing into his arms, showering him with praises. Surely their time together at the inn wasn’t the best he’d hoped it to be, but he believed she would get his intentions. Afterall, he ran all the way from the palace to inn, in beast form, while battling AI beasts.

There’s no way she wouldn’t feel anything for him.

So, all prim and proper, looking every inch like the respected General of the Eastern Army, Leon marched off in search of Anna.

***

Minutes later, the rest of the envoy returned to the palace. Among them were Kai and Azul, worn out and exhausted from the entire journey but each eager to see Anna again.

***

Anna, Leon, and the rest of the soldiers met at the same spot, all by sheer coincidence.

Anna, who’d just finished meeting with the Queen, was deep in thoughts and petrified, unable to see what was in front of her till it was too late. She almost bumped into Leon if it wasn’t for Bella that pulled her arm back.

"Your highness. I have returned." Leon said, puffing his chest out, his mane increasing in volume out of sheer pride and nothing more. Here it comes!

Too consumed by her thoughts, Anna didn’t hear him. She absent minded dismissed Bella. She chewed on her thumb, her mind still in her ill-fated meeting with the Queen.

She knows. Oh my fucking hell the Queen knows I’m a fake! What do I say? What do I do?! Should I go back and tell her a white lie? No. That’ll backfire even more. Heavens what do I do now?!

"Your highness," Leon said again, clearing his throat loudly.

"Shut it." Anna snapped without looking at him.

Leon was stunned. This was not at all the reaction he expected from her. Sure he did anticipate some animosity, but she just told him to shut up?! Can’t she even look at him and see the effort be put into—

"Hey! Cutie! There you are, we’ve been searching all over for you!"

"Kai!" Anna looked up. Her dark countenance brightened like the sun after a gloomy day. "Oh my gosh you’re back! Azul! You’re back too!" She ran up to them, her shoulder bumping into Leon on accident. Without warning, she threw her arms around Kai’s neck and hugged him. Then she pivoted to Azul and did the same, although he was too tall she had to hug his chest instead.

"Awww, miss me that much?" Kai teased, grinning.

Anna cheeks tinted pink. "S-shut up! I was just worried. Why did you guys stay away for so long?"

Azul nudged his head in Leon’s direction. "We had to keep an eye on him."

"Ah," Anna nodded, still not sparing Leon even a half glance. "You both look so tired. Oh my goodness. Kai, you’ve been away from the tank for so long. You’ll dry out!"

Kai gasped dramatically. Then he leaned forward and put his arm around her shoulder. "My cutie cares so much for me! I’m touched at your worry, my Princess."

Anna’s blush deepened. "Why won’t I worry about you?"

Leon, who was standing shell-shocked, unable to believe what had just happened, turned slowly to the trio.

She jumped into his arms and not mine. I was right here. She didn’t even look at me. Not once! She’s worried about them and not me? What did they even do? Absolutely nothing!

His thoughts raged and raged, but outwardly he remained calm and composed, glaring at Kai and Azul like he wanted them dead. Which was very likely the case.

Kai noticed Leon’s murderous aura. The reason wasn’t lost on the shark beastman. If anything, he reveled in it. It showed in the way he held Anna closer, flashing Leon a wicked grin that said "sucker"

Meanwhile, Azul noticed what both of them were doing and decided he wanted no part of it. Merely seeing Anna had set his spirits at ease, and he was glad for her good health. But something was off with her...something he couldn’t place his finger on.

"Hey cutie?"

"Yeah?"

Kai leaned into Anna’s neck and inhaled deeply. "Did you change your soap?"

"N-no I didn’t! Stop sniffing me!"

"You smell so good," he took another whiff of her her scent, growling softly. "Good enough to eat."

Anna jabbed her elbow into his ribs and stepped away with a huff. "Stop being weird."

"But I mean it!" Kai groaned, rubbing the spot she’d struck. "Azul, doesn’t she smell good?"

"I’ve always smelled good. I’m a fucking flower. Duh."

"This time is different," Azul said in his quiet and deep voice. "Your scent has changed, your highness. It’s...intense."

Anna sniffed her arms. To the best of her knowledge, her scent was still her. The soft flowery orchid perfume. Nothing more and nothing less.

"And you’re flushed," Kai said, moving closer to her. "You’re wearing your hair up which you never do. And your ears are pink,"

She instantly touched the fluffy ears on her head. True, they felt warm to the touch. "That’s strange...it must be my fever."

"Fever?" Kai and Asul asked.

She nodded. "I have the flu. Oh right! I shouldn’t come near you or you’ll catch it!"

"What’s a flu?" Kai asked.

"How do you catch it? And what does it have to do with a fever?" Azul added.

Anna blinked. Right. They were beastmen. Their immune systems had been evolved to never know what the flu is.

Science. Give it up for good old science.

Anna laughed awkwardly. "I’m fine you guys. Just a little stressed from...everything."

A veil of silence descended over them.

Each of them lost in thoughts of the past few days. Especially Anna. Though she’d tried not to think about the inn and all the things that happened, in moments like these such memories found a way back to her mind.

Leon on the other hand was fuming. His pride bruised and his ego deflated, he stormed up to Anna and held out the sack of stones.

"I should place these in your lab, your highness," he growled, spitting the words out like they were venom.

"Give it to Kai. He’ll bring it to my lab." Anna replied coldly.

That was the last blow to Leon’s Pride. He threw the bag at Kai and stormed away, his face stormy and his heart blackened with anger.

"Why did he have to toss it so hard? These are heavy." Kai grumbled as he held the bag.

"Looks like I have work to do!" Anna announced with a brilliant smile. "Kai, Azul, why don’t both of you clean up and rest? Bring the stones to me in the evening, I need to set up everything I need for the programming."

They both nodded. "Is eveyrhing okay with you and kitty?" Kai asked.

Anna smiled sweetly. "Who?"

Kai nodded, a knowing smile on his lips. "I shall henceforth refrain from asking."

"That is much appreciated."

Silence stretched for a few seconds. Then Anna and Kai burst out laughing at the same time.

Azul watched them, sighing to himself. He’d never admit it, but he liked seeing the Princess laugh freely. Her laugh was something he didn’t get to see often, rarer than winter in the East. Beautiful.

"Is that settled?" Anna asked, her gaze traveling between the both of them.

"Yes." Azul confirmed.

"No." Kai whined. "I want to be with you a while longer."

Anna’s cheeks flamed and she rolled her eyes. "Stop saying weird things like and do as I said."

"Alright alright, I’ll see you in the evening then."

They bid each other goodbye and Anna returned to her room in cheerful spirits, her meeting with the Queen and the pending question pushed to the back of her mind.

After changing into her work clothes, which was a simple blouse, a pair of pants, boots and her lab coat, Anna headed back to her lab after giving Bella some instructions on how to send Kai over.

In the entire history of the lab, this was the first time Anna was about to let someone else in, especially one of her husbands. The lab was Princess Orchid’s most precious sanctuary. But to Anna, it was just another stupid building.

However, when she got inside and began preparing her work, her fever returned full blast.

But this time was different.

She had to leave the main working area and return to the bedroom. It wasn’t as spacious as her main bedroom, but Princess Orchid built it suited to a princess. It was small but luxurious.

Anna threw herself over the silken sheets, panting, her vision doubling as she gripped the pillows so hard her claws ripped into them.

Her entire body tingled and felt hot, like her blood had been replaced with fresh lava.

"System...what the...what’s wrong with me?"

[You have the flu.]

"Bullshit..." Anna gasped. She winced, crying out softly as the heat wave intensified. "This isn’t the flu! It doesn’t..." a soft moan slipped out of her lips. "Fuck! What was that?!"

The System laughed.

A full blown, robotic and deeply humored laugh.

[Oh, hostie. Took you long enough to figure it out!]

"Figure what out?!"

[You’re entering your mating season, silly. It’s time to make some babies!]