novelraw Chapter 231: The fear
Chapter 231: The fear
Before Yuel could answer, Nix—who had just arrived carrying a tray of food—overheard Rory’s words and froze in shock.
"...Wait. If that’s the case, doesn’t that mean Terry has to stay on Yuel’s head for three whole years?"
"And after three years... how big will he be?"
"...Basketball-sized?"
The image alone was enough.
Vincent and Jasper both pressed their lips together, fighting hard not to laugh.
Xarion, however, looked between Yuel and the fruit perched on his head, his voice lazy and half-lifeless as ever.
"How could it be basketball-sized?"
"He’s a fruit. If anything, he’ll grow as big as that watermelon the Female Master found last time."
Yuel’s expression stiffened.
The mental image of himself walking around with a watermelon on his head made his lips twitch sharply.
"...That’s enough, all of you."
He stepped forward, taking Rory’s hand.
"Rory, don’t listen to their nonsense. Until Terry leaves me, he’ll remain exactly this size. He won’t grow any bigger."
Terry didn’t know what a watermelon was, but judging by everyone’s reactions, it definitely wasn’t anything good.
"Mommy, I won’t turn into a watermelon. Don’t dislike Terry."
His soft, babyish voice carried a hint of urgency.
"I’ll store up energy. Once I have enough, I can transform into human form."
Rory smiled, gently stroking the little fruit as he bounced excitedly atop Yuel’s head.
"I know. No matter what you become, you’ll always be my child. I will never dislike you. And I will always love you."
At her words, Terry leapt even higher, brimming with joy.
"Terry will always be Mommy’s baby! Terry loves Mommy the most!"
Yuel stood quietly to the side, watching. The warmth in his eyes deepened, almost overflowing.
Rory had never disappointed him.
Truthfully, before choosing to keep Terry—as she had asked—he had been... uneasy.
He had seen too much. Too many plant-type beastmen abandoned after raising a child.
Females had many partners. Sometimes, in less than a year, there was no place left for them at her side.
Even someone like Yuel—calculating, composed, undefeated on the battlefield—had feared that fate.
Feared being forgotten.
Feared being replaced.
And yet, he had still chosen to believe.
To believe that his Rory would never abandon him or their child.
Her words didn’t stir jealousy in Vincent or the others. Instead, they felt... reassured.
She would not abandon him. And she would not abandon them either.
Vincent glanced at the dishes still in Nix and Jasper’s hands and smiled.
"Rory, eat first. The food will get cold."
"Right, let’s eat." Rory nodded.
Before moving, she reached up once more, gently patting Terry. Then she took Yuel’s hand—and Vincent’s.
"Come on. Let’s go eat together—as a family."
She understood Yuel’s fears. She had lived in this world long enough to know how things worked.
She knew he was afraid—afraid that once he had a child, he would be replaced by other males at her side.
So she had to show him.
Clearly.
Without doubt.
That he—and their child—would never be abandoned.
At Vincent’s instruction, Nix and Jasper set the dishes down in the pavilion where they had been sitting earlier.
There was plenty of space—enough for all of them.
Once everyone was seated, Rory turned to Wen, who was still standing nearby.
"Wen, don’t just stand there. Come sit and eat with us."
Wen froze.
His eyes reddened instantly, tears threatening to spill.
"I... I can?"
He glanced cautiously at Vincent.
Was he... really allowed to sit at the same table now?
Vincent nodded. "If Rory told you to sit, then sit."
The others also gave small nods. None of them disliked the merman king.
"Thank you, Master."
"...Thank you, everyone."
Wen sat down beside Nix, still visibly overwhelmed.
Nix grinned and clapped him on the shoulder. "If you really want to thank me, cry more pearls for me in the future."
He had seen Yuel use Wen’s pearls to decorate rooms and win Rory’s favor. He wanted in on that too.
Wen nodded earnestly. "No problem. Just tell me how many you need—I’ll give you all of them."
After all, getting along with the Female Master’s partners meant he could one day become one himself.
Xarion chimed in lazily, "I want some too."
Even Terry, who was currently peeking out from Yuel’s hair, joined in enthusiastically.
"Terry wants some too! Terry wants double! More!"
Yuel glanced up at him. "What would you do with them? In your current state, you can’t use anything."
Terry answered in his soft, childish voice, "If Terry can’t use them, I can give them to Daddy!"
Yuel chuckled lightly. "If they’re for me, one share is enough. Why ask for two?"
Was the little one trying to get extra for him?
But Terry shook—figuratively, at least—and replied without hesitation: "The other share is for Daddy Paros!"
He paused, then added earnestly, "I left Daddy Paros, and he looked so sad... Maybe pearls will make him happy."
He did not ask any for his mother, because he already knew—this beautiful merman uncle was her follower.
And Mommy... would never lack pearls.
The smile in Yuel’s eyes froze instantly.
...What a filial little child.
Wen glanced around—everyone had lowered their heads, quietly focused on eating, not a single person speaking.
Left with no choice, he forced a nod.
"Yes—of course. As many as you want."
Pink pearls were the one thing he had in abundance.
***
After breakfast, attendants from the Dragon Palace came to clear the table.
Yuel and Vincent had matters to attend to and returned first to the palace Ethan had arranged for them.
Since they would be leaving the next day, Wen also departed for the merman clan to retrieve some belongings.
Jasper went off to arrange the starrail transport for their departure.
As for Nix—while cooking earlier, he had already collected beast cores and crystals from several dragon males, promising to teach them how to prepare sea beasts.
Those males had been waiting nearby the entire time, eager and patient.
Just as Nix was about to leave, Rory reached out and caught his arm.
"What is it, Rory?" He blinked at her, puzzled. "You don’t want me to go? Then I won’t."
He didn’t care about the beast cores or crystals. Nothing mattered more than her.
"That’s not it." Rory leaned in and pressed a firm kiss to his cheek. "I just haven’t kissed you in a while... and suddenly felt like it."
The surprise hit like a storm.
Nix froze—then lit up, utterly dazed.
He touched the spot she’d kissed, his eyes practically sparkling like fireworks.
"Rory... kiss me again. And again. Two times!"
"...maybe even three times?"
He looked at her with naked hope. If possible, he wanted her to keep kissing him forever.
Rory sighed, though she was smiling.
Suppressing a bubbling laugh, she leaned in and kissed him again.
Then, lowering her voice, she whispered in his ear:
"Hurry and teach them. Come back early and go out with me this afternoon."
"Mm! Mm!" Nix nodded vigorously, practically glowing. "I’ll be quick!"
He dashed off, energized.
Leaning lazily against a pillar, Xarion watched him go. Then he straightened and walked over to Rory.
"Female Master," he said, voice low and expectant, "I want one too."