Pregnant Bunny, Obsessed Beast Husbands

The young Rabbit Clan female sat on the bed with red-rimmed eyes. Her voice was soft and sweet from her recent crying, and a misty haze still lingered in her gaze. One might have expected her to weakly resist, saying something like, "I don’t know him," but instead...

She actually uttered the words, "I want to marry you."

The Duke’s body visibly stiffened, and his breath hitched. Though his expression remained unchanged, his serpentine pupils unconsciously constricted into a thin line before gradually relaxing.

"Can you marry me?" Yu Zhizhi asked again.

In the dead of night, her voice was thick with emotion, yet so very clear.

The Duke was silent.

’Just as the young man from the Cat Clan said, he won’t agree.’

In her heart, Yu Zhizhi understood...

’From the very beginning, the Duke had never said anything about wanting to be with her. He had never once thought of being her Beast Husband, never once considered making her his wife.’

’The Duke had said it before...’

’She was a pet.’

’A lover.’

’Anything but the person he would marry.’

Yu Zhizhi lowered her head and sniffled. "They all say that Miss Jin She is the future Duchess. Is that true?"

’She wondered if she looked sad enough right now...’

The mere thought of marrying a Green Snake she didn’t even know in three days’ time was enough to break her heart. Tears welled up and streamed down, one drop after another, landing on the back of the Duke’s hand.

The warm tear trickled over the back of his hand. At the sight, the Duke’s cold, hard heart began to soften. He lowered his gaze to the glistening teardrop, but just as with her previous questions, he couldn’t give her a straight answer.

This made Yu Zhizhi cry even more wretchedly, as if she had suffered the greatest injustice in the world.

"So that’s why you’re so good to Miss Yu Xiang..."

"SOB... You don’t care about me at all..."

For the first time, the Duke truly understood the meaning of being baselessly accused. His voice was a bit hoarse. "How have I been good to her? And how have I not cared for you?"

Yu Zhizhi replied, "She gets to take lessons for noble ladies every day, but I get nothing. I don’t even know how to dance."

’...Dance?’

The Duke recalled a time back when the little female was still at Moonrise. He had met with her using his Clone, and she had mentioned a ball.

’That fox...’

’He really planted a fine seed, didn’t he.’

"What’s the point of learning to dance? It’s not like I’d let you attend a ball alone to dance with other males."

"Besides, there are so many rules of etiquette in the Empire. Wouldn’t it be exhausting to learn all of them?"

"You should just do what you enjoy."

"Those rules can’t bind you."

Yu Zhizhi froze, unsure how to argue with the Duke. In the end, she could only feign anger and snatch her hand back.

She flopped onto the bed, turning her back to the man, and said between choked sobs, "Just go. I don’t want to talk to you anymore. I’ll marry whoever you tell me to. After I’m married, I’ll never see you again! SOB... SOB... SOB..."

’Zero taught her to say these things, but would they even work?’

’The Duke doesn’t care at all...’

Yu Zhizhi was out of tears now, so she could only fake a sob-choked voice. She bit down on the blanket, her shoulders trembling slightly. From behind, she looked utterly heartbroken.

The Duke’s breathing grew heavy. When he heard the little female’s words, a dull ache spread through his chest—

’What does she mean, she doesn’t want to talk to me?’

’What does she mean, she never wants to see me again?’

’Naive little rabbit.’

’What does she think marriage is? Living happily ever after with that Green Snake?’

’Impossible.’

’The little female will have to live in the Duke Mansion day and night. She’ll have to see me whether she wants to or not.’

And even though their meetings were entirely at his discretion, her words still managed to get to him.

SOB—

Yu Zhizhi noticed the Duke hadn’t reacted for a long while.

’Why isn’t he reacting?’

She paused, then forced out another sob. "Just go! Go find your Miss Jin She!"

The little rabbit had mentioned Jin She a few too many times today. The Duke hadn’t thought much of it at first, but now he was beginning to suspect something.

"You like me?"

He asked out of the blue.

Yu Zhizhi’s "sobs" died in her throat.

’W-What?’

Seeing that the little female’s reaction was exactly what he’d anticipated, a cold sneer surfaced in the Duke’s dark, serpentine eyes.

’Putting on such a clumsy show just to make me feel guilty?’

’This sort of "clever" scheme... it’s a bit unlike her.’

’A stupid little rabbit, dreaming of deceiving me.’

It was the first time the Duke had ever been taken in by such a clumsy performance. He had almost believed her words were genuine.

’...Wanting to marry him?’

Heh.

’What about all those lovers she has on the side? Does she not want them anymore?’

"After going to all this trouble, what is it you really want?" the Duke asked, his tone calm.

Yu Zhizhi’s palms grew sweaty. She had never really expected the Duke to believe her...

’He was the hardest person to fool.’

Yu Zhizhi’s voice trembled. "Three days is too soon. Could we... after a week, instead...?"

"And if I say no?"

"...Then I’ll stop eating! I’ll starve myself!" Yu Zhizhi felt terribly wronged.

’The Duke was too overbearing, too tyrannical. Everything had to go his way.’

The young Rabbit Clan female’s voice was soft, completely devoid of any real threat. The Duke was silent for a moment, then he suddenly chuckled.

"No need to go to such trouble."

The Duke casually averted his gaze. "Why don’t you just say that you like me, you love me, and you want to stay by my side? I’ll agree to postpone the wedding for a week if you do."

Yu Zhizhi froze.

’...Really?’

She slowly turned back to see the Duke sitting on the edge of the bed, not looking at her. His form was cloaked in shadows, his purple robes seeming to melt into the night.

Sensing her stare, the Duke glanced sideways at her, a hint of a playful smirk in his eyes.

Yu Zhizhi reached out, lightly clutching his sleeve. Her eyes went wide as she stared intently at the Duke and repeated his words: "I... like you, I love you, and I want to stay by your side."

In that instant, the Duke’s heart stood still.

The little female’s delivery was stilted, yet so very earnest. Her beautiful eyes were like the stars, bright and brilliant—the only light in the darkness.

The Duke’s hand, hidden within his sleeve, slowly clenched into a fist.

His heart pounded uncontrollably, like the thunderous beat of a war drum.

’Even though he knew it was a lie...’

’Even if it’s a lie, I have to hear her say it.’

"Say it again," the Duke’s voice was hoarse in the darkness.

Yu Zhizhi murmured, her gaze dropping slightly. "I like you... love you... and want to stay by your side."

’The first time, she hadn’t really thought about it.’

’Saying it a second time, Yu Zhizhi felt a little embarrassed...’

’She had never said anything like that to anyone before.’

’It’s so bold.’

’Will the Duke really agree?’

Yu Zhizhi waited anxiously for a long time. Then she heard the bell by the headboard ring. Dai Li pushed open the door and brought in a tray of fresh food.

The Duke stood up. "Eat well. Don’t you dare skip a single meal. Otherwise, I’ll haul you off to register the marriage immediately."

Yu Zhizhi quickly grabbed his arm. "I want the wedding to be in a week..."

The Duke’s voice was soft. "Alright."