Chapter 377: Fond of Him?

「Undersea Palace」

Yusen emerged from the young mermaid’s bedchamber. The Steward waiting at the door looked troubled. "Your Highness..."

He handed over the newspaper in his hands. "This is the latest news about Ms. Zhi Zhi."

Early this morning, they had received the news that the Crown Prince of the Moon Rising Empire was arranging a political marriage. Before reading the article, the Steward never would have imagined it had anything to do with the Rabbit Clan Lady.

After she advanced to SS Level, the Valoran Empire should have been dead set against her marrying into another empire.

But after the Steward read the article, it seemed to be Ms. Zhi Zhi’s own wish.

Yusen leaned against the ice-blue undersea Crystal Stone wall. He looked down at the newspaper, his short, brown hair floating gently in the water.

The Steward sighed softly. "...Is this Ms. Zhi Zhi’s choice?"

She was going to choose her own First Beast Husband.

And judging by the results, after her advancement, Ms. Zhi Zhi had chosen Cang Lan, the Crown Prince of the Moon Rising Empire.

After he finished reading, Yusen rolled up the newspaper.

He said nothing and headed toward his own bedchamber.

The Steward watched the Mermaid Youth’s retreating back, his heart aching. Prince Yusen had been training tirelessly, neglecting to eat or sleep. He had advanced his Glacier Talent to Level 6 at the fastest possible speed and had finally, as he wished, bound himself to Ms. Zhi Zhi.

But...

Immediately afterward, the news of Ms. Zhi Zhi’s marriage arrived.

A marriage to a male from another empire.

’Prince Yusen must be heartbroken...’

「Moonrise Paradise」

On a towering white skeleton, a floating screen was pierced by countless tough spider silks. The image of the Rabbit Clan female and the Moonrise Crown Prince gazing at each other lovingly was shattered into pieces.

The long-haired man seated on the high throne had a flicker of rage in his heterochromatic eyes. His right hand crushed the dark green gemstone on the armrest, and blood slowly seeped from his palm.

"Louis..." he pressed a hand over his black eye. "Are you still going to stop me?"

’The little rabbit isn’t anywhere else.’

’Right now, she’s in Moonrise.’

’Spider’s attempts at Dream Entry have all failed recently...’

’It turns out it was because she had already gone to the Extreme Ice Palace.’

’All my Spiritual Power was being blocked—’

Spider shot to his feet. "We’ve been here for too long. It’s time to leave!"

He could feel the blood of Lou within him boiling.

’Lou will definitely support my decision!’

But as for Louis...

Spider faintly sensed his state of mind.

「A long time later」

Spider tugged at the corner of his mouth.

「Valoran Imperial City」

On a bustling city street, inside a spacious carriage, the Duke kept his hands tucked in his sleeves, his golden, slitted pupils fixed on the line of text in the newspaper.

’—Her heart belongs to him?’

The interview, complete with photos and video, clearly documented the scene of the two of them together at the Extreme Ice Palace.

’The little rabbit looks so beautiful in the photo.’

’So when she ran away from Greenfield City, this was what she had in mind all along.’

’She took the initiative to choose a political marriage with Moonrise.’

’Does she want to leave Valoran forever?’

’I’ll never let her succeed!’

Looking at the two of them gazing lovingly at each other in the photo, the Duke wanted to gouge that tiger’s eyes out!

He forced his eyes shut. After a long moment, a low chuckle rumbled in his throat.

The attendant driving the carriage broke out in a cold sweat.

’Was the Duke...’

’...laughing from anger?’

The Duke’s sinister voice came from inside the carriage. "Where is that Contract Certificate?"

The attendant froze for a moment before realizing what the Duke meant—he was asking about the Contract Book! The one sent from Greenfield City, brought to the Matchmaking Hall by the K family’s Housekeeper, only to be intercepted by the Duke himself!

"In... in the study."

The Duke had been furious at the time, but the attendant hadn’t dared to just throw the Contract Book away, so he had stored it away properly.

This Contract Book had both parties’ signatures and handprints. All it needed was the official seal from the Matchmaking Hall to become binding.

"Get the Contract Book. We’re going to the Matchmaking Hall," the Duke’s voice was low, and no matter how one heard it, he was clearly gritting his teeth.

The attendant looked back in astonishment. ’The Duke is going to let this Contract Book be approved?!’

’It seems he’s determined to bring Ms. Zhi Zhi back.’

If Lord Locke became Ms. Zhi Zhi’s legitimate First Beast Husband, she would be a female of Valoran, and that could never be changed.

Even if it meant starting a war, they had to bring Ms. Zhi Zhi back from the Moon Rising Empire!

’First, she sends something so outrageous, and then she runs off to the Moon Rising Empire...’

’She always knows how to give me a "surprise."’

The Duke clenched his snake-like fangs. ’The fingerprint on the Contract Book, the loving confession to the camera... once I drag her back, I’ll settle both of those scores with her, slowly.’

And this "wedding announcement" spread throughout the world within a single day.

It sparked heated discussions everywhere.

「Sun Ridge」

Perpetually a war zone, the Knight Legion at Sun Ridge had also received the news.

However, they didn’t pay much attention to outside affairs.

No matter how the other empires fought amongst themselves, Sun Ridge remained neutral territory, belonging to no domain. The Knight Alliance was even more staunchly independent, loyal only to its own organization.

What was surprising this time, however, was that a certain lord had, for the first time ever, asked for a newspaper.

Recalling that a previous operation also seemed to be related to this Rabbit Clan Lady...

’But wasn’t that just a paid job?’

’Could it be that Lord An knows this Rabbit Clan Lady personally?’

’His hometown seems to be in Valoran, after all.’

But ever since joining the Knight Alliance, everyone was expected to forget where they came from, for they all now shared the same affiliation.

Although everyone was curious, no one dared to ask.

After all, this Lord An’s story was the stuff of legend. A fateful encounter had led him to meet the Bright Moon Divine Position, and he became the last Beastman to undergo the old man’s Evolution.

After joining the Knight Alliance, he won countless battles.

His promotion was the fastest in years!

It was just that his personality was extremely withdrawn, to the point that people once mistook him for being mute.

It was said that in his room, there was an apple core that had been preserved as a specimen, displayed on his bedside table...

In a pitch-black room, the knight’s fingers traced the words. He read the report over and over again for a long time.

A youth chewing on a twig beside him teased, "An, you’ve been staring at that paper for a long time. What incredible news is written on it? Is it the end of the world?"

"I need to confirm whether she’s doing this voluntarily." The knight’s voice was dry and slightly hoarse, as if he hadn’t spoken in so long he was no longer used to it.

The girl in his memory hadn’t changed at all.

It was just that photos and videos were too one-sided. He couldn’t determine if she was genuinely willing to marry or if she was being coerced.

"What’s so hard about that?" The youth sat up abruptly. "I’ll get someone to investigate! The Extreme Ice Palace, right? It’s not hard to get in contact with them!"

"Thank you."

...

「Extreme Ice Palace」

For three straight days, Cang Lan did not return.

But every day, he sent a message telling her to go take care of the Ice Crystal Dragon.

Yu Zhizhi dutifully did as she was told.

One day, as she was resting in her room, she finally heard some commotion outside.

She hurried over and saw Cang Lan’s figure entering his bedchamber, with an attendant carrying food following behind him.

Yu Zhizhi accepted her portion, hesitated for a moment, and then walked toward Cang Lan’s bedchamber.