Volume One, Chapter 14: Is He… Angry?

The leader smiled slightly. “Are you trying to flatter me? That Hekun kid does everything except the important tasks; he’s no better than a street thug. Yet, some actually admire him.”

“My subordinate dares not deceive you, leader. Once, I asked him why, and he said that Young Master Hekun is the strongest in the alliance, and he wants to be just as powerful one day.”

Those words struck a chord in the leader’s heart. After all, what parent doesn’t want to hear others praise their child?

“Good. You’ll go back and explain everything clearly to him. If he’s willing to go, then let him go. If he’s afraid of their strong mental powers and doesn’t want to, that’s fine too; I won’t blame him.”

“Yes, leader.”

Because the leader was pleased, the gathered crowd was finally allowed to disperse and return home.

Within fifteen minutes, the wolf beast official returned with an answer: the wolf cub had agreed to undertake the mission to the Silna Empire.

Name: Lang Ye
Mission: Rescue Young Master Hekun’s two children from the enemy country’s colonel.

*

Today marked the fifth day. Meng Yuan had been waiting a long time and finally awaited the day the children would return home.

But seeing the steward carrying two eggs over felt somewhat unreal.

Had she really given birth to two eggs?

“Miss, the children will still need some time to hatch. Since you are not of the serpent race and don’t know how to incubate serpent eggs, please try not to remove them from the incubator.”

“Understood.” Meng Yuan took the two serpent eggs into her arms. Their texture was similar to her own chicken eggs, though slightly larger.

The doctors behind her entered the room, confirming the incubator was set up and briefly explaining how to care for the serpent eggs before leaving.

“Miss, there are still matters to attend to in the Federation. The colonel said he’ll come to see you once he’s done.”

“Tell the colonel not to worry about us, no matter how busy he is.”

“Yes.”

After the steward left, the young maid continued watching the eggs in the incubator.

“Miss’s children will surely be as beautiful as her once they hatch.”

Meng Yuan smiled, suddenly recalling that man. He wasn’t unattractive either and matched her aesthetic well; the chance of the children inheriting undesirable features was slim.

“By the way, I want to ask you something.”

“Yes, Miss?”

*

“Is there a serpent race in our empire?”

“Of course, Miss. Our empire is home to many races.”

Hearing this, Meng Yuan felt reassured. Fortunately, the serpent race wasn’t universally despised; otherwise, her children would have no place here.

With no worries left, Meng Yuan focused on observing the incubator. The professional doctors had explained that the incubator not only maintained the offspring’s body temperature to prevent death from cold but also accelerated the hatching process. However, since each serpent hatchling’s constitution differs, the exact hatching day remained uncertain.

She tapped the incubator glass. “Little ones, when will you come out?”

Perhaps it was her imagination, but she thought she saw one egg move slightly.

Rubbing her eyes and staring again, she saw no further movement. It seemed she had been mistaken.

After the enemy entered through the dog yard last time, Reistad ordered the steward to remove it, planting flowers or grass and reinforcing the defenses.

Soldiers guarded the manor and the colonel’s safety, so the steward could only hire a few gardeners to plant thorny trees along the walls and flowers in the remaining spaces.

He had also visited the garden to select some trees with longer thorns, but since the garden staff was few, they had to schedule delivery for the next day.

Since the nanny’s death, no one had cooked good food for Meng Yuan anymore, and she still felt sorrowful thinking about it.

They had gotten along so well. The nanny was gentle and understanding. Why do good people never live long?

She blamed that man—Hekun.

In truth, Meng Yuan was not one to judge by appearances, but after what happened, she found there was some logic to it.

People like Hekun, with sharp, cruel features, were bad.

People like Reistad, cold on the surface but with perfect features and a soldier’s bearing, were good.

“Miss, the colonel has arrived.” The anxious voice of the young maid came from nearby.

Meng Yuan turned her head to see Reistad standing beside her, leaving her momentarily stunned.

Her gaze toward the young maid was puzzled, as if asking when the colonel had arrived.

The young maid, intimidated by the colonel’s aura, stood far away.

“Miss, I just called you, but you were so absorbed you didn’t hear.”

“All right, you may go.” Reistad suddenly said.

The young maid left in a flash.

“What were you thinking about? So lost in thought.”

*

Meng Yuan gave an awkward smile. “Nothing much. I was just thinking that colonel, you really seem like a good person.”

“Heh, a good person?” Reistad pulled over a chair and sat beside her.

“Well, then I’m afraid you’ll be disappointed. I’m not really a good person.”

“How could that be? When we first met, you rescued so many from the underground fighting ring and took in a homeless man like me. Now you’ve taken me and the children in as well. In my heart, you’re the best person in the world.”

Good person—someone had called him that for the first time. Even his colleagues in the Federation only described him as cold and surly.

Reistad didn’t know why, but a faint happiness stirred inside him.

“There’s something I want to discuss with you, colonel.”

“Go ahead.”

“Well... I’ve been bothering you here for a month, living off your generosity. I feel embarrassed. After the children hatch, I want to take them out to do business or find work—anything, really. I just want to avoid causing you trouble.”

Reistad was very surprised. “You want to leave? Are you uncomfortable living here?”

Meng Yuan shook her head repeatedly. “No, many people here care for me and treat me well. You’ve been very kind to me too. But I can’t live in my benefactor’s home forever. The manor should have a lady of the house. If the children and I stay here, it might affect your reputation.”

Reistad suddenly stood up with a scrape of the chair against the floor.

“Sorry, did I startle you?”

“But I don’t think you’ve affected me. Besides, where would you go with the children? There are still people out there who want to seize your children and kill you.”

That question... Meng Yuan had considered it. She hoped the system would protect her; otherwise, if she died, the system would waste time finding another host.

“You can live here forever. There won’t be a lady of the house for the next few years, and no one would dare to say anything. Don’t worry.”

“But...”

“Consider it settled. I have business to attend to, so I’ll leave first.”

Watching his retreating back, Meng Yuan murmured in confusion.

Was he angry with her? All because she mentioned leaving?