Chapter 109: Deciding to Keep the Baby

Chapter 109: Chapter 109: Deciding to Keep the Baby

Moye’s expression changed when he heard Zerev’s words.

"How could this be? That means Ophelia’s pregnancy won’t be kept from the Family Head."

"Yes." This was exactly what Zerev was worried about.

The Holy Clan strictly forbade intermarriage with outsiders. If discovered, the little female’s life would be forfeit.

"So what do we do now? Do you plan to tell Ophelia?"

Zerev fell silent. He still hadn’t figured it out.

His partnership with Ophelia hadn’t been based on affection to begin with. Now, if Ophelia knew that carrying his child would bring danger, he feared she would not hesitate to abort it. Yet, he didn’t want to hide it either. He had nearly lost his chance to partner with Ophelia before simply because he had concealed Caesar’s existence. If Ophelia found out he was hiding something from her again, she might truly sever their bond as mates.

"Young Master, this is not a trivial matter. I suggest you explain things clearly to Ophelia as soon as possible so she can be mentally prepared," Moye advised, having realized the implications.

Zerev raised a hand and pinched the bridge of his nose. "I know."

But knowing was one thing; he still had his selfish desires. He wanted to wait—just a little longer. Maybe if he delayed it, he could come up with a solution.

Because Zerev was so troubled by this matter, his recent mood swings were very obvious. Not only Tyler, but even Ophelia noticed.

That evening, after Tyler went to wash the dishes following dinner, only the two of them were left in the room.

Ophelia asked, "Zerev, what’s wrong with you lately? Are your injuries still not healed?"

"My injuries are mostly fine. You don’t need to worry."

"Then why do you look so upset?"

Knowing that little females became especially sensitive during pregnancy, Zerev comforted her softly. "I’m really fine. Don’t worry."

Seeing Zerev still unwilling to be entirely honest, Ophelia’s expression turned grave. "Zerev, I don’t want you keeping things from me again, or else..."

Realizing Ophelia was truly angry, Zerev had no choice but to tell the truth.

"What exactly is the origin of that Dragon Stone? Why can it sense the birth of a dragon cub?"

Zerev shook his head. "I don’t know, but the Dragon Stone has been there since the establishment of the Holy Capital. Over the years, it has never made a mistake."

Tyler returned from washing the dishes and caught their conversation. "Does the Dragon Stone react after the cub is born and continue to react, or does it only change at the moment it breaks out of its shell?" ℯ

Zerev carefully searched his memories. Whenever a new cub of the Holy Capital’s Winged Dragon Clan broke out of its shell, the Dragon Stone would emit a brilliant, sky-piercing light that was impossible to ignore. This light would directly expose the cub’s location, though it wouldn’t last very long.

"The change only occurs at the moment of hatching," Zerev explained. "But even that brief window of time is enough for the Holy City people to find this place."

Over the past few days, Zerev had thought of countless ways to hide from the Holy Capital’s Dragon Stone, but he had dismissed every single one.

"So what if we are discovered?" Ophelia retorted. "I’m giving birth to my own child. What does it have to do with the Holy City people?"

Zerev smiled bitterly. "The Holy Capital does not allow a Noble Family’s Descendants to intermarry with Beastmen from a Foreign Clan. Even the cubs born from such a union are considered a taint on the Holy Capital’s bloodline. Holy City people who intermarry with a Foreign Clan are branded as traitors, and a traitor’s mate will be hunted down and killed by the Holy City people. Even the cubs will be disposed of."

Having finally spilled everything, the heavy guilt Zerev had been carrying these past few days vanished. Leaning against the wall with a bitter smile on his lips, he waited for Ophelia’s judgment.

"You knew perfectly well that you couldn’t intermarry with a Foreign Clan, so why did you have to provoke the Princess and force yourself on her? You hid all this and are only saying it now!" Tyler was furious. He stepped forward and punched Zerev in the face.

Riddled with guilt, Zerev didn’t try to dodge. He took the blow head-on.

"I know. I know all of it, but I couldn’t control my heart," Zerev said, his face twisting in agony as a single tear slipped from the corner of his eye.

After digesting the shocking news, Ophelia slowly calmed down. "But why? How can the Dragon Stone sense a cub’s birth? What’s the mechanism behind it?"

This was simply too overpowered.

Tyler gradually cooled down, falling into deep thought.

Zerev, still leaning against the wall, slowly slid down to sit on the dusty floor. "It’s probably because a newborn dragon cub’s aura is at its absolute strongest the moment it breaks out of its shell, which is why the Dragon Stone can capture it. Later, as the cubs spend more time with males, they become tainted with the male’s scent, and the Dragon Stone gradually loses its ability to sense them."

This was the only logical explanation Zerev had managed to come up with over the past few days.

Ophelia stroked her chin, pondering. This Dragon Stone sounded like some sort of ’beginner protection period’ mechanic. If it was based on aura, there might be a way to solve it.

"Aren’t there still two months until the cubs are born? Let’s not panic. We can take our time to find a solution."

Zerev looked utterly defeated. "I’ve already thought of every possible way to hide from the Dragon Stone. None of them work. The only solution now is to abort the child."

Ophelia’s expression changed drastically. Clutching her stomach, she said sharply, "No one is going to hurt my baby—not even the Holy City people."

Zerev was taken aback by her response. "He will put your life in danger, and you’re still willing to keep him?"

He was confused. In his mind, once Ophelia realized the child could threaten her life, she would immediately choose to abort it. Just like how she had gotten angry when she found out he was hiding the truth about the sugar thief.

"He’s just a child. What did he do wrong? The fault lies with the rules of your Holy Capital. And since they are rules, they are meant to be broken."

If push came to shove, she would take the child and hide in her spatial dimension. If there was truly no other way, she could live in the dimension with her baby permanently.

Zerev looked at Tyler. "Do you agree with her keeping the child too?"

"He is the Princess’s child. As long as the Princess wants him, I will protect him with my life."

Tyler was very well aware that this child would pose a mortal threat to Ophelia. But he also understood her mindset. Amy’s betrayal had left the Princess feeling like a failed mother; it was a knot that had always lingered in her heart. Because of this, he hoped this new child would prove to the Princess that she was a wonderful mother. She had done nothing wrong.

"You... you two are insane. She will die." Zerev’s eyes were red.

When he revealed this secret, Zerev had already accepted it as a foregone conclusion that the child would be aborted. But now, with both Ophelia and Tyler agreeing to keep the baby, he was at a loss for how to react.

He loved Ophelia, so if forced to choose between the child and her, he would always choose Ophelia. Tyler’s attitude, however, made Zerev feel like he wasn’t fit to be a father.

"Alright, Zerev, don’t be so pessimistic. Maybe we’re so far away from the Holy Capital that the Dragon Stone won’t even be able to sense the cubs’ birth," Ophelia advised, her heart softening at the sight of his pained expression.

Seeing Ophelia’s unwavering resolve, Zerev wiped his face and composed himself.

"Alright. Since you’ve decided to keep the child, then I’ll find a way to carve out a bloody path for them."