Chapter 1638: Milord Nagged Again

The next morning, Zhao Li Xin informed Lucas of Lory’s condition. The moment he finished explaining the symptoms and everything that had happened the previous night, Lucas’s expression turned serious. Without wasting another second, he immediately summoned the palace’s medical team, ordering them to come to Lory’s room at once.

Before long, a group of physicians dressed in immaculate white robes arrived outside her chamber. Carrying polished wooden medicine cases, they entered in an orderly line, their movements calm and disciplined. The atmosphere in the room grew noticeably quieter as they approached the bedside, each doctor wearing the solemn expression expected of those entrusted with the lives of others. 𝖋𝙧ⅇ

Lory wanted to protest the unnecessary fuss, but the words died in her throat.

Zhao Li Xin stood silently beside her bed, his sharp gaze fixed on her throughout the examination, never wavering for even a moment. Lucas remained nearby, his usual carefree demeanor replaced by unmistakable concern.

Fredhardt and Fargo stood a short distance away with their arms folded across their chests, watching the physicians’ every movement in tense silence. Even Leon had come to see her, making the already spacious room feel unusually crowded.

Surrounded by so many anxious faces, Lory knew any attempt to argue would only worry them further. With a quiet sigh, she abandoned the thought of protesting and obediently cooperated with the physicians, allowing them to continue their examination without complaint.

After what felt like an eternity, the lead physician finally stepped back from the bedside. He reviewed the readings displayed on the portable diagnostic monitor while the other specialists compared the ultrasound images, fetal heart rate tracings, and Lory’s vital signs one last time.

After a brief discussion among themselves, he removed his gloves and smiled reassuringly. "There is nothing to worry about," he announced. "Lady Lory and the babies are both in excellent health."

A wave of relief swept through the room.

The tension that had lingered since the previous night dissolved almost instantly. Shoulders relaxed, and quiet sighs escaped from every corner of the room. Lucas rubbed the back of his neck with a relieved grin.

Fredhardt and Fargo exchanged subtle glances, while even Leon’s usually impassive expression softened. Standing beside Lory’s bed, Zhao Li Xin remained outwardly composed, but the faint easing of his features betrayed the burden that had finally lifted from his heart.

The lead physician turned to the tablet in his hand, scrolling through Lory’s medical records before continuing. "Based on today’s examination and the latest test results, we can safely revise her highness dietary restrictions," he explained.

"Her blood work is excellent, her nutritional levels are well within the recommended range, and both babies are developing exactly as expected. Their heartbeats are strong, their growth is perfectly on schedule, and there are no signs of complications. She no longer needs such a restrictive diet. As long as her meals remain balanced, nutritious, and appropriate for a twin pregnancy, there should be no problem."

He paused before lifting his gaze to everyone gathered around the bed. "One more thing," he said with a warm smile. "Because Lady Lory is carrying twins, proper nutrition and adequate rest are especially important. However, emotional well-being is just as vital. Stress and anxiety can affect both the mother and the babies. She should be allowed to relax, get plenty of sleep, enjoy herself, and maintain a positive frame of mind. A happy, healthy mother gives the babies the best environment in which to grow."

Lory’s eyes lit up at once, her face blooming into a radiant smile.

"Does that mean..." she asked hopefully, "I can eat sweet desserts and spicy food again?"

The physician chuckled. "In moderation, yes. Neither is forbidden, provided you do not overindulge."

Lory’s eyes lit up at once, and her face blossomed into a radiant smile.

"Does that mean..." she asked hopefully, "I can eat sweet desserts and spicy food again, right? They really brighten my mood," she insisted.

The physician chuckled. "In moderation, yes. Neither is forbidden, provided you don’t overindulge."

Lory immediately shot Fredhardt a triumphant sideways glance, her expression practically screaming, See? I told you so.

Fredhardt merely rolled his eyes, though the gesture lacked any real annoyance.

The truth was, he had intended to take advantage of Lory’s pregnancy to finally correct her hopeless eating habits. For years, she had preferred sweets to proper meals and would happily survive on desserts alone if no one stopped her. It had been a constant battle, which was why he had been so strict about her diet in the first place.

Unfortunately, the physician was right. The most important thing now was making sure Lory ate well and stayed in good spirits. In truth, Fredhardt had also begun to worry about her poor appetite. If allowing her a few desserts and mildly spicy dishes encouraged her to eat more, then it was a compromise he could accept.

He would simply have to make sure she didn’t go overboard.

Once the medical team had left, Leon stepped forward to Lory’s bedside.

"I’m sorry it took me so long to visit you, Your Highness," he said, scratching the back of his neck sheepishly. "Everyone kept saying you weren’t supposed to be disturbed."

He gave an awkward smile before continuing, "Actually, quite a few people wanted to come and see you. But since your existence is still a closely guarded secret, they’ve all been holding themselves back. No one wanted to risk exposing your whereabouts or causing unnecessary attention."

"Thank you, Leon. Please tell everyone that I’m doing well, and ask them to wait just a little longer until I reveal my return to the world," Lory said kindly.

"You don’t have to worry about us, Princess," Leon replied. He then raised a glass jar neatly wrapped with a ribbon. "Anyway, I brought something I thought you might like."

Inside the transparent jar were colorful dried fruit candies, each piece glistening like a tiny jewel beneath the afternoon sunlight.

"They’re made from natural fruit," Leon explained proudly. "No added sugar, no preservatives. I was told they’re healthy, so I figured you could eat these without everyone glaring at you."

Lory’s eyes sparkled the moment she saw them. "Thank you, Leon!" she exclaimed happily. "I love these!"

Without waiting for anyone’s permission, Lory eagerly unscrewed the lid, plucked out a bright orange candy, and popped it into her mouth. A blissful smile immediately spread across her face.

Seeing her reaction, Leon couldn’t help but smile as well.

Fredhardt, however, simply shook his head in resignation. "Don’t eat too many of those," he warned. "You’ll spoil your appetite."

He paused before adding with the air of someone who had already accepted defeat, "I’ll have the chef prepare salmon steak for lunch. And don’t even think about avoiding the vegetables."

Lory pursed her lips in annoyance. "Yes, Mom."

A vein twitched on Fredhardt’s forehead, "I swear," he muttered, clicking his tongue, "I’ll never have a child as disobedient as you."

The room erupted in laughter. Even Zhao Li Xin’s usually stoic expression softened into a faint smile. Leon chuckled before his gaze returned to Lory’s face. Although she was smiling, the faint weariness beneath her eyes hadn’t escaped his notice.

"How are you feeling, Princess?" he asked gently. "Do you feel any discomfort?"

"I’m fine." Lory waved a dismissive hand. "I just feel sleepy all the time," she sighed helplessly. "No matter how much I sleep, I still feel tired."

Leon frowned slightly, "I heard the babies are affecting your powers." There was obvious concern beneath his curiosity.

Lory nodded. "Yes. It’s normal for gifted women." She rested a hand over her abdomen almost unconsciously. "As the babies develop, they draw spiritual energy from their mother. That’s why our abilities become unstable or weaken during pregnancy."

She smiled reassuringly. "The doctors said everything will return to normal after the babies are born."

Leon rubbed his jaw thoughtfully. "So... until then, you won’t be able to join any battles?"

"Normally, no pregnant woman should engage in any strenuous activities," Fargo interjected calmly.

Leon nodded in agreement. "That’s true." 𝖿𝖗ⅇℴ𝑚

As the conversation fell into a brief lull, Lucas suddenly seemed to remember something. "Oh, right." He leaned back in his chair before turning toward Zhao Li Xin. "We just received word from President Zhang Yu Wei of Xiya."

The relaxed atmosphere instantly turned solemn. Lory looked from Lucas to Zhao Li Xin, sensing that whatever news had arrived was far from pleasant.

"What happened?" she asked.

Lucas took a deep breath before speaking. "Bael has launched simultaneous attacks on three regions in Xiya." He paused, his voice growing heavier. "According to the latest report, nearly ten percent of the country’s territory has already been contaminated by Bael’s poison."

Lory’s brows immediately knitted together."That bad?"

Lucas sighed heavily. "I’m afraid so." He folded his hands together, his expression unusually serious. "The contamination is spreading faster than they anticipated. Entire forests have withered overnight, rivers have become undrinkable, and several towns have already been evacuated. If they fail to contain it soon, the poisoned land will continue to expand."

He then shifted his gaze to Zhao Li Xin, "Because of that, President Zhang Yu Wei accepted your proposal without hesitation."

A faint smile tugged at Lucas’s lips, though it failed to hide the concern in his eyes. "To be honest, he sounded relieved when we told him we had found a way to help. Since then, he has been asking when we can come to Xiya and begin purifying the contaminated regions."

Yet Zhao Li Xin’s expression remained unchanged. Calm and composed as ever, he reached for a cup of warm ginger tea and gently placed it into Lory’s hands, "Carfel, it’s hot," he said.

Lory accepted the teacup, its warmth seeping into her fingers. She lifted her eyes to meet his and asked softly, "When will you be leaving?" A trace of reluctance lingered in her voice, impossible to hide.

Zhao Li Xin smiled faintly, his gaze gentle as it rested on her pale face. "When your condition improves," he answered with effortless certainty.

No one in the room was surprised by his reply. It sounded exactly like him, detached and indifferent to the rest of the world, yet utterly devoted to Lory.

Lory took a sip of the ginger tea before looking up at Zhao Li Xin with a gentle smile, "I’m fine, Li Xin. Truly."

She set the teacup on the bedside table, then gently cupped his hands in hers. "So many people are suffering because of this," Lory said softly, her voice carrying quiet conviction. "And that’s exactly what the enemy is taking advantage of. Please go and help them, okay?"

Zhao Li Xin held her gaze in silence. For a long moment, he said nothing, his dark eyes searching her face as though trying to memorize every detail. At last, he let out a quiet sigh of surrender.

"...Very well. I’ll go."

He turns quiet for a moment before he speaks in a serious tone, "But you have to promise me you’ll take care of yourself. Eat properly, don’t wander around, and stay inside the palace until I return. Can you do that?"

Without waiting for an answer, he continued, reminding her of one thing after another, as though afraid that leaving out a single instruction would put her at risk.

Fredhardt watched the exchange in stunned silence before muttering, "He’s an even bigger nag than I am."

"Yeah," Fargo agreed, looking equally astonished. "I never thought I’d see someone who could match you," he said with genuine surprise.

Lory nodded, then answered with a resigned tone, "Okay, okay."

"...And don’t spend too much time watching those stupid soap operas," Zhao Li Xin continued without hesitation. "Go to bed early, and stop checking the news on your phone."

"Okay, honey, I promise," Lory replied obediently. Though inwardly exasperated, she didn’t dare argue. She knew that if she protested now, Zhao Li Xin might very well change his mind about leaving.

So she wisely kept her mouth shut while her beloved husband continued rattling off one reminder after another.

’Whatever... I’ll just focus on his beautiful face instead.’ Lory quietly diverted her attention elsewhere. ’Hmm..He’s so handsome,’ she grinned foolishly.

"Lory, are you listening to me?" Zhao Li Xin asked, sensing that something was off.

Lory snapped back to reality. She immediately put on a serious expression and nodded earnestly, "Yes," she nodded firmly. "I heard everything," she lied through her teeth.

’No, she doesn’t,’ everyone in the room knew that very well.