Chapter 1647: Relief

While Leon stayed behind to gather further information, Zhao Li Xin had already sped off at full throttle.

His figure cut through the air like a bullet; he pierced the wind with such terrifying speed that the air around him seemed to explode in his wake. He paid little heed to the scenery below as he raced toward Cestine Palace.

The only thought linger in his mind is Lory; he prayed that she was safe and well, and she wouldn’t do anything rash, that she was being protected by all her brothers.

He moves in rapid speed, breach inside the Cestine palace area.

The security system immediately detected his presence. Automated defenses stirred, scanning his identity and preparing to respond to what would ordinarily have been considered a highly suspicious intrusion. Yet before the defensive systems could activate, his identity was recognized.

Authorized individual confirmed.

Fortunately, the Cestine Palace’s security system recognized him as an authorized individual. Otherwise, his reckless approach would have triggered the palace’s defensive systems before he even reached the walls.

Leon had forgotten to mention one important detail. Whenever the emergency protocol was activated, the Cestine Palace did not merely jam all communications. Its entire defensive system was activated as well.

Weapons hidden throughout the palace grounds would automatically deploy, while protective barriers would rise around the palace, turning the entire area into an impenetrable fortress. Had the system not recognized Zhao Li Xin, he would have been greeted by the full force of the palace’s defenses.

Zhao Li Xin was far too preoccupied to care about that. He didn’t even bother using the main entrance. His mind was already in a complete muddle, driven entirely by the need to find Lory as quickly as possible. Instead, he shot directly toward the section of the palace where Lory’s chamber was located.

His figure descended like a falling meteor before landing directly on the balcony.

’BANG!’ The balcony shook beneath his feet.

Without hesitation, Zhao Li Xin slammed the door open. "Wife!" His frantic voice echoed through the chamber.

"Hwa?!" Lory jolted in surprise.

She looked like a cat caught red-handed after stealing fish from the kitchen. But the moment she recognized the person standing before her, the startled expression on her face melted into relief.

Then surprise followed. Her eyes widened with joy, a fried chicken leg still hanging from her mouth.

"O wack!"

Oh, you’re back!

Zhao Li Xin froze, then narrowed his eyes as he saw Lory sitting beside a small table, surrounded by a box of fried chicken, a burger, French fries, and a can of soda. There was even a smear of chili sauce at the corner of her lips.

She munched on the food hastily. She looked obviously well and, judging by the evidence before him, perfectly healthy. Zhao Li Xin stared at her for several seconds. That food was certainly not part of the carefully prepared nutritional meals Fredhardt had prescribed for her.

Somehow, she managed to smuggle fried chicken into the palace.

Under different circumstances, the man might have lectured her about her diet. But right now...He couldn’t bring himself to care.

All the fear and tension that had been coiled tightly inside his chest finally loosened. Thank goodness she was fine. Lory was perfectly fine. Zhao Li Xin slowly exhaled, releasing a breath he hadn’t even realized he had been holding.

The ragings fury that had followed him all the way from Xiya finally began to subside. As long as his wife was safe, that was all that mattered. And judging from the fried chicken in her hand... she was very, very safe.

Lory wiped the grease from her fingers and the corner of her mouth with a wet tissue before taking a generous gulp of Poko-Pop soda. She had never been particularly fond of fizzy drinks, but pregnancy had apparently rewritten several of her preferences.

Lately, the crisp, sparkling sweetness had become strangely irresistible. Fast food had suffered the same fate. She still tried to restrain herself, of course.

She knew Fredhardt would have a fit if he discovered what she had been secretly eating. But cravings were stubborn things, and when opportunity presented itself, Lory had wasted no time.

Taking advantage of the chaos while Fredhardt’s attention was occupied elsewhere, she had promptly asked Jay to send her fast food, cake, and soda.

Zhao Li Xin could only shake his head then a faint smile tugged at the corner of his lips as he walked toward her, his gaze lingering on the ridiculous feast spread across the table.

Whatever disaster had been unfolding outside, his wife appeared to be facing a far more pressing battle—against her own cravings.

"I heard there was an attack at Cestine Palace. Are you all right?"

His voice softened as he reached her.

He brushed his thumb gently across her cheek, lingering for a moment as though the warmth of her skin beneath his touch was the only reassurance he needed to quiet the lingering fear in his heart.

Lory caught the worry lingering in his eyes and softened at the sight.

"Look at me. I don’t even have a scratch." She spread her arms as though presenting herself as undeniable proof of her own safety, a faintly amused smile tugging at her lips.

"Has the news gotten out already?" she asked, pursing her lips with a hint of displeasure.

"Yes. It’s everywhere now." Zhao Li Xin pulled a chair closer and sat down in front of her, gently taking her hands into his.

Lory clicked her tongue in annoyance. "It must be the enemy. They’re the ones who leaked the incident to the news outlets, making it seem as though even Cestine Palace isn’t safe anymore. They want to spread panic among my people." Lory had already figured out exactly what they were trying to accomplish.

"Well... they certainly succeeded in making me panic." Zhao Li Xin sighed helplessly.

"Aww, were you worried, darling?" Lory cupped his face between both hands and planted a light kiss on the tip of his nose. "Silly husband. You worry too much."

Zhao Li Xin could only offer a helpless smile. "What can I do? I can’t help it."

Lory would forever be both his greatest source of strength and his greatest weakness, his Achilles’ heel. And no matter how powerful he became, there was nothing he could do about it.

"How are the babies?" His expression softened as he gently placed a palm against Lory’s stomach. "Are they troubling you?"

"They’re fine. It’s just that their appetite is making me hungry all the time." Lory made a troubled face. "I don’t have morning sickness anymore, but my appetite is getting worse. I’m hungry all the time. I mean, all the time!"

Her voice was filled with frustration as she looked at Zhao Li Xin dejectedly.

"Li Xin, what’s going to happen if I become fat? Will you still like me if I get fat?"

Zhao Li Xin imagined Lory becoming a little rounder and couldn’t help but grin.

"I wouldn’t mind if you got a little rounder. They say pregnancy doesn’t only make your stomach rounder. Certain other parts of your body can become fuller too." His gaze briefly drifted downward. "I don’t think that’s a bad thing... not bad at all."

Lory narrowed her eyes. She couldn’t quite explain why his sweet words suddenly sounded so suspiciously lewd. But then, something caught her attention, and her teasing expression vanished.

Lory leaned back slightly, looking him over from head to toe. Only then did she notice the dark stains covering his clothes, and the familiar, pungent scent lingering in the air.

The Beast’s blood.

And the unmistakable smell of ash. Her brows immediately drew together. "Honey, why are your clothes covered in blood?"

Zhao Li Xin paused for a moment before realization dawned on him. He hadn’t changed his clothes yet!

His mind had been so consumed with anxiety over Lory’s safety that he had completely forgotten about the bloodstains still smeared across his clothes.

"Oh. Sorry." He suddenly remembered how sensitive Lory had become to certain smells since her pregnancy. The last thing he wanted was to make her nauseous.

"I’m gonna take a bath first." He immediately took two steps back, putting some distance between them before turning toward the bathroom.

Lory watched as the bathroom door closed hastily behind him.

She blinked once before reaching for the tablet on the other chair. As expected, news about the incident at Cestine Palace had already spread everywhere.

It seemed the enemy was moving quickly today.

Lory picked up her phone and dialed a number. After a moment, the call was answered.

"Yes, Princess."

"Jay, have you already read the news?" Lory asked immediately.

"Uh-huh. I wanted to take it down, but Luc said doing that would only make people suspicious, so we let it stay." Jay paused before adding in a mischievous tone, "Luc said he’d rather let the reporters ’secretly’ enter the Cestine Palace grounds and gather information themselves."

Lory laughed wryly. "Wouldn’t people find it suspicious that just anyone could enter the Cestine Palace grounds?"

Jay scoffed. "People like that tend to think they’re smarter than everyone else. They probably won’t think too deeply about it."

"That’s true," Lory agreed.

She quickly changed the subject. "By the way, when are you coming to visit me, Jay?" she protest.

"Why? Are you missing me?" he teased.

"You know that new chocolate lava cake that’s become famous lately? Bring some for me. Oh, and the ice cream cake from Sweet John Ice Cream. I want that too." Her intentions cannot be clearer.

Jay sneered. "Figures." He sighed dramatically. "Fine. I’ll get it for you tomorrow after Clift returns."

"Yay! The whole gang is here. Should we make barbecue to celebrate, or have hotpot?" Lory asked, already grinning at the thought.

Jay’s mouth twitched. "You’ll use every trick and scheme in the book just to get spicy food, won’t you?"

"I don’t know why, but I’m craving it so badly." Lory sounded almost wistful. "I want salty, spicy, sweet, sour, everything, and all of it needs to have a strong enough flavor to wake up my taste buds."

There was a suspicious amount of yearning in her voice.

"Careful. You might get kicked by Fred instead," Jay chuckled.

"No way! I’m pregnant, remember?" Lory answered rather smugly.

Jay snorted. "So you actually know he’d kick you, huh?"

"Meh..." Lory answered nonchalantly.