The Strongest Daughter-In-Law Of The Black Lion Family [EN]: Chapter 69

#69.

“Hahaha.”

Jerakiel chuckled humorlessly, feeling utterly played by Chelsia. It seemed something he had never feared had finally come to pass.

He stared at Chelsia, dumbfounded.

The bold and sly ferret, oblivious to stealing his heart and accidentally kissing him, was already snoring again. To top it off, she even blew a snot bubble, prompting Jerakiel to rub his face wearily.

“……Seriously.”

What to do with this ferret?

Jerakiel’s face flushed crimson, unable to suppress the giggles bubbling up inside him.

He felt a strange mix of wanting to hold her close and wanting to give her the freedom to roam, all while protecting her from the sidelines.

A being that simultaneously triggered his destructive and protective instincts was a variable he had never considered.

“I’m going crazy.”

Jerakiel’s lips couldn’t help but curve upward. Finally calming his racing heart, he muttered,

“If she runs away now, I really might not survive.”

Yes, after cherishing her this much, her disappearance would truly drive him mad.

Jerakiel, who had been contemplating separate rooms, cleanly gave up the idea. He could only sleep soundly with Chichi by his side.

He lay down next to Chelsia, his fingertips cautiously tracing the tip of his nose, as if afraid the sensation of her touch would vanish. His fingers lingered in the air, slow and deliberate, his golden eyes fixed on her from a careful distance.

After a moment, he brushed her hair behind her ear and whispered,

“Well, not a bad substitute for our first night.”

They would be doing much more soon anyway.

Now that he had publicly declared her as his ferret and partner, she was officially a Xavis [member of his clan]. Of course, he would have to wait until Chelsia was fully grown to do what he truly desired, but beastkins matured quickly.

He could wait.

At that moment, quite specific and lewd fantasies unfolded in Jerakiel’s mind. Oblivious, Chelsia snuggled into his arms in her sleep.

Jerakiel’s body stiffened, and he let out a deep sigh.

“See? It’s always like this.”

He wasn’t sure if he could keep holding back.

But what did it matter?

Jerakiel wrapped his arms around Chichi, holding her tightly as if afraid she would disappear again. The warmth in his arms was comforting, and the scent of Chelsia filled his senses, lifting his spirits.

“Good night.”

With those words, Jerakiel closed his eyes. Thus, their first night as a couple quietly passed with the white ferret’s provocation and the black lion’s patience.

* * *

Grumble.

A thunderous sound erupted from my stomach. Unable to bear the hunger, I sluggishly rose from the bed.

I was in a familiar bedroom.

I remembered going to Zakari’s secret garden, but everything after that was hazy.

Zakari must have carried me to the bedroom after I fell asleep from exhaustion.

Clutching my rumbling stomach, I bent over.

“I’m hungry.”

The hunger was more intense than usual, likely due to the excessive use of pheromones.

As I sat there blankly, a fragrant aroma reached my nose, and I looked up.

“Oh!”

Food was laid out on the table in the corner of the bedroom. It was still steaming, so it must have been kept warm with magic.

I jumped up and sat at the table, tearing off a piece of bread and dipping it in the soup. It tasted heavenly after being so hungry.

I scraped the soup bowl clean.

“Ah, right.”

Belatedly remembering what I needed to do, I opened my mouth.

“Tavy!”

Tavy appeared at my call. The silver fish, Tavy, wagged her tail and swam in the air.

The moment she circled me, I found myself in the Room of Choice where I had first met her.

She must have brought me here for a private conversation, as time barely flowed outside while inside this room.

The octagonal space felt familiar, having been here once before. Tavy suddenly cut in front of me and asked,

― Did you sleep well, sleepyhead?

“What’s going on?”

Tavy burst into laughter at my blunt question. Her nonchalant reaction made me cross my arms and say,

“You disappeared suddenly, and why did you show up at that exact moment?”

― Because you would have died if I hadn’t stopped you.

“What?”

― You almost died.

Tavy didn’t hesitate to utter those chilling words.

I had vaguely sensed it myself. The moment my pheromones erupted, I instinctively felt a danger signal.

Lost in thought, I began by asking what I didn’t understand.

“I stopped Zakari’s rampage. Is that also because of my hidden power?”

― Half right, half wrong.

Tavy circled around me.

― I detoxified the pheromone poison spreading in the sky with my purification power. Of course, I temporarily returned to my true form using your power to do it.

Tavy probably hadn’t recovered enough power to return to her true form yet.

“So, you didn’t want to be in fish form.”

― Well, this form is fine too. My true form is too large and noticeable.

“Right. Thanks to you, I got into big trouble.”

I shuddered, recalling being interrogated by the Hebel priest. I almost got dragged to Hebel [a religious institution] by force.

Of course, Jerakiel wouldn’t have let that happen, but it was still a nuisance.

“Is Zakari okay now?”

I remembered his flower in the secret garden stopping its decay. The frost-covered flower was vibrant, as if frozen in time.

― Yes. Thanks to you, Xavis will never let you go.

Indeed, I had not only suppressed the rampage but also eliminated the madness.

If Orban, the family doctor, found out about this, they might try to use me as a test subject.

That thought sent shivers down my spine. Jerakiel might also be secretly hoping I could eliminate his madness as well.

Of course, I wanted to help if I could.

“Can my power eliminate madness?”

― Maybe.

Tavy gave an ambiguous answer, fluttering in front of me.

― It’ll be hard for now.

“……?”

― If you unleash that power again now, you’ll go straight to the afterlife.

Can you stop talking about dying?

Having already died once, I felt a chill. Tavy then dropped a bombshell.

― Honestly, your condition is still precarious. Although I stopped it, you might die within the next month if you don’t take action quickly.

“Wh, what?!”

I was shocked by Tavy’s calm prediction of my death.

“B, but you saved me earlier!”

― I saved you. I extended your lifespan a little.

“…….”

― 49 days. You will definitely die within that time.

“What are you talking about!”

My face paled as I grabbed the fish with both hands. Tavy’s eyes widened as if they would pop out.

Regardless, I shook Tavy and shouted, consumed by shock,

“Take responsibility! I don’t want to die!”

How could I lose the comfortable life I had finally obtained!

― Kya! What are you doing……!

Tavy screamed, tearful. Her eyes spun like a whirlpool.

I tightened my grip, putting more pressure on Tavy. Tavy yelled,

― Th, there’s a way! Ugh! It’s true!

At those words, I stopped shaking her and glared.

“What is it?”

If it’s not good, I’ll shake you again.