Future Beast Clan The Enchanting Consort
Chapter 72: The Child Is Missing

Chapter 72: The Child Is Missing

Henry was relatively fine, just a hint of blush on his cheeks, his eyes still soft and gentle. Blaze’s neck, face, and ears were all crimson.

Abyss was the most exaggerated, actually turning away from her.

As a result, the cub he was holding almost fell to the ground, prompting him to scramble to catch it.

Carlotta pursed her lips, draped herself in a bathrobe, and couldn’t resist murmuring, "...Why did you all come in here?"

By the time she finished murmuring, the bathrobe was already securely tied around her.

Carlotta approached Richard and the others, hesitating, "I don’t think I can carry them all."

Six of them, all so small, not easy to hold at all.

"Meow~"

Suddenly, one of the kitten cubs let out a loud meow, prompting Carlotta to reach out to pick it up first.

But before her hand could even touch it, the other cubs started meowing loudly too, as if afraid of being left out.

Carlotta looked dazed, "Can they really know who I’m going to pick up first?"

Richard’s gaze filled with doting affection, "Well, these six little ones are quite clever. Use a towel."

A moment later, four of the cubs were nestled in soft white towels.

Carlotta called out to Abyss, "Abyss, what are you waiting for? Hurry up and put the cub back."

The fox cub and tiger cub’s cries were tinged with tears.

Carlotta’s call prompted Abyss to turn slowly.

The fair and handsome Serpentine orc, beneath his straight nose, had a trace of blood.

Pretending to be indifferent, he quickly placed the black tiger cub and fox cub into the towel pouch Carlotta was carrying, then strode out of the bathroom.

His long legs barely crossed the bathroom threshold before his walk turned into a run, as if chased by a ghost.

Carlotta turned her head to ask Richard, "Is Abyss nosebleeding?"

Richard’s expression remained natural, his voice warm as he replied, "Yeah."

Carlotta huffed, "I didn’t even ask him to come in."

Then, clutching the cubs in her arms, she slipped on her slippers and walked out.

The three males behind her were stunned.

Was Carlotta really carrying fragile cubs? It looked more like she was carrying something lifeless, so casually.

Had Carlotta, as the Empress suggested, become so depressed that she didn’t care about the cubs anymore?

The three males, panicking inside, pondered how to speak to Carlotta to show that they cared about her and feared for the cubs’ safety.

Carlotta took a few steps and, not hearing the males’ footsteps, turned back with a puzzled look, "Why aren’t you coming out? Do you want to soak in the bath too?"

"No," the three males replied in unison, instantly turning their worry into smiles as they approached Carlotta.

Richard took the opportunity to glance at the cubs in the towel.

After seeing them, the entire Tiger seemed unwell.

The six cubs who wouldn’t go to sleep no matter how they were soothed were now nestled in the towel, one clinging to the other, sleeping soundly.

Carlotta swung the towel, and they didn’t even flinch, their bellies rising and falling gently as if sleeping in the safest place.

Henry and Blaze also saw the cubs sleeping peacefully, their eyes filled with disbelief.

"This still isn’t very convenient." Carlotta, who was walking ahead, glanced at the cubs in the towel and turned back to ask, "Should we just buy a basket? Or is there some kind of baby carrier that can be attached to the body?"

"That’s not good too. If the cubs are always with me, I won’t have any freedom."

Carlotta sighed, placing the cubs on the bed with the towel spread out.

She had other things to do.

"The Empress said she’s sent a nanny who’s experienced with cubs," Richard replied to Carlotta’s monologue, "You won’t lose your freedom, Carlotta. You can see the cubs whenever you want, or not."

"Right," Henry agreed with Richard, "I wasn’t raised by the Empress either, but I’m still very close to her when I grow up."

Blaze also said, "Duke, I’ll try my best to learn how to take care of the cubs. You don’t have to worry, really."

Carlotta could sense that the three males were very tense.

She sat on the edge of the bed, her beautiful eyes blinking, then lowered her gaze and said, "It’s not that I don’t want to take care of them. It just feels unreal."

As soon as she finished speaking, the fox cub at the top of the pile suddenly "yipped" and stumbled over to Carlotta’s hand, which was resting on the bed.

Its pale pink little head rubbed against Carlotta’s thumb.

Then, using all four paws, it hugged Carlotta’s hand and fell back into a deep sleep.

Carlotta’s hand moved slightly, touching the soft belly of the fox cub and feeling the rhythmic beating of its little heart.

Her eyes trembled, and a smile couldn’t help but appear on Carlotta’s lips.

It was strange; suddenly, a sense of reality returned.

The day after giving birth to the cubs, Carlotta received a reward from the Empress.

The Empress also called her for a video chat, asking if she was willing to make public the actual situation of the cubs she had given birth to.

When the video call came, Carlotta was playing with the cubs.

Strictly speaking, it wasn’t her playing with the cubs; she just made herself available, and the cubs started crawling around her, struggling to reach the peaks of her body.

Perhaps after trying, they found the animal form more comfortable and never transformed back into their human forms.

With their not-yet-sharp pink paws, they clutched Carlotta’s clothes, attempting to climb to the top.

When the Empress finished speaking, Carlotta was holding the nine-tails fox cub in her arms.

The little one let out a series of "yips," and its half-open beautiful fox eyes faintly resembled Henry’s.

"Let’s make it public," Carlotta stroked the chin of the nine-tails fox cub, which yipped even more happily in response. The other cubs quickly climbed into Carlotta’s arms,tilted their heads and beg for a touch.

Carlotta stroked each one gently, her expression tender, "The cubs are the future of the Empire. When the citizens learn of their existence, they will love them as much as we do."

Keeping them hidden is an option, but the cubs will grow up and go to school, eventually entering society.

Even if she wanted to protect them, she couldn’t do it forever.

The Empress was delighted when Carlotta agreed to make the cubs public.

The news that Carlotta had given birth to two female cubs in one litter would undoubtedly strengthen the collective pride and belonging of the citizens of the Nore Empire.

"Carlotta, let me just say this, how do you really feel about Abyss?" Thinking about some political matters, the Empress suddenly mentioned Abyss, "For females, the only ones who will never betray them are their mates."

"While marking can control males, true intimacy is the strongest means of control."

As a junior, Carlotta didn’t need the Empress to spell it out.

She didn’t want Carlotta to unmark Abyss.

Abyss’ strength was undeniable. Without him serving in the Empire, other countries might have already resorted to various tactics to try and snatch Carlotta away.

When the Empress mentioned Abyss, Carlotta said directly, "Empress, even without using the method you mentioned to control Abyss, he wouldn’t be the kind of orc who would betray the Empire."

Unexpectedly, Carlotta praised Abyss sincerely, making the Empress chuckle, "It seems he still has a good side in your heart. Alright, it’s your juniors’ business, so I won’t worry about it."

"As for making the cubs public..."

Carlotta discussed with the Empress for a while longer and finally decided to hold a real banquet the day after tomorrow, using the live broadcast to reveal the cubs’ identities.

Previous banquets were just everyone sitting together, sipping nutrient fluid and dancing, lacking the ambiance of historically recorded banquets.

Now that pollution-free meat is available, holding another banquet will surely bring even greater peace to our people’s hearts.

Carlotta thought they had finished discussing matters when the Empress spoke up again, "The Deep Blue Empire, which has always maintained friendly relations with the Nore Empire, has been eager for quite some time to invite you to provide spiritual pacification for their prince. I’d like to grant their request during this banquet."

This was also a discussion with Carlotta.

"The Deep Blue Empire?" Carlotta searched her memory for information about this nation.

They are the only interstellar country with a single race, where all citizens are Merfolk.

The merfolk from fairy tales.

The Merfolk possess underwater technology and dwell on the Deep Blue Planet, neighboring Nore Empire.

"I see," Carlotta acknowledged, understanding that this was a matter of diplomatic affairs, "I’m willing to provide spiritual pacification for their prince."

With that settled, the Empress spent a moment entertaining her six grandchildren through the screen before ending the communication.

As soon as the call disconnected, Abyss’s voice echoed from outside the children’s room.

"Carlotta, it’s time for the babies’ milk."