Chosen Mate Of The Beastmen Empire

Chapter 409 Chapter 409

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It was afternoon. Sunlight streamed through the carved window lattice, casting dappled golden patches on the floor and bathing Nyx, who lounged on a cushioned couch, in a soft, glowing halo.

Aurelius stepped into the bedchamber, and the moment he saw her on the couch, his stern expression softened.

He waved off the attendants' bows and hurried over, wrapping his arms around Nyx from behind. Burying his face in her neck, he took a deep breath of her sweet scent, his eyes falling to her hands. "Nyx, are you dyeing your nails?"

Her skin was smooth and pale as fine jade, her fingertips tinged with a faint pink. She didn't need any extra adornment to look stunning. Aurelius especially loved turning into his beast form, letting those hands pet him from head to tail.

Nyx didn't usually fuss over her appearance, so this was the first time he'd seen her dye her nails-he couldn't take his eyes off her, curiosity piqued.

The palace maids mashed balsam flowers into juice, soaked tiny squares of silk in it, and carefully pressed them onto Nyx's nails, tying them in place with string.

After watching intently for a bit, Aurelius rolled up his sleeves and shooed the maids away. "I'll do it."

He sat right next to Nyx, squeezing onto the same chair until she shot him an annoyed glance and ended up perched on his lap, just as he'd hoped. Seeing this, the other attendants tactfully slipped out of the room.

Whenever they were together, they never needed servants hovering around-and didn't like being disturbed either.

Aurelius had gotten good at these acts of service, handling them with a skill that made it seem like he'd been doing it every day in a past life and hadn't forgotten a thing in this one. He took Nyx's soft hand in his, his touch light but steady.

The cool sensation brushed her fingertips, and Nyx tilted her head slightly, gazing at the focused yet tender profile of the man beside her. Suddenly, she spoke up, "I heard you threw a huge fit at morning court today?

"Some official urged you to hold a consort selection, and you tossed him in jail?”

"Who's been blabbing nonsense to you?" Aurelius frowned sharply. His anger flared up, but then Nyx nudged his earlobe with her nose, and just like that, he deflated, unable to stay mad.

"It's those idiots stirring up trouble for no reason,” he grumbled, a hint of a pout in his voice as he nuzzled into her shoulder. "I ignored all the memorials they sent up before, but they wouldn't let it go-had the nerve to bring it up in open court."

Even the simplest villagers knew how much he adored Nyx-his own courtiers should know too. They had to realize it'd piss him off, yet someone still jumped out to push for consorts-someone behind the scenes was pulling strings. Either through threats or bribes.noveldrama

Either way, he'd thrown that pawn of an official into prison first. Sooner or later, he'd catch the tail of whoever was really behind it and figure out what they were up to.

"Everything he said was nonsense," Aurelius declared, shifting into his beast form. He poked his head out of his dragon robe's collar and burrowed into Nyx's arms, his blue eyes gazing up at her pleadingly. "I'm not listening to him, and you

shouldn't either."

Nyx's health had been fragile for years, but after three years of care, she'd gotten much stronger-though the imperial physicians all agreed she couldn't bear children. But all he wanted was Nyx by his side-nothing else mattered.

With her nails still drying. Nyx couldn't pet him, so she leaned down and kissed his fluffy head instead, her voice tinged with a smile. "But you've got a throne to pass down, and I can't give you an heir."

"We'll just adopt one from the clan" The little white cat meowed quickly, cutting her off and rolling around in her lap. “I

don't like kids."

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A child who didn't even exist yet couldn't stir a shred of feeling in him. All he could think about was how tough it was for a woman to carry a child-maybe even life- threatening. Nyx not being able to conceive was honestly a relief.

You don't like kids Nyx squinted at him, her expression odd as she sized up the little white cat. "Really?" Seeing how he doted on Sera, he didn't exactly seem like someone who disliked children.

The little white cat blinked. If it were his and Nyx's child, he'd probably love it out of affection for her. As long as the birth went smoothly and Nyx didn't suffer too much.

But since Nyx couldn't conceive, that hypothetical didn't matter. As for other people's kids-The little white cat's face darkened for a split second before he stated firmly, "Don't like 'em."

"Oh, Nyx said with a knowing smile. Tll keep that in mind."

If you ever upset me, I'll go tattle to the kid, she thought.

Sera was a total little devil-she wouldn't hold back bullying her own dad. Aurelius

might be full of schemes, but against his own cub, he'd be helpless

Nyx could already picture two identical fluffy white kittens tumbling around in a ball-it was so cute she nearly got a nosebleed just thinking about it.

Curled up in her lap, the little white cat suddenly felt a chill run down his spine and shook out his fur.

He puffed out his chest, stood up straight, and glanced around to check if the windows were letting in a draft. Then he reached out a paw to touch Nyx's hand— feeling it a bit cold, he pressed his warm belly against it to warm her up.

I won't make you mad, Nyx, he promised earnestly.

As for having kids with someone else that was out of the question, so Nyx wouldn't have a chance to snitch.

Their eyes met, and the little cat's pure, innocent gaze pierced straight into Nyx's heart. Her hand warmed up nicely under his belly, but her conscience gave a little twinge.

"It's about time—I think we can take them off," Nyx said with a light cough, wiggling her fingertips to change the subject.

She'd gotten the sudden urge to dye her nails because Pale Wolf had stopped by the palace that day, bringing her some double-petaled balsam flowers freshly grown in the Duke's estate greenhouse.

The blooms were vibrant and thriving. The palace maids had never seen such a rich color and couldn't stop gushing about how pretty it'd look dyed on nails. Their chatter got so loud it sparked Nyx's curiosity too.

They unwrapped the silk, rinsed off the leftover juice with clean water, and she spread out her slender fingers, tilting them up to the light to admire.

From what she remembered, dyeing nails with balsam flowers could easily stain the cuticles too if you weren't careful- hardly pretty, sometimes even a bit creepy.

But Aurelius had a freakishly steady hand and hadn't gotten a single bit on her skin.

"It actually looks kinda nice," she said, fluttering her fingers lightly and holding them up for Aurelius to see. "Doesn't it make my hands look fairer?"

In the sunlight, her ten fingers were still creamy white as ever, but the tips shimmered with a deep red that faded into layers of peachy rouge

The little white cat stared, totally mesmerized. After a long silence with no reply, Nyx's vision blurred for a second, and she blinked in surprise as he shifted back to human form.

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In broad daylight, the sudden shift hit her hard-even after all these years together, she couldn't handle it and awkwardly looked away. "Put some clothes on."

But his towering figure leaned in, pinning her wrists without a word, cradling her hand in his palm. He rubbed it gently, then started kissing-from the back of her hand all the way to her fingertips.

"Nyx," he murmured, bowing his head and placing her hand on top of his head.

Nyx instinctively smoothed his hair a few times, then he guided her hand to his face. Then his throat.

宙

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