I Am the Only Fertile Woman in the Game

Zong Fang's expression softened a bit, and he lifted his eyelids to ask, "Do you want to go?"

"That way you won't have to go to the Military Department and take their crap anymore."

Zong Fang's face cleared up slightly, but he still didn't want her to have direct contact with Ruka and thus didn't continue the conversation.

Qiao Suisui's eyes twinkled, and an expression of yearning appeared on her face. As if unintentionally, she said, "Besides, I've never seen a mating ceremony before. I've heard it's very grand. It would be nice to go see it... and then we could learn to set up our own mating ceremony..."

"What did you say?"

"The Royal Family's mating ceremony is very impressive."

"No, the next sentence."

"It would be nice to go see it."

"No, it's..."

Zong Fang saw her sly smile and immediately understood that the little rascal was teasing him, getting so frustrated that he hugged her and kissed her fiercely.

"I heard it, you said 'our mating ceremony'."

He held her in his arms, watching Suisui play with his silver hair, nestled in his embrace, both obedient and endearing, a sense of surreal happiness rising in his heart.

"Qiaoqiao." He looked down at her, his expression serious, "Would you let me be your mate?"

She was stunned by the deep affection in Zong Fang's eyes, then she remembered he was a man with strong possessiveness and control, certainly unwilling to share a mate with another male, so she said, "Zong Fang, I want you to be my only mate."

Zong Fang's eyes reddened slightly, then he quickly looked down, trying to hide it, but his slightly trembling hands betrayed his emotions at the moment. He held her tightly, as if wanting Qiao Suisui to melt into his very bones and fuse with him.

"Okay. I will never betray you, Qiaoqiao."

Qiao Suisui rested her chin on his broad shoulder, her face turned cold, then said in a sweet voice, "Yeah, me too."

...

The next day, at the Auslan Imperial Court.

In the full-length mirror reflecting courtly fashion, Ruka's face appeared. He was dressed in a finely-tailored long coat that accentuated his already superior proportions, long legs, narrow waist, broad shoulders, like a walking clothes hanger.

When Angsi entered, he too was stunned. Military uniforms are always crisp and masculine, fitting the Colonel's handsome temperament. But he hadn't expected him to look so dashing in this flamboyant, extravagant court attire.

"Is everything arranged?"

Hearing Ruka's question, Angsi snapped back to reality, then replied solemnly, "Yes, everyone's in place. We'll nab Zong Fang as soon as he shows up."

Ruka nodded, adjusting his cuffs. His profile in the mirror, sharp, with a deep complexion.

"Remember, whether Suisui shows up or not, the ceremony cannot proceed."

"Yes. Colonel, should we notify Prince Leberli as well?"

On the day he requested the ceremony be moved up, he had ordered Angsi to prepare—to retrieve Suisui and to bring people to destroy his own mating ceremony. Looking down at the garden below, the venue was already filled with many attending nobles. Leberli, wearing a white stand-collar suit, was smiling and toasting with the guests.

"No need. He must have his own arrangements, but he won't tell me."

Leberli was using him, and Ruka was clear about that. But for Suisui's sake, he was willing to be used. However, that didn't mean he would willingly mate with the Princess so that Leberli could have a chance to monopolize Suisui.

Something was slowly changing between these former friends.

Qiao Suisui was unaware of these arrangements, and she didn't even know how she got there. As soon as she opened her eyes, she found herself in a luxuriously decorated palace. Seeing the needle mark on her arm, she immediately understood. Although she had successfully cajoled him into taking her with him yesterday, Zong Fang's suspicion was entrenched deep within his bones. He probably feared she would remember the way and escape, so he sedated her with a sleeping potion.

But he didn't realize that Qiao Suisui had no intention of escaping at all. Once she was in the Imperial Court, she could use Leberli to suppress Zong Fang. No matter how strong he was, a mighty dragon can't crush a local snake.

Leberli really did arrive quickly.

"Suisui!"

"Ash, how did you find me?"

"Evon's Beast Form is a bat, and Talent is echolocation, but it has a distance limit, which is why I asked you to come to the Imperial Court. I had Evon hold off Zong Fang; the Flying Ship is already waiting outside. Let's go."

Leberli was about to take her hand and leave, when he realized that Qiao Suisui had no reaction.

"Suisui, what's wrong?"

"Leave? Where to?"

Leberli squatted in front of her, his eyes twinkling with amusement, and said, "I'm planning to give up everything in the Royal Family and take you to a place where no one can find us. Don't worry, I've arranged everything. After you give birth to the child, we'll raise it together."

She looked into Leberli's hopeful eyes and slightly furrowed her brows. "Zong Fang won't let me go, and running away isn't the solution. Since we are at the Imperial Court, you can just seize him."

Leberli's smile stiffened as he met her dark eyes, and said, "Although I'm a member of the Royal Family, I don't have the real power to mobilize troops at will..." As he finished speaking, he saw her expression turn colder, and his hand unconsciously clenched into a fist.

"Suisui, don't you...want to go with me?"

She nodded, showing no attempt to hide the disappointment in her eyes.

Seeing her reaction, Leberli felt as though an invisible hand was choking him. He licked his lips and said with difficulty, "...is it because of Sikoses?"

"No."

Her swift and resolute response gave Leberli a glimmer of hope.

"Then why..."

"What I want is a stable and safe life. Ash, I really appreciate it, but I don't want to live a life of hiding and running, nor should I have to."

Her tone was calm, and her voice was soft, but to Leberli, it felt as though her words carried the weight of a thousand pounds, pushing him away fiercely.

What she meant was, he wasn't strong enough... to protect her...

He had no idea that Suisui had undergone a significant change inside. Being locked up by Zong Fang, having to obtain his approval for everything, living on other people's terms every day, she felt like she was back in that suffocating family environment, carefully pleasing her family, living at someone else's mercy.

She was fed up with that life.

If she was already in the game, why couldn't she be in control of her own life?

She didn't want to be the perennial damsel in distress.

After finishing speaking, Qiao Suisui stood up and passed by Leberli.

Leberli, who had been crouching with his head down, now had his eyes wide open, his handsome face contorted, and he trembled with overwhelming frustration.

Leaving the room, Qiao Suisui, holding her belly, came to the garden. Not far ahead, applause and cheers could be heard, probably from a ceremony taking place.

She sighed and made her decision.

She didn't want to ruin Ruka's happiness, but now that the path with Leberli was closed off, Ruka was the only option left. She hoped he would help her against Zong Fang for the sake of the unborn child.

Just as she entered the venue, a 'boom—' sounded, and the whole ground shook with the tremendous blast.

Unable to stand firm in the shaking, Qiao Suisui fell heavily to the ground. Suddenly, she felt a 'whoosh,' and a release below her waist.

Oh no, the water broke...