TVCWB Chapter 50

Chapter 050

The reason was that Perea had hesitated several times when answering Theo’s questions about Rabbit Village.

After that, Madam Trukisil didn’t ask about Rabbit Village again.

In her own way, she was trying to be considerate so the child wouldn’t remember painful memories.

How much must they dislike the child to send him away with only servants and no family elders…!

In her family, such a thing would never happen.

She emphasized several times that if they had any difficulties while staying in Eclit, they should tell her.

Perea thanked her sincerely for her kindness. It was only when the sun began to set that she was finally able to leave the greenhouse.

When they had entered the hotel lobby earlier, it had been 2 p.m. …They had spent more than three hours having tea and talking.

Madam Trukisil didn’t seem to suspect Theo’s identity at all, but Perea had been nervous the whole time, thinking carefully about every word in case they were exposed. Her stomach hurt from the tension.

Ray, who had stood still behind them the entire time, probably felt the same.

“Sir Ray, don’t your legs hurt? Should I give you some medicine?”

“They don’t hurt. I’m fine. Theo, does your stomach hurt? You ate a lot of cake earlier.”

Ray lifted Theo into his arms and listened to the sounds coming from the child’s belly.

Grrrr, grr, grrrrr.

As expected, all kinds of noises came from his overly full stomach. Ray clicked his tongue softly and rubbed Theo’s belly.

Theo giggled and scrunched his shoulders because the large hand tickled him.

“Perea, I think Theo should take some digestive medicine.”

“Really? Wait a moment. Let me listen too.”

Surprised by Ray’s words, Perea quickly stepped closer. She leaned in and placed her ear against Theo’s stomach while Ray was holding him.

Because of that, the distance between her and Ray suddenly became very close. Ray swallowed sharply.

Today again, her sweet scent, her soft skin, and her sparkling eyes were beautiful.

A low sound slipped from his throat without him realizing, and his face grew hot. He subtly shifted one foot closer to her.

If Berry had seen him, she would surely have held her forehead and said he was too timid to be useful anywhere.

“Hmm. You’re right. Theo, you should go up to the room, take some medicine, and rest.”

“Already?!”

“What do you mean already? Look, the sun is saying goodbye and going to sleep.”

“Then the moon will say hello and come out!”

Theo’s language skills had improved a lot. He was so cute that Perea couldn’t stop a small laugh from escaping.

After laughing softly, she quickly fixed her expression and shook her head.

“Still no. If you eat more here, you’ll definitely get sick.”

“Waaah…! We have to go eat meat…!”

“We’re not eating meat today. Right, Sir Ray?”

There had been no such plan, but Perea signaled Ray to agree with her.

She blinked one eye. A wink. It was a signal she used at the academy when tricking friends on their birthdays, so she naturally used it again.

And when Ray received that wink, his heart pounded wildly.

He knew she wasn’t sending that kind of signal in this situation. He also knew she had never once sent him any romantic signal before.

But Ray already had deep feelings for Perea, and his mind refused to think logically.

All he could feel was the growing flutter in his chest at her cute wink.

So, without even knowing exactly what she wanted him to do, Ray could only answer shortly, “Yes.” He left the interpretation up to Perea.

The capital of the Amur Empire, Tigo.

These days, the atmosphere in the Imperial Palace at the center of the city felt tense and fragile, like walking on thin ice.

The reason was that the Emperor’s youngest and most beloved prince had gone missing.

The prince’s mother, the Third Consort, had collapsed from shock. The Emperor was also shaken. He angrily ordered those who had arranged the prince’s trip to find him immediately.

When they had first suggested giving the prince an enjoyable travel experience, the Emperor had gladly agreed. But upon hearing of the child’s disappearance, he completely changed his attitude.

He pressured his subordinates every day and officially sent a search party. Unsatisfied with that, he also dispatched his own secret pursuit team.

However, even after several days, neither group reported any news about the youngest prince.

Around that time, the news of the prince’s disappearance—once kept quiet—began spreading outside the palace.

The Empress’s faction celebrated. The faction supporting the youngest prince panicked and lost direction.

If months passed like this, even if the youngest prince were alive, he might not be able to return alive.

The Empress’s children, who felt threatened by him, would surely take action somehow…!

The forces that supported the youngest prince also urgently sent out knights to find any trace of the child.

But unfortunately, they couldn’t find even a single strand of his hair.

“W-What is this situation! Who suggested such a trip to that young prince?!”

“Do you think anyone among us would make such a ridiculous request? It must have been a script written by the other side! Hah!”

“But wasn’t that person with him? Shouldn’t it be fine?”

“Is that person a god? If something serious happened, do you think even he would be unharmed?!”

Voices like wild beasts filled the large hall. They were not tiger beastmen, but leopard beastmen—still fierce predators.

Thick, intimidating pheromones poured from their heavy bodies, pressing against one another.

Bang!

A loud noise came from the head seat. All mouths shut, and every gaze turned to one place.

“It seems we have been struck this time.”

The rough voice sounded like metal scraping.

He was the head of the Reat family of Foden Reat, a family made up mostly of leopard beastmen. He was a tiger beastman and the older brother of the Third Consort—in other words, the youngest prince’s uncle.

He had worked tirelessly to place a new Emperor from the Reat family on the throne.

Even though the imperial lineage was already complicated, he did not hesitate to complicate it further by making his sister a consort of the Emperor. He had also put in great effort to ensure she gave birth to a healthy heir.

And now, the prince had disappeared on his way to travel? His life or death was still unknown?

While he had been away on a diplomatic mission to a neighboring country, such an absurd event had happened.

It made him laugh in disbelief.

Losing the prince so easily made no sense. He had worked like a dog for this…! If his nephew simply grew up safely, the next Emperor’s seat would have been guaranteed.

He could not just watch his grand plan collapse.

Hiding his turmoil, Foden forced the corners of his mouth upward.

“Calm down, everyone. We have not found Prince Theo, but neither has the worst outcome been confirmed.”

“B-But there has been no news at all! It’s time to prepare for what comes next!” someone shouted from far away, as if wanting to oppose him.

A mere lower member daring to raise his voice at him…

Foden flicked the ears on top of his head a few times. At the same time, he released his pheromones and let out a low, threatening growl.

For just a moment, an explosive killing intent filled the hall. Everyone—including the one who had spoken—curled their tails and hunched their shoulders.

It was an instinctive reaction when suppressed by the pheromones of someone stronger.

“Oh, my apologies.”

He said the words with a face that showed no apology at all, then smiled again.

“We have sent our own people separately. Let us wait a little longer. Within a week, it should become clear.”

He spoke of waiting to prevent unrest within the family. But honestly, he knew that even one week was a long time. He also knew there was little he could do while watching his plan crumble.

Thinking of all the possible outcomes of what might happen next made his head ache as if it would split apart.

If only he could find out where the prince was… no, even if he could just learn whether he was alive or dead…

A deep crease formed between Foden’s brows.