After Becoming Pregnant With The Empress Cat's Cub - Chapter 29.1

Lan Ye looked at Rin. “What did Cat Sister say?”

“She’s saying goodbye. You stay seated. I’ll see her out.”

Rin carried the cat toward the door. Lan Ye waved. “Goodbye, Cat Sister! Come visit whenever you’re free~”

Rin walked to the door and looked at the beastman still standing guard. She placed the cat in her arms. “Take her to the Queen’s palace.”

Little Landmine caught the cat instinctively. “Huh? Me?”

“Meow~~~~~~~” Yes, you, you lightbulb of a landmine.

Lan Ye watched Rin return and glanced at the closed palace doors behind her. She had seen her hand the cat to Little Landmine, she just hadn’t heard what they said from that distance. But everything seemed to have gone smoothly.

As Rin walked back to her, Lan Ye had a very important question. “Do you actually understand what those ‘meow meow meows’ mean?”

Rin nodded. Kittens could learn to communicate simply with people, as long as the meaning wasn’t too complex, they could be understood.

Lan Ye: … Oh no! She began frantically trying to remember what she had said to Little Landmine in front of Cat Sister. She seemed to have mentioned that Rin had hidden her status as a Princess to marry her, that was fine, it was the truth. But she had also said that if Rin hadn’t been so persistent and begged her to marry her, she wouldn’t have agreed. She had also said the King looked like he thought she was a social climber. She said the King had no eye for people and was a fool…

If Cat Sister was Rin’s sister, then the King was also Cat Sister’s mother… Cat Sister wouldn’t go and snitch, would she? I was careless, Lan Ye thought. She had forgotten that in this world, cats were mostly not ordinary cats! She knew she should have left earlier, this place not only had “ears on the walls” but also disarming “cat ears”!

Since Cat Sister had left in such a hurry, she couldn’t be going to snitch right away, could she? Probably not. How could a kitten be such a snitch? That was a job for dogs.

She looked at Rin and suddenly realized that Cat Sister’s departure had also taken Little Landmine away. Now, in this space, it was just the two of them. Cat Sister couldn’t have been thoughtfully clearing the way for their “world of two,” could she? If Cat Sister were here, she would have to praise the human for being clever. Meow~ That’s exactly it.

Rin looked at the human, whose eyes were darting around as she thought about something. There was no trace left of her having cried, she must have washed her face and tidied up. Recalling the sight of the human weeping in the Great Hall, Rin felt a pang of guilt. She sat down next to her, thinking about how to explain what had happened.

The sofa sank slightly under the additional weight. Lan Ye snapped back to her senses. She looked at the person who had sat down. It was strange, now that they were alone, every move Rin made seemed magnified. Watching how much the seat sank, Lan Ye suddenly realized she hadn’t noticed this detail when Little Landmine sat down. Rin must be heavier. But it wasn’t that Rin was fatter than Little Landmine, she was just taller.

Before, Lan Ye hadn’t had a visceral sense of Rin’s height. She knew she was taller than her, and roughly by how much, but it had always been a calculated difference. However, not long ago in the Great Hall, when Rin had pulled her into her arms and her face was pressed against Rin’s shoulder, she had suddenly gained a very real feeling for it. Their embrace was a perfect fit!

Lan Ye looked at Rin. She truly satisfied her in every way. She traced the contours of the face that had made her heart skip a beat from their very first meeting. She looked thinner than before. She probably hadn’t been eating well these past three weeks. Every time they video-called, she had reminded her to eat and drink more water, but she must not have listened. She didn’t know what Rin had been doing, during their calls, Lan Ye was almost always the one talking about her own life, and whenever she asked Rin, Rin would just say everything was fine.

Lan Ye believed that couples needed space and hadn’t pushed, but she could vaguely guess what it was about. It was likely today’s situation, the King was looking for her and wanted her home, and she was avoiding her. Ultimately, the King had found her.

The sunlight filtered through the stained glass into the chambers, casting a pattern of colored shadows over them. Lan Ye looked at the person who seemed to have a lingering shadow even in the light. Rin seemed to have something she wanted to say but didn’t know how to start. Lan Ye didn’t know how to start either. Those words in the Great Hall were meant for the audience, facing Rin alone, Lan Ye didn’t know what to say.

Sighing inwardly, Lan Ye thought that if it hadn’t been for this morning’s ordeal, they were supposed to be at the bridal shop today. Rin would have seen her in her gown, and Lan Ye had planned that if Rin complimented her, she would give her a big kiss. At that thought, Lan Ye looked down at the wedding dress she hadn’t yet changed out of.

“Does it look good, this dress?” Lan Ye asked, breaking the silence.

Rin came back from her thoughts. Hearing the question, she looked at the pure white gown the human was wearing. When she had first seen her clearly in the Great Hall, she already had an answer. “It looks good.”

Hearing this, the light reflected from the crystals on the dress found its way into Lan Ye’s eyes, making them sparkle. “I think so too.” After saying this, Lan Ye looked up at Rin, the light in her eyes fading. What a shame. The wedding was going to be canceled. At least she had worn it today, and Rin had seen it.

Just as she was about to tell her to take a good look since she wouldn’t see it again, the person in front of her suddenly stood up. Hmm? Lan Ye watched her go to the side of the sofa and pick up the backpack she had left on the floor. “What are you doing with my bag?” Lan Ye asked in confusion as Rin sat back down.

As she spoke, she saw Rin unzip the bag and pull out a red velvet box with a gold clasp. It was square and small, looking like a ring box. Lan Ye thought of the “pigeon egg” diamond ring in her bag, that jewelry box was also this size and red velvet, but it wasn’t the same one Rin was holding. Clearly, the material of the box in Rin’s hand was of much higher quality, a red that felt expensive at a glance.

Before Lan Ye could wonder why there was another jewelry box in her bag, Rin took hold of her wrist. Rin carefully removed the diamond ring from Lan Ye’s hand. While looking at the dress earlier, the sight of that ring had reminded her of the item she had prepared for the human. Setting the ring aside, Rin used one hand to open the jewelry box she had just taken out and placed it on her knee.

In the sunlight, a flash of red gemstone light struck Lan Ye’s wide, surprised eyes. “What is this?” Why was there a ruby ring in her bag?

Rin looked at the amazement in the human’s eyes and pursed her lips. She thought back to the journey here, when she had debated whether or not to give this gift. Compared to the “surprise” the human had intended to give her, the value of this return gift was far too great… it made her look “stupid.” Now, she thought, if she were the one to give it first… the problem seemed to be solved.

She took the ring from the box and slowly slid it onto the human’s finger, replacing the “cheap” diamond. She carefully held the human’s hand, looking at the gemstone gleaming in the light. It suited this human perfectly. The actual effect was also much better than the composite photo.

Lan Ye looked at the ring on her finger, astonished. “This… is for me?” Although she was unrefined and didn’t know much about luxury, some things were so obviously valuable they didn’t need explaining. The ruby on her finger was one of those things. What’s going on? Why was Rin suddenly giving her a ring? Especially in this situation.

Rin nodded. She was about to say it was a gift, but the human beat her to it. Lan Ye looked at Rin and asked hesitantly, “Is this… a breakup gift?”

“Breakup?” Rin was confused.

Lan Ye tried another word: “Divorce?” Their relationship was so complicated, she didn’t even know which word to use for its end.

“Our relationship.” Lan Ye didn’t finish before being interrupted.

“Will not change.” Rin looked at the human.

Lan Ye stared back: “Huh?”

Rin looked entirely serious. “I apologize for what happened today, you were frightened. This will never happen again.”

“Huh?” Lan Ye was even more shocked. What does this mean?

Rin reached out and stroked the human’s fluffy head. It really was as the human said, the texture was great. “I am Rin. I was before, and I will be in the future. Our marriage is real and valid.”

Hearing this, Lan Ye felt something was off. “You’re not going to be a Princess anymore?” For me? Lan Ye’s eyes widened. No way. In her surprise, she saw Rin nod. “Yes.”

Rin looked at the dress on the human. “I apologize. The wedding needs to be delayed by one day.”

“Huh?” Lan Ye felt her frequency of “huh”-ing today was rivaling a crow.

Rin explained, “She promised me that if I stay to celebrate her birthday, she will allow me to leave and will never force me back again.” From then on, she wouldn’t have to be a Princess. Rin had agreed to this condition. The birthday and the wedding both fell on the 30th. She felt sorry toward Lan Ye, but for the sake of a stable future, she had to move the wedding date. “The wedding is postponed by one day. After the birthday celebration, we’ll leave.”

Lan Ye listened, dumbfounded. Rin really wasn’t going to be a Princess anymore! She looked at the person before her. Good grief, this is the ultimate ‘love-brain.’ She’s actually giving up being a Princess for me! Then again, it’s my fault for being so charming! But this kind of “giving up everything for you” plot usually didn’t end well! Besides, she didn’t want to stay in this palace, especially not until the King’s birthday. A sheep in the lion’s den, every extra day was dangerous!

Lan Ye wanted to suggest that she should probably leave first, but before she could speak, Rin spoke again. “Also, the money you wanted, when we leave the palace, she will give it to you in full.”

Hearing this, Lan Ye’s “I’ll leave first” instantly turned into: “Huh?”

Rin smiled. “Didn’t you ask for 230 million? After the birthday celebration, it will be given to you.”

Lan Ye looked at Rin in bewilderment. What kind of negotiation skills are these? How did she get this result? The King wasn’t angry anymore? She was actually going to give her money? “Are you sure?” Something feels so wrong…

Rin looked at the human, a flicker of a smile in her eyes. This “condition” was something she had thought of on the spot when she saw the human’s hesitant expression. “I’m sure. Stay in the palace for a few days and leave with me after the birthday, okay?” One way or another, she could make up the money to her later.

“It’s not very okay… What if the King thinks I corrupted you and decides to get rid of me?”

Rin pursed her lips. “She wouldn’t dare.”

“Huh?” Lan Ye was confused yet again.

Rin reached out and placed her hand on Lan Ye’s stomach, reminding her, “You are pregnant.” The fabric of the dress was too thick. Rin couldn’t feel anything. The human had said her stomach had grown a lot of “meat” over these three weeks and told her she had to touch it when she came back, saying it was all her responsibility and she had to take full blame. Naturally, she would take it.

Lan Ye didn’t understand. What did being pregnant have to do with anything? She asked exactly what she was thinking. Rin was already used to this human’s ignorance and patiently explained the legal statutes, certain customary rules, and how the royal family conducted themselves.

The reason Rin had hurried back so urgently was out of concern that those people wouldn’t know the human was pregnant. If she were frightened or if they did something, it wouldn’t just be bad for the human, it would be bad for them as well. That was why she had announced the pregnancy in the Great Hall in front of everyone.

In short, Lan Ye understood, she could currently walk through this place with her head held high! She suddenly remembered Qiao Zi, the King’s guard, and his complete change in attitude. So that was it! From being under the eaves to standing on the roof!

Lan Ye puffed out her stomach, which wasn’t showing at all, even pushing Rin’s hand up slightly. Looking at Rin’s hand, something occurred to her. She looked at Rin. “You don’t mind that I took the money and left?” She hadn’t even explained that she wasn’t asking for a “breakup fee” but was just asking for a “hush fee.” Why didn’t Rin even ask? She seemed completely unbothered, even helping her get the money so she could take it when they left. Did she really not care?

Rin thought back to the Great Hall, when she had asked that question and the human had started sobbing. She didn’t want to bring that up again… besides, what the human said wasn’t wrong. “As you said, raising a child costs money.” Rin looked as though Lan Ye had done exactly the right thing.

Lan Ye’s heart began to hammer. Good grief, is this a legendary, epic level love-brain? She loves me to the point of being brainless? Lan Ye pressed down on her pounding heart, which seemed excited to have witnessed such a “love-brain” for the first time.

“We can leave after the birthday?” “Mm.” “She’ll actually give the money?” “Mm.” “Fine.”

If I don’t take a love-brain like this with you, they’ll be swindled sooner or later. A week, it wasn’t like she couldn’t stay. It would pass in the blink of an eye. “So where am I staying?”

As soon as she finished speaking, without any warning, Lan Ye was suddenly lifted into the air. Before she could be surprised by why Rin had suddenly picked her up, she was set back down, right on that bed she had wanted to try out earlier, the Princess’s bed. It was softer than she had imagined, so soft she sank deep into it. It was like falling into a gentle trap.

Rin set her down and braced her hands on either side of the human. With the light behind her, her amber eyes appeared deeper than usual. She looked down at the human from above and answered her question.

“Here.”