Chosen Mate Of The Beastmen Empire

16:15 Mon, 17 Mar MOD

All the physicians took turns checking her pulse, and their conclusions matched the old director's.

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The two males' eyes grew brighter, a flicker of hope igniting. Calming down to think it over, Banon's words might not be true. He could've just pinpointed their weakness, tricked them, and laughed at their panic.

Realizing this, Aurelius's aura softened. He ordered the physicians to prescribe cold medicine and dismissed them, then knelt halfway to grasp Nyx's hand. "Nyx, when you went out today, did anything happen?”

Nyx blinked, thought hard, and nodded. "The heir of Marquis Anders mentioned to me that his father heard from a traveling merchant that lots of people in the south are getting sick-some even died."

That was the most worrying thing she'd encountered today.

"Oh, and someone bumped into me. I wasn't hurt-he probably didn't mean it," she added, recalling the beggar's pitiful state. "He seemed sick, too poor to get treatment. The shadow guards took him for questioning, but they could call a doctor to check on him while they're at it."

The faint glimmer of luck they'd felt crumbled away. Aurelius barely held himself together, dragging heavy steps to summon the shadow guard leader.

"That beggar had a tattoo of Banon's deathsworn," the leader said, not daring to meet Aurelius's gaze, bowing low. "He's already dead

They hadn't even started interrogating him. Right as they began, his face went pale, he gasped for air, his breathing visibly weakened, and he died right in front of them. High fever, drenched in sweat, shaking all over, just like Banon.

Everyone's hearts sank to rock bottom. Except Nyx's. She frowned as she listened, finally piecing together why her partners were acting so strange. So, Banon had schemed to make her sick.

"But I still feel like it's just a cold," she said, touching her forehead and cheeks. She was a bit warm, but not badly. "I was out in the wind today and soaked in cool water for hours. I just caught a chill.

Her symptoms were clearly different from that guy's. Plus, the symptoms the shadow guard described sounded kinda familiar.

"What Banon had sounds like malaria, Nyx mused, digging through her mental knowledge bank. "If it's malaria, hìm touching me like that wouldn't spread it."

"It doesn't spread?" Erik's ears perked up. "Really?"

He trusted Nyx's words unconditionally, but this time was different-he worried she might be comforting him on purpose.

Nyx shook her head honestly. "It's not that it doesn't spread-it just doesn't spread that way."

Malaria wasn't like the flu; mosquito bites were its main way of spreading. Poor old director got dragged back that same night, summoned again to discuss some mosquito-borne disease with Nyx.

Tve heard of something like this before, but I've never seen this, mal-aria myself, the old director said, racking his brain. He vaguely recalled a medical text mentioning it, though not by that name. He couldn't remember the cure-just something about mosquito bites.

"Alright, go check your books again," Nyx said, sighing when he offered no real help. She decided not to cling to false hope. "I still think it's just a cold, but starting today, I'll isolate. No contact with outsiders until I'm better."

If she'd misjudged and it wasn't malaria-and she'd caught something-she could limit the spread by isolating. The shadow guards who'd dealt with Banon and the beggar deathsworn had to isolate too.

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Everyone else cleared out of the bedchamber, leaving the two males lingering by Nyx's side, one on her left, one on her right, refusing to budge.

Nyx squinted, pinching their ears. "You're really staying?"

These two had kissed her mouth even when they thought she had some terrifying contagious disease. They didn't say it outright, but their actions screamed they'd follow her to the grave rather than live without her.

"You're the Emperor. And you're a general guarding the nation. She rubbed their heads helplessly, her heart a mess of feelings. "You shouldn't risk your lives."

"There are plenty of emperors. If one's gone, another takes his place," Aurelius said, hugging her waist tightly, his voice

muffled.

Same went for generals-never a shortage. But Nyx was one and only. Once they'd latched on, they'd never let go.

Erik was clumsy with words. He couldn't say anything fancy. He just nodded quietly beside her, then suddenly started unbuttoning her clothes. He'd dressed her in them himself, so stripping them off was quick and easy for him.

"What are you doing?" Nyx's flood of emotions vanished in a flash. Startled, she yanked the blanket over herself. "Tm still

sick!"

'Did the shock turn this honest guy into a beast?' she thought.

Erik didn't get mad at being misunderstood. He looked serious. "Checking if you got bitten by mosquitoes."

Aurelius's face turned stern too. He mercilessly snatched Nyx's little blanket away. The bedchamber fell quiet, only the faint rustle of fabric breaking the silence.

The two males' gazes felt like they could burn, so intense Nyx couldn't speak. Even with her eyes closed, she could tell they were inspecting her carefully, terrified of missing anything.

Her jade-white skin was flawless, making a few red marks stand out. But on closer look, they realized those weren't mosquito bites-they were their own handiwork.

The result was good. All three let out a collective sigh of relief.

Nyx grabbed her blanket back, changing the subject to ease the awkwardness. "What's that noise outside?"

It came and went-sometimes she heard it, sometimes not. It sounded like wind,

or maybe a cat meowing, or even someone crying in fits and starts.

She'd been too distracted to ask earlier, but now that things had settled, she remembered to bring it up. She'd never heard it before-only today.

"Is it loud?" Aurelius frowned, getting up to head outside.

He didn't answer her directly, but Nyx suddenly guessed it, eyes widening. "Are you punishing someone?"

'Punishing who? The palace staff serving in the bedchamber?' she thought.

She couldn't sit still anymore. She leaped up with a carp-like flip, only to be scooped back into Erik's arms and held down.

"They were lazy, didn't even notice you fell asleep in the water and caught a chill. They deserve punishment," Aurelius said gently, though his expression was icy.

Back then, he'd been furious and ready to kill. Bursting into the bedchamber, he'd seen Nyx curled up silently in the tub, her face deathly pale. Holding back his temper and not ordering the on-duty staff beaten to death was already him showing

extreme restraint.

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"I didn't take their lives-just a light punishment," he said, kneeling on one knee, brushing Nyx's hair softly. "If I'd failed to care for you myself, I'd punish myself too."

Nyx believed that. Her partners were capable of that kind of thing. Still, her little face paled, and she squirmed uncomfortably. "I fell asleep in the water myself." She was a grown adult-she didn't really need someone hovering over her. Catching a cold was obviously her own fault.

Seeing her so uneasy, Aurelius gave in right away. He called Aron over and told him to pass the word. Nyx showed mercy, sparing them the rest of their punishment.

"Her Ladyship says to take care of your injuries. You don't need to serve these days," Aron announced. The palace staff bowed in thanks, grateful she'd saved them from misery.

Aurelius rarely showed emotion. They'd served him for years and never seen him as furious as today. He'd been like a tiger cornered with nowhere to run-whoever crossed him would've been torn to shreds. Just thinking of those wild, reddened eyes made everyone tremble.

The Emperor who sparked such fear was now a soft little kitty, curling up in Nyx's arms, nuzzling into her chest. Nyx rubbed his tail tip, smoothing his fur, feeling a bit wistful. "You're isolating with me-what about morning court?" "Skipping court for a few days won't hurt," he said. Between state affairs and Nyx, he chose Nyx.

The ever-diligent emperor suddenly canceled court due to illness. It worried the entire court. Concerned memorials about his health poured into the palace by the cartload. Aurelius glanced at them and set them aside. He only bothered with the ones reporting real business.

Stuck in the palace with nowhere to go, Nyx got bored. To keep a certain Pale Wolf from sticking to her all day and going wild, she found things to do-tinkering with gauze mosquito nets one moment, researching quinine extraction the next. The cinchona trees brought back from Kellingtown had barely survived, and she nearly stripped them bald. She had more artemisia sent over and spent days with the old director and others from the imperial hospital, managing to whip up a few bottles of malaria medicine she wasn't sure would work.

"I will test the medicine myself," the old director declared boldly, staring at the pills, ready to pop one in his mouth if Nyx agreed.

Nyx laughed and sighed, "You're not sick-why test it?" There were perfect lab rats up on Four Peaks Mountain.

She tucked the bottle away and went to the next hall to find Aurelius. His desk was buried in memorials, and her male stared at one report, his face grim. "What's wrong?" Nyx stood behind him, glancing down. She caught words like "epidemic," "plague," and "several dead" on the

report.

"From the south?" she asked, frowning too.

Aurelius nodded, grabbing a stack of memorials from his side. "Zeniton, Lorderin, Fargo, Tymen-all hit with plague."

The further south, the worse it got, but being so far from Hilltop City, reports didn't come in fast.

"I sent people to check the north too. Some are sick there, but not many. It hasn't drawn attention."

Nyx flipped through the memorials. Some local officials had noticed a link between the disease and mosquitoes. A few doctors had even figured out on their

own to boil artemisia for patients, and some actually recovered. Looked like

malaria,

no doubt about it.

"Good timing-the imperial hospital just made some new medicine," Nyx said,

pulling out the bottle. "Let's find someone to test it quick. If it's fine, we can start relief efforts."

1613 MON 17 MET IN

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Her cold was almost gone. Shell only had a fever for one night, sweating it outnoveldrama

under the blankets with her males warm bodies After a few days of cold medicine,

de washed to bouncing around.

Now she could not en go curde, but he even wanted to ride horses and feel the

wind.

Leaving the palace gates she saw the majestic black horse Cloudie. Nyx darted over, pulling a small apple from her sleeve. Good Cloudke, this is all backs to you

Back in Kellingtown, riding Cloudie for fun had led her to stumble onto the cinchona tree by chance. Cloudie deserved major credit

The big black horse hadn't seen in ages and snorted happily, snatching the apple

from her hand. It wanted to share half with her and invite her to ride, completely ignoring its real master.

Nyx dedined the food-sharing but couldn't say no to riding. She hugged its sleek, strong body, stepping into the stirrup to dimb up. Before he could swing her leg over, someone grabbed her waist from behind and gave her butt a light smack.

Cloudle whipped its head around, ready to kick the bold jerk messing with Nyx. Seeing its master's cold face, it lowered its

Erik lifted Nox onto a smaller horse held brought, steadying her. "This is your horse."

Three years on the once-tiny foal had grown up. It was prettier than ever, with long, curly mane shimmering faint gold, unterly devoted to its master. Nyx adored it too, pulling another apple from her sleeve to feed it, listening to it crunch away.

Her little borse jimbo was perfect in every way-except it was too calm. As a foal, it used to romp around. Now grown, it only moved with elegance. Riding a horse like this, she'd never get the thrilling wind she craved. Feeling restricted, Nyx shot Pale Wolf an annoyed ghre

The male stood tall, unfared, saying the most outrageous thing in a dead-serious tone. "If you get sick again, I'll lock you up and kiss you every day."

Nyx's face flushed red. She turned her head, refusing to look at him. No way

she'd let him kiss her.

She squeezed the horse's sides and took off without looking back. Her attitude

was fierce, but Jimbo trotted along leisurely, barely faster than a person's walk Cloudie carried Erik, keeping a steady pace behind Jimbo. It kept trying to nuzzle

Jimbo's tail, getting swatted by that pretty golden fluff. Instead of getting mad, it got more excited.

Watching its shameless antics, Erik found it familiar-like looking in a mirror. Soon,

a little white cat seemed to drop from the sky, landing in Nyx's arms, brazenly sharing her ride.

A light rain started falling on Four Peaks Mountain. Banon curled up on a cold bedboard, shivering as the dampness from the rain seemed to seep into his bones from all sides.

His body ached, his head splitting. He struggled to breathe, rasping. "Someone. Anyone. Water. Servants!"

No one answered. He jolted awake from his dream, eyes bleary, realizing he was

no longer a prince-just a condemned commoner. His old servants and guards were gone. Even his last deathsworn had been used up as a pawn.

Left alone in this desolate ruin to fend for himself, watched by guards outside, no

one served him. They only gave him enough food and water to keep him alive, letting him suffer in sickness.

The door suddenly swung open, wind and rain rushing in. Banon thought someone had brought water. He craned his neck

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eagerly, only to see a face he despised.

"Aurelius, what are you here for?" He glared at Aurelius with venom, then perked

up. "Did Nyx die?"

Even a big guy like him couldn't handle the disease, barely clinging to life. A frail

thing like Nyx croaking after a few days of sickness seemed totally reasonable.

Seeing Aurelius still looking healthy, clearly uninfected, Banon clapped and laughed, "You really d

eagerly, only to see a face he despised.

"Aurelius, what are you here for?" He glared at Aurelius with venom, then perked up. "Did Nyx die?"

Even a big guy like him couldn't handle the disease, barely clinging to life. A frail thing like Nyx croaking after a few days of sickness seemed totally reasonable.

Seeing Aurelius still looking healthy, clearly uninfected, Banon clapped and laughed, "You really ditched her!"