Interstellar Beast World: All My Husbands Are Powerful and Rich!-Chapter 146: I only trust the dead not to speak

Rory had just added Lian as a contact when Vincent arrived.

Hidden in the flowerbeds, Nix nearly wept with relief. "Look! Vincent’s here! Let’s see how that fox spirit plans to flirt with Female Master in front of His Highness now!"

Jasper and Xarion both lifted their heads at the same time.

"Rory!" Vincent strode over to Rory’s side. "You’re here."

Rory’s face lit up as she clasped his hand.

"Vincent, this is Young Master Lian of the Nine-Tailed Sky Fox Clan. He once saved me back in Veridan City."

Vincent knew of Lian, though they were no more than acquaintances.

Hearing that Lian had once saved Rory, Vincent’s expression softened slightly.

"Thank you, Young Master Lian, for helping my Female Master. The banquet is about to begin. On my way here, I noticed members of your clan looking for you."

The second prince of the Firebird Clan spoke gently. He thanked him in one breath—then sent him away in the next.

A graceful dismissal.

"Since my clansmen are searching for me, I won’t disturb you any longer."

Lian turned his gaze back to Rory, his smile like peach blossoms brushed with morning dew—light, luminous, and deceptively harmless.

"Lady Rory, may I change your contact name to just Rory? Now that we’re friends, calling you Lady Rory feels a bit distant."

His tone was sincere, without a trace of overt flirtation—so natural it was difficult to refuse.

"Rory is fine."

They weren’t that familiar, even if he had once helped her, but there was nothing strange in letting him call her by her preferred name anyway.

Lian nodded. "Very well. I’ll call you Rory."

He left with unhurried elegance. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝙚𝔀𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝒐𝒎

In the bushes, Nix puffed his cheeks in outrage. "He actually wanted to call Female Master just Rory? I wouldn’t even dare!"

That fox truly had tactics. Competing and claiming ground from the first meeting.

Too shameless.

"You could call her that," Jasper reminded him quietly. "Female Master wouldn’t refuse you. You just need to ask. Just all of us did."

Their Rory had always been indulgent toward them.

Nix’s eyes widened with delight. "Really? I can?"

Jasper sighed. "Your brain is really that dense..."

Before he could finish, the little cat burst out of the bushes like a blue cannonball.

"Rory!"

Rory, who had been speaking with Vincent, suddenly saw a small blue blur hurtling toward her.

"What is that thing?"

Lola instinctively raised a hand, ready to swat the unidentified object away.

Vincent saw but didn’t intervene. Even if she did hit Nix, it would only hurt his pride—not injure him.

"It’s Nix!" Rory recognized the pale-blue kitten instantly and hurriedly caught him in her hands. "Nix! Why are you like this again?"

Don’t tell me he drained his abilities again?

Nix answered honestly. "We were hiding in the bushes—Jasper, Xarion, and I. We didn’t want you to notice, so I shrank down on purpose."

They were hiding in the bushes?

Rory’s eyes narrowed dangerously as her gaze slid toward the flowerbed.

In her palms, Nix only saw her beautiful eyes and felt the warmth of her hands. He sensed no danger whatsoever.

"Rory," he chirped happily. "Can I call you that? I heard that fox Lian trying to call you that, too."

Rory’s tone sharpened ever so slightly. "You heard quite a lot, didn’t you? When did you get here?"

Hadn’t she told them not to follow? They dared to disobey openly and secretly?

"We followed as soon as you left. Female Master, you still haven’t answered me—can I call you Rory?"

Answer him? She wanted to throw him into the pond.

Vincent watched Nix acting cute in Rory’s hands and turned his gaze away in silent disdain. The same male who commanded mech fleets with authority reduced to this in front of her.

Unbearable.

Rory looked toward the bushes Nix had pointed at. "Are the two of you coming out, or not?"

Soft rustling followed. Soon, a languid Xarion and a guilty-looking Jasper stepped out.

Rory tossed Nix straight into Jasper’s arms. "When we get back to the manor, I’ll settle accounts with the three of you."

Then she took Lola’s arm and left with Vincent.

Only then did Nix look up nervously. "Female Master... she’s not angry, right?"

Jasper dropped him onto the ground. "Idiot."

Xarion flicked a finger.

An icicle shot forward and stabbed Nix in the backside.

"Ow!"

"A brain full of machinery," Xarion drawled. "Did one of your mechs possess you?"

Painfully stupid.

Clutching his rear, Nix finally realized what he had done and dared not argue a single word.

***

From the shadows, Aris watched everything, fury tightening his jaw.

He crushed the flower in his hand.

"That Lian... instead of staying obediently on Starlight Isle, he dares to come here and flirt with my Female Master."

Despicable.

He turned to his subordinate.

"Spend whatever it takes. Find a few strong fighters and beat him up. Don’t kill him. Just make sure he can’t leave his room for two or three months."

He could not allow anyone to ruin his plan. Before Aren returned, he had to marry her.

It had to become irreversible.

A faint crack sounded behind him.

Aris spun instantly, eyes sharp as blades. In the bushes, a flash of pink slipped past.

From the shadows, his subordinate whispered, "Second Young Master, that’s Wen—the newly appointed Mermaid King of the aquatic clans. He’s ill. He came today not only to present gifts to the Empress Matriarch but to seek medicine."

"A sick fish, huh?" Aris sneered. "If he’s already ill, then let’s send him on his way early."

"Let him meet the Beast God ahead of schedule."

***

The banquet began.

Celestial music floated through the air.

Wen clutched his chest and hurried toward the main hall.

Suddenly, a shadow swept past.

A powerful kick slammed into his left shoulder.

Unable to summon his abilities due to his illness, Wen was sent flying.

"Pfft—!"

He crashed beside the flowerbeds. His long pink hair tangled among the blossoms, petals scattering beneath him.

A male of the demon race approached slowly.

Through pain, Wen forced out, "I know who you are. Let me leave, and I swear I won’t reveal your secret."

Everyone knew of Aren—the demon male capable of captivating the masses.

Few knew he had a twin brother.

If Wen had known he would run into this calamity, he would have brought more guards.

Aris stepped on his chest, smile cruel and cold.

"I only trust the dead not to speak."