SDIWD - Chapter 133
Chapter 133
Hua Mu spent five days on pins and needles. During that time, she didn't dare engage in any loving exercise; even her daily movements were cautious. Perhaps the heavens had heard her prayers, because her period finally arrived, half a month late.
Hua Mu had never thought she would look forward to it so much. Even though the pain was worse than usual, she still cried tears of joy at their reunion—it was such a relief not to be pregnant!
She let out a sigh of relief, feeling more and more that she had been worrying needlessly. It was just from drinking too many cold beverages and having an irregular schedule that her period was delayed. How could her mind have gone there? It had caused them both to worry for so many days for nothing.
Bai Zhen was clearly relieved as well. A smile, long absent, finally appeared on her perpetually grim face.
Of course, a delayed period was more unbearable than usual. Hua Mu lay listlessly in bed, getting by only with hot water and Bai Zhen's massages.
"If I'd known, I wouldn't have drunk so much ice water," she said with regret, annoyed at her lack of self-control.
"It was my oversight. I didn't take good care of you." The Sentinel held her in her arms, gently kneading her lower back and abdomen. The affection was so full it felt less like a lover and more like a mother.
This wasn't just Hua Mu's imagination; Bai Zhen's pure love was just that intense. Once the panic had passed, a new unease grew in Hua Mu.
She had felt it before, but now it was too strong to ignore. Especially these past few days when she could do nothing, Bai Zhen had been treating her like a fragile doll.
It was too much.
Although Bai Zhen was a cautious person by nature, and although she had always taken good care of her, and although a Sentinel was supposed to be attentive to their Guide, something still felt wrong.
This strange feeling came from spending every moment with her lover, revealed in her expressions, words, and body language.
Bai Zhen often appeared anxious, tense, dazed, and flustered, like a bird startled by the mere twang of a bowstring.
"It's not that serious, really. And it wasn't even a preg…"
Though it was a false alarm, Hua Mu couldn't help but feel a lingering fear. During those five days when her period was late, she had even started to accept reality, trying to adjust her mindset and place herself in the position of a mother-to-be.
Thinking back on it now, she felt a strange mix of emotions.
Bai Zhen hugged her tightly, as if afraid of losing her.
"Thank goodness it wasn't. Thank heavens it wasn't."
Hua Mu stroked her hair and sighed. "I made you worry. It's really nothing. Besides, how could a same-sex Sentinel and Guide get pregnant so easily? Some people try and can't even conceive."
That was true. The probability of conception between a same-sex Sentinel and Guide was far lower than that between a Guide and an ordinary person of the opposite sex.
Bai Zhen inhaled the fragrance of Hua Mu's neck and said in a muffled voice, "But it's not an absolute impossibility. I was negligent before."
Hua Mu heard this and felt a chill run down her spine.
"Um, but… haven't we been fine before? And this time was a complete misunderstanding."
"It's better to be safe than sorry. If it had been real this time, I really…" The Sentinel's voice held a hint of a sob, clearly emotional again.
"So-so, didn't we just say it was a complete mistake? What we were doing before was already very safe. Something like that won't happen."
Hearing Bai Zhen's tone and meaning, Hua Mu hurriedly tried to dissuade her.
"No, if it really happened, it would be too late. This incident is a warning."
Hua Mu's head spun. She forced herself to ask, "A-are you saying we should be more cautious? You're right, we should be more careful…"
Bai Zhen kissed her forehead and said firmly, "Miss, I don't have the confidence to control myself in that kind of situation. Until we leave, we shouldn't engage in that kind of activity again."
Eh? Wait, wait a minute! She just made a mistake, why should she be deprived of normal pleasure! A complete ban was too much. Couldn't they just be a little more careful?
"You can't be serious."
The Sentinel's eyes were gentle, but her expression was extremely serious. She had clearly made up her mind. For a stubborn Sentinel, once a decision was made, it was very difficult to change—especially when it came to her safety.
But how could she put it? It was just too strange. It was like giving up eating for fear of choking.
"I think this is the best solution for now, Miss. I will endure it."
Hua Mu covered her face.
But she couldn't endure it!
If things were going to be like this, what was the point of living… Ah, of course, she didn't mean the meaning of her life was solely for that, but the person she loved was right beside her, they had already confessed their feelings for each other, and the supposed accident was just a false alarm. Why did they have to completely abandon their only form of entertainment on this deserted island?!
There was more to life than just eating and sleeping!
"W-we don't have to be so drastic, do we? As long as we don't use Hati's power…" It was fine between two women, so as long as they didn't involve Hati, wasn't it completely safe?
"In that kind of moment… I really don't have the confidence to control him."
The increase in a Sentinel's abilities also meant an increase in their spirit animal's power. But a spirit animal that was too powerful wasn't entirely a good thing. It placed stricter demands on their physical condition, endurance, and the requirements for a matching Guide.
Bai Zhen could clearly feel the power within her growing. Compared to her previous conservative use of her abilities, she now used her power as she pleased. No, rather than as she pleased, it was more that if she didn't use it in time, there would be worse consequences.
In just the past few days, she had been forced to release her skills three times because her power was overflowing. Hati's temper had been growing more and more irritable lately, and he had nearly disobeyed her commands several times.
Although it could be easily resolved by having Luna soothe him, this was only a temporary measure. If she overused Luna's ability to cope with the growth of her spirit animal's power, Bai Zhen's control over Hati would only grow weaker.
This was a situation that no Sentinel with any common sense would allow, because no matter how close they were, a Sentinel and a Guide would always have times when they were apart. Moreover, a Sentinel's duty was to protect their Guide. If they couldn't fully utilize their strength without their Guide present, then protection was out of the question.
Bai Zhen knew she had to overcome this hurdle on her own.
Hua Cu had been at the front lines for a month. Everyone believed that this unbalanced war was now in its final stages. At this moment of impending victory, it was all the more reasonable for the Queen to be at the front.
After all, the achievement of personally leading an expedition to quell a rebellion sounded far more glorious.
"Your Majesty, Duke Ziwei requests an audience."
Shen Mengxin had been the Queen's guard for two months. As both a Guide and a woman, she spent more time by Hua Cu's side than Chen Guan did.
The Queen frowned, looking somewhat helpless and troubled.
"Tell him I have official business to attend to."
"The Duke says he is willing to wait at the door for you, no matter how long."
Making an elder wait for a long time was inexcusable, even for a queen.
When her father passed away, if her uncle hadn't rushed back to the imperial capital to help her stabilize the situation, the troubles she would have faced in ascending the throne would have been countless. In terms of both sentiment and reason, she shouldn't do this.
"Let Uncle in."
Duke Ziwei was over fifty, which was the prime of life for a Sentinel. Coupled with more than a decade of cultivating his mind and character, he didn't look much older than Hua Cu. He had a handsome face and a scholarly temperament. As a duke, he served as a professor at a university in his fiefdom and was a world-renowned scientist.
"Your Majesty." It had been a month since Hua Yuanziwei was released. The disheveled look from his imprisonment was long gone, but his expression still carried some anxiety and fatigue.
Hua Cu took the initiative to greet him, excusing him from the formalities.
"Uncle, there's no need for such ceremony."
The two sat down, and for a moment, there was silence.
"Has Uncle been well recently? I haven't had a chance to properly apologize to you for what happened before," Hua Cu said with a natural demeanor, feigning ignorance of his purpose and making small talk.
Hua Yuanziwei also seemed hesitant and found it difficult to speak, merely mumbling along with her words, "I've been fine recently, it's nothing…"
"It was a misunderstanding. The Leader also feels very sorry, but she has been busy lately and couldn't come to apologize to you in person."
Hua Yuanziwei waved his hand. "The Leader was just doing her duty. I didn't take it to heart, but…"
"Is there something difficult for you to say, Uncle?"
Hua Cu asked, knowing full well the answer.
Duke Ziwei pondered for a long while before finally steeling himself. "Xiao Cu, although Uncle doesn't usually concern himself with matters of state, I have always supported you, haven't I?"
"I have always kept Uncle's help in my heart."
A hint of a smile appeared at the corners of Hua Yuanziwei's eyes. "Then Uncle will ask you for one thing today. That child, A'Ce…"
The moment Hua Cu heard Hua Ce's name, her head throbbed. How could she not know the reason for Hua Yuanziwei's visit? As the only remaining elder among them, the old duke was trying his best to maintain peace and warmth within the royal family.
"I know he's been foolish, and I know you're very angry. But blood is thicker than water, and besides A'Jian, he's your only other brother. When your two older brothers passed away, they entrusted you all to me. Uncle has no children of his own; both sides are the apple of my eye. He made a mistake and naturally must be punished, but I only ask that you spare his life…"
He spoke as if it were a naughty child who had played a harmless prank.
Hua Cu couldn't help but curse inwardly, though she knew her uncle's intentions were not political.
Sparing Hua Ce's life wasn't difficult in itself, but Hua Zheng's intentions were very clear, and Hua Cu wasn't confident she could persuade her.
"Uncle, it's not that I'm unwilling to spare Hua Ce's life, but no one can say for sure what will happen on the battlefield. If he resists to the death…"
"I know that, but… although Uncle himself is not a powerful Sentinel, I am well aware of the Leader's abilities. I only hope that she can show a little mercy."
Although Hua Cu respected Hua Yuanziwei, she couldn't help but feel a bit displeased upon hearing this. Hua Ce's life was a life, but was A'Zheng's life not? A lion uses its full strength even to catch a rabbit. How could one show mercy in a life-or-death struggle?
"This matter…"
Just as Hua Cu was contemplating how to reply to her uncle, the alert for an emergency video communication resolved her dilemma.
"Excuse me, Uncle, I need to…"
"It's fine, it's fine, go ahead." Although Hua Yuanziwei said this, he clearly had no intention of leaving until he received a definite answer.
Hua Cu didn't rush him. She put on her earpiece and casually opened the communicator on her wrist. An image of the Queen's personal physician appeared on the projection.
"What is it?"
Hua Cu had expected news from the front lines; she hadn't thought it would be this old friend of many years.
The woman in the image was not at all intimidated by the Queen's authority. She said anxiously, "What do you mean, what is it? Do you remember the physical you had a week ago? Have you not looked at the report?"
"Oh, I've been too busy lately, I forgot."
"Honestly! Such a big thing as a pregnancy and you're not paying any attention to it yourself. Have you even been resting properly lately?"
"What?"
"Pregnancy! You're pregnant! It's not like you don't have experience, what are you so surprised about?"
Hua Yuanziwei couldn't hear the other person's voice due to the special earpiece, but he knew who the person in the image was. Seeing Hua Cu's lack of reaction for a long time, he couldn't help but ask anxiously, "Xiao Cu, what's wrong? Are you sick from being too tired lately?"
Hua Cu seemed not to hear him, staring blankly into the distance.
"Xiao Cu?"
And at that very moment, a sudden palpitation struck her.
Although they were not spiritually bonded, because their bodies were in a state equivalent to being bonded, a certain connection still existed between her and Hua Zheng.
The moment a stabbing pain surged into her heart, Hua Cu's vision went completely black.
"A'Zheng…"
"Xiao Cu!" Hua Yuanziwei finally realized something was wrong. The Queen's spirit animal, a winged beast with a human face named Siren, which was rarely seen by others, suddenly appeared in the room.
Siren's appearance was almost a perfect replica of the Queen, but before this, its eyes had never been open. But now, for the first time, Duke Ziwei saw its pupils. Siren tilted its head back high, its pure white, crystal-like pupils filled with pain and terror, staring at some unknown place. Its voice, known for its beautiful and pleasant sound, turned into a sharp, piercing, and sorrowful shriek.
Hua Cu looked as if she were suffocating, her expression contorted in pain. After a dizzy spell, the last thing she heard was her uncle's voice.
"Xiao Cu!"
A'Zheng.
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