If You're Being Held Hostage, Wiggle the Carrot! - Chapter 42
Ruby explained in detail, “At first, I just thought they were spirits enthralled by the Duke’s yang. His energy must be quite remarkable, you see.”
“Mm-hmm,” Liam coughed awkwardly, seemingly embarrassed by the conversation.
Ruby glanced at him and muttered softly, “Are you feeling chilly? Did you catch a cold from exposure to the chilly weather?”
“…If I were to feel unwell from just that exposure, I would have fallen ill long ago.”
“Of course, but… anyhow, these spirits are strange.”
“What’s so strange about them?” he asked.
“While spirits can be persistent in certain instances, it’s usually when there’s a clear grudge or a specific demand,” she continued, straining to keep her eyes open. “But the spirits here solely seem fixated on the Duke’s yang energy as if it’s their only objective.”
“Why is that strange? As you said, spirits are drawn to yang energy.”
“Even if that’s true, having hundreds of spirits with an unconditional and singular purpose is really odd.”
“…Hundreds?”
From what she’d seen while traveling around today, that was a lot of spirits. It wasn’t normal to have so many in one place. Not all the spirits in the mansion were accounted for, but the ones assembled in the study earlier easily exceeded a hundred. None among them attempted to flee to avoid annihilation. The spirits glared at Ruby, their expressions filled with desire to consume Ivan’s energy even if it meant sacrificing themselves. What if someone deliberately funneled these countless spirits into the Duke’s territory?
If that were indeed the case, this was no small matter. Even if she erected barriers and expelled the spirits, they would eventually return. If all the spirits from the Stegian Empire converged here, the already heavily Yin-charged wolf territory would become even colder and more desolate. While it would be an unimaginable feat for anyone but Ivan with his powerful yang energy to counteract it, it could happen if another lord decides to take over.
Ruby couldn’t continue her thoughts any longer. The side effects of removing the sealstone earring were gradually manifesting.
“…I think it’s best if we sleep separately tonight.”
“My Lady, are you alright?”
Concerned about Ruby’s sudden worsening complexion, Ivan turned to Liam.
“Fetch the physician quickly.”
“Yes, my Lord.”
Understanding the gravity of the situation, Liam hurried.
Grabbing Ivan’s sleeve, Ruby said, “Wait, not the physician, just… give me the guesthouse…”
“My lady, it’s better if you get examined first.”
“I’m not sick,” Ruby struggled to explain. “It’s a side effect.”
“A side effect?”
“By suddenly opening up my yin energy, it triggers… it triggers my estrus. I didn’t expect it to come on so… so quickly.”
Ivan, who had been inadvertently taking steps backward upon hearing Ruby’s words, immediately gritted his teeth and steadied himself. Her pheromones, which had been normal until just now, were emanating strongly.
Her pheromones were leaking out as if a dam had burst. If her pheromones overflowed to this extent, no suppressant would be of use against her heat. Besides, there was no assurance that a suppressant designed for the wolves would work for her, considering her different species.
“We need to go to the doctor right away.”
“…We can’t. I can’t leave the mansion in this state.”
It would be a bad idea to wander outside in this condition. Despite her being a different species, estrus was mostly similar for all animal people. Individuals in heat, regardless of their species, emitted a scent to lure the opposite s*x. If he were to carry her into the corridor, every male within the mansion might be irresistibly drawn to her.
Unable to turn the mansion into chaos, Ivan briefly pondered and swiftly took action. First, he went out into the hallway to wait for Liam and the doctor.
