Chapter 181: Chapter 181: Is she my...


    Rock disappeared into the night once more. He looked around the castle and realized Lady Long''s window was the only one open, probably because it was winter night, and the castle was already somewhat cold even in summer.


    ''I lost my chance to meet with my Princess,'' Rockmented. ''I also lost the ne I meant to give her.''


    That white mammoth ne was very difficult to obtain, as killing a white mammoth was strictly forbidden, and one unnecessary death would tip the scale of nature.


    Hence, he had to search through thend to find a dead white mammoth. It was almost like a miracle when he found it, and now it wasn''t in Princess Swan''s hand.


    Did he regret it?


    No.


    He just wished he could find two white mammoths before returning to the castle, so he could give one for Princess Swan and Lady Long each.


    ''She needs it more than Princess Swan,'' Rock told himself. ''I can''t let her die. Not when she is meant to be my messenger. My new ally in the castle.''


    Rock frowned when he said thest sentence.


    For some reason, his heart was unwilling to consider Long Xiurong as a mere ally. She was more than that, or at least he hoped she would be more than just an ally. "Is she truly..." Rock gritted his teeth. Of course, he knew more or less about fated mate. He wasn''t cursed like His Majesty, so the scent emanating from Lady Long''s nape should be enough sign for him to mark her.


    But then again, he remembered how enamored he was by Princess Swan''s scent. Honestly, Princess Swan''s scent was so overwhelming for him that he genuinely thought she was meant to be with him.


    He knew better than to fall in love with his Princess, as her heart already belonged to the Beast King. However, that didn''t erase the fact that Rock genuinely wanted to mark her as well.


    ''So, why do I feel the urge to mark two female humans at once? Which one is my actual mate?'' Rock asked himself but was only left with confusion in the end.


    **


    The second day of the banquet was just as gleeful as it was yesterday. In fact, it seemed that the Princess and Beast King were in a better mood for some reason, especially the Beast King who had a smirk as if he was plotting something cruel, yet fun for himself.


    Swan had been guessing what kind of surprises Gale had prepared for her. No matter how many times she pestered him to tell her, all he said was;


    Just wait and see what I have for you by tomorrow morning.


    And now, they were sitting at the same chair in the middle of the banquet, and Gale was still wearing that devious smirk.


    "Gale, you''re making me anxious..." Swan said.


    "Anxious? Are you ufortable?" Gale asked. "I think the weather is too cold for you. Let''s go back to our room."


    "N-no, I''m fine. I feel plenty warm in this winter clothing. I was just wondering what kind of surprise you have," Swan said. "You''ve been smirking the whole time, it makes me worry if you are up to no good."


    Gale chuckled, "You''re treating me like a cub. Don''t worry. My surprise is meant to make you happy—at least I will definitely be happy about the surprise. Just sit still, and wait, alright?"


    Swan nodded, though she kept on guessing about it.


    Meanwhile, Long Xiurong sat on the furthest corner of the banquet. She avoided Alice entirely and told her that she wasn''t in the mood for breakfast.


    Though, it didn''t matter whether she ate or not. She was positive that everything the bunny maid served her had a high chance of beingced with poison. She didn''t want to risk it.


    Hence, Long Xiurong decided to fill her belly as much as possible during the banquet. By doing that, she would be able to hold on for the entire day until next week, when she could finally tell Princess Swan about everything and request to


    rece her attendant.


    She took out the ne Rock gave her and gently dipped it into a cup of tea in


    front of her, and the color of the tusk didn''t change.


    ''I guess it is truly fate that we met yesterday. Without his intervention, I would''ve slowly sumbed to the poison from that shitty bunny,'' Long Xiurong thought. ''And without Ris gift, would be too paranoid to think of anything.''


    After making sure that none of the food and drink she brought was poisoned, she ate her once-a-day meal with glee.


    Alice finally noticed Long Xiurong, who ate alone at the corner of the banquet. She clutched the bottle of poison in her pocket, wishing she could find a way to poison her more.


    ''Did she drink the teast night or not? Howe there''s no difference in her?'' Alice pondered as she approached Long Xiurong. She asked Lady Long if she felt ufortable in the morning, but thetter said she was perfectly fine.


    She also said that she identally knocked over the teacup, but said nothing else in detail.


    Alice was left in confusion about whether her n to poison Long Xiurong had seeded or not.


    ''I doubt she will feel well after


    with


    drinking the poisoned tea. She''s just a human, and Lady Jade said


    nobody would be able to survive


    drinking the tea after one week except maybe a few beastmen who could dispel poison or the Beast King himself, who was immune to poison.''


    Alice put on a kind smile once she stood in front of Long Xiurong and asked, "Mdy, it''s not good to eat outside like this. It''s very cold. Do you want me to bring your lunch to your room?"


    Long Xiurong lifted her head. She stopped chewing and swallowed her food.


    She was a bit nervous as this was her first time seeing someone who wanted to truly kill her, but she maintained her dignity and replied, "I''m fine. I already ate a lot here, so I don''t need dinner."