Interstellar Beast World: All My Husbands Are Powerful and Rich!-Chapter 109: Popular with females

It was already late, the quiet hum of the starrail filling the small room with a steady, lulling rhythm.

Yuel helped Rory settle into bed, drawing the blanket up around her shoulders with deliberate care, as though she were something fragile and precious. His movements were slow, gentle—lingering just long enough to make it clear he didn’t want to leave, even as he forced himself to step back.

"I won’t disturb you anymore," he said softly, his voice low and calm. "You should rest."

As he turned toward the table where his flowerpot waited, Rory reached out and caught his hand before he could pull away.

"How long until you’re fully recovered?" she asked, her voice quiet but sincere.

Yuel paused, then leaned down, brushing his fingertips lightly along her cheek. The touch was tender, reverent, as if he were memorizing the warmth of her skin.

"When my first flower blooms," he replied. "That’s when I’ll be whole again."

Three more days.

Rory smiled faintly and closed her eyes, a rare sense of ease settling in her chest. For once, her thoughts weren’t crowded with danger, plans, or worries—just the comfort of knowing he would be all right.

Yuel’s humanoid form dissolved into soft blue light, fading back into the slender vine rooted in the pot. A moment later, one thin tendril stretched out, curling loosely around Rory’s wrist.

She let out a quiet laugh and stroked it with her thumb.

The vine twitched and coiled in response, playful and reactive, as though it were ticklish.

...

When morning came—or what passed for morning aboard the starrail—Rory was still half-asleep when she felt something warm and smooth brushing against her wrist.

Eyes still closed, she tugged at it lazily and muttered, "Yuel... stop it. Let me sleep a bit longer."

There was no sunrise here, no natural light to signal the hour. Without checking her light-brain, time blurred into something indistinct.

Her complaint was ignored. Whatever it was only moved faster, sliding teasingly along her skin.

Frowning, Rory cracked her eyes open—and froze.

A small violet-black snake was coiled around her waist, its tail flicking gently against the inside of her wrist.

"Jasper?" she asked sleepily. "When did you get in here?"

She tried to sit up, but before she could, the little serpent shifted—stretching, unfolding—transforming in a shimmer of scales and shadow into Jasper, who pressed her gently back against the mattress.

"Rory," he murmured, clearly wounded, "you called me the wrong name."

His expression was openly hurt, his eyes dark and glossy with emotion.

"I knew it," he said quietly. "You think my beast form is ugly. You’ve found other males, and now you don’t like me anymore."

"Oh, don’t be ridiculous," Rory said immediately, looping her arms around him. "How could I ever not like you?"

She sighed inwardly.

Somehow, her sweet, earnest Jasper had learned how to pout—and he was terrifyingly good at it.

"It’s just that last night, Yuel’s vine wrapped around my wrist," she explained quickly. "I was half-asleep just now and thought it was him again."

She glanced toward the table—and blinked.

The flowerpot was gone.

"Wait... where’s Yuel?"

Jasper handed her a neatly folded set of clothes and replied casually, "Nix took him to be watered."

"...Watered?" Rory repeated, stunned. "Yuel needs watering?"

Jasper chuckled. "Not regular water. It’s a specialized healing solution for plant-type Dragon Kind. Helps speed up recovery."

"Oh." Rory nodded, relieved. "That makes sense."

She took the clothes, preparing to dress herself, but Jasper gently stopped her.

"Helping my huntress get dressed is part of my duty," he said seriously. "You’re not going to refuse me, are you?"

He looked at her with such earnest devotion that she didn’t even try.

It really did feel like everyone around her was competing for her attention lately.

"Of course not," she replied with a grin. "I’d never say no to my Jasper."

...

Elsewhere, Lola Brandon approached Kather quietly, her voice softened with concern.

"Are you sure you won’t come back with me?" she asked. "I don’t like the idea of leaving you out here alone."

Kather had regained his voice by now, though he still avoided speaking in front of Rory—afraid she might notice just how weakened he truly was.

"You don’t need to worry," he said calmly. "In a few days, Rory and I will return to Aurelia together."

Lola smiled, nodding. "All right. I’ll go ahead and wait for you. And make sure you bring her, okay? I’m rooting for you—turn her into my sister-in-law soon."

Before he could respond, Nix’s voice echoed nearby.

"Burnt Dumpling! Where did you disappear to this time? Get over here—we’re about to leave!"

He muttered irritably as he searched. "If you don’t show up, I’m leaving you behind. You’re so ugly no one else would even feed you."

Kather went completely still.

Lola bit her lip, trying—and failing—not to laugh. She picked him up carefully in his bird form and carried him over.

"Burnt Dumpling’s here," she said lightly. "It flew off earlier, so I brought it back before it got lost."

Nix looked visibly relieved as he accepted the bird, bowing politely.

"Thank you."

"No problem," Lola replied cheerfully. "Rory’s my friend. That makes her bird my bird too."

She even patted Burnt Dumpling’s head, smiling.

"Right, Burnt Dumpling?"

Kather froze.

No one had ever touched his head so casually before.

Still—this was Lola. And somehow, she managed to sneak in another pat or two before anyone could stop her.

Both Kather and Nix fell silent.

Who would have thought? That scruffy little bird was strangely popular with the females.

"Ms. Brandon, everything’s packed," one of Lola’s mates called.

Unlike the tense, guarded atmosphere of the previous day, both of her companions now looked relaxed—almost gentle.

Ever the gentleman, Nix didn’t linger near another female. He thanked Lola again and hurried off, holding Burnt Dumpling carefully by the wings.

As they walked away, he muttered under his breath, "Be honest with me. Where exactly did you go just now?"

Burnt Dumpling, of course, said nothing.