Interstellar Beast World: All My Husbands Are Powerful and Rich!-Chapter 135: Just don’t tell my brother

It was Gina calling her on video.

Judging from the background, Gina appeared to be in a forest hunting exotic beasts. Dense alien vegetation surrounded her. She leaned comfortably against her partner’s chest and beamed when she saw Rory.

"Little Rory, it’s been so long! Did you miss your big sister?"

Rory sat curled up in the red nest-like sofa, a full bookshelf behind her stacked with volumes Vincent liked to read. She smiled brightly at Gina.

"Of course I missed you, sis! You have no idea—I dream about you every day. I almost want to fly straight to you right now."

"Hahaha––you’re so cute!" Gina burst into laughter, clearly delighted. "My bestie Rory really knows how to make me happy."

It was obvious she had been doing well lately. The partner beside her was someone Rory had never seen before—a handsome new face, clearly recently bonded, and an eighth-Rank powerhouse at that.

"So, Gina, did you call because something’s up?" Rory asked with a smile.

At the mention of business, Gina straightened. "Little Rory, do you remember our promise last year?"

Last year’s promise? Rory paused—and then it clicked. "You mean the Festival of Ten Thousand Females?"

In two months, the once-in-a-decade grand Festival of Ten Thousand Females would be held across the interstellar empire.

Last year, she and Gina had agreed that once Rory had bonded partners, they would attend the Central District celebration together.

Veridan City would hold festivities too, but Gina had insisted that only the Central District’s celebration was truly magnificent.

Gina nodded eagerly. "Exactly! The Empire officially announced it yesterday. Starting today, all females can bring their partners and matched mates to the Central District for the festival in two months."

Under normal circumstances, females living on other planets or in other Districts had to apply in advance to bring their partners and matched mates to the Central District. When Rory first arrived there, Jasper had filed the application for her.

But for the Festival of Ten Thousand Females, no application was required.

Females could freely travel to the Central District with their companions.

Not only that—the Empire would provide free lodging and nutritional supplements for attending females and their partners.

"Little Rory," Gina reminded her, "I know you’re not in Veridan anymore, so we can’t travel together. But the star-rail will be packed over the next two months. Make sure you reserve your spots early!"

Rory had been so busy she had nearly forgotten.

Thankfully, Gina reminded her.

"I will! Message me when you arrive in the Central District. I’ll bring some homemade fruit jam to you."

Gina truly loved Rory’s fruit jam. "Thank you, Rory. I’ve prepared a gift for you too. See you in the Central District!"

After ending the call, Vincent returned, still damp from his shower, a towel draped around his shoulders.

Rory hopped up from the sofa and hurried over to him, excitement bubbling over.

"Vincent! In two months, it’s the Festival of Ten Thousand Females. I promised a friend I’d attend the celebration in the Central District. How about we return to A-49 after the festival instead?"

Vincent had no objections to wherever Rory wished to stay. In fact, she never needed his permission.

He looked at her gently.

"Rory, even though I am your first partner, you are the master of this household. Whatever you wish to do, you never need to ask me. Just tell us your decision. We will follow."

Rory’s nature was kind—she always discussed things with them and never threw her weight around.

But that didn’t mean they could forget their place or interfere with her choices.

She hugged his lean, powerful waist and stood on her toes to kiss his cheek. "Then it’s settled."

The warm brush of her lips made his heart itch. He almost wished he could lend his power to Jasper just so Jasper would advance faster.

This feeling—being able to look but not touch—was torture.

"Rory, there’s something I’d like to discuss as well."

He had brought her to his room earlier for a reason.

Not solely to tease her.

"What is it?"

He led her back to the small nest-like sofa and spoke seriously.

"The day after tomorrow is my mother’s birthday. I would like you to accompany me back to the Firebird Clan to celebrate her birthday. Would you come?"

Did he even need to ask?

"Of course!" Rory nodded immediately. "On a day like that, I must go with you."

If a bonded male returned to his maternal home for such an occasion without his Female Master, it would signal that he was not favored.

It would diminish him—and even his family.

Meeting her partner’s family for the first time, especially the Firebird Clan’s Empress, made Rory slightly nervous.

"I need to think carefully about what birthday gift to prepare for Her Majesty."

Vincent was already grateful she agreed to go. He couldn’t bear to burden her further.

"I’ve prepared gifts already. You only need to come with me."

"That won’t do." Rory shook her head.

His family would immediately recognize which gifts he had prepared himself.

If she brought nothing personally, they might assume he wasn’t valued.

She understood these subtleties.

"I have to prepare something myself. That’s the only way to show sincerity." She stood up, already mentally reviewing what she had in storage.

"I’m going to check the inventory. I must prepare the best gift for Her Majesty."

"I’ll change and come with you."

"You have a meeting, don’t you? Go handle your work. I can manage."

A Firebird Empress’s birthday demanded something extraordinary.

Vincent gently stopped her. "Rory, if possible... could you prepare a dish for my mother? The steamed sea-beast you made before would be perfect."

His mother’s favorite was sea-beast meat, but Firebird chefs always left a strong fishy odor in the dish.

Only Rory’s cooking truly eliminated it.

"Her Majesty likes sea-beast meat?" Rory’s eyes lit up.

Cooking—this she could absolutely handle. "What flavor does she prefer? Light? Spicy? Salty?"

Vincent hesitated. He honestly didn’t know.

Rory instantly understood. "Never mind. I’ll prepare several variations."

If it were anyone else, she wouldn’t be so generous—processing sea-beast meat here was incredibly troublesome.

She left Vincent’s room and opened her light-brain to order ingredients... Only to receive a video call from Lola Brandon.

Lola sat in her resplendent golden palace, smiling brightly at the projection of Rory.

"Sister-in-law, the day after tomorrow is my mother’s birthday. My brother told you already, right?"

After Vincent recovered, he had informed the Firebird Clan of his bond with Rory.

So Lola now knew everything.

"Yes," Rory replied warmly. "Your brother and I will return together to celebrate Her Majesty’s birthday."

Lola was thrilled.

Rory’s attendance meant her brother was cherished.

She leaned closer conspiratorially.

"Sister-in-law, don’t tell my brother, okay? The Firebird Clan has invited many guests this time. Not just elders—young elites too."

"There will be the Nine-Tailed Celestial Fox Clan—so beautiful they look like gods. The Succubus Clan, the Plant-type Beastfolk... From the Central District, the Golden-Winged Roc Clan, the Nine-Tailed Red Fox Clan, the Lion-Tiger Clan, the White Tiger Clan..."

"And from the Four Great Domains: the Dragon Clan, the Merfolk, the Flame Qilin..."

She listed so many clans Rory had never encountered.

Finally, Lola lowered her voice. "Sister-in-law, aside from honoring my mother, the real purpose is to help Firebird Clan females select new followers."

Her eyes sparkled mischievously. "When you come, I’ll help you pick a few too. Just don’t tell my brother."