Raising Beast Cubs to Find a Husband novel Chapter 147

Chapter 147: The Duchess of Vipers

The Main Hall of the Jade Palace was a masterpiece of botanical malice.

The walls were lined with trellises of climbing vines. The flowers were breathtaking—vibrant purples, deep crimsons, and neon blues. But Primrose knew her plants. That was Wolfsbane. That was Nightshade. That was Blood-Orchid.

To touch the walls was to die.

"Keep your hands inside your sleeves," Cassian murmured to the group. "And do not bow too low. We are guests, not servants. If you show your neck, they will bite it."

Jasper adjusted his silk sash, looking terrified but determined. Orion looked unimpressed, scanning the architecture. Caspian looked bored, while Luna was shaking like a leaf.

At the far end of the hall, seated on a throne of carved serpentine jade, sat Duchess Venetia.

She was the Head of House Viper. She wore emerald robes embroidered with real gold thread in the shape of coiling snakes.

As they approached, Venetia stood. She glided down the stairs.

"Cousin," Venetia purred.

She stepped forward and embraced Cassian. It wasn’t a hug; it was a constriction. She squeezed him tight enough to bruise ribs.

"You look... rustic," Venetia whispered in his ear, pulling back to inspect his simple travel robes. "Is that dust on your hem?"

"It’s the dust of freedom, Venetia," Cassian replied smoothly, stepping out of her reach. "You should try it sometime. It clears the sinuses."

Venetia’s smile tightened. Then, her eyes slid to Caspian.

Her expression instantly changed to one of practiced reverence. She bowed—perfectly, elegantly.

"Your Majesty," Venetia said. "The King of the Deep Sea graces our humble valley. We are honored."

"The honor is yours," Caspian said, looking at his fingernails.

Then, Venetia looked at Primrose.

She didn’t bow. She didn’t speak. She looked at Primrose the way a chef looks at a sack of flour. An ingredient. Nothing more.

She’s ignoring me, Primrose realized, feeling a spark of heat in her chest. She doesn’t see a person. She sees a tool.

"The adults have boring matters to discuss," Venetia announced, clapping her hands. "Servants, take the children to the serenity garden. My daughter, Lady Mei, is eager to meet her... distant relatives."

The garden was beautiful, but dead. The gravel was raked into perfect swirls. The bonsai trees were trimmed within an inch of their lives.

Sitting on a stone bench in the center was a small girl.

She was about five years old. She wore layers of heavy, emerald silk that looked like they weighed more than she did. Her hair was pulled back so tight it looked painful.

She sat perfectly still. She didn’t blink.

Jasper and Orion walked up to her.

Jasper bowed politely. "Hello. I am Jasper. I am five and a half."

Lady Mei looked at him. She scanned him from head to toe.

"Your breathing is irregular," Mei stated. Her voice was high, but devoid of any childish warmth. "And your sash is tied with a single knot, not a double-blind knot. Are you a savage?"

Jasper blinked. He looked down at his sash. "My brother tied it. It is for comfort."

"Comfort is the enemy of discipline," Mei recited. She looked at Orion. "Why do you squint?"

"I am analyzing the light refraction on the pond," Orion explained. "Also, the sun is bright."

"We do not squint," Mei said. "We observe."

Orion frowned. He leaned over to Jasper.

"I do not like her," Orion whispered loudly. "She is boring. Astrid throws rocks at me and calls me a nerd. That is much more stimulating."

Jasper felt a strange pang in his chest. He looked at Mei—so stiff, so perfect, so unhappy.

That would have been me, Jasper realized. If Cassian hadn’t taken me. I would be a doll just like her.

"Do you want to play?" Jasper asked, pulling a rubber ball from his pocket.

Mei looked at the ball. She didn’t reach for it.

"Is it a weapon?" she asked.

"No," Jasper smiled gently. "It bounces. Look."

He dropped it. It bounced.

Mei watched the physics of it. "The elasticity is inefficient," she critiqued. "It lacks purpose."

"The purpose is fun," Jasper countered, channeling his inner Cassian. "But I suppose fun is an advanced concept. Perhaps you aren’t ready for it." 𝘧𝓇𝑒𝑒𝑤ℯ𝑏𝓃𝘰𝑣ℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮

Mei’s eye twitched. "I am ready for all concepts."

"Prove it," Jasper challenged, rolling the ball to her feet.

Inside the main hall, Venetia poured tea.

"So," Venetia said, sliding a cup toward Caspian (and ignoring Primrose completely). "To what do we owe this unexpected pleasure? Surely you didn’t travel all this way just to see family."

"We heard about the Ascension Ceremony," Cassian lied smoothly, taking his tea. "I thought it was time for Jasper to see his heritage. And my friends... they enjoy exotic festivals."

"How charming," Venetia smiled. She didn’t believe him for a second. "And here I thought you came for the courier. I heard you met him in the market."

"The courier?" Cassian raised an eyebrow, feigning ignorance. "Ah, the Fox. He seemed... diligent. A fine soldier."

"He is," Venetia agreed. "He is one of our best. He never questions orders. He never hesitates. He is... perfect."

She took a sip of her tea, her eyes locking onto Primrose.

"It is amazing what one can achieve when one removes distractions," Venetia murmured. "Like fear. Or love."

Primrose’s hand drifted to her waist, ready to summon fire.

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify