Raising Beast Cubs to Find a Husband novel Chapter 180

Chapter 180: The Bean Juice and the Missing Shadow

The morning sun hit the marble floors of the Solaris Palace, but Primrose wasn’t awake because of the light. She was awake because of the vibration.

The entire breakfast table seemed to be humming.

Primrose rubbed her eyes, walking into the private dining parlor. The table was laden with pastries, fruit, and grilled fish, but Ophelia wasn’t eating.

The ancient Nine-Tailed Fox was staring intensely at a small porcelain cup. Her tails were wagging so fast they were a white blur.

"Primrose!" Ophelia shouted. She didn’t turn around. She just vibrated. "Come here. Explain this... sludge."

Primrose walked over. "Good morning, Grandma. That’s coffee."

"Coffee," Ophelia repeated. She took a sip, her eyes widening until they were almost perfectly round. "It tastes like burnt dirt. It’s bitter. It’s hot."

She took another sip.

"And it makes my brain feel like it’s running a marathon while my body is sitting still. Is this a combat potion? A berserker draught?"

"It’s a stimulant," Caspian explained, walking in with a tray of fresh tea. He looked well-rested for the first time in months, wearing a loose silk shirt that showed off the faint blue scales on his collarbone. "The traders from the Southern Isles brought it. I prefer tea, but the Palace Chefs insisted you try it."

"I love it," Ophelia declared. She downed the espresso shot in one gulp. "I feel like I could fight the Void again. Right now. Where is it? I’ll punch it."

"The Void is gone, Grandma," Primrose laughed, pouring herself a cup. She needed the caffeine. Saving the world was exhausting, but the emotional hangover was worse. "You can just... relax."

"Relaxing is boring," Ophelia jittered. "I have missed a thousand years of innovation. What else have you invented? Do you have flying carpets? Teleporting toilets?"

"Indoor plumbing," Jax said, strolling in with Luna on his arm.

Primrose nearly dropped her cup.

Jax looked... different. He was wearing a clean shirt, his hair was combed (mostly), and he had a stupid, goofy grin plastered on his face. Luna looked equally happy, her cheeks flushed pink.

"Indoor plumbing is nice," Jax agreed, pulling out a chair for Luna. "But the real innovation is the toaster. I fixed three of them this morning."

"You broke three of them," Luna corrected gently, placing a hand on his arm.

Ophelia narrowed her eyes at the couple. She sniffed the air.

"Aha!" Ophelia pointed a finger at Jax. "The Mechanic and the Maid. I smell... satisfaction. And mint."

Jax turned bright red. "I brushed my teeth. First impressions matter."

"Good job," Ophelia winked. "The Maid is scary. Keep her happy."

The mood was light, the coffee was flowing, and for a moment, everything felt perfect.

But then, something strange happened.

Ophelia reached for a strawberry tart. Her hand passed right through it.

It happened so fast, Primrose almost missed it. Ophelia’s fingers flickered—turning transparent like a ghost—before solidifying again.

Ophelia froze. She stared at her hand.

"Grandma?" Primrose asked, her voice dropping to a whisper.

"It’s nothing," Ophelia said quickly, snatching the tart on the second try. "Mana fluctuation. I’m just rusty."

But Primrose saw the look in her eyes. It wasn’t confusion. It was resignation.

Later, while the Warlords were arguing about politics and the kids were chasing Pickles in the garden, Primrose cornered Ophelia on the balcony.

"Show me," Primrose demanded.

Ophelia sighed. She held up her hand against the sunlight.

It was fading. The tips of her fingers were translucent. Primrose could see the stone railing through Ophelia’s skin.

"How long?" Primrose asked, her throat tight.

"Since I woke up," Ophelia admitted, leaning back. "Primrose, you know what I am. I’m an Echo. My body is real, but the soul that powers it... it’s borrowed time."

"Because your soul is in me," Primrose whispered.

Ophelia snatched the list from Rajah. She scanned it. 𝐟𝐫𝕖𝗲𝘄𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝕧𝐞𝚕.𝕔𝕠𝐦

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