Spoiled By My Nine Beast Husbands (Emma Tibarn) novel Chapter 219

**When She Opened the Door to the Life She Was Afraid to Live by Nora Vale Kingsley**
**Chapter 219: The Follower Pact**

In this peculiar moment, Kieran realized that the only path to earning Emma’s acceptance lay before him, a path that could, with the passage of time, lead him to become her mate. It was a thought that filled him with both hope and trepidation.

Lucien and the others stood in silence, their gazes locked onto Emma, their expressions a mixture of curiosity and concern. The weight of the decision rested solely on her shoulders; whether to accept Kieran as her follower was hers alone to make. They were mere spectators in this unfolding drama, with no right to intervene.

Emma found herself taken aback by the unexpected twist of events. She had not anticipated this turn of conversation. Her eyes, filled with a blend of curiosity and caution, settled on Kieran as she asked, her voice calm yet probing, “Tell me, Kieran, why do you wish to be my follower?”

Kieran, his voice steady and sincere, responded, “From the very first moment I laid eyes on you among the Aurelians, I felt a pull toward you. I knew I wanted to be your mate.” He paused, a shadow of regret passing over his features as he continued, “But at that time, you were engrossed in conversation with Alaric, and I went unnoticed. Yet, you cared for me during these days, and just now, you even inspected my body.”

He took a breath, his expression earnest as he explained, “In our Merfolk culture, we have a rule: apart from a male, our bodies can only be seen by our huntress.”

Emma blinked, surprise flickering in her eyes. She had never known that the Merfolks adhered to such customs. Her gaze drifted momentarily to Lucien, Silas, and the others who stood nearby, their eyes reflecting a mixture of understanding and intrigue.

Lucien, his voice steady, confirmed, “That rule is indeed part of their tradition. Emma, should you choose to keep him, we have no objections. If you decide otherwise, that is perfectly acceptable too—just send him away.” The unspoken agreement among them was clear; no one else would ever know of this encounter, as long as Kieran remained quiet.

“Little female, please, let me stay!” Kieran implored, his eyes wide with desperation. “I possess skills—I can weave the finest shark silk in all of Interstellar, and I can cry the most exquisite pearls. I can hunt the most delectable sea beasts from the ocean floor for you—”

“Alright, that’s enough,” Emma interjected, raising a hand and rubbing her temples in mild exasperation. Yet, the idea of keeping a fish that could literally cry pink pearls was undeniably appealing.

She quickly checked her lightcore, her heart racing as she recalled that one pink pearl was worth several hundred million star coins. Keeping Kieran was, in essence, like possessing a living treasure vault.

Emma studied him thoughtfully for a moment before finally saying, “Alright, you can stay. But heed my words—there will be no deceit, no schemes, and absolutely no harm permitted within this home. I detest liars more than anything else.”

Kieran nodded vigorously, relief washing over his features. “I swear it. I will harbor no harmful thoughts. I will obey you, my lady, and I will never hide anything from you, nor deceive you.”

Corvin, observing the interaction with keen interest, regarded Kieran with curiosity. “Your elders claimed you were cold and distant. I don’t see that at all.” To him, this fish seemed far too easy to tease.

Kieran flushed, stammering slightly, “I’m not distant. I just… don’t talk much most of the time.” The old men from the Merfolks never ceased their lectures, constantly reminding him of how their lineage had once rivaled the Drakonid in power and prestige. Yet, after losing their Rank 11 experts, they had fallen behind and were now forced to bow to the Drakonid.

They incessantly urged him to ascend to Rank 11, to restore the Merfolks’ former glory. But honestly, Kieran couldn’t care less. He believed Drake managed the Aquadome quite well. Sure, Drake had a fierce temper, but he treated all beastfolk fairly.

“So, that’s the story, huh?” Corvin chuckled, draping an arm around Kieran’s shoulders. “Well, you’re Emma’s follower now. You’ll have to talk more at home.” If Kieran continued to speak so little, he would have little hope of ever rising from follower to mate.

Kieran nodded solemnly, understanding the weight of his new role. “I will remember.”

It was clear to him that Emma’s suitors and mates were all remarkable beings—especially Corvin and Silas, the one who had been so kind to him earlier. With the matter of Kieran finally resolved, Lucien glanced at the time, a hint of urgency in his voice as he addressed Emma, “It’s getting late.”