"What is it? Speak."
Liam's tone grew impatient, his presence increasingly imposing.
"Wah..."
Celia opened her mouth to answer, but her lips trembled uncontrollably.
Before any words could escape, tears streamed down her face—she was so frightened she started crying.
"Haha... Celia, my wife, I must say, you are utterly fascinating."
"Coming here, I never imagined there could be such a naive woman in this world."
"Before you even asked about it, all your thoughts were written plainly on your face. Did you really not notice?"
Liam chuckled softly, deliberately drawing out his words.
"Then let me tell you—until you've borne me ten children, I'm not going anywhere. I'm staying right here."
"T-ten... ten?!"
Celia jerked her head up, her cheeks flushing bright red.
She wiped her tears away, her voice trembling as she said, "Lord Liam, you can't be serious..."
"Dead serious. Shouldn't you be happy?"
"There's no need to hide it. I know everything. Those recent times... you've actually grown dependent on me, haven't you?"
"And this morning, right after waking up, I noticed the way you looked at me—like a cat in heat. It somewhat resembles those women who used to chase after me, though I had no interest in them."
Liam's voice deepened as his thumb gently brushed away the tear stains beneath the girl's eyes.
Her eyes were red-rimmed, and it was precisely this broken, vulnerable expression that excited Liam the most.
—He found that reducing his innocent wife to such a pitiable, tearful state never failed to stir something within him.
"Wah... How could that be...? Probably... not, right?"
Celia felt extremely guilty and utterly ashamed.
It was true.
She had felt very strange today.
Ever since the long-sealed door opened this morning and the first ray of light fell on the man's profile, she had subconsciously sensed a warmth in her emotions.
Was it excitement...?
In any case, it was a very peculiar feeling.
But if it was...
Love.
Celia didn't dare admit it.
After all, she was a man.
Falling in love with another man... was still unimaginable, wasn't it?
And even if it was love...
They couldn't possibly have ten children!
That would be a whole litter.
If they really did that, she'd probably die.
She would definitely die!
"Lord Liam, isn't ten a bit too many?"
Celia sniffled, her tear-filled eyes blinking as she pleaded, "How about... we have just five babies...?"
"Are you bargaining with me?"
Liam pinched her warm cheek, then let out a low sigh.
His playful expression shifted to seriousness as he said, "Fine... I suppose that would be too cruel to you."
"Huh?"
Celia was stunned, her moist eyes wide with astonishment.
Five... still felt like a lot, didn't it?
But it was better than ten.
Celia could reluctantly accept it.
Yet the man's next words shattered her illusions completely.
"If you don't like ten, then let's make it twenty. That should suffice. In a few years, we'll have our own adventurer army, and you, as their mother, can even be the captain."
"How about it? Not a bad idea, right?"
Not a bad idea, my foot!
Even with the nourishment of natural magic, elves couldn't handle something like this!
I told you I'd die!
Just moments ago, Celia had felt a slight warmth at the man's compromise, but now everything was in chaos again.
Feeling dizzy and overwhelmed, Celia choked back sobs, her tear-streaked face resembling a rain-drenched pear blossom as she stammered:
"Wah... if I have twenty... I'll be completely drained... Actually, ten is fine. How about we just have ten, Lord Liam? Ten is manageable..."
"Ha ha ha~ Sure."
Liam chuckled softly, then suppressed his laughter as he took a gemstone from his storage ring and pressed it against Celia's large elf ear, saying:
"You said it yourself. No taking it back, my adorable wife. As you wish, we'll have ten children."
"Ah..."
Celia felt weak and listless, her lips pressed tightly together.
She felt somewhat deceived, yet it also seemed right...
The gemstone against her ear emanated a cool sensation.
Celia stood there obediently, not moving, and stole a glance at the gem.
She had never seen anything like it among the elves.
But now, she didn't dare move.
Faced with the man's domineering tone, she felt both aggrieved and...
A strange sensation...
Huh?
A moment later, the gemstone pressed against her ear by the man suddenly emitted a strange noise without warning, like an old-fashioned radio from a previous life...
Then, as the gemstone vibrated slightly, a soft, delicate voice of a girl spoke—
"Wah... if I have twenty... I'll be completely drained... Actually, ten is fine. How about we just have ten, Lord Liam? Ten is manageable..."
Once Celia realized what was happening, her tear-filled eyes widened, and she buried her head deeply, her face burning bright red.
"Evidence acquired. No going back on your word now."
The man's voice carried a playful smile as he wiped her tears away again.
Before she could react, she felt herself lifted lightly—this time, the man scooped her up in his arms.
But this time, it wasn't thrown over his shoulder.
It was a princess carry.
The kind reserved for a delicate, beloved wife.
A princess carry meant cradling her back with one hand and supporting the bend of her knees with the other, lifting her gently.
Her head rested against his chest.
This way, even her petite, delicate frame could fully transmit her warm, soft body heat to him.
Seeing the girl's vulnerable appearance in his arms only fueled the man's protective instincts—
This time.
Celia struggled symbolically for a moment before quickly giving in, her small head gently nuzzling inward.
As if venting her frustration, she dried her tear-streaked face against the fabric of the man's clothes.
But it came off more like a coquettish gesture.
Feeling his young wife's restless movements in his arms, Liam grew intensely excited and squeezed the unyielding little kitten tightly against his chest.
Ugh—
Celia felt squished...
"Be still."
The man's voice rumbled from his throat, resonant and firm.
"Wah~"
To be honest, she was already used to it.
Used to acting like a girl in front of Liam.
Used to being a soft, pliant wife who couldn't resist her husband.
They were far from the Eternal Tree, and by the time they returned home, the sky was draped in black, so dark you couldn't see your hand in front of your face.
Ever since she became a girl, due to her genes, she had been somewhat afraid of the dark.
But now, lying in the man's arms and feeling the warmth of his firm muscles, she felt a sense of security...
As they reached the door, the man leaned in and gave her a fierce kiss, so intense it almost hurt.
"Lady Sephie, Celia's mother?"
"It's so late. Why are you still waiting here?"