Evil dragon has a warm heart

Chapter 54 - 54 54 Raising Piglets

?Chapter 54: Chapter 54: Raising Piglets Chapter 54: Chapter 54: Raising Piglets Russell ultimately did not ask Malena for another dance. He was a very gentle man and felt there was no need to give her any false hope since he didn’t like her.

He had to let Malena know sooner rather than later that he was a man she couldn’t have.

She could settle for second best and look for someone else.

“I saw Malena leave the castle, heartbroken and dejected, while Baron Marcus vowed to find an opportunity to give you a good thrashing,” Rolin said to Russell, who was taking a stroll in the castle after the ball, teasing him as always.

“Why would he hit me?” Russell frowned.

“Because you’ve hurt his precious daughter’s heart, my foolish brother. Who told you to have a face that naturally attracts women?”

“Well, if being handsome is a crime, I am indeed unforgivable.”

At his words, Rolin rolled her eyes, “When did you become so thick-skinned? It seems a lot has happened in the castle during the half-year I was away!”

“Maybe it’s because I defeated my sister, which incredibly boosted my confidence.”

“You… a duel!”

“Haha, just kidding.”

“Don’t think that just because you luckily defeated me once, you really won. I was careless this time, but I’ll take the next duel seriously,” Rolin glared at Russell fiercely. The duel that morning had been a major setback in her life.

Russell shrugged his shoulders, not responding, as he didn’t want to duel with Rolin.

It wasn’t that he was afraid of losing; it simply didn’t matter. Winning wasn’t anything to brag about since, after all, Rolin was only a woman; losing, on the other hand, would surely have him ridiculed by Rolin for a whole year.

He would much rather return to Wuyao Snake Manor and spar with his knight attendants.

The knight attendants, in terms of both battle qi and martial skills, were not like Rolin, who was all show. They were armed knights who had truly battled Snow Ghosts on the snowfields, tested in life-and-death situations.

Luckily, Rolin did not insist on dragging Russell to a duel right then. Perhaps she wasn’t confident she could turn the tables.

She glanced at Russell and said, “I didn’t make it back for your coming-of-age ceremony, and the ice period blocked the way, so I didn’t give you a gift.”

“It’s okay.”

“No, it’s not okay, since I’m your sister.” Rolin called for her personal maid and instructed her to retrieve a gift from her room, “This is to make up for your gift.”

“Thank you,” Russell said, accepting and unwrapping it.

Inside was a jade box, and the next moment, Russell realized something and looked up at Rolin in surprise.

Rolin had a triumphant smile on her lips, “Open it and see.”

Actually, Russell didn’t need to open it to guess that inside was a Spirit Insect, because this jade box was a custom case designed to hold such creatures.

He lifted the lid of the box.

Indeed, inside was a chubby Spirit Insect, a Youguangxun Mushroom Bug, to be precise, with a greenish luster on its body.

“The dowry our father and mother gave me included a Youguangxun Mushroom Bug. I deliberately did not bond with it but preserved it instead. It’s perfect as a coming-of-age gift for you,” Rolin leaned against the wall, her posture far from ladylike.

But at this moment, Russell felt a profound sense of care from her.

Taking a deep breath, Russell closed the jade box, “Sister, this gift is too valuable. The Mushroom Bug is a strategic resource, and you need it more than I do.”

“You gave me pearls, and I didn’t think they were too valuable to accept. I’m giving you a Mushroom Bug, so why are you refusing?”

“Pearls indeed aren’t as valuable as a Mushroom Bug.”

“Enough with the talk, just accept it. Or are you worried that my dowry will be too meager and my future husband will look down on me?” Rolin clenched her fist, “I’d like to see him try. He wouldn’t dare even if I gave him two extra guts. Stop your fussing, you!”

“Alright,” Russell wasn’t one to make a fuss.

“The gift might be pricey, but aren’t you worried about not being able to return the favor in the future?”

“Alright, go on with your business then, brother, I’m heading back to sleep. Getting enough rest is the secret to maintaining good skin… And you, how come your skin is so flawless without any care? It’s simply unfair!” Rolin impatiently shooed Russell away.

Seeing Russell’s handsome face and smooth skin annoyed her.

…

After the birthday party of Lady Ingrid had concluded, aside from Rolin and her husband who stayed a few more days in the Fluorescent Castle, everyone else gradually left.

Russell did the same, not lingering long.

The next morning, he took with him the coming-of-age gift his sister Rolin had fixed up for him, a Youguangxun Mushroom Bug, along with one hundred Gold Coins from his grandmother’s subsidy for the “Old Spectacles Improvement Research Project” and returned to his own territory, Wuyao Snake Manor.

“Miss Rolin is truly generous, Sir!” Throughout the journey, Charles couldn’t stop expressing his admiration; the value of a Mushroom Bug was immeasurable.

After all, it was a strategic-level resource.

Whether it was a Magic Elixir or magical materials, these were the precious resources only nobility could wield, crucial for Battle Qi cultivation and the stability of rule.

“Yes,” Russell said, somewhat absent-minded.

In the memories of his predecessor, his elder brother Roland seemed more selfish and hypocritical, something Russell had also felt. However, the predecessor had also deemed Rolin as overbearing and unreasonable, and quite mean to him, but Russell only experienced half of that; she was indeed overbearing and unreasonable, but quite kind to him.

Thinking of the Mushroom Bug in the jade box in his arms, he couldn’t help but inwardly reflect, “Sister Rolin… truly wonderful.”

Upon returning to Wuyao Snake Manor, Knight Attendant James, who had been left in charge of watching the golden black sow, came forward to report, “Sir, the golden black sow has finished farrowing, but, unfortunately, there are no Fantasy Beast babies.”

This news was disappointing but not unexpected.

“Oh, the Great Dragon of the Duke’s family, why couldn’t you have looked our way just once more!” Charles sighed.

Eric remained silent, but as he glanced at Kevin the Gold and Silver Wolfhound following by his side, he felt even luckier.

He secretly praised Russell in his heart.

Had it not been for Russell’s grace, how could he have realized the dream of becoming a Phantom Beast Knight—he had worked in the Fluorescent Castle for many years without ever having such an opportunity.

“Which little piglet is the one that miscarried its Magic Power?” Russell asked.

“This one, the fattest one, Sir,” James replied.

“Bring it over here.”

Immediately, James carried over a plump black piglet, and the golden black sow, which had been nursing, lifted her head momentarily before settling down again. With a mere tilt of her head, she could reach the delicious pig feed and did not care at all that a piglet had been taken away.

Russell extended his hand and carefully sensed the aura of the little piglet; remnants of Primordial Power aura lingered, but they were dissipating.

He said to Eric, “Feel it for yourself, doesn’t it mean a complete failure, unable to transform into a Fantasy Beast baby anymore?”

Eric felt the piglet a couple of times, then shook his head, “The Primordial Power is fading, and it’s irreversible.”

Several Knight Attendants all exhaled a sigh.

If indeed a Fantasy Beast baby had been born, in the future, it was very likely that the next Phantom Beast Knight would be promoted from among the four of them—they didn’t mind the unpleasant sound of being called pig knights, as long as they could get promoted, they were willing even if called Pig Shit Knights.

Russell nodded understandingly and then ordered, “James, go call Hans over and have him arrange for a serf family to raise pigs, especially this little piglet, which should be reared separately with the best pig feed!”

“Sir, are you thinking?” Charles quickly grasped Russell’s intention.

“Exactly.”

“Wow, there really might be a chance if we can breed a new variety of Primordial Beast, the domain will have another specialty!”