"Beep! Beep! Beep!"
Inside a transparent tank filled with liquid, Kiana stood naked amidst a pale green nutrient solution. Her blue eyes darted around restlessly before settling on Zeke's face outside. As she healed from the minor injuries sustained during her battle with Senti, numerous sensors connected to her body continuously monitored her vital signs. Relief at having narrowly escaped danger washed over her—thankfully, Zeke hadn't casually crushed her skull!
Zeke listened intently to the data signals emitted by electronic devices while holding a floating virtual screen in his hand. Gradually, it displayed a holographic model of Kiana, reflecting her physiological condition based on the collected data.
"Gurgle gurgle?"
"Don't move too much; just a little longer. Once the data reading is complete, you can come out."
"Gurgle..."
Kiana communicated through a series of bubbles and expressions, her tuft of hair bobbing adorably in the liquid. Zeke effortlessly reassured her, making it hard to fathom how he understood her despite such unconventional conversation.
After some time, Zeke raised his hand and nodded at Kiana.
"Boom!"
The liquid-filled tank shattered explosively, and Kiana emerged, shaking off the fluid, looking puzzled.
"What's going on? Why such a serious medical check-up all of a sudden? I'm perfectly fine!"
"Next time, don't casually damage experimental equipment."
"I know, I know, won't do it again!" Kiana waved her hand nonchalantly.
Zeke understood that she was simply dismissing his words, not taking them seriously at all. However, this wasn't the time to dwell on minor issues. A new white dress appeared in Zeke's hands as he continued analyzing data meticulously while instructing:
"Icarus, give her a bath."
"Yes, My Lord!"
Hot water cascaded down, and with delight, Kiana began washing herself right in front of Zeke. After some time, Icarus stopped the flow, but Kiana's body temperature rose swiftly, leaving her feeling refreshed and clean from head to toe.
Zeke tossed the dress towards her, simultaneously finishing the data analysis.
"Put this on."
"Oh!"
With rustling sounds, Kiana quickly dressed in the flowing gown. She spun around before Zeke, the floral skirt swirling gracefully, accentuating her slender waist reminiscent of a willow tree.
"How do I look, Zeke?" Kiana asked with a radiant smile, placing her hands by her cheeks in a blooming flower-like gesture.
Zeke nodded, sighed, and replied:
"Ah—quite lovely."
"Huh? If it's lovely, why did you sigh? Spill it; something seems off about you."
"It's not much. Theresa and Siegfried rushed over earlier to inform me that you might be pregnant. I checked, but there was no such case. That's all."
"P-p-pregnant?!?" Kiana clasped her hands over her face, eyes wide with astonishment.
Observing Kiana's reaction, Zeke's gaze held a mix of emotions. He felt relieved yet somehow disappointed, tinged with a slight annoyance at being misled—a complex array of feelings difficult to articulate.
After a moment of bewilderment, Kiana leaped onto Zeke, wrapping her arms around his neck and encircling his waist with her porcelain-white legs. Pouting, she persisted, "Are you sure? We've been trying so hard!"
"In nature, as life forms become more advanced and complex, the chances and costs of reproduction become less favorable. Moreover, the combination of a MANTIS and Herrscher is unprecedented throughout history, leaving many uncertainties."
Zeke gently tapped Kiana's forehead with his index finger, soothingly explaining. Noticing some loose strands in her silver hair, he took a hairband, reached around behind her head, and neatly tied her hair into a sleek ponytail.
After Zeke finished tying her hair, Kiana leaned dejectedly against his chest.
"Fine! But I really want to have a child with you, someone as smart, brave, and capable as Zeke..."
"Why only like me? What about your qualities?"
"Well, maybe not too much like me? I've thought about it; if our child ends up unreliable, lazy, clumsy, always messing things up, and stubborn... If they're just like me, who else would be there to care for them like Zeke does?"
Kiana counted her flaws on her fingers, pursed her lips, and shook her head firmly.
Zeke pondered briefly, then nodded in agreement. He gently stroked Kiana's head, smiling softly:
"You make a valid point, agreed. However, if the child is like you, I believe I'd still adore them very much."
"Huh? Really?"
"Mm-hmm," Zeke affirmed quietly, warmth spreading across his eyes—indeed, he would cherish their child immensely, simply because it was Kiana's offspring.
"Hehe! You're the best, Zeke! Love you so much!" Delighted, Kiana leaned forward and pecked Zeke's lips, expressing her joy.
But Zeke was no longer the passive herbivore he once was. The rollercoaster of emotions—from hope to disappointment—was an uncommon experience for him. With Kiana's gentle peck, his complex feelings transformed into another kind of excitement.
Zeke cradled Kiana's round, full hips with one hand and gently lifted her chin with the other. As her cheeks flushed red, he leaned closer.
"Umm!" Kiana exclaimed softly.
After a prolonged moment, when Zeke momentarily paused, Kiana pushed against his chest with some effort, creating just enough space between them. She then murmured coyly:
"You know... It's still daytime... There are people waiting outside! Let's wait until tonight... I'll give you all your heart desires then... okay?"
Kiana lowered her head, revealing her delicately quivering eyelashes and the endearing blush on her lids.
The corners of Zeke's lips curved upwards.
"All right. Let's go out now."
"Agh! You're such a tease!"
Zeke pinched Kiana's bottom, eliciting a shy yet playful glare from her. He then released her, and they naturally held hands as they exited the examination room.
Outside the door, Theresa held her teacup gracefully and sipped her black tea.
Siegfried also clutched his cup with a smile—his expression had remained unchanged for quite some time now, so long that he seemed to have lost all ability to think or react during their wait.
For Siegfried, becoming a grandfather was such a monumental shock it rendered him incapable of handling any more surprises.
"Sip—"
"Calm down, you fool," Theresa said, eyes narrowed, while Siegfried continued smiling, unmoving.
Theresa huffed softly, giving up on rousing this imbecile. Instead, she focused her gaze on the metal examination room door, patiently awaiting the results.
Time slowly passed, even Theresa growing increasingly restless, when the electronic door finally opened. Zeke and Kiana emerged hand-in-hand under the room's bright light.
"Not pregnant; you guys overthought it," Zeke announced straightforwardly. Kiana scratched her cheek, nodding in agreement with Zeke's assessment.
Theresa stiffened momentarily, then lowered her head, unable to hide her disappointment. Meanwhile, Siegfried stood petrified, completely unresponsive.
"Auntie, don't worry so much! We'll definitely... Well, let's talk about it later, but we'll make it happen! Oh, what's wrong with Dad?"
"He's fine, just overwhelmed by extreme emotions; he couldn't handle the ups and downs. Just ignore him. If not pregnant, how about other aspects? Is everything else okay health-wise?"
Theresa shook her head and swiftly composed herself, offering Kiana a loving smile.
Kiana approached Theresa, crouched down, looked up at her with a grin, and replied,
"Of course I'm fine! I'm Kiana—I've got muscles to spare, heh!"
"That's good to hear. We caused quite a mix-up this time, didn't we? Sorry for troubling you."
Smiling warmly, Theresa stroked Kiana's hair, her sapphire-like eyes filled with tenderness. Despite being a petite nun, she exuded a gentle aura of compassion and sanctity towards all living beings.
Savoring the affection from her elder, Kiana reached out and gently hugged Theresa, saying,
"Auntie, thank you so much for caring about me!"
"What silly talk is this, dear child? Isn't it only natural to care for you? Alright then, since everything's okay now, go ahead and play. Auntie needs to attend to her work."
"Sure thing!" Kiana nodded enthusiastically, beaming brightly.
With one last pat on Kiana's head, Theresa sighed wistfully before standing up and dragging Siegfried—still petrified—out of the waiting room.
After waving them off with a smile, Kiana stood up, dusted off her skirt, and turned to Zeke, asking,
"When do you think we can tell them about that thing, Zeke?"
"Anytime."
"Really?"
"Durandal is more open-minded than I thought. As long as she can keep her emotions under control, everything else should be manageable. Find some time to talk it out with them yourself—but most importantly, don't let anyone mistreat you."
Zeke flicked Kiana's forehead gently.
Both Siegfried and Theresa were deeply affectionate individuals; regardless of the truth, their love for Kiana would remain unwavering. Zeke's primary concern was Durandal's reaction, given her direct involvement. Now that Kiana had won Durandal's goodwill through her strong charisma and likable personality, other issues wouldn't pose much trouble.
Kiana rubbed her forehead and nodded obediently.
"I understand. I'll find a suitable moment to gather everyone and clear things up properly. You don't need to worry about this anymore, Zeke—I'm grown now. There's no need for you to constantly fuss over me like a mother hen; it must be exhausting."
"You're aware it exhausts me?"
"Well...I do know my limits, sorry." Kiana playfully shook Zeke's arm, smiling sweetly. Perhaps there wasn't a girl more troublesome or demanding to care for in the world, just as there could never be another person who cared for her so attentively as Zeke did.
Zeke gently pinched the girl's cheek, smiling helplessly.
"Alright, if you understand my hardships, it makes all my efforts worthwhile. Take care of your own matters, but feel free to come to me if any issues arise."
"Yes! And what about that Young Lady?"
"That's my concern; you don't need to worry about it." Zeke's gaze sharpened as he stepped away.
Kiana puffed out her cheeks, slightly annoyed at being treated like a child again and excluded from serious matters. However, she couldn't defy Zeke, so reluctantly, she followed him without further protest.