Corvin's eyes went wide with shock. "Cotton Candy… is actually a therian?" Edric looked just as stunned. "If even Marcus couldn't detect what he is, could he be Rank 11 too?" Emma shook her head slightly. "We still can't be certain whether he's a therian. But Silas told me that if he really is, he's only stayed by my side because he wants to bond with me." That made Corvin freeze. A wild thought flashed through his mind. "Emma, the baby in your belly… Don't tell me it's Cotton Candy's?" Smack! Marcus' palm came down hard on Corvin's back, nearly knocking him flat on the bed. Edric looked at Corvin, utterly speechless. "Are you out of your mind? If the baby were Cotton Candy's, do you really think Emma wouldn't know?" This idiot's brain must be jammed full of mechs. Corvin rubbed the back of his head, wincing, and protested in a small voice, "What if he did it while Emma was asleep? Maybe that's how she got pregnant." Marcus' expression turned to ice. "If the baby really is his, I'll kill him." If that rabbit had dared to touch Emma while she was asleep, he'd tear him apart. He'd wait until she gave birth, and then throw the cub to Frostveil to raise. A dangerous chill emanated from Edric as well. "Emma, if it really is Cotton Candy, we won't let him go unpunished." She pressed her hand to her forehead. These three were getting more absurd by the minute. "It's absolutely impossible. It's not Cotton Candy," she said firmly. "I was asleep, not dead. If anything like that had happened, I would've felt it." "Right now, the baby isn't our concern. What we need to discuss is how to trick Cotton Candy." She quickly pulled the conversation back on track. "I already have a plan, and this hospital stay gives us the perfect opportunity. Silas said that if Cotton Candy wants to be my mate, then the thing he cares about most is me." "So," she said, her lips curving into a sly smile, "we'll put on a little play and trick him into revealing his true identity." "How do we trick him?" Corvin asked immediately. Edric and Marcus both turned to her, alert. "It's simple." She smiled. "You three keep my pregnancy a secret. Once we're home, say I've fallen seriously ill." The three of them nodded as she spoke, completely on board. … When she finished, she turned to Edric. "Make sure that family doctor of yours cooperates. Tell him to play along with us." He nodded gravely. "Understood. I'll message him right away. Don't worry, Emma, I won't let anything go wrong." Edric was always reliable when it came to handling things. As for the hospital, she wasn't worried at all. Thanks to Marcus, she had entered through a private route and used a separate system. Even if anyone tried to dig for information, they'd find nothing. … With the plan set, she soon boarded the airship back to the manor. Inside the manor, Malrik was pacing anxiously, waiting for her to return. Ever since that night when Marcus had rushed out carrying her in his arms, they hadn't come back. He'd sent people to every hospital, but no one knew anything. All he could confirm was that Marcus had indeed taken her there. What's wrong with Ms. Tibarn?Why has she been hospitalized for three or four days and still not come home? Malrik stood by the door, wearing the princess dress she loved to see him in, gazing out restlessly. Then, he saw a streak of light in the sky. It was her airship appearing above the manor. Malrik's heart leapt. She's back! He bolted out the door, skirts fluttering. The ship landed softly.Marcus stepped out first, carefully carrying her in his arms. Malrik bounced twice on the ground, panic bubbling up as he squeaked. What happened to Ms. Tibarn? Why does she look so pale and weak? She always walked down on her own. What is wrong with her this time? Ms. Tibarn? "Cotton Candy, don't disturb Emma," Corvin said as he came down the ramp. He remembered what she had told them, and the more he looked at the rabbit hopping in agitation, the more suspicious it seemed. What kind of ordinary rabbit worried this much about its owner? Yeah. There was definitely something off. Keeping his expression solemn, Corvin scooped the anxious rabbit into his arms and said hoarsely, "Cotton Candy, the doctor said Emma's really sick. She needs to rest, okay? Don't make any noise or disturb her." What? Ms. Tibarn was sick? And seriously ill? Malrik froze, panic flooding his chest. How could she suddenly be sick when she'd been perfectly fine? He called frantically to Corvin. What illness? What did the doctor say? Was there a cure?However, Corvin didn't understand a word. And even if he had, he wouldn't have answered. Emma had been clear—in front of this rabbit, they had to act heartbroken and desperate.