Future Beast World: Becoming A Pampered Beauty-Chapter 310 - 249: Broken Wings

Inside the magnificent hall, the Beastmen were prostrate on the ground, not daring to look directly at the distinguished guests.

Theirs was a display of supreme piety and fear.

Duotu stepped through the main doors and saw several Holy Envoys in the hall. They were clad in sacred, white-hooded cloaks that obscured most of their faces, and golden wings were embroidered over their chests.

He was the Monarch of a nation, yet even he was required to bow.

"I was not aware the Holy Hall was sending envoys. May I inquire as to your business?"

"We have heard that a descendant of our Angel Clan has been born in the Empire. We are here to take the child back to be raised among our own. We hope Your Majesty can bear to part with him." The Archbishop at their head stepped forward. Dressed in a dignified, dark red holy robe, he held a scepter topped with gold and jewels.

A condescending gaze, a tone that brooked no argument.

Duotu stared at them, saying nothing. He held his son, who still hadn’t grasped the situation, his expression growing increasingly grim.

Another Holy Envoy spoke arrogantly, "We hope Your Majesty won’t spurn our good intentions."

"The Holy Hall sent us to ’negotiate’ this time. If Your Majesty is unwilling, then don’t blame us for having to ’invite’ the Young Master back to our homeland."

"Hand over the child, Your Majesty."

Their tone made it clear this was no negotiation, just an announcement.

A Holy Envoy stepped forward and reached out to... snatch the child.

"This is my son! I’m the one who raised him! What right do you have to take him!" Duotu retreated two steps, clutching the child. Like an enraged beast, he forced a low growl from his chest through his gritted teeth.

That Holy Envoy was about to speak again, but a young man to the Archbishop’s right raised a hand to stop him. "His Majesty is simply frantic with worry for his son. We understand."

"But..."

The Holy Envoy moved his lips but remained silent, quietly stepping back.

The other envoys seemed to treat this young man with great deference.

Duotu’s gaze fell upon him as well. The young man wore the same white holy robe as the other Holy Envoys; he was tall and elegant, with a gentle and sacred aura. The only thing that set him apart was a strip of White Silk covering his eyes. And yet, one could almost feel his gaze as it silently swept over all things.

The young man "looked" toward the cub in Duotu’s arms, a faint smile touching his lips. "What a lovely descendant. May I hold him?"

His voice was elegant and warm, and incredibly pleasing to the ear.

Duotu’s expression was wary, and he refused to hand over the child. "You intend to take Hephis? Is there no room for discussion?"

The Archbishop remained firm. "He recently awakened the bloodline of our Angel Clan. It is only right that he returns to the Holy Hall to receive his inheritance."

"And what if I refuse!"

Another Divine Envoy stepped forward. "The Yalan Empire is under the jurisdiction of the Holy Church. Your Majesty should know full well that you are nothing more than its puppet. If you refuse, we can easily replace you with a more obedient Monarch."

"Noah, do not be impudent."

The young man spoke gently, yet he hadn’t stopped Noah from finishing. After Noah was done, he turned to the grim-faced Duotu and adopted a gentler tone. "...Your Majesty must know better than anyone the consequences for an Angel who fails to receive their inheritance."

Duotu’s resolve seemed to waver. A flicker of pain crossed his face. "I..."

Hephis, in his father’s arms, felt his body tremble. Worried, he touched his father’s face with a paw and said softly, "Don’t be scared, Father. Hephis won’t leave. Hephis will always stay with Father."

The smile on the young man’s lips deepened. "Such a sweet and well-behaved child. Surely Your Majesty would not want the gifts he is meant to possess to be wasted in such a small and insignificant place."

Duotu suddenly pulled his son tight, burying his face in the little lion’s mane. After a moment, he looked up at the Holy Envoys, his eyes bloodshot, and spoke in a calm voice, "Please give me a few days to consider."

The young man replied, "Very well. We hope Your Majesty will think it over carefully."

The Archbishop struck his scepter heavily on the ground three times. "In three days, we will return to take the child to the Holy Hall. We expect a satisfactory answer from Your Majesty then."

The Holy Envoys departed.

The Beastmen in the hall were freed from that terrifying, oppressive force.

His confidant, Helu, approached, looking with concern at Duotu and Hephis in his arms. "Your Majesty, are you really going to send the Young Master away?"

The moment the Holy Envoys were gone, Duotu seemed to deflate. His shoulders, once straight, now slumped, and he murmured to himself, "All they want... is the bloodline of the Angel Clan..."

"Your Majesty?"

Seeing him in this state, Helu grew even more worried.

As if he had come to a decision, Duotu quickly regained his composure and said calmly, "It’s nothing. I will give this matter careful thought."

He said nothing more and left.

For two days, His Majesty did not attend court.

In the full seven years from his ascension to the throne until now, he had only neglected his duties twice.

The first was for the seven days of the Queen’s funeral.

And the second was now.

He had shut himself and his son away in Taoyuan Village, and had not emerged since.

「Only one night remained until the deadline set by the Holy Envoys.」

That night, wind and rain lashed down, and the world was plunged into darkness.

Hephis had fallen asleep early.

Duotu walked to the window and shut it.

Perhaps it was the howling wind, or the fierce, sudden downpour beating against the window, but the noise woke the child.

Hephis rubbed his eyes, trying to make out his father’s form in the darkness. "Father," he mumbled sleepily, "it’s so late. Why aren’t you asleep yet?"

Duotu walked to the side of the bed, took his son in his arms, and gazed at him for a long moment. "You don’t need these wings," he whispered. "Just like your father... let’s cut them off."

’C-cut off my wings?’

’Wh-what does he mean?’

Hephis was clearly terrified. "Father... what are you saying?"

Duotu produced a sharp dagger.

"My good boy, tell me. Tell your father you don’t need these wings, right?" His voice grew increasingly frantic, almost pleading. "Tell me! You don’t need them!"

A sudden crash of thunder outside the window illuminated the man’s wild, distorted expression.

Hephis screamed, his body trembling as he burst into frightened tears. "No, no, Father! I’m scared of pain... I want my wings..."

"Father, I’m begging you, please don’t take away my wings."

"*Sob*... I don’t want this..."

"Cutting out the wings will hurt so much..."

"Daddy... *sob*... Daddy..."

CLANG!

Duotu abruptly staggered back, gasping for breath as the dagger fell to the floor.

His grip loosened, and the child scrambled from his arms.

Duotu stared blankly at the little lion cub cowering in the corner.

A scene from long ago seemed to superimpose itself over the one before him.

As if all strength had suddenly been sapped from his body, he collapsed to the ground in despair. His eyes were bloodshot as he clawed madly at his disheveled golden hair.

"Hephis... Hephis..."

He called his son’s name over and over, as if trying to bring him back.

’I can’t believe it. I actually thought about... cutting off my own son’s wings!’

"I’m sorry. Your father shouldn’t have done that. I was wrong..." He covered his face, his bitter weeping turning into choked, suppressed sobs.

’I just wanted to keep my child.’

’Without these wings, he’d be nothing but an insignificant, discarded pawn. No one spares a second glance for a discarded pawn.’

Seeing his daddy in such pain, Hephis slowly forgot his own fear.

He carefully walked over and hugged his father. With a sob still in his young voice, he shook his head and said, "Father raised Hephis himself... I won’t leave Father..."

"I love Father the most. I won’t go away with anyone..."

Duotu hugged his son tightly, clinging to his only source of comfort.

"Don’t leave me..."