Interstellar Beast World: All My Husbands Are Powerful and Rich!-Chapter 68: Stark contrast

"Chirp, chirp!"

There should be boundaries between males and females.

My body belongs to my future huntress—and no one else.

"Chirp... chirp... chirp..."

Watching Burnt Dumpling struggle helplessly at the edge of the washbasin, Nix finally lost patience. With a decisive swat of his paw, he pinned the frantic bird in place, holding him down so Rory could finish washing him properly.

"Thanks, Nix," Rory said sincerely as she caught hold of Burnt Dumpling’s wing, making sure he couldn’t wriggle free again. She glanced down at the water and frowned. "Burnt Dumpling, you’re absolutely filthy. Just look at this—the water’s turned pitch black."

She wasn’t exaggerating. The entire basin had darkened until it looked like ink.

Rory squeezed a generous amount of cleanser into her palm and began scrubbing. At first, Burnt Dumpling fought with all his might, flapping and squawking as if his life depended on it. But the resistance didn’t last long. Eventually, he gave up entirely—and, horrifyingly, began to relax.

His eyes squeezed shut, as though he could deny reality by refusing to see it.

His body and his mind were locked in a fierce internal battle. Shame screamed at him to resist, yet comfort betrayed him. The warm water, the gentle pressure, the careful hands—

A strange female is touching my body.

How was he supposed to explain this to his future huntress?

Worse still... he was starting to like it.

Rory scrubbed him carefully from head to tail, and when she reached his belly, she paused. Beneath the darkened feathers was a vivid patch of fiery red. She tilted her head, studying it.

"Huh," she murmured. "Burnt Dumpling, this red patch is actually pretty."

She gave the spot a light stroke.

Instantly, Burnt Dumpling snapped his wings shut, covering the area like his life depended on it.

Doesn’t this little female know that’s a male bird’s most private spot?!

How could she touch it so casually?!

Rory rolled her eyes at his dramatic reaction. "What are you freaking out about? I didn’t even touch your private parts."

Burnt Dumpling was speechless.

You absolutely did!

That’s exactly where you touched!

He nearly collapsed from emotional trauma.

Rory, completely oblivious, had no idea Burnt Dumpling was male. To her, a bird was a bird. Gender had never once crossed her mind.

Once he was clean, she dried him off and handed him to a robot assistant to have his feathers gently blown dry. Then she changed the water and turned her attention to Nix.

Unlike Burnt Dumpling, Nix was an absolute angel.

He stood patiently, completely cooperative, eyes half-lidded in bliss.

My huntress is so gentle...

This feels amazing...

He was practically floating.

By the time Rory finished bathing both of them, her arms felt like they were about to fall off. She handed Nix to a humanoid robot and had another escort her to the bedroom Jasper had prepared for her.

The room was enormous—over two thousand square feet. The ceiling was made of Dreamspire Stone, capable of projecting any scene imaginable: bright summer skies, starlit nights, endless grasslands. A massive bed dominated the space, nearly three hundred square feet on its own, draped in a soft green canopy.

Plush toys, glittering gemstones, and high-grade beast cores lined the room, radiating pure energy. To the left, a hidden walk-in closet unfolded at a voice command—another two thousand square feet crafted from spatial stone.

Inside hung the latest Central District fashions, from elegant dresses to advanced combat suits. To the right, a jewelry cabinet overflowed with luxury accessories. Shoes, boots, spatial rings, capsules—everything Jasper could think of, he’d bought for her.

Before the massive windows stretched an indoor swimming pool filled with pale blue water enriched with top-tier skincare serums. The bathroom was stocked just as extravagantly.

Rory set Burnt Dumpling’s perch on the desk and headed to the closet to find pajamas. Every piece was made from fine fabric, delicate and beautiful—some even daring. It was nothing like what she used to wear, but she couldn’t deny the appeal.

She picked a lilac nightgown and headed to bed.

Outside, Nix’s pale blue fur had just been blow-dried. He hopped off the table and toddled straight toward Rory’s room—then stopped, doubled back, and dragged the utterly defeated Burnt Dumpling off the couch.

With the bird dangling from his mouth, Nix marched toward the closed door.

The rare whitewood barrier might as well not have existed. 𝗳𝗿𝐞𝕖𝘄𝗲𝕓𝗻𝚘𝚟𝕖𝐥.𝚌𝕠𝕞

He passed straight through it.

Inside, Rory slept peacefully, unaware of the intruders. Burnt Dumpling thrashed in panic.

"Chirp chirp!"

Nix, what are you doing?! This is a female’s bedroom!

"Chirp chirp!"

Let me out!

Smack.

To keep him quiet, Nix dropped him and bopped him on the head. Stars exploded in Burnt Dumpling’s vision.

When the bird finally stopped struggling, Nix hopped onto the bed, shoved aside a plushie, ripped some fabric free, and stuffed it into Burnt Dumpling’s beak.

Now he couldn’t even squawk.

Burnt Dumpling flapped desperately. As a male, sneaking into a female’s bedroom while she slept was practically a crime. Nix, as Rory’s suitor, could enter freely. Burnt Dumpling absolutely could not.

Seeing he still wouldn’t behave, Nix tore up more plushies and tied him securely with fabric strips. Satisfied, he dragged him onto the bed, pinned one of Burnt Dumpling’s legs with a paw, and curled up against Rory’s arms.

Nix’s mind was simple—childlike. Burnt Dumpling was a fascinating toy. Something to keep, not to break.

Rory’s scent filled the air, warm and intoxicating. Heat spread through Burnt Dumpling’s body.

So hot... so thirsty...

His thoughts dissolved.

Then Rory shifted in her sleep. A shadow fell over him—and suddenly, he was smothered against soft, pale skin. Black feathers pressed against that warmth in stark contrast.

***

Meanwhile, in the Interstellar Hunter Alliance meeting room, Jasper sat rigidly on the couch, fingers drumming against the table, dark purple eyes sharp with irritation.

"So the rumors on the light-brain are true," he said coldly. "Prince Vincent and Commander Yuel are really missing?"

Bron Mandian nodded grimly. "Yes. His Highness went on a mission under the code name Kather for safety reasons. After the outer battlefield engagement, they should’ve returned. But something went wrong. They disappeared while covering the retreat."

"We found their private airship and light-brain at the battlefield," Bron continued. "Signs point to high-tier Chitinids."

Jasper scoffed. "What kind of Chitinids could take down Prince Vincent at level ten peak? He had Yuel with him."

He studied Bron closely. "You’re hiding something."

Bron sighed. "The higher-ups want this kept quiet. It’s... ugly."

Jasper sneered. "So he was set up. Big deal."

After a pause, he said calmly, "If you want to search Chitinid territory, you’ll need the Enchanter Clan. They specialize in scavenging the outer battlefield—and shapeshifting lets them move where others can’t."

***

Later that night, Rory soaked in the jacuzzi, then let the robots dry her hair and clean the room. She flopped across the massive bed, rolling helplessly, never quite reaching the center.

At last, she laughed softly.

"This is heaven."