Raising Beast Cubs to Find a Husband-Chapter 96: The Children’s Crusade and The Clueless Bunny

Chapter 96: The Children’s Crusade and The Clueless Bunny

The Lilac Salon (The Kids’ Section)

While the adults were busy signing treaties and sipping polite poison in the main hall, the children had been shunted off to the Lilac Salon.

This was a smaller, softer room filled with pillows, excessive amounts of cake, and supervised by three very stressed nannies who looked like they were reconsidering their life choices.

The social hierarchy here was just as brutal as the adult one. Little Dukes and Duchesses formed cliques based on species and wealth.

But today, the hierarchy was broken.

Because Lady Ellia, the Grand Duchess and Star of the Ball, wasn’t sitting on the velvet throne. She was sitting on the floor, surrounded by the Daycare Delegation.

Orion sat cross-legged next to her, adjusting the collar of his velvet suit. Every few seconds, he pulled a small spray bottle from his pocket and misted his face. Psst. Psst.

"Humidity levels are critically low," Orion noted, blinking his teal eyes. "Surface dwellers prefer their air exceedingly dry. It is inefficient."

"Have some cake," Ellia suggested, passing him a plate. "It helps."

"Okay," Ellia whispered, looking at Clover. "Hand it over."

Clover reached into her pocket. She pulled out The Rock.

It was just a grey river stone. It was smooth from being held by anxious paws. In a room full of diamonds and pearls, it looked ridiculous.

"It is a Safety Rock," Clover explained solemnly, placing it in Ellia’s hand. "It has +10 Bravery. And it keeps the whispers away."

Ellia closed her fingers around the stone. It was warm.

"Thank you, Clover," Ellia said softly. "But... didn’t Vali give this to you? It must be precious."

"It is," Clover nodded, her ears flopping. "It is the best rock. That is why you need it. You have to fight the Emperor. I only have to fight... uh... the urge to nap."

Ellia smiled, her heart melting a little. "Won’t Vali be mad?"

"He agreed," Clover assured her. "I promised him a stick. A really big stick."

Ellia laughed. She tucked the rock into a hidden pocket in her dress. It felt heavier than gold, and infinitely more valuable.

Across the room, Vali was pacing. He was adjusting his red bow tie so much it was now crooked.

"Just ask her," Arjun grunted, shoving a cupcake into his mouth. "It is not hard. You say: ’Let us spin’."

"It is not just spinning!" Vali hissed. "It is a formal request! My dad says I have to bow! What if I fall over?"

"Then it becomes a comedy routine," Jasper noted helpfully from behind his book.

"Observation," Orion chimed in, holding his spray bottle like a scanner. "Your heart rate is 160 beats per minute. You are exhibiting signs of prey chased by a shark. Are you dying?"

"No!" Vali wailed. "It’s love, Orion! It’s terrible!"

Vali took a deep breath. He marched over to where Clover and Ellia were sitting. 𝐟𝗿𝐞𝚎𝚠𝐞𝚋𝕟𝐨𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝕔𝕠𝚖

He stopped in front of the white bunny. He stiffened his legs. He bent at the waist in a sharp, military bow.

"Clover!" Vali barked (literally).

Clover jumped. "Yes?"

"The music!" Vali shouted, sweating profusely. "It is... happening later! I have feet! You have feet! Shall we... combine them?"

Ellia blinked. Combine feet?

Orion tilted his head. "Query: Does the Wolf intend to surgically attach himself to the Lagomorph? That seems medically inadvisable."

Clover tilted her head, her nose twitching. She looked at Vali’s feet. She looked at her own.

"Combine them?" Clover asked, confused. "Like... tie them together? For a three-legged race?"

Vali groaned, putting his face in his hands. "No! For the dance! I am asking you to dance!"

"Oh!" Clover beamed. "Okay! I like hopping!"

She turned back to Ellia. "Vali wants to hop with me."

Ellia covered her mouth to hide her laugh. Vali looked like he had just run a marathon. The poor wolf was hopelessly crushing on the clueless bunny, and Clover just thought they were good pals who exchanged rocks and sticks.

"Go hop, Vali," Ellia grinned. "Don’t step on her toes."

Meanwhile, by the snack table, trouble was brewing.

Finn was trying to reach the top tier of the chocolate fountain. He was stretching on his tiptoes, his top hat wobbling.

"Look at the street rat," a voice sneered.

Three boys approached. They were dressed in immaculate silk.

The leader was a Hyena Kin—a boy with spots on his ears and a perpetual, nasty grin. His name was Lord Snicker. Flanking him were two Boar Kin twins, thick-set and piggy-eyed.

"Did you sneak in through the kitchen?" Snicker laughed, pushing Finn. "Or did the Nanny bring you as a pet?"

Finn stumbled, dropping his strawberry. It fell into the chocolate with a sad plop.

"Hey!" Finn snapped, adjusting his hat. "I was invited! By the Grand Duchess!"

"Sure you were," Snicker mocked. "You’re just a little fox thief. Go back to the gutter."

One of the Boar twins reached out to grab Finn’s hat.

FWIP.

A shadow moved.

Suddenly, Silas was standing between them. He didn’t look like a child. He looked like a pool of ink that had stood up. His eyes glowed violet.

"Touch the hat," Silas whispered, "and I will eat your shadow."

The Boar twin froze. "What?"

"Leave him alone," a deep voice rumbled.

Arjun stepped up behind Finn. He was a head taller than the Hyena. He crossed his arms, his striped tail lashing.

"Finn is Pack," Arjun growled. "You mess with the Fox, you get the Tiger."

"And the Snake," Jasper added, sliding out from behind the table. He adjusted his glasses. "According to the Imperial Code of Conduct, Section 4, bullying a guest of the Royal Family is punishable by expulsion. I can calculate the trajectory of your ejection if you wish."

"And the Leviathan," a monotone voice added.

Orion stepped up beside Arjun. He looked small, but his stare was unblinking and unnerving. He held up his spray bottle.

"I possess concentrated saline solution," Orion stated calmly. "If you proceed, I will target your ocular cavities. Saltwater stings significantly."

Snicker looked at the Tiger, the Panther, the Snake, and the strange Fish-boy threatening him with a spray bottle. He looked at Finn, who was now smirking.

"Whatever," Snicker muttered, backing away. "This party is boring anyway."

They retreated.

Finn picked up a new strawberry. "Thanks, guys."

"Pack protects Pack," Arjun shrugged, stealing a cookie.

"Affirmative," Orion agreed, holstering his bottle. "The Pack is efficient."

Chaos Management

From the doorway, I watched the scene unfold.

My heart was in my throat. I had been ready to rush in, to unleash my inner Mama Bear, but... they didn’t need me.

Silas terrified the bullies. Arjun stood his ground. Vali awkwardly asked for a dance. Clover gave away her most precious possession. Orion threatened people with water.

They were growing up.

But then...

"Hey!" Vali yelled from across the room. "The chocolate fountain! It looks like mud! Arjun, I bet you can’t drink from the spout!"

"Challenge accepted!" Arjun roared.

"No!" Jasper calculated. "The viscosity is too high! It will splatter!"

"Analysis," Orion chimed in, leaning over the fountain. "The thermal output is optimal for consumption. However, the splash radius is calculated at 2.5 meters. We will require shielding."

"Shielding means napkins!" Finn cheered, grabbing a handful. "I’m going in!"

I froze.

I saw the gleam in their eyes. I saw the pristine white carpet. I saw the impending chocolate apocalypse.

"Oh no," I whispered. "Not on my watch."

I didn’t walk. I sprinted.

"DAYCARE! FREEZE!" I used my Command Voice.

Every cub froze. Arjun stopped mid-lean toward the fountain. Vali paused mid-cheer. Orion stopped misting the chocolate. Even Silas solidified out of the shadows.

I marched over, straightening Arjun’s tie and wiping chocolate off Finn’s cheek.

"We are at a Palace," I hissed, "not a mud pit. If anyone touches that fountain with their face, there will be no bedtime stories for a week. And I will tell the Emperor that Vali is afraid of thunder."

"You wouldn’t!" Vali gasped.

"Try me," I narrowed my eyes.

They settled down instantly.

I stood back, smoothing my silk dress. Crisis averted.

I looked over at Caspian, who was watching from the adult section, a small, proud smile on his face.

We exchanged a look.

Kids, he mouthed.

Monsters, I mouthed back, smiling.

The night was going well. Too well.

Which meant, of course, that everything was about to go wrong.