Baby System: I'm the Beast World's Only Hope!-Chapter 155: Episode : Ren? Dance?

The Tea Room was located in the central courtyard, a semi-open pavilion with heated stone floors and sweeping views of the koi pond.

The morning sun filtered through the intricate lattice screens, casting geometric shadows on the low, polished table laden with Syris’s baked goods.

Oh, everyone was here.

Zarek sat at the head of the table, sipping tea from a delicate cup that looked comically small in his massive, clawed hand. Torian was sprawled on a pile of cushions, tossing grapes into his mouth. Syris was pouring tea for Mara and the other females, who looked out of place on the wooden chair.

Tanith, who had been dozing, suddenly let out a high-pitched, demanding wail.

"Wah!"

"She knows," Mara chuckled, rocking the baby. "Her nose is sharper than a wolf’s."

Roxy stepped into the pavilion. She was still wearing the tiger-striped dress, her hair loose and damp from the bath.

"Give her to me," Roxy smiled, reaching out.

The moment Tanith was transferred into Roxy’s arms, the crying ceased instantly. The baby nuzzled into Roxy’s chest, letting out a contented sigh that vibrated through her tiny body.

"She is a clingy one," Elder Vesta observed, sipping her tea. "Basilisks are solitary, but hybrids... they seem to crave the pack."

"She just knows I’m her mother," Roxy joked, sitting down on the cushion Zarek had reserved for her.

As she settled, she felt a tug on the hem of her dress.

She looked down. Iris was standing there. She was staring up at the baby with wide, violet eyes, eyes that matched Ren’s in color but held Torian’s shape.

Behind Iris, Axel and Onyx were wrestling over a cookie, but they paused to look. And standing by the pillar, arms crossed in a perfect imitation of Zarek, was Drax. 𝚏𝕣𝕖𝚎𝚠𝚎𝚋𝚗𝐨𝐯𝕖𝕝.𝕔𝐨𝕞

"Oh," Roxy realized, looking at her mates. "We haven’t done the introductions."

She shifted Tanith so the baby was facing outward.

"Okay, children," Roxy called out softly. "Come here. Meet your little sister."

Axel and Onyx scrambled over immediately, abandoning the cookie. They climbed onto Roxy’s legs, sniffing the baby loudly.

"Smells like... cucumber," Axel announced, wrinkling his nose.

Fuck!

Roxy clenched her teeth so hard from trying to laugh, but the other females immediately burst out in laughter.

"What a cute pup!"

"Sparkly!" Onyx pointed a chubby finger at the white scales on Tanith’s cheek. "Can I touch?"

"Gentle," Roxy warned. "One finger. She is very small."

Onyx poked Tanith’s cheek. Tanith blinked her eyes open, those strange, vertical-slit pupils focusing on the boy, but she didn’t cry.

"Drax?" Roxy called the dragon boy.

Drax walked over. He moved with a fluidity that was terrifying for a child who was technically barely a year old but physically nine. He looked at Tanith with his intense golden eyes. He inspected her scales and inspected her fragile hands.

He reached out and let Tanith wrap her tiny fingers around his index finger.

"She is weak," Drax stated, his voice clear and fluent. He looked at Roxy, his expression solemn.

"I will protect her."

Roxy felt her heart swell. "Thank you, Drax. That’s a good big brother."

Then, it was Iris’s turn. She climbed up onto the bench beside Roxy. She leaned in close, her nose almost touching Tanith’s.

Iris just stared.

At loss at what to do, the baby looked too cute and fragile.

Tanith, who had been stoic with the boys, suddenly kicked her legs. Her gummy mouth opened, and she let out a giggle.

Iris’s face lit up like the sun. "Mama! She likes me!"

"She loves you, Iris," Roxy smiled, watching the interaction as she ruffled Iris’s hair and scracted the back of her ears.

Iris reached out and gently patted Tanith’s head. "My baby. My Tanith."

Tanith cooed, leaning into Iris’s touch.

Roxy watched them, and immediately pictured a future where these two would become best of friends. Or gossip mongers.

"It is a good brood," Mara said, wiping a crumb from her lip. "Strong. Healthy. The Manor is already full of life."

She looked around the grand courtyard.

"So, Luna," Mara asked, leaning forward. "When is the party?"

Roxy blinked. "Party?"

"The Presentation Ceremony," Sera added. "You have birthed another Princess. Everyone would love to see her."

"Oh, no," Roxy shook her head rapidly. "No parties. It’s too early."

"It is not too early!" Torian interjected, sitting up. "We have the space now! Look at this place, Roxy! It demands a feast!"

"Torian is right," Zarek rumbled, surprising her. "Everyone must know of your capabilities."

When did Z start talking so much?

"But... the mess," Roxy whined. "And the noise."

"We will handle the preparations," Kaelen promised. "The wolves will hunt. The tigers will decorate. You just lay in your room and sleep."

"Give us one week," Torian pressed. "Seven suns. By then, you will be rested. Tanith will be settled. We invite the leaders and solidify the coin trade."

Roxy looked at their eager faces. They were proud. They wanted to show off their home and their family.

"Fine," Roxy sighed, grabbing a cookie. "One week."

Ren walked into the tea room, looking like nothing had happened to him.

As if he owned the place.

He had bathed and styled his hair, pulling it back into an intricate braid held in place with gold pins. He fanned himself slowly, walking majestically with a smile on his face.

Torian’s cheerful demeanor vanished. His ears flattened against his skull, and a low growl started deep in his chest.

"Why is he still here?" Torian snarled, his claws digging into the cushion. "We have accommodated you enough. Go back to your hole, Fox."

Ren paused near the entrance of the pavilion. He looked at the gathered family, the warmth, the food, the children. A flicker of longing crossed his eyes before he masked it with a smirk.

"Good morning to you, too, Stripey," Ren drawled. "I see the new house hasn’t improved your manners."

"Get out," Torian said, standing up, his massive frame blocking the sun. "You are not welcome at this table."

Ren took a step back, his fan faltering. He looked at Roxy, then back at the angry Tiger.

"Torian! Now is not the time for this." Roxy drawled, exhausted.

Torian looked at her, shocked. "But Roxy—"

"The children are here." Roxy pointed.

Axel and Onyx had stopped eating. Iris was hiding behind Roxy’s arm. Even Tanith had tensed up.

"You are scaring them," Roxy said, her voice stern. "This is a peaceful breakfast. If you want to growl, go outside the walls.."

Torian looked at the wide, fearful eyes of his Iris, and he flushed with shame. His aggression deflated instantly.

"I... sorry," Torian mumbled. He sank back onto his cushion, crossing his arms and pouting like a scolded cub. "But I still don’t like him."

"You don’t have to like him," Roxy said, soothing Tanith. "You just have to be civil."

She looked at Ren. "Ignore the cat. Come sit. There are cookies."

Ren hesitated. He looked at the empty spot on the bench near the end of the table. He felt the hostility radiating from Kaelen and Zarek, but he also felt the pull of Roxy’s invitation.

He took a step forward.

"Ren!"

A small, high-pitched voice rang out.

Iris scrambled out from behind Roxy, surprising her. She stood on the bench, bouncing on her toes. She pointed a sticky finger at the Fox King.

"Ren!" she chirped again.

Ren froze. How was the child calling out for him, as if he were an old-time friend?

"Hello, little one," Ren said softly, lowering his fan.

Iris’s eyes sparkled. She remembered the colors. She remembered the swirling lights he had made in the nursery last night (though she had been half-asleep).

She wiggled her hips clumsily, mimicking a spin.

"Ren!" Iris shouted, grinning with her scattered baby teeth. "Dance?"