[BL] Challenge: 100 Baby in Fantasy World-Chapter 290: Gift from Duchess Alterian

Gara’s expression immediately twisted in irritation. Just yesterday, he had made it very clear how much he disliked Langga.

’What is this? Don’t tell me Langga already told his family about the triplets. They’ve always been desperate for an heir...’

He started to panic, completely forgetting he was still connected to his uncle.

"Do you want the gift sent directly to you, or will you come pick it up yourself?" Ramun asked.

Gara snapped out of his thoughts. "I’ll go there next week to pick it up, but... can I refuse a gift if it’s too extravagant?"

"Of course. Lady Syeila’s gift, yes? I’ll return it," Ramun replied, fully understanding the situation.

The connection ended for real this time.

Gara let out a long breath.

Beside him, Madha watched him with an unreadable expression.

The silence finally broke when Fian arrived. "Sorry, I was training with the headmaster."

Ever since the semester started, Fian had been training under Asta. No matter how busy Asta was, he always found time to guide Fian’s trait development.

"It’s fine, Fian. I’m glad you have someone to help you grow your trait. You’ll be stronger in the future," Gara said, genuinely happy.

Fian couldn’t help but blushed. He nodded.

Then, the three of them entered the dimensional space together.

...

The next day, Gara went straight to confront his main advisor. Langga looked surprised, yet pleased, to see him.

In this room, nothing Gara did would ever be considered rude. Not in Langga’s eyes.

"Is there—"

Gara didn’t let him finish. "Did you report the triplets to your family?"

Langga’s brows furrowed.

Gara clicked his tongue. "Lady Syeila from Altas Duchy sent me a gift. A big one. Far too extravagant for a ’welcome’ present for a newly discovered grandchild..."

Langga’s frown only deepened.

"No matter what, I’ll never let the triplets go with you. So don’t even hope," Gara said firmly.

He turned to leave, just like always. He only ever showed up to say what he wanted, never caring about what Langga wanted to say.

But this time, Langga spoke just before Gara touched the door.

"I don’t just want the triplets... I want you to come with me as well."

"What?!" Gara spun around. "W–why would you suddenly—"

"It’s not sudden, Gara. Since that first night, I haven’t been able to forget you. I know what I want— and it’s you," Langga said openly, without hesitation.

A shiver crawled up Gara’s spine. "I’m not some object you can claim just because you feel like it."

"I know. I can wait." A faint smile tugged at Langga’s lips.

That smile made him look dangerously handsome, and that only made Gara even more afraid.

"You know I already have a fiancé. And... if you try anything, I’ll expose your secret— that you’re a half-devil." Gara threatened.

Langga didn’t lose his smile.

"Go ahead. That rumor has been around for ages. If someone brings it up again now, people will just think it’s the same old gossip resurfacing."

Gara’s hands balled into fists. At this moment, he absolutely hated that handsome smile.

Langga was no easy opponent, not for someone like Gara.

Not wanting to get more irritated, and knowing he couldn’t win this argument, Gara quickly left.

Moments after Gara’s departure, Pere entered the room.

"What did my mother do?" Langga asked him.

He honestly had no idea his mother had sent Gara a gift. Usually, gifts like that came from the follower of the nobles or people hoping to form alliances.

So far, there had been no cooperation agreement between Esalavya Duchy and Altas Duchy.

Pere opened a document containing the newest information he had gathered.

"Sir, Lady Syeila... she’s a fan of Gara." 𝘧𝓇ℯ𝑒𝓌𝑒𝑏𝓃𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭.𝒸ℴ𝓂

"What?!" Langga felt like he had just heard a joke. Was his mother’s mind getting worse from not having a grandchild yet?

"Lady Syeila is a fan of Alrova products, the ones Gara makes. Everything from food products to herbal beauty items," Pere continued.

Langga let out a relieved sigh. So his mother hadn’t reached that stage of weirdness.

Pere added, "Lady Syeila has contacted both Alrova Merchant House and Yugo Merchant House multiple times, asking them to open an Alrova Shop in Altas Duchy. But both merchant houses rejected her requests without giving a clear reason."

"This is because Gara hates me, isn’t it?" Langga rubbed his face.

Gara’s hatred ran so deep he was even shutting down business opportunities over it.

Langga was about to dismiss Pere, but the aide wasn’t done.

"Besides her interest in Alrova’s products, Lady Syeila also started digging for information about Gara because... she seems to know you’re interested in him, Sir."

Langga’s expression tightened, becoming far more serious than usual. He expected someone to notice eventually, but not this soon.

"Hide everything as best as you can. It’s not time to tell my mother. Only when Gara truly becomes mine."

Pere nodded, obeying the order.

In his heart, he didn’t agree with his master’s plan at all, but as a subordinate, his opinion didn’t matter unless asked.

Lady Syeila, the very topic of their conversation, was reviewing the financial reports of her businesses in the duchy when her assistant walked in with an uneasy look.

"What is it?" the Duchess asked sharply.

"Eshaan House sent a message... they plan to return the gift you sent."

Syeila’s eyes snapped up from the documents. "Return my gift? Why?"

"Apparently, the gift was too extravagant and difficult to accept. That’s what they said," the assistant answered carefully.

Syeila slammed her hand on the table, then her expression softened pitifully. "How am I supposed to show Gara that I’m sincere?"

She looked like a young woman whose love had just been rejected. Even her assistant hesitated, unsure what to say.

"Honestly, Lady... I believe Alrova has been purposely avoiding us. Could it be that..."

"At the Academy, did Langga treat Gara too harshly and make him resent us?" Syeila guessed. The assistant nodded.

"This week, call him home for dinner."

"He’ll probably refuse. It’s still—"

"No matter what, get him home."

"Yes, Lady."

...

Gara had just returned from Esalavya Duchy. His head throbbed painfully.

"The Duke should’ve regained consciousness by now. Why hasn’t he improved at all? Either they aren’t giving the vena pill and water regularly... someone doesn’t want him waking up... or it’s still not enough to bring him back."

He gently stroked his very large belly to calm himself.

This pregnancy wasn’t as massive as when he carried the triplets, but it was still heavy.

"It looks like this time it’s only one baby. Unfortunately, the healers’ Talents can’t penetrate the system’s barrier, so I still can’t check whether the baby is a boy or a girl."

Baby supplies weren’t an issue. Gara’s fourth child could simply use the things his older siblings had outgrown.

Gara let out a long sigh, his gaze shifting to the chrona and one-night flowers on the table.

The vena pill and his water hadn’t been enough to wake the Duke. He had no choice but to return to his original plan, brewing a potion based on vague old notes.

Once Gara began researching, nothing could pull his attention away.

Rea ran in and out of the lab repeatedly, but Gara didn’t react at all.

After hours passed, and after Wina kept urging her to fetch him, the little white squirrel finally decided that if Gara still didn’t respond, she would bite him.

But the moment she entered the lab, Gara’s sudden shout filled the entire room.

"Cccitt cccitt?" Rea jumped onto Gara’s head in surprise.

Gara picked her up, hugging the squirming squirrel tightly. Rea fought to escape, but Gara carried her straight outside.

Waiting in front of the lab were Madha, Wina, and Della. Clearly, all three had been waiting for Rea to retrieve him.

Without hesitation, Gara threw himself into Madha’s arms. Rea getting squished somewhere between Gara, Madha, and Gara’s pregnant belly.

"I did it! The chrona flower extended the lifespan of the one-night flower! It no longer dies after just twelve hours!" Gara was practically bouncing.

Madha held him firmly, making sure the pregnant man didn’t get too excited.

Meanwhile, Rea finally managed to slip away and jump onto Wina’s shoulder.

"Congratulations, Gara. I knew you could do it." Madha gently rubbed his back. "Why don’t we eat now and celebrate a little?"

Madha always knew how to guide things smoothly back on track.

Gara nodded. Wina and Della exhaled in relief. To them, Gara succeeded far too often. What mattered more was whether he remembered to eat regurlarly.

Ares was already waiting in the dining room.

Today was one of those rare days when Ares could freely roam the space.

Agus wasn’t inside the space. It seemed he had gone to the capital to look for a space-type enhance crystal at a major auction.

As they ate, Gara shared his next research plan.

"I’m going to use the one-night flower as the main ingredient for the antidote for Duke Eshaan. I’m not completely sure it’s the right ingredient... but I’m going to try anyway."

Everyone around the table nodded, fully trusting him.

...