Return of Black Lotus system:Taming Cheating Male Leads-Chapter 168 - -
"This is ’generous’," Heena corrected. "I’m taking care of a pregnant woman. Providing shelter, food, exercise, supervision. I’m practically a humanitarian."
"You removed her mattress!"
"Back support."
"You’re feeding her horse food!"
"Nutritious organic meals."
"You assigned the most terrifying woman in the palace to supervise her!"
"Experienced childcare specialist."
"She’s sleeping under a GRASS ROOF!"
"Excellent ventilation and natural lighting."
The System stared at his host with a mixture of horror and admiration.
"You’re going to hell, Host."
"Already been there," Heena said brightly. "It had better amenities than Seraphina’s current situation, but I made do."
She returned to reading Martha’s report with undisguised glee:
---
’’DAILY REPORT ON LADY SERAPHINA’S CARE’’
’Submitted by: Martha, Senior Supervisor’
’’DAY 1:’’
’Morning:’
- Subject complained about accommodations, specifically mentioning "no mattress," "smell of horses," and "is this a joke?"
- Reminded subject that pregnant women need fresh air and firm back support. Current lodging provides both excellently.
- Subject attempted to refuse breakfast (mare’s milk and sprouted grains).
- Informed subject that refusing meals is harmful to fetal development.
- Subject ate breakfast while crying. Acceptable emotional response to hormonal changes.
’Afternoon:’
- Subject assigned stable cleaning duties (3 stalls, light mucking, basic organization).
- Subject completed approximately 60% of assigned work before claiming "exhaustion" and "this is insane" and "I’m a noblewoman, not a stable hand."
- Reminded subject that light labor is medically recommended during pregnancy.
- Subject resumed work after "encouragement" (brief lecture on maternal responsibility).
’Evening:’
- Subject requested "real food" and "a actual bed" and "please, I’m begging you."
- Explained that current provisions meet all nutritional and safety requirements.
- Subject ate dinner while crying again. Hormones remain active.
’’SUPERVISOR NOTES:’’ Subject appears to have difficulty adjusting to healthy lifestyle changes. Will continue monitoring. Emotional outbursts are normal during pregnancy. Subject’s tendency to complain about "inhumane conditions" and "cruel treatment" likely indicates stress. Will provide additional responsibilities to keep her mind occupied.
---
’’DAY 2:’’
’Morning:’
- Subject refused to get out of bed (iron frame).
- Reminded subject that lying on hard surfaces too long can cause bedsores.
- Subject got up while muttering words I will not repeat in official report.
- Breakfast: Mare’s milk, oats, banana. Subject attempted to feed banana to nearby horse instead of eating it.
- Retrieved banana. Reminded subject that wasting food is unacceptable.
- Subject ate banana while glaring at me. Acceptable.
’Afternoon:’
- Increased workload to 5 stalls as subject appears to be building stamina.
- Subject had "emotional breakdown" involving phrases like "I can’t do this," "this is torture," and "where are my rights?"
- Provided constitutional law lecture explaining that palace guests have no inherent rights to luxury accommodations.
- Subject continued work while crying. Productive tears.
’Evening:’
- Subject requested to speak with Empress.
- Informed subject that Empress is very busy governing empire.
- Subject insisted it was "urgent" and "about human decency."
- Reminded subject that Empress has generously provided food, shelter, and medical care.
- Subject ate dinner in angry silence. Preferable to crying.
’’SUPERVISOR NOTES:’’ Subject’s emotional state remains unstable. This is normal. Subject continues to express dissatisfaction with accommodations. Have explained multiple times that current situation is optimized for maternal health. Subject does not appear to appreciate medical expertise. Will continue firm guidance.
---
’’DAY 3:’’
’Morning:’
- Subject has stopped complaining about food. Progress!
- Subject now eats breakfast while staring into distance with hollow eyes. Concerning but quiet.
- Discovered subject attempted to trade jewelry (already confiscated) with stable boy for "real food."
- Reminded subject that jewelry removal was for her safety.
- Subject laughed in disturbing manner. Hormones very active today.
’Afternoon:’
- Subject completed 7 stalls without complaint.
- Suspicious behavior. Subject may be planning something.
- Increased supervision to every 15 minutes instead of every 30.
- Subject noticed and asked if I "have nothing better to do."
- Informed subject that her health is my top priority. She cried again.
’Evening:’
- Subject requested "anything except mare’s milk."
- Provided goat’s milk as alternative.
- Subject stared at goat’s milk for 10 minutes before drinking it.
- Subject then cried while drinking goat’s milk.
- At this point subject cries during most activities. Hormone levels must be very high.
’’SUPERVISOR NOTES:’’ Subject appears to be adapting to routine, though emotional instability persists. Work output has improved significantly. Subject has stopped asking to speak with Empress, possibly indicating acceptance of current situation. Will maintain current regimen. Subject’s mental state continues to deteriorate in interesting ways that are definitely not my fault.
---
Heena finished reading and wiped an imaginary tear from her eye.
"Beautiful," she whispered. "Absolutely beautiful. Martha is an artist."
"Martha is a war criminal," the secretary muttered.
"Martha is ’thorough’," Heena corrected. "And deeply committed to maternal health."
"Lady Seraphina tried to trade non-existent jewelry for food," the System pointed out. "That’s... that’s a sign of psychological breakdown."
"That’s a sign that she’s learning valuable lessons about materialism and entitlement," Heena countered.
Secretary Chen pinched the bridge of his nose. "Your Majesty, I feel legally obligated to point out that when the five consorts’ families arrive and discover that you’ve been housing their alleged baby mama in a horse stable and feeding her animal feed—"
"Nutritious organic meals," Heena interrupted.
"—they may have questions," the secretary finished.
"And I’ll have answers," Heena said confidently. "Every single decision I made was for Seraphina’s health and the baby’s wellbeing. I have medical documentation supporting every choice. I am beyond reproach."
"You removed her roof and replaced it with GRASS."
"For vitamin D absorption!"
"YOU’RE FEEDING HER HORSE MILK."
"Mare’s milk is a delicacy in many cultures! Very nutritious! High in vitamins!"
The secretary stared at her for a long moment, then sighed the sigh of a man who had given up on everything.
"I’m updating my will tonight," he said. "When this all goes catastrophically wrong and I’m executed as your accomplice, I want my family to know I tried to stop you."
"Noted," Heena said cheerfully. "Now, has Martha submitted tomorrow’s exercise plan for Seraphina?"
"She has," the secretary said, pulling out another document with the enthusiasm of a man walking to his own execution. "She’s proposed adding ’hay bale stacking’ and ’water bucket carrying’ to the routine."
"Excellent upper body workout," Heena approved. "Approved."
"Also she’s requested permission to implement a ’motivation system’ involving reduced dinner portions if work quotas aren’t met."
"Absolutely not," Heena said immediately. "Pregnant women need proper nutrition. Martha can motivate through stern lectures and disappointed looks like a normal person."
"I’ll inform her," the secretary said.
"Good. Anything else?"
"Lady Seraphina has officially stopped requesting to speak with you and has instead started praying loudly to various gods for deliverance."
"Character growth," Heena said, nodding approvingly. "She’s developing spirituality. Beautiful."
The System covered his face with his paws.
"I can’t watch this anymore," he whispered. "This is too much even for me."
"Then don’t watch," Heena said pleasantly. "Go float somewhere else. I have work to do."
The System disappeared, probably to go question his life choices.
Heena returned to her paperwork, a satisfied smile on her face.
In a hut beside the stables, Seraphina was probably crying into her third glass of mare’s milk while Martha watched with stern disapproval.
And somewhere in the palace, five consorts were about to have their fathers summoned to court to answer for a pregnancy scandal that was going to blow up spectacularly.
Heena couldn’t wait.
This was going to be ’fun’
.
