Chapter Thirteen: Conversation.

Even though Grace was not a specialist in fertility, he clearly understood what natural conception meant. Even after centuries, debates and values surrounding natural conception had never faded. If the news that Lu Xia had conceived naturally were to break, it would cause a sensation across the entire empire.

Realizing this, Grace took a deep breath, his expression growing grave. He packed his things and did not linger in the First Military District; he didn’t even bother with the failed Colonel Kofi. He hurriedly drove away in his hovercar. By the time Colonel Kofi finished chanting “I am an idiot” five hundred times and wanted to find Grace, the man had long since vanished.

At that moment, Colonel Kofi deeply felt that Grace had never truly regarded him as important. This left him confused. He couldn’t understand why Grace, considered a “defective,” could be so arrogant and confident rather than living cautiously like other “defectives.” Where did his strength truly come from?

Grace was utterly indifferent to Colonel Kofi’s inner thoughts as he sped home. When Lu Xia came downstairs after changing clothes, ready to eat something, she saw Grace returning in a hurry. She raised an eyebrow in surprise, thinking how quick his reaction was.

Before she could speak, Grace approached her immediately and said, “Can we talk?”

His tone was a clear plea, which inexplicably softened Lu Xia’s heart. She nodded gently. “Sure, what do you want to talk about?”

They did not go to the study but sat casually on the living room sofa. Besides the two of them, only the old butler lived in the house—and he wasn’t around at that moment—making the living room a good place for conversation. Grace didn’t insist on going to the study.

“I want to know, how many people know about this so far?” Grace asked.

Lu Xia understood what he meant. It seemed the man thought the same as she did, which pleased her somewhat. “Not many. Those who know can be trusted. I don’t want to make a fuss or become someone’s research subject. I don’t know why this happened, but since it did, I have no choice but to accept it.”

Hearing Lu Xia say this, Grace’s tense nerves relaxed. He was glad she saw it the same way. The weight on his heart lifted, and his gaze involuntarily fell on Lu Xia’s flat abdomen. It was hard to imagine that place was already nurturing life.

Even now, he hadn’t fully calmed the shock inside him. He was going to have a child—his own child—conceived naturally.

Sensing Grace’s gaze, Lu Xia felt a flicker of embarrassment and instinctively covered her abdomen with her arm. “I don’t know what will happen during the pregnancy. You’ll probably have to take care of me a lot in the coming days.”

“That’s my duty. Whatever you need, just tell me. I will do my best,” Grace promised earnestly.

In truth, even if Lu Xia were not pregnant, as her attendant, he should fulfill this duty. There was no hesitation about that.

“If you want, I can ask the First Military District for leave and devote myself to taking care of you at home,” Grace said, a hint of hope shining in his eyes.

But hearing the word “taking care” again made Lu Xia a little uncomfortable. She firmly refused, “No need. You should focus on your work and not put all your energy into me. If I need you, I will find you.”

The light in Grace’s eyes dimmed upon hearing this. Then Lu Xia changed the subject, asking, “How is Colonel Kofi? Has he left the First Military District?”

Hearing this, Grace suddenly remembered and shook his head. “I don’t know. When I came back, he hadn’t finished.”

Although Grace didn’t specify what Kofi hadn’t finished, Lu Xia knew all too well—it was the punishment she had insisted upon.

The image of Colonel Kofi loudly shouting “I am an idiot” in front of so many people was too amusing. She couldn’t help but laugh. “Whether he’s left or not, he won’t dare to provoke you again in the First Military District.”

“Thank you,” Grace said suddenly, catching Lu Xia off guard.

“For what?” she asked in surprise.

“I know you did this for me.” Otherwise, Lu Xia could have ignored the whole matter, but upon learning of it, she immediately chose to stand by him and defend him. Grace was deeply grateful.

Lu Xia replied, “I just can’t stand his arrogant attitude. It has little to do with our relationship.”

Grace took her words as reassurance not to overthink things and smiled. “I know, but even if it’s just a little for me, I should thank you.”

What he didn’t say aloud was that Lu Xia had chosen to tell him herself about her pregnancy. She could have kept it a secret; he would never have known otherwise. Yet she personally came to the First Military District to deliver the news because he was the child’s father—an acknowledgment of his identity.

In the empire, females only combined with males as house husbands for artificial breeding, or favored secondary husbands might have such opportunities. But males serving as attendants never had this chance.

Now, Lu Xia had not denied his existence because of his status.

The balance in Grace’s heart finally tilted uncontrollably toward Lu Xia.

Why did such a female as Lu Xia exist in this world?

Noticing the passion in Grace’s eyes made Lu Xia feel strangely uneasy. She instinctively stood up. “Alright, if you have nothing else, I’m going to eat.”

With that, she hurried out of the dining room.

Watching her leave, Grace couldn’t help but curl his lips into a gentle smile, his eyes full of tender affection.

At first, Lu Xia worried about possible pregnancy symptoms. Although it was her first time, she had seen others around her who were pregnant. She knew they avoided pork and had their own pregnancy reactions from early on. She feared she might experience the same.

But as it turned out, after two days of anxious waiting, she seemed to have no symptoms. She didn’t know if it was because it wasn’t time yet or if she had a special constitution. Everything remained uncertain.

Realizing this, Lu Xia stopped dwelling on it and threw herself wholeheartedly into her work.

Her first-generation beauty cream was about to be launched!