Chapter 74: After All, You Used to Be Partners, He Definitely Wants Your Blessing

Chapter 74: Chapter 74: After All, You Used to Be Partners, He Definitely Wants Your Blessing

As evening approached and the sun dipped below the horizon, the heat of the day lingered. Now that the rainy season had passed, the weather had grown progressively warmer, and the once-damp earth was already baked dry.

The Clan Leader succession ceremony was scheduled for dusk, so Ophelia and Tyler quickly gathered their things and prepared to head to the Snow Wolf Clan.

"Let’s go, Princess. If we wait any longer, the roads will be hard to navigate in the dark," Tyler said.

The two walked arm-in-arm to the gates of the Golden Dragon Clan. Just as they were about to leave, Amy’s little fiery red figure dashed over. She skidded to a halt in front of them, panting heavily. "Mother, I miss Father. Can I go with you to the Snow Wolf Clan?"

Ophelia noticed the yearning in the girl’s eyes and furrowed her brows slightly. "Did you hear that Loki became the Clan Leader of the Snow Wolf Clan?"

Amy bit her lip. Her gaze flickered, and she guiltily lowered her head, not daring to meet her mother’s eyes. "I... I heard them talking about it."

Ophelia chuckled softly. "It seems you haven’t given up on him yet." A child’s thoughts were always the easiest to guess and impossible to hide.

"Mother, I just miss Father. I want to go see him."

"Do you really miss him, or do you just want to be the most prestigious little female cub in the Snow Wolf Clan?" Ophelia asked. She suspected Loki had said such things to Amy more than once.

Amy’s cheeks flushed crimson, and she stammered, unable to answer.

Ophelia’s gaze turned cool. "Let’s go."

Surprised, Amy smiled sweetly. "I knew Mother treats me the best."

By the time the sun had completely set, the trio arrived at the Snow Wolf Clan.

The Clan Leader succession ceremony was being held in the clan’s square, and many of the Snow Wolf clansmen had already gathered. Seeing Amy arrive, the young females of the tribe immediately flocked to her.

"Amy, you’re finally back! Have you recovered from your illness?"

"You poor thing, you’ve lost so much weight. It breaks my heart."

"But now that you’re back, come over to my place when you have time. I’ll make sure to feed you until you’re plump and healthy."

Amy was a bit overwhelmed by the females’ enthusiasm, but she relished the attention. Her concept of being the clan’s most prestigious female cub suddenly became very real.

"Princess, what are they doing?" Tyler asked, completely baffled by the scene.

Ophelia scoffed. "They just want Loki."

Seeing the proud expression on Amy’s face, Ophelia knew the girl was already lost in their sugar-coated flattery. She thought Amy was a fool chasing after an illusion. Once Loki mated with Miche and they had their own female cubs, Amy would become utterly worthless.

While Amy basked in the females’ praises, several blushing male cubs—around five or six years old—approached. They shuffled over shyly, clutching bright red flowers in their hands.

"Those are the red flowers males use for courting. Are they..." Tyler stared in shock. Glancing around, he saw the surrounding females smiling in amusement, seemingly unfazed.

A slightly bolder male cub mustered up his courage and stepped forward. "A-Amy, I picked this red flower for you. I like you. Can I be your future mate?"

"Amy, I’ll treat you well in the future! Choose me to be your mate, please?" another chimed in.

Amy was taken aback. She was only four years old, and male cubs were already courting her? She felt incredibly impressive. Her vanity greatly satisfied, she lifted her chin and glanced at Ophelia with a hint of showing off, feigning a troubled tone. "Mother, what should I do now? They all seem to like me so much."

Ophelia didn’t miss the smugness in her eyes. "This is your own business. It has nothing to do with me," she replied flatly.

Amy curled her lips, clearly dissatisfied with her mother’s answer.

"That’s true. I’m the most prestigious little female cub in the clan now. Not just anyone is worthy of me," Amy declared.

Her emerald eyes swept over the male cubs standing before her. None of them were particularly good-looking, and their families’ strength was mediocre at best. She recognized two familiar faces among them—cubs her mother had once scolded her over—which made her dislike them even more.

Raising her chin arrogantly, she sneered, "You’re all too ugly to be worthy of me. I’m the Clan Leader’s daughter, and I deserve only the best mate in the future. Don’t even think about it."

She made her point painfully clear, stopping just short of telling the male cubs they were aiming completely out of their league.

The male cubs flushed beet red. However, knowing Amy was Clan Leader Loki’s female cub, they had no choice but to swallow the insult, lowering their heads in deep shame.

The mothers of the cubs stood nearby, their expressions darkening. Watching their beloved sons being belittled infuriated them, but given Amy’s status, they had to forcefully suppress their anger. One female, looking thoroughly embarrassed, even forced a polite smile. "You’re still young, Amy. There’s no rush for these things. We can talk about it when you’re older."

Hearing this, Amy felt even more smug, shooting Ophelia a slightly provocative look. She decided that her future mate had to be stronger than Tyler, her mother’s current mate, and even more powerful than Uncle Laxus.

Ophelia’s face instantly frosted over as she took in Amy’s arrogant demeanor. "Amy, even if you don’t like those male cubs, you shouldn’t be so rude. Them giving you flowers is a way of expressing their affection. You should thank them for it and then decline politely."

Unhappy at being reprimanded, Amy’s big, watery eyes widened into a glare. "You always do this, Mother! Scolding me in front of so many people. I’m the clan’s most prestigious female cub now. They really aren’t worthy of me."

She inwardly grumbled that it was her choice of a future mate anyway. Since her mother had already abandoned her, it was incredibly annoying that she still tried to dictate her life.

As Amy stood there puffing her cheeks in anger, Ophelia saw that her words hadn’t registered and decided to drop the subject.

At that moment, Miche slowly walked over. She wore a pristine white fox-fur dress, her elegant and serene demeanor making her look as though she was already the Clan Leader’s wife. Bending down, Miche affectionately patted Amy’s head. "Amy isn’t wrong. She’s the Clan Leader’s little female cub now. These male cubs really aren’t worthy of her.

"Amy’s future mate should be a Clan Leader, or at the very least, a Young Clan Leader."

By elevating Amy’s status in front of everyone, Miche fed the girl’s ego even more.

Amy pouted and looked at Ophelia. "Did you hear what Ms. Miche said, Mother?"

Ophelia lowered her eyes. She noted how the girl never seemed to learn her lesson—it hadn’t been long at all, yet she was already warmly calling her ’Ms. Miche’ again. Not wanting to say another word or look at Miche a second longer, Ophelia turned to leave.

However, Miche hurried forward and grabbed Ophelia’s hand, her face beaming with feigned joy. "Ophelia, Loki will be absolutely thrilled that you came to his succession ceremony.

"After all, you two used to be mates. He definitely wants your blessing."

Ophelia shook off her hand without so much as sparing her a glance.

Miche’s eyes flickered, and she deliberately fell backward.

"AH!"

"Miche, are you all right?!" Loki wrapped his arm around Miche’s waist, his voice thick with panic.

Miche shook her head. "I’m fine. Ophelia didn’t mean to do it. Please, whatever you do, don’t be mad at her."