Chapter 853: Lucky Cat

Chapter 853: Chapter 853: Lucky Cat

Finally, Valer turned towards Ivy with a smile so cunning that he looked more like a thief who had just successfully robbed a treasure vault than a student who had received some blueprints.

"Cousin, you truly are my cousin, Ivy! I knew I could count on you!"

Ivy stared at his shameless expression and couldn’t help wondering whether he had any intention of behaving like a normal person.

When the game finally ended, Valer had successfully climbed to the first position in the rankings, achieving the result he had desperately wanted.

Meanwhile, Ivy exited the virtual world with the mysterious golden and black cards in her possession.

As soon as she returned to reality, she let out a breath and panted slightly, feeling a trace of exhaustion settle over her body.

Without realizing it, she placed one hand over her stomach, her fingers resting protectively against it.

Eugenia immediately noticed her condition and hurried over to support her, concern appearing on her face.

"Cousin, are you all right? Did you exert yourself too much while playing the game?"

She glanced at Ivy anxiously before turning her sharp gaze towards Valer, who was standing nearby with a thoroughly satisfied expression.

"This fellow is truly clueless! Can’t he even take proper care of you?"

Valer immediately raised both hands in surrender, his expression filled with helplessness as he tried to defend himself.

"I was genuinely busy with my university assignment, so I didn’t have much time to pay attention to anything else!"

Even as he spoke, his mind remained occupied with the astonishing performance he had witnessed inside the game.

He simply couldn’t understand how Ivy’s superpower could be so overwhelmingly powerful in that virtual world.

’Was she really just playing the game, or did she somehow become its creator?’

From summoning treasure chests and building materials to producing blueprints and other resources, Ivy had been able to obtain almost anything she wanted.

It was as though the entire game world existed at her command, ready to fulfill her every wish.

Catherine, on the other hand, had noticed Ivy’s unconscious gesture of placing a hand over her stomach.

However, she didn’t think too much about it at the time, assuming that Ivy was merely tired after spending so much energy in the game.

Seeing that everyone was becoming increasingly concerned, Catherine finally intervened with a gentle smile.

"All right, that’s enough. There’s no need to make such a fuss over this. Come along, everyone. Let’s have dinner."

With that, she guided them towards the dining room, where the delicious aroma of freshly prepared food soon filled the air.

The atmosphere gradually became lively as everyone gathered around the table, and the excitement surrounding Valer’s achievement continued throughout the meal.

Valer, in particular, was in exceptionally high spirits.

Having finally secured the first position, he couldn’t stop talking about his success, occasionally glancing at Ivy with an expression that made it clear he considered her his personal lucky charm.

Ivy could only smile helplessly at his behavior, although she was pleased that she had been able to help him achieve his goal.

The following day, Ivy once again tried to prepare some food for Catherine, hoping to help improve her health through the meals she had carefully made.

However, just as she approached the kitchen, a sudden wave of nausea washed over her.

The strong aroma of the herbs simmering in the pot seemed to grow unbearably intense, and her stomach churned unpleasantly.

She pressed a hand over her mouth, struggling to suppress the rising discomfort, but the feeling only grew worse with every passing second.

Unable to endure it any longer, Ivy hurried towards the bathroom, barely managing to reach it before she nearly threw up.

Her face had turned pale, and she leaned against the sink for support while waiting for the unpleasant sensation to subside.

When Catherine noticed what had happened, she blinked in surprise.

Although she didn’t immediately say anything, a faint crease appeared between her brows as she began paying closer attention to Ivy’s behavior.

Over the next few days, Catherine gradually noticed several unusual things.

Whenever someone approached Ivy too quickly or seemed likely to bump into her, Ivy would instinctively protect her stomach with one hand.

Sometimes, she would also refuse to eat certain foods that she had appeared to enjoy only moments earlier, her expression turning uncomfortable as soon as she caught their scent.

At first, Catherine wondered whether Ivy was simply exhausted or feeling unwell after using her superpowers.

However, as the days passed, the same patterns continued, and a suspicion slowly began forming in her mind.

Finally, on the third day, Catherine could no longer contain her curiosity.

She stopped Ivy when they were alone and studied her with a serious expression.

"Ivy, tell me honestly, what is happening to you? Is there any chance that you’re pregnant?"

Ivy blinked in surprise at the direct question.

She had never intended to conceal her pregnancy from Catherine, so she saw no reason to deny it or make excuses.

After a brief pause, she nodded honestly and answered, "Yes, I am pregnant."

The moment those words left Ivy’s mouth, Catherine’s entire expression changed.

Her eyes widened, and the color seemed to drain from her face as she stared at Ivy, struggling to process what she had just heard.

Ivy quickly noticed how Catherine’s expression had changed, and she couldn’t help asking, "What happened? Why do you suddenly look so serious?"

Catherine looked at Ivy with a grave expression before reaching out to hold her hand. Her fingers tightened slightly around Ivy’s as she spoke in a low, firm voice.

"Don’t let anyone know about your pregnancy, and stop competing for the throne for the next three months."

Hearing those words, Ivy frowned in confusion. She hadn’t expected Catherine to react so strongly to the news, and the older woman’s sudden change in attitude made her uneasy.

"Are you saying this because I’m pregnant?" Ivy asked, searching Catherine’s face for an explanation.

Catherine stepped closer and held Ivy’s hand more firmly.

"Ivy, you might not even realize it, but you’re in grave danger during pregnancy. Superior beings are at their weakest during this period. If someone were to attack you now, you wouldn’t even have the chance to resurrect yourself. Your death would be permanent, and you would be pronounced dead without any possibility of returning."

The gravity of Catherine’s words finally sank in, and Ivy’s expression changed.

Until now, she hadn’t given much thought to the dangers of pregnancy, especially since her condition had gradually become more stable over the past few days.

However, Catherine’s warning made her realize that there might be risks she knew nothing about.

"Why is it so dangerous?" Ivy asked seriously. "What makes pregnancy different for superior beings?"

Catherine sighed, appearing reluctant to explain everything at once.

"It’s simply the way things work here, along with the schemes that people are willing to carry out to achieve their goals. Don’t think about it too much for now, but remember my words, Ivy. You must be careful."

Ivy nodded obediently, understanding that Catherine was genuinely concerned about her safety.

Over the past few days, Ivy had indeed noticed a significant improvement in her pregnancy symptoms.

In fact, ever since she had begun breathing the oxygen on Planet Astra, her discomfort had gradually diminished.

Her nausea had become less frequent, and the changes in her body were so subtle that even the dresses she wore barely revealed that she was pregnant.

’Could the atmosphere on this planet really be helping my body adjust?’

The discovery surprised Ivy, and she couldn’t resist asking Catherine more questions about pregnancy among superior beings.

Having experienced pregnancy herself when she carried her twins, Catherine patiently explained the unusual biological characteristics of their species.

"Superior beings often give birth after approximately six months of pregnancy because of their biological constitution. The babies are usually quite small when they’re born, but they gain weight rapidly within the first two days of their arrival. Their bodies develop at an astonishing rate, so you shouldn’t be alarmed if your baby seems smaller than you expected at birth."

Ivy listened attentively, trying to absorb all the unfamiliar information. However, Catherine wasn’t finished explaining.

"There’s another thing you should know. If your child is lucky, then after his birth you might see a significant change in your life. Children born with such potential are considered especially blessed, and their futures can be quite remarkable."

Ivy pursed her lips thoughtfully before asking, "Is there something called a lucky cat on this planet, too?"