Chapter 79: Medication Soup
Sunnie and Zuna took their time selecting the herbs she was looking for. And when they were done, they headed back home.
Sunnie mixed the herbs with some ingredients and cooked them into the small pot. She simply needed enough for Karl.
In three hours, she finally brought the bowl of soup to Karl, who had just gotten up.
"Take this." Sunnie was kneeling beside him while handing it to him. Others gathered around, staring at him.
Karl looked around at their curious eyes and stared at the soup. "And what the hell is this? I don’t need it... It looks bitter..."
Sunnie sighed. "Of course it’s not chicken soup. It’s herb soup. And you need it to recover. It’s medicine, so have it now."
Karl shook his head. "No... not interested. Take it away," he said proudly.
Sunnie blinked and then said, "If you don’t take it, I’ll make you go unconscious again and I’ll feed you with my own mouth. Slowly spill the soup from my mouth into yours through another kiss until this bowl is empty."
Sunnie guessed that was a decent threat because she could see the clear panic on his face. "Give me that..." He took the bowl from her and closed his eyes. Karl slowly poured it into his mouth while squeezing his face from how bitter it was.
Sunnie smiled. "Now that’s a good boy."
"Kiss?" Little Black blinked. "What’s that?"
Everywhere was silent as they stared at Little Black, and Zukka placed a hand over his mouth again. "You’re too little to know anything."
"Hey!" Little Black struggled to brush his hands off. When he was free, he snapped, "I hate you."
Zukka smiled. "I know."
Sunnie smiled at how chaotic they were as she watched Karl finish the bowl and hand it to her. "Here, happy?"
Sunnie nodded. "That’s good. Now just take a rest and you’ll get better soon. I’ll be back with more medication... because the fruit you ate was really not so good at all."
Karl glared at her. "You’re bringing more? I’ll never take more."
Sunnie smiled. "I guess you need more of my mouth in yours."
Zukka covered Little Black’s ears as Zuna smiled.
Eris raised an eyebrow. "Oh, the female is getting bold."
Karl frowned. "Whatever. Everyone leave here now. I want to rest alone." He insisted, and soon they began leaving.
Eris turned to him. "Why did you seem as though you enjoyed the mouth-to-mouth feeding, though?" He teased.
Karl gave him a cold glare. "I’ll skin your fur out if you don’t leave now."
Eris smiled as he left with the others.
---
Sunnie didn’t get a break that day. She spent most of her time preparing medications through meals for Karl.
She had used the energy she got from her pregnancy to work throughout that day, making sure to save Karl from his illness before the deadline.
And luckily, it was working out.
That evening, she was done preparing dinner with the meat of the leopard. Sunnie had handed Azure the meal to serve Karl because she suddenly felt exhausted.
She guessed she had exhausted her strength. So she found herself falling asleep early that day.
The four husbands brought the meal for Karl as the five of them stayed there alone in the inner cave.
"I’m not having that bitter stuff again," Karl folded his arms.
"She overworked herself for it. So you should have it," Azure explained.
"And it’s even surprising that she did it all for you," Eris observed. "I mean, the two of you are never on good terms... but she sacrificed her strength all day even when she was pregnant and kept preparing the meal for you..."
Azure folded his arms. "And look at you, you’re already recovered because of her. So you should at least drink it for her efforts. Don’t be a jerk."
Karl was quiet as he listened to all they said with a frown, like a kid about to throw a tantrum.
Luka sighed. "Seeing the way she took care of you even though you two bicker all the time, I’m guessing that maybe the female isn’t as bad as we thought she was. She even gave you a big portion of meal today even though you didn’t work at all."
Eris slowly nodded. "Mmm. I guess she’s not. She changed... but she became so much better. I think I like this version of her best."
"Since she’s having Azure’s baby, I guess Azure has already accepted her then," Luka observed.
Azure said nothing in response. He only stared at Karl as he said, "I understand that you’re being sensitive and keeping your guard up. But at least you should be considerate too."
"I’m not being sensitive... I’m only being logical." Karl stared up at Azure. The tension was cold. "You guys might be easy, but I’m not. I’m just making sure I don’t get taken advantage of. Okay?"
There was silence as Karl said, "I’ll have it. So you all can leave. I want to rest."
Luka blinked. "We don’t have much room, you forgot? So we’re all sleeping here."
"....."
Karl turned. "Whatever." He drank the soup and then lay on the other side without looking in their direction.
Soon, they all retired to bed quietly without words as well.
---
Sunnie was feeling uneasy in her sleep, so she woke up early that day. She was up early in the morning by 5 a.m.
And she didn’t feel sleepy anymore. Her stomach was kicking as though something was in it—well, something was in it.
But she felt it vividly. Sunnie guessed the time was approaching faster than expected. And just then, her system beeped.
[Ding!]
[Congratulations Host!]
[Your pregnancy health is perfect, and the duration of the pregnancy is drawing close!]
[Soon! Really soon, the host will bear their first cub for the mer husband!]
[Prepare yourself and be at alert, because you can’t know the specific day and time it’ll be ready to come!]
[So host must be ready at all times!]
Sunnie blinked as she stared at the system. She was right after all—the cub was coming real soon.