Chapter 246 Cooperation. (2) Feelings.

Words : 1147 Updated : Oct 7th, 2025

Cleo stood motionless, her stoic expression betraying nothing as she regarded the queen before her. After a tense pause, she finally spoke. "Times change, Khryssari queen. And it seems... they've changed for you as well. Who would've thought the mighty Khryssari monarch would appear before someone like me... with a small, humanoid form and so... fragile? Your kind always preferred grander, more imposing forms." A slow, knowing smile spread across Xytrallia's lips. "Oh my, how dull you've become," she teased, her voice dripping with amusement. "Tell me, when did you realize it was me? Could it be that my regal presence is simply impossible to disguise?" She leaned in, resting her face against Cleo's chest, her warmth cutting through the cold air between them. That was Cleo's limit. Summoning the last of her strength, she materialized a short sword in her hand, aiming straight for Xytrallia's stomach. But before she could strike, an unseen force slammed into her, hurling her backward. Her body crashed against the reinforced window with a sharp thud. Pinned there by an invisible pressure, Cleo gritted her teeth as Xytrallia calmly placed a protective hand over her stomach. "Don't," the queen warned, her voice suddenly sharp. "Don't ever try that again." Cleo's eyes narrowed and with her instinct taking over, she activated her X-ray vision, scanning past layers of flesh and muscle until she saw it. An egg. Nestled within Xytrallia's womb. A slow smirk curled on Cleo's lips, despite the crushing force holding her in place. "Well, well... even the almighty queen has something to protect," she said with her voice laced with dark amusement. "I wonder... how would you keep that precious egg safe if I blew up this ship? Even you, trapped in that fragile humanoid form, wouldn't be able to withstand the blast." Xytrallia's glowing green eyes locked onto hers, brimming with silent confidence. And then, she laughed. "Ahahaha, you wouldn't dare." She pressed a hand to her stomach, rubbing it almost tenderly. "After all, this child's father is none other than your beloved—" Cleo's breath hitched. Her face, usually unreadable, flickered just for a second with a flash of something raw, something vulnerable. Xytrallia saw it. And she relished it. With a smirk, she released her grip on Cleo, letting her crumple onto the cold metal floor like a discarded puppet. "Such a rude welcome," she sighed dramatically. "I only came to say hello. Oh well... we'll meet again soon~." With those final words, Xytrallia vanished, leaving nothing but an empty space where she had stood. Cleo remained there, motionless. The icy floor pressed against her palms, her long black hair spilling over her face while she clenched her fists so tightly her knuckles turned white. This feeling... this gnawing, twisting sensation in her chest.... was new. Unfamiliar. It wasn't anger. It wasn't mere frustration. It was something deeper. Something sharper. Jealousy. The realization struck her like a blade. And because it was the first time she had ever felt it, she had no idea how to process it. So, her body reacted the only way it knew how. The emotion swelled inside her, thick and suffocating, until it had nowhere left to go. It condensed, transformed, and escaped in the form of a single, silent tear rolling down her cheek. She blinked, startled by the sensation. Lifting her hand, she caught the tear on the tip of her finger, holding it up as if studying an anomaly. [Scan complete.] Her eyes that were usually cold, composed, and unreadable were now brimming with tears. Real, glistening tears. His breath caught. "Cleo... are you... are you crying?" he stammered, his voice laced with disbelief. She clenched her fists, trembling. "SO WHAT IF I'M CRYING?!" she screamed, her voice cracking. "I CAN'T CRY JUST BECAUSE I'M A MACHINE?!" Rex took a step closer, raising his hands in a calming gesture. "No, wait, that's not what I meant. I—" "I DON'T CARE WHAT YOU MEANT, REX!" she cut him off, her body shaking. "I... I..." [Warning: Emotional anomaly detected... Attempting correction...] Her system's automated voice rang in her mind, but she barely registered it. "Cleo, talk to me," Rex pleaded, reaching for her. She let out a bitter, choked laugh. "TELL ME, REX! WHY AM I FEELING LIKE THIS?!?" she shouted, the raw frustration in her voice making Rex freeze. "LOGIC SAYS YOU DID NOTHING WRONG! IT'S NORMAL FOR ORGANIC LIFE FORMS TO REPRODUCE, TO LEAVE BEHIND A LEGACY, BUT I—!!" [Warning: Critical error... Unable to correct emotional anomaly...] "Cleo! What are you saying!?" Rex grabbed her by the shoulders, his eyes wide with concern. She let out a ragged breath, her expression a mix of anger and anguish. "DON'T YOU KNOW WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT?!" She cried. "I'M TALKING ABOUT YOU AND THAT FUCKING KHRYSSARI QUEEN AND THE NEW LIFE GROWING INSIDE HER!" As soon as the words left her mouth, a sharp pain shot through her chest. It wasn't physical, and yet it hurt more than anything she had ever experienced. Rex's hands slowly loosened their grip. He opened his mouth, but no words came out. Her systems frantically worked to suppress the storm of emotions inside her, trying to overwrite the turmoil with logic and reason.... but emotions weren't something that could be rewritten like a line of code. "I..." Rex finally spoke, his voice hesitant. "I don't know what you want me to say. But... yes. It's true. The baby inside Xytrallia is mine." Cleo's breath hitched. The tears came faster now, spilling down her cheeks as her entire body trembled. But it wasn't just the fact that he had been with someone else. It wasn't even the fact that he had created life with another. No, the thing that hurt the most was something deeper. Something she couldn't even begin to explain. She clenched her fists, her breath coming out in sharp, uneven gasps. "So..." she whispered, her voice barely audible, "since you finally have someone who can give you offspring... does that mean you won't love me anymore?" The question shattered him. Her words had no logic... no reason. And yet, in this moment, Cleo wasn't following logic. Without thinking, Rex pulled her into a fierce embrace, pressing her head against his chest. "What the hell are you talking about, Cleo?!" His voice was rough, filled with lots of emotions. Cleo barely moved, her small hands gripping the fabric of his black T-shirt. "Why..." she whispered against him, her voice so broken it made his chest ache. "Why do you think I would stop loving you?" She trembled in his arms. "Because..."

Chapter 246 Cooperation. (2) Feelings.

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