Beastmen Kings At My Feet [Reverse Harem] - Chapter 71: Chapter 71

The assassin's eyes were filled with despair and fear. He struggled to stand, but the chains held him tightly in place—he couldn't move.
He looked up and pleaded with a trembling voice, "Mr. Holland, we're both from the Holland family. Please, let me go. I was just following orders—I wasn't acting on my own."
Joshua looked at the man indifferently, completely unmoved. Of course, he knew this ordinary beastman didn't have the guts to act on his own. Besides, disabling the signal in the training grounds was a complex task that the beastman couldn't accomplish alone.
Joshua frowned and asked seriously, "Who sent you? What are you after?"
The assassin's eyes flickered with panic, but he quickly calmed down. He gritted his teeth and replied, "I swear, I don't know. I was just following orders. You know how it is, Mr. Holland—I'm just a nobody. There's no way I'd be told anything important."
Joshua stared at the beastman coldly, thinking, 'Getting the truth out of him isn't going to be easy. The Holland family might not be the only one involved in this.'
Inside the hospital room, Veronica stood in a daze. Her gaze was fixed on Matthew lying in the bed, but her mind was elsewhere.
She had just argued with Joshua and had not yet completely calmed down. Still worried about Matthew, she had rushed straight to the hospital.
Her thoughts were all over the place. It was the first time she'd ever fought with Joshua, and it left her feeling scattered and uneasy.
On her fifth attempt to pour a glass of water for Matthew, water splashed onto the sheets, leaving a damp patch.
Matthew finally couldn't take it anymore and teased, "Ms. Byrne, if you really don't want to take care of me, that's fine."
Only then did Veronica come back to her senses, realizing she'd zoned out again. She gave him an awkward smile and quickly apologized. "Sorry, I got distracted."
Matthew shook his head helplessly. "That's the fifth time already. It seems that you have a lot on your mind."
Veronica sighed and gently rubbed her temples, trying to ease her frayed nerves. "I'm sorry. I'll try to focus, I promise."
Matthew studied her face and hastily asked, "What happened? You and Joshua had a fight?"
He was just guessing, but to his surprise, Veronica gave a soft "Mm" and said nothing more.
Matthew was stunned for a moment and then overjoyed. He comforted her, "Really? A guy like him should know how lucky he is. If you were my mistress, I'd never argue with you."
Of course, he wouldn't argue with her. He'd just have his way with her in bed until she was too exhausted to get a word in.
Veronica looked unsettled. She shook her head in frustration, hoping the thoughts would go away.
Matthew sensed her irritation and was about to press further when Veronica said, "Just stay away from Joshua from now on."
Veronica's tone carried something Matthew couldn't quite place, and he immediately started wondering what she meant by that.
He thought, 'Veronica has always hoped that I can get along with Joshua. Why does she suddenly make such a request? Is it because of what happened last night?'
Matthew ran through the events in his mind, trying to piece things together. 'Could last night's attack have something to do with Joshua?' he pondered. 'But I know Joshua well—he will never stoop that low. Maybe Veronica misunderstood something.'
However, Matthew didn't try to clear Joshua's name. In fact, he figured this was an opportunity to get a little closer to Veronica. There was no way he'd waste time defending his rival in love. So he simply replied, "Alright, whatever you say."
Life had been pretty smooth for Matthew lately. Joshua, who used to cling to Veronica like a shadow, had been having a hard time. Every time he showed up in front of Veronica, she gave him the cold shoulder with a straight face.
Matthew couldn't have been more pleased. With Joshua out of the picture, he finally had a chance to enjoy Veronica's care without interference.
He wasn't above milking the situation either. Playing up his injuries, he acted pitiful whenever Veronica was around. He would cover his wounds and put on a pained expression, which aroused great sympathy from Veronica.
So, Veronica started to look after him with great care, checking in on him more often and even preparing his medicine and meals herself.
Matthew felt very satisfied, while Joshua looked like he was going to explode from jealousy.
Just when Matthew thought he could keep living this comfortable life, Leonardo, the semi-beastman he disliked, returned.
Leonardo had been fighting bravely at the front lines, but unfortunately, he was injured and had to take a break to recover. Thanks to his achievements on the battlefield, he was granted permission to recuperate at a hospital in the Central District.
This news was undoubtedly a heavy blow to Matthew. He'd worked so hard to send Leonardo off with Gabriel for training, but Leonardo was back so soon.
Leonardo hadn't seen Veronica for a long time since they last parted ways. During this time, he'd been through countless battles and trials, leaving many scars on his body.
When he learned that he'd be seeing Veronica again, he was filled with excitement and anticipation. Even though he was still in pain, he pulled himself together, hoping to have a few more moments with her.
The moment they finally reunited, Leonardo's face broke into a delighted smile. He stepped forward quickly, bowed respectfully, and said with heartfelt emotion, "Mistress, I didn't let you down."
Veronica looked into his confident and determined eyes and was genuinely impressed by how much he'd changed. She knew that Leonardo had put in a lot of effort during this time and had achieved remarkable results.
She smiled and patted him on the shoulder. "Leonardo, you've done incredibly well. It's not just about earning military honors—you've grown so much. You're stronger and more mature. I'm proud of you, and I'll always believe in you."
Leonardo listened quietly. Those gentle yet firm words washed over him like a spring breeze, bringing him an indescribable sense of comfort. He felt the care and love in her words, and it made him want to be closer to her and soak in that warmth.
Leonardo took a step forward. Though his steps were a bit unsteady, his gaze was firm and tender. He reached out and pulled Veronica into his arms, holding her tightly, like he never wanted to let go.
At that moment, he forgot about his wounds, the pain, and the exhaustion. All he wanted was to hold her tightly and hold on to the moment.
Despite the pain from his wounds still lingering, he felt happy and content. This hug was exactly what he had yearned for all this time.
He closed his eyes, as if to carve this moment into his heart, knowing it would be the most precious memory of his life.
In Leonardo's arms, Veronica felt his heartbeat and warmth. She gently snuggled up to him, as if to pass this warmth to him.
She knew that at this moment, Leonardo needed her support and care, and she would be right there beside him until he was fully healed.