He carried me through a cluster of buildings, surrounded by a crowd. I want to die again. I hid my face, pressing close to him to avoid their stares.
"A-Are we there yet?" I whispered, voice trembling. "Here," he replied curtly. So rude! But then I peeked out and saw we'd passed a lively dining hall, filled with people eating and laughing like it was a party. Curiosity sparked. "Is there a feast today?" I asked.
"No," he said simply.
"Huh… just a normal meal, but so lively," I muttered.
It was nothing like Caelora, where meals were silent and orderly. Probably because Caelora was mostly women, while here, I noticed more men.
Come to think of it, in Caelora, men were exiled far more often than women. A woman like me getting banished? Rare indeed.
Ugh, stop thinking, it's too depressing.
Bear stopped before a girl standing primly.
"She'll help you bathe," he said.
A bathhouse! The room was enormous, with grand tubs reminiscent of an ancient palace, exuding quiet opulence. Honestly, the whole place—its clothing and architecture—carried an old-world, courtly elegance.
But having someone bathe me? Too awkward. I begged the girl to wait outside, and thankfully, she was kind and agreed, easing my nerves.
After the bath, I felt refreshed, my feet less sore—probably thanks to some magical herbal water.
Amazing!
They prepared an outfit for me, not my usual style but an ancient-style ensemble of soft, comfortable fabric in deep black and teal, perfectly matching the vibe of this place. It wasn't flashy, yet it radiated a luxurious, mysterious aura. I loved it, even if it felt a bit unfamiliar.
The girl led me to the bustling dining hall, where people were still eating and laughing. Seriously, I was in the bath for like half an hour, and they're still going?
"Look, our star has arrived!" a voice boomed.
"The lady's here!"—wait, lady? What's that about? I spun around, glaring at the guy with a mix of confusion and irritation. I wanted to march over and punch him, but before I could, the crowd handled it for me, pummeling him. Serves him right for spouting nonsense!
"Sit here, please," the girl guiding me said, gesturing to a chair.
"Thanks," I replied, but inwardly wondered why Bear had me seated right next to him at a table full of what looked like the kingdom's VIPs.
Across from me, the fox-man flashed an apologetic grin for earlier. I wasn't letting him off that easily—I shot him a glare and tilted my chin away. Hmph, if I get eaten, I'll haunt him forever!
As I sat, Bear stood, raising his glass to make a toast about welcoming a new member. He was different now—no longer the quiet, stoic guy but a commanding leader in his element.
Hold on… new member? Me? The entire room stood, eyes fixed on me. I froze, then scrambled to my feet, forcing a weak smile and raising my glass.
"Cheers…" I mumbled, trying to sound enthusiastic but feeling painfully awkward. The crowd roared, laughed, and drained their glasses.
I stared at my wine, swallowing hard. My alcohol tolerance is terrible—two sips, and I'm usually out cold. Drinking with strangers felt too risky.
Just as I raised the glass, Bear snatched it from my hand. "You're not drinking," he said.
"Why not?" I plopped back down, puffing my cheeks in protest, though secretly relieved. Still, being told no made me want to argue for fairness.
"This stuff's strong," he replied. I blinked. How did he know I can't handle liquor? Another secret? I stared at him until giggles from the others snapped me back.
"W-What's so funny?" I stammered.
"Boss, didn't know you had this side," a beastman—Hyena, maybe—chimed in.
"I'm getting goosebumps," another, probably Eagle, added.
"The food stash looks pretty good, huh?" a third, likely Panther, said, his tone chilling.
"Boss has good taste, even his food's this pretty," Snake, sitting beside me, leaned in close, making me flinch and scoot toward Bear for safety.
They roared with laughter while I wanted to cry. What's so funny? I'm about to fall apart here!
"Stop teasing, you're scaring her," the fox-man's voice cut through. My savior… no, wait, that sneaky fox doesn't get my thanks! I glared at him again.
Bear turned to me, his voice soft. "Don't worry, they're just trying to make you feel at ease."
At ease? How, when they keep joking about eating me? I want to go home!
I looked at Bear, eyes welling up, shaking my head like, This is NOT fun! He patted my head, then told the others to knock it off. Honestly, Bear felt like a giant shield right then, boosting my confidence.
But my stomach growled, the aroma of food too tempting to ignore. I tugged his sleeve shyly. "Bear… can I eat?" He glanced away for a moment before nodding. "Go ahead."
"Yes! I won't hold back!" My eyes lit up, the table sparkling like a treasure trove.
Spicy chicken hotpot, pastries, stir-fried veggies, tofu—all my favorites! I tore into a drumstick, grabbed veggies, slurped hotpot, and gushed between bites, "This is so good! Who made this?!"
I kept eating, praising, sipping—oops, that was wine!—and eating more.
Ami was so lost in the food she didn't notice the others staring, jaws dropped. Hyena dropped his chopsticks, and the fox-man nearly choked on his water. They seemed shocked that a tiny girl like her could eat so fiercely.
"She's… a beast at eating," Eagle said, defeated.
"Good thing she's human," Snake muttered, uneasy.
I glanced at Bear, catching him staring too, but his gaze was oddly gentle, like he was watching a familiar scene, a faint smile tugging at his lips. I blushed, too stuffed to think straight.
"Ugh, so full. Hic! Can't eat anymore," I groaned, slumping back in my chair, rubbing my belly. My face was flushed from the wine, and my voice slurred. The others looked at me with exasperation, probably thinking, Eat any more, and we're done for!
"Hey, Orson, what do you like about her?" Hyena leaned over, sounding concerned.
Bear just smiled, saying nothing. "I'll take her back… before she causes a scene," he said, gently lifting me.
Tipsy, I flailed, pounding his chest, babbling nonsense, singing, then falling silent. Suddenly, I leaned into him, voice trembling. "You know… my mom hates me. She's wanted me gone for ages." I burst into tears, sobbing loudly. "Why's my life so hard? And now I'm food storage, hic!"
"No one's eating you," Bear said softly.
"Hic! Really?" I sniffled. "Mm."
"You better not lie! If you eat me, I'll haunt you forever," I said, rubbing my red eyes.
"I won't," he replied, walking steadily.
Eventually, he brought me to a room. I'd fallen asleep, still sniffling. He laid me on the bed, removed my shoes, and tucked me in carefully. Half-asleep, I felt him brush hair from my face, his gaze oddly tender. I thought he whispered something about protecting me forever, but I was too drowsy to be sure.
----
Birdsong filled the air, echoing into the cozy room where I lay. The space was spacious, meticulously decorated, like it was made just for me. Everything gleamed, spotless.
I curled up in the blankets, stirred by the birds, groggily opening my eyes. My head pounded, and my body felt heavy.
"Ugh, why's my head killing me?" I wondered, catching a faint herbal scent. Suddenly, it hit me.
"Where am I? Why am I in bed? Wasn't I just eating?" I looked around—no one, just birdsong and a lavish room.
"My head hurts… I think I drank wine by mistake," I sighed, exasperated with myself. "Bear brought me back, right? But something feels off." I crossed my arms, frowning, trying to piece it together but coming up blank. I exhaled, muttering, "Whatever, I'll ask him later… I didn't do anything weird, did I?"—comforting myself, though unease lingered.
Knock, knock, knock!
"I brought water for washing," a maid's voice called.
"Oh, thanks, come in," I said, startled. Water delivered first thing in the morning? This place feels like something out of an ancient court—being pampered like this is a little surreal.
"Thanks, I can wash myself," I said with a smile, taking the cloth.
"The young master asked if you're tired, since you're up early after drinking last night," she said.
I froze. How did Bear know I was awake? It's like I'm being watched—creepy! "I'm fine, thanks, haha," I said with a strained smile, resuming my washing.
"Wait. Um… could you tell me where the—er, young master is?" I asked carefully.
"He's waiting at the lotus pavilion," she replied. I blinked, at a loss for words.
Following the maid to the pavilion, I found Bear sipping tea, holding a book, looking oddly scholarly. But his habit of watching me? Unforgivable!
"You waiting for me?" I asked, voice tinged with suspicion.
"Sit," he said, lowering his book.
I sat, eyeing the food on the table, feeling awkward about last night. "Did I… do anything weird?" I asked nervously, forcing a grin.
He glanced at me, then away. "No."
No? With that shifty look? I screamed inwardly: Ami, you did something stupid, didn't you?! Outwardly, I flashed a fake smile. "R-Really? Sorry for the trouble." I grabbed the tea, took a sip, and choked.
Bear rushed over, worried. "You okay?"
"I'm—cough—fine, sorry," I gasped, waving him off.
He patted my back gently, returning to his seat once I was okay. My heart raced, but I played it cool. "Ahem, my bad," I said, sneaking a glance at him.
"It's fine. Any food you don't like?" he asked, his gaze soft.
God, I love it all—my food obsession! But more importantly… "You're spying on me, aren't you?" I blurted, instantly regretting it. "Haha, I mean… I just woke up, and someone came, and you prepared breakfast and waited, so…" I gestured wildly, laughing nervously.
"There's always someone on duty in your room, and I eat at this time, so I invited you," he said calmly.
Ugh, I messed up again! My face burned. "So embarrassing!" I mumbled, covering my face.
"Pfft!" Bear chuckled. "Sorry, didn't mean to scare you." I peeked through my fingers—he was teasing me!
"You're lying, aren't you? Too convenient!" I pouted, glaring suspiciously.
"Why would I lie?" he said, leaning forward, clearly stifling laughter.
I huffed, "Hmph! I'm not eating!" I stood, storming off.
He didn't stop me, just said, "I wouldn't go if I were you."
I spun around, snapping, "What's that mean?"
"You don't know the way. You'll get lost," he said, a smirk challenging me.
"Thanks for the advice, young master, but I'm fine," I shot back, vowing not to let him win.
But now… I regret it.
Where am I? The maid led me left, right, straight—easy enough to retrace, but why does it feel so wrong?
"He was right… Why didn't he stop me?" I whined. The mist was thick, visibility zero. I walked, then backtracked, but was still lost. "What do I do?"
I panicked, hearing a crunching sound, like someone gnawing bones. Goosebumps erupted. How did I forget this is a beastfolk den? Their kindness made me forget I'm a rabbit in a tiger's lair.
The crunching stopped, replaced by footsteps. I crouched, trembling.
"Bear… where are you?" Tears fell. "Please, don't come closer," I whimpered, my crying habit kicking in.
"Ami? What are you doing here?" a familiar voice called.
I turned slowly. "You're…" He looked familiar, but I couldn't place him. "I'm Aethel, from the table last night," he said.
Relief washed over me, and I burst into tears. Eagle floundered, unsure how to stop my sobbing.
"Why do you all bully me?" I wailed.
"I didn't—" he started, but stopped as Bear appeared.
"Orson, there you are. Why'd you let her wander? What if she got to that area?"
That area? I sniffled, catching the hint.
"She's fine. I was following her," Bear said.
"What? Following me?" I looked up, indignant.
"Teasing me again?" He crouched.
"I'm sorry."
"I'll take you back."
Sorry and that's it? "No! I'm staying with Aethel," I huffed, turning away.
"What? Me?" Eagle panicked, waving at Bear.
Bear, sensing my mood, said, "Fine, watch her."
"I'm not a kid who needs watching!" I snapped, bristling.
"Alright, you're not," Bear said with a faint smile, turning to Eagle. "Take care of her."
Eagle sighed, glancing at me wiping tears, then at Bear's amused grin. "Don't give me that look—it only works on Bear," he said. My angelic smile tactic failed.
I trailed Eagle, pestering him. "Aethel? Where're we going? Why so quiet?" He stayed silent, clearly annoyed. Suddenly, he stopped, and I crashed into him.
"Ow! Why'd you stop?" I rubbed my forehead, glaring.
"Look, miss, if you keep following me, Bear'll kill me," he said, almost pleading.
I blinked. "Why? I'm not his toy! I can go where I want, talk to who I want!" I stood firm, hands on hips.
Eagle looked surprised, probably expecting a dainty crybaby. "Fine, but—" I cut him off, spotting something ahead. "A garden? Yours?" I squealed, sprinting toward it.
"Don't run off! Weren't you just scared?" he called, but I was gone.
"Wow, so many veggies!" I gushed, admiring the rows.
"Didn't expect you to have such a refined hobby."
"It's nothing special," Eagle said, but I caught a hint of pride.
"Carrots, cabbage, bitter melon, cucumbers, tomatoes—everything! You're amazing!" I praised, darting to another corner. "Ooh, herbs too?" I spun around, eyes sparkling.
"You know herbs?" Eagle asked, surprised. "I'm just experimenting. Herbs are trickier than veggies, so it's a challenge, though we don't use them much."
"Wow, that's so cool!" I grinned brightly.
"You into gardening too? You seem to know a lot about plants and herbs," Eagle asked.
"Um… not really," I said, fingers still toying with the herb leaves.
"I just had a friend who loved gardening." I smiled, my voice warm with memory.
"Oh? Really?" Eagle's tone deepened, a hint of interest in his voice. "Close friend? Just mentioning them, and your eyes are practically sparkling."
"Haha, yeah? They were my first friend, so I really treasure them, hehe," I replied, my voice brimming with pride.
Eagle just gave a small smile, not pressing further, and turned back to the nearby shed.
I wandered the garden, excited. "Berries too!" I called, "Aethel! Can I eat these? I'm starving." I put on my best pitiful look.
"Sure, eat the whole lot. No one else does," he said.
"Not even you?" I asked, surprised.
He grabbed gardening tools, saying, "Yeah, I just grow for fun. Beastfolk don't care for fruit."
"That's such a waste," I said, eyeing the berries. "You put so much effort in."
"Effort? Nah," he said, but I insisted, "They're so juicy and fresh!" Eagle paused, sensing something unfamiliar, a feeling he hadn't had in ages. "I-I'm going to till the soil," he muttered.
"Got a basket? I'll pick some stuff," I offered.
"Sure, I'll grab one."
I eagerly picked berries, tomatoes, watermelons, pumpkins—filling baskets to the brim.
"Phew, that was work," I said, plopping down.
"Here, drink," Eagle handed me water.
"Thanks!" I gulped it down.
"You haven't eaten all morning, right? Have some fruit," he said, his earlier grumpiness gone.
"I'm fine! I'll eat all this—can't waste your work. Ooh, I've got ideas! Carrots with chicken, pumpkin soup, cabbage…" I dove into food fantasies.
"Haha, you're really into food," Eagle laughed heartily.
"Everyone's got their thing, right?" I grinned back.
I sat munching on the freshly picked fruit, gazing at the garden. It had been ages since I felt this relaxed.
"Oh, right! I've been meaning to ask," I said, turning to Eagle with a spark of curiosity.
"When I walked from my room to the pavilion earlier, it was fine. But when I tried going back the same way, it didn't work. And the fog just kept getting thicker—any idea why?"
Eagle went quiet, his expression guarded. Despite my wide-eyed, eager look, he wasn't swayed.
"Ask Orson about that. I don't know anything," he said flatly.
I pouted, a bit disappointed, but oh well. These folks were tight-lipped, clearly immune to the little tricks I used back in Caelora. Especially my innocent charm—or, well, my attempt at it…
"Alright, let's head back. It's almost noon, and if you stay any longer, Bear might wring my neck," Eagle said.
"Haha, no way!" I laughed, springing to my feet.
"Oh, I'll bring those baskets to you later," he added, noticing me eyeing the five heaping baskets of produce I'd planned to haul back myself.