I definitely spoke like I knew what I was doing, or where I was going, but I was still a person with no proper recollection of who I was, so how was I going to get to the capital?
I should've at least taken some money, but it didn't look like the iron claw tribe had a penny to their name. Not after the devastation that befell their poor village, haha.
All they had were the goods in that untouched warehouse.
At this point, I just have to trust my instincts.
I followed the main path that looked to be the right path, but it wasn't easy. After a while, the sun came out high and strong, wishing to battle with my fragile skin and turn me tanned.
The road became very dusty, and my feet were officially done. Why didn't I snag a pair of shoes when I was acting all cool and generous? Ugh.
"This won't work," I mumbled to myself.
I don't know how far the capital was, but I was certain I wouldn't make it in one piece if I walked the whole way.
I was too tired to even think about doing so.
I needed a means of transportation, but the thought of begging someone for a ride did not bode well with me. They'd have to be the ones to offer it.
I mean, I'm beautiful so there's no problem attracting the opposite gender and using my situation to gain their sympathy, but the problem is that beasts were too wary.
Just standing here won't get me the help I need.
I looked at the horizon, squinting against the sun, until I saw it: a massive, luxury caravan guarded by elite beastmen on horses, heading this way, on the path towards the capital.
Yes. This was it.
These weren't the raggedy villagers I'd just left; these people had money and a proper roof to guard me from this harsh sun until we got to the capital.
I looked at my emerald silk dress. It was nice, but I looked too 'functional.'
First, I threw away my satchel with all the necessities I had yet to touch, so it would look like I had been robbed. It ached me to know I hadn't even gotten a note of the dried meat I took but this was for the best.
I tore a large slit in the hem, tore a few more places so it'd seem like I'd been 'attacked', and then ruffled my hair to look a bit more 'distressed'.
I slumped against a tree by the roadside, splashing some dry clay on my face, not enough to hide my beauty, though, but enough to make my act seem a lot more believable.
As the lead carriage approached, I let out a soft, practiced moan of pain.
They didn't react to me at first, probably thinking I was a beggar and that was a blow to my pride.
So, I sobbed.
"Is there no one to help me?"
"Hm?" The second carriage passing seemed to be the biggest and in it was a beastman whose eyes fell on my pathetic state and called out to stop the caravan march.
"Stop!" He yelled and the caravan screeched to a halt.
He looked down at me but I tried not to look.
"A female? Out here alone?" He had a deep voice, with a little sexy tone at the edge.
He sounded handsome. I just needed to look to confirm it but it still wasn't time yet.
"Female, what are you doing here?" He asked and that was my cue to lift my head.
I looked up through my lashes. The man stepping out was a high-level beastman, a lion.
He had a huge build, but not enough that he could crumble his own carriage, and a rough brown mane for hair cascading down on the shoulders of his attire.
He was dressed in fine linens and smelling of expensive spice. He was incredibly handsome, and a nobleman too, and definitely looked like someone I could leech off until we got to our destination.
'I seem to have good luck with handsome men these days,' I thought and whimpered, making sure every part of my acting was believable.
"Please," I rasped, putting on my best 'fragile but enchanting' act. "I was robbed and I... I can't keep going like this. I'll die on the road."
He came closer, looming over me with his massive figure, and then knelt with one knee, reaching his hand to me.
He fell for it instantly. They always do.
"Can you stand?" He asked and I nodded, but still accepted his hand anyway.
I don't know who taught me how to act but it sure feels like I could trick even the gods with my act.
"Thank you," I whispered and he smiled.
Despite how massive he looked, there was a gentleness in his smile. This guy was apparently a sucker for a helpless pretty face.
Well, just my luck. I'll be sure to use his kindness to the best of my abilities.
But as he helped me up, I slumped into him, my legs giving out as that familiar, suffocating heat roared back to life.
My eyes widened in distress.
This wasn't me acting this time. It was back.
'What is wrong with this body?' I thought, furiously.
The heat was back, and this time, it was sharper, pulsing all over me and making my body burn with intense lust.
My cheeks turned a flushed pink, and my breath became shallow. I gulped.
This was bad.
Why was this happening? Was this body broken?
The nobleman's eyes widened as the scent of my heat filled his senses. He was shocked and looked at me with widened eyes.
"You... you're a female in season? Out here?"
I didn't answer with words. I snuggled up to him, finding the coolness of his skin so comforting that I was losing my mind.
He gulped and then lifted me in his arms, carrying me into his carriage.
You could say he got the message loud and clear.