READ NOVEL ONLINE Chapter 6: Fluffy
She fixed her gaze on me, her eyes boring into mine. "Let me make this crystal clear: anyone who dares to lay claim to what I consider mine will quickly discover that this village is not the welcoming paradise thought it was. After all, my family practically runs this place and will do whatever I ask."
I couldn't help but roll my eyes; I had encountered this type of pampered princess before. "You really shouldn't waste your energy on such nonsense," I said, directing my words to Elara while throwing a smirk at the winged girl. "Reality has a way of revealing itself, so let her cling to her fantasies for as long as she can. The higher she builds her expectations, the harder she'll crash. We've got far more important things to focus on than engaging with someone who's clearly lost it, like preparing for my mating ceremony and our awakening rituals."
"General Kia is mine! You aren't allowed to joke about being with him! You aren't even allowed to look at him!"
I linked my arm with hers and we walked to another stall. "Don't you ignore me after being so rude!"
I grabbed two drinks from the stalls, passing one to Elara before taking a sip of mine. It was a delightful blend of peach and mango, a rich juice that was clearly fresh-squeezed and not diluted in the slightest. Meanwhile, Zelig strolled over to the counter to add it to our tab.
"I said don't ignore me!" she said and yanked my hair.
I whirled around and splashed my drink right in her face, then doused the rest over her head. "Time to chill out."
She let go of my hair and stepped back, clearly unaccustomed to girls standing up to her intimidation. Her eyes widened as juice trickled down her face, staining her clothes. With a shrill scream, her nails morphed into long, menacing black claws.
"Even if what you say about General Kai is true, he won't want you once I mess up that pretty face of yours!" She charged at me, claws poised to strike, but Zelig appeared out of nowhere, positioning himself between us. He swatted her hands aside as effortlessly as one would brush away a pesky fly.
"Stay out of it! This is a matter for females only, and you have no place sticking your nose where it doesn't belong!"
"I don't care about what business you think you have, I am a guard of this city and have been personally entrusted to keep this female safe under General Kia's direct orders."
"You're full of it! What makes you think General Kai cares about some ordinary female's safety?!"
"Do you not see my uniform? Are you blind as well as ignorant?"
"Why does General Kai want you trailing after her? Is he just babysitting her because she's not from around here?"
"You've already heard the reason, she's General Kai's Mate."
Her eyes bulged, and she staggered backward. "No way... I was meant to be his mate. I'm the only one worthy of being his mate."
"That filthy bird really thinks she's superior to everyone else," a woman on the street scoffed. "Don't you dare let yourself be as pathetic and revolting as her in public," she warned a little girl next to her.
"I won't mother!"
"This is absolutely unacceptable! I refuse to tolerate this nonsense! Just you wait, you think you can escape the consequences? General Kia is destined to be mine! He belongs to me and me alone!" she said and then flew off.
I picked up another juice and took hold of Elara's elbow once more, leading her to a nearby stall brimming with combs, beauty essentials, and various bathroom goodies. Once we arrived, I let go of her elbow and reached for a dark cranberry woven bag. Crafted from coarse, twisted fibers and tinted with berry juice, it might not win any modern design awards, but it certainly had its charm and practicality.
"Could I gather the items I'd like to buy from your stall in this bag and settle the bill for everything at once?"
"Not a problem for me!" exclaimed the guy, who was a bit shorter than I was, sporting a swimmer's physique, striking lavender eyes, white fox ears, and a voluminous fluffy white tail. His tail playfully swayed behind him, eventually resting on the table as I browsed through some combs. Among them, I spotted a stunning hair comb crafted from gold and inlaid with green gems in the handle.
"This is stunning," I remarked, lifting it to admire the exquisite craftsmanship, which held its own even against contemporary pieces.
"Thank you so much!" he replied, a deep blush creeping across his cheeks. "I possess a green aura crafting ability. If you like my products, consider what you want a gift," he added, tucking a strand of his long, lustrous white hair behind his ear. He was undeniably charming and endearing!
"I wouldn't want to deprive you of a sale, yet I also want to honor your generosity. How about I accept this comb as a gift, but I'll pay for the rest of the items I want?"
The fox guy offered a gentle smile, "Alright."
Zelig cleared his throat. "I don't know how much experience you have with males, but if you accept his gift it means that you are receptive to allowing him to pursue you as a possible future mate.
"Oh, really?"
The fox guy's cheeks turned a deep shade of crimson, and he cast his gaze downward, his ears drooping sadly. He appeared completely dejected, as if he had just received a harsh blow. Honestly, he was just too adorable for his own good! "Is that against the rules? Kai brought up the idea of me having other mates."
"Oh, I didn't mean to suggest it was off-limits! I just didn't think you'd want to bring a guy with crafting skills into your family! You know how it is, right? Those skills aren't really seen as valuable by females when it comes to mates! They usually end up as wandering merchants and stay single!" said Zelig.
"I'd be more than happy to be your loyal male servant!" said the fox beastkin.
Elara nodded, "Having him as a servant male wouldn't be too shabby. Crafter types can actually be pretty useful. Tina's got a crafter male helping her out because he's awesome at doing her hair, and her other males won't accept such a weak male as a fellow mate."
"Is it up to her other mates to decide who she chooses to mate with?" I said.
"Not really, but guys have their pride too. They don't want their female laying eggs with someone who can't hold their own. No offense, but there's no way he could stand up in a fight and keep you safe!"
His ears drooped again.
"Just take a look at him," I remarked, gesturing toward the fox beastkin. "Isn't he just the cutest? And that fluffy tail—how can you resist?" I reached out and playfully tugged at the large, soft white tail that was coiled around him, draped over the table.
His eyes went wide, and a deep blush crept across his cheeks as his ears perked up. "Wait! My tail! I'm being petted!"
Coming Next Time: Not a Dream