She took a deep whiff of air and let it out, rising from the bed, and sitting down at her study table, a glint of irritation in her cobalt eyes.
'Of all the creatures I had to get engaged to, it just had to be a fox spirit.'
She sighed loudly, setting the stack of paper in front of her. Flipping the first page, it was titled 'Family tree' in bold letters.
"Let's see," she said, examining the different names and images of the Kuba family members, "gosh, there's a lot."
There was a knock on the door, and, soon after, the elf stepped in, a meal held in her hands. The elf placed the meal on the table with a glass of fresh fruit juice. Another glass had water, and her medicine was set next to the glass.
"Hey, Keya, could I ask you something?"
The elf looked at her, noticing the stack of paper on her desk, and nodded.
"So," she began, " this marriage thing, am I...? Um, do you think it's okay? Like, is it okay for me to go this Friday to the Kuba family?"
"Why do you ask?" the elf questioned, her head tilted to the side.
Astoria stared at the paper in front of her.
"I don't know. I just can't seem to shake off the feeling that something is wrong. Like, something bad might happen to me, I guess. Plus, my gut is never wrong."
"Don't worry, Nexi. I know you're just worried because of your amnesia, but I trust that you will be fine. Besides, if you feel like coming home earlier, you can always let me know," the ef assured her.
She looked at the elf, confusion plastered on her face.
"Let you know? How?"
"You have a cellphone, remember?" the elf reminded her with a soft chuckle.
"Wait, we have cellphones in this world?"
She couldn't believe that the thought of cellphones never crossed her mind. Obviously, if there were cars in this world, then cellphones would have to exist, right?
"Where is it?" she quickly asked.
The elf pointed to her dresser.
"The last time I checked, you had left it in one of the shelves in your dresser. Anway," the elf said, stopping by the door.
"I'll take my leave now, Nexi. The king told me not to disturb you as you have to memorise the information on the Kuba family. Please finish all your food and take your medicine when you're done. The doctor said you should take one pill. Take a nap afterward. If you need me, I'll be outside. I'll wake you up once dinner is ready."
With that, the elf left her. She watched her food, utterly lacking any appetite. She was way too stressed out to eat anything at this point. Her mind was on the dreaded Friday and the thought of staying with strangers for two nights.
"I should look for Nexi's cellphone later. Anyway, I do need all the strength I can get so let me eat," she said as her stomach started grumbling.
She grabbed a chicken and mayo sandwich. As she ate, she began reading the information on the next page, which was titled 'Family members information'.
"Okay, so firstly, we have my mother-in-law," she laughed sarcastically, "who is 110 years old. Wow. She is Kuba Natsumi, and her name means Summer beauty because of her divine beauty, which is like that of the view one would see on summer nights."
She took a sip of her juice and smiled at the taste. It was made of deliciously freshly squeezed oranges.
"Mrs. Kuba is known for her pitch-black hair, which reaches her shoulders. She has a thin, lively face with heavy gray eyes. Known for her good looks and sense of honour, she is loved among her people and is the envy of most women. She is the mother of two sons and one daughter."
"According to some creatures, friends, and family members, she is an open fox spirit known for her generosity. The two traits which most creatures love about her are that she is fun-loving and protective. She is also forthright, honest, and sometimes stubborn. However, sometimes she can be a little materialistic and petty."
She flipped the page over and saw that it was the husband's profile.
"Kuba Takeshi, whose name means warrior, is a 200 year old fox spirit who happens to be a nine-tailed fox, the symbol of peace and prosperity in the Kingdom of Chesropis. He is known for his red, flowing curly hair, which hangs elegantly over his lean, chiseled face. His shuttered ocean blue eyes are said to make anyone get lost in them."
"There is a lot to say regarding his personality. Still, the traits that most people enjoy are that he is hardworking and strategic. Of course, he's also resourceful, brave, and courageous. He's mostly known for his hardworking nature. One of the things to look out for is his occasional evil and irrational nature, which occurs when he is unhappy or annoyed by a certain circumstance."
She sighed and took a mental note not to get on his wrong side or offend him. Taking another sandwich, she flipped to the next page and saw that it was the information on the children. The Kuba family has two sons and a daughter who are just as good looking as their parents.
'But then again, fox spirits are handsome. Well, at least that's according to what I've seen in movies and manga.'
She ate her sandwich and continued her reading.
"The oldest son of the Kuba family is Yashiro."
She paused and drank the rest of the juice, finishing it in one gulp.
"Yashiro is a 50 year old fox spirit known for his high intelligence and strategic planning. He works alongside his father when it comes to formulating new, innovative, and effective weapons. Known for his narcissistic nature and sometimes prejudice, creatures often do not get along with him, leading to conflict. Both male and female creatures wish to marry him due to his handsome looks and intelligence. He has black, long hair which covers a well-defined face. His gray eyes are deeply set within his face and are always full of charisma."
She frowned the entire time while reading his bio.
"I don't think I can like this guy. Something tells me we will have conflicting opinions. Maybe Nexi liked him, but as for me, I definitely don't see myself falling for him."
She then read about the second son, who was just four years younger than Yashiro. His name was Yoshito, meaning nice or kind. He has his father's eyes and short curly red hair, which hangs over his charming face. His soft skin and handsomeness lead to many compliments and wedding proposals from families far and wide.
Unlike his brother, Yoshito was not narcissistic, although he knew that he was handsome. Creatures enjoy his loyalty, practicality, and understanding nature. Just like his mother, he is fun-loving. Sometimes, he tends to be stubborn and too good-natured. He always wants to do what is right regardless of the situation or consequences.
'Aww, that's sweet. I like him more than his brother.'
She smiled and read the last profile of the youngest child, Ai, whose name meant love. She was named after the deep and strong love her parents have shared all these years. She was only 20 years old with gray eyes and pitch-black hair, an exact replica of her mother.
Known throughout Chesropis as an intuitive and inquisitive lady, she is a freethinker and adventurer, often getting herself in trouble with her father. Sometimes, she can be very impatient. Her brothers adore her, and she wishes to become a potion maker, much to her father's objection.. He wants her to study law as he says that a fox spirit should not do a wizard or witch's job. Her favourite hobby is painting.
"I like her," she stated, a smirk on her face.
Ai reminded her of herself since they shared similar traits. They both liked doing what they wanted regardless of anyone's objections. If there was one person she was looking forward to meeting, it was Ai. She put the paper aside, wanting to take a break and sleep. After taking her medicine, she got on the bed and felt completely exhausted as the medicine immediately kicked in.