Chapter 10: Spousal Conditions Gone Wrong
'Even if I can't marry a man from my own clan, I can't just give in to these beasts' coercion. I would still choose a loyal gentleman to be my husband, not someone who looks like he's starving for my flesh and ready to eat me at any moment!'
She clenched her fingers tightly around the hem of her garment.
If she couldn't marry a wizard like her father because she had lost her chastity, she had to at least marry someone who would value her for her!
'A great man… Both in looks and in character would be a great mix!'
Just then, Aella's heart pounded in her chest as she watched the bear's reaction.
Why is he even grinning? Mister, you're a little too scary!
But honestly, instead of appearing impatient or threatened, he seemed to be intrigued by her proposal which made her rather uneasy with her decision.
'A-Am I hallucinating? Did his eyes just light up with excitement?' she wondered, a sense of foreboding creeping over her.
"Are you sure about your conditions? A handsome, strong, and faithful man, is that all you require for a husband?"
The snake's question left her speechless, a blush creeping up her cheeks as he made it clear word for word. She felt as though she was being vain, her demands sounding shallow and superficial.
Handsome is just a bonus of course!
But in this situation, she had to emphasize the need for it because she was convinced that they wouldn't be able to achieve it!
Besides that, Aella flashed a fake smile, suppressing the urge to be rude and smack him, "Is that the only thing you heard? I said I can't—"
"Just answer my question," he interjected and said with finality.
With a sigh, she released all her pent-up frustrations in one go.
But then, she thought, how could they possibly meet her requirements?
They were just a snake and a bear, an unlikely pair who had formed an unusual alliance.
Them, morphing into a human was the least of her worries.
Or so she thought...
With newfound determination, the clueless female declared, "Yes, it should be those three. Why should I settle for less? Why can't I be with a normal man? Of course, I would like a strong and beautiful husband who will only have me in his heart!"
'No! I will run away and return home once I get myself off the hook!'
Oh, screw men!
Anytime, she was ready to flee, to escape from these beasts and their strange world.
The two creatures exchanged glances, a strange smirk playing on their lips. Isn't this the same as practically telling them to both become her husbands?
'Is this female playing hard to get? All beastmen can morph into their human forms how can she even add that like an idiot? But how strong does he want me to be?'
In disbelief, Fang knitted his brows.
'Is she referring to a male's endurance during coupling?' hummed the man in a realization.
A smirk plastered instantly on his lips, eyeing the girl meaningfully.
"Heh!"
'What an ambitious female, she can't even last beyond one round last time, now she had become so gutsy.'
Unbeknownst to the clueless witch, her unintended words had already triggered the promiscuous snake's imagination with her lying naked, panting and squirming under him.
Meanwhile, the red bear was also deep in his thoughts.
A beastman can only have one mate in his lifetime. Being faithful to one female is practically embedded in our bones.
Is she being serious or merely playing hard to get?
'So then how should I seduce this playful kitten?' Claw pondered, smirking.
Whether it was her ignorance or not, they already decided to play her game and give her the benefit of the doubt.
Wouldn't it be a shame if they flop this big time when all odds are already in their favor?
Fang scoffed in his head filled with dark matter I mean thoughts that matter as per his own, 'I dare her to dismiss me after seeing my face. I would gobble her up until she learns to appreciate what a real beauty is.'
The snake slithered towards her, stopping inches away from her face. "You can't take back your words… wife," he whispered, his voice sultry and causing her heart to flutter for a moment but she quickly shook it off.
"Of course! I knew it would be impossible and you can't do it—uh… Huh?!"
This man really!
"J-Just who are you calling wife?"
Her cheeks flushed so red and all heat came up to her face.
Err...
Why does it suddenly feel so hot?
Aella blamed the weather.
Wow! Is it that even the atmosphere is not on her side?
Soon her flustered expression turned awry. Aella couldn't help but be filled with nervousness upon finding things odd.
I-Is he saying he can confidently meet all of the conditions she laid out for them?
But very quickly, "D-Don't get stirred, keep your head. Keep calm. Phew!" she muttered trying to gain her composure once more.
Immediately chanting narrowly saving herself from bellowing.
"Perhaps narcissism is prevalent even in the ranks of beasts." Aella glanced at them and shook her head with a wry expression."Y-Yeah. That should be it!"
Well, who would tell her?
As they say, to see is to believe. Even if you choke later and get angered to death after being slapped with reality.
Very soon, her worst fears became a reality.
Aella's shining purple embers gradually grew dim and constricted, watching both of them with horror as they started turning.
"How in the bleak world of doom—oh god, I certainly am doomed, am I?!"
Fang's massive serpent body had begun emitting silvery mist but she could still figure out that his huge body was slowly shrinking and transforming into a humanoid figure from the silhouette alone!
Anyone with eyes would know—gosh, she fucked up!
As if that wasn't shocking enough, the crimson bear also started morphing into a nearly two-meter-tall man.
Before she could make out their appearance, in a fit of panic, Aella closed her eyes, pretending to be a stone statue.
Fragments of a blurry dream began to merge with her reality, the image of the blurry man who had taken her virginity flooding her memory. It felt as though she had dug her own grave with her careless words.
But how would she even think about that at all when she had little to no recollection?
"No, no, no! I-I specifically said beautiful and… and strong!" she insisted, refusing to open her eyes.
'They can't possibly be that attractive. I won't look. I won't admit it. Over my dead body!'
"Hey! Don't be ridiculous, woman! How will you judge my appearance if you keep your eyes shut?" Fang hissed, grabbing her cheeks and squeezing them gently like a fluffy steam bun just out of the pot.
Waah! He really grew a hand! What in the freaking witchcraft is this?
Aella wanted to cry but seems like her tears ran dry. Would she even feel his cold, strangely soft yet firm hands on her cheeks if they were an illusion?
Not long after, Claw calmly followed suit, his nonchalant demeanor contrasting sharply with his next words.
"There's really no need for comparison. I'm more handsome than my brother. Surely, I'll be more than enough to meet your standards."
Uttered the man confidently, rendering the girl stunned, with wide-open eyes filled with disbelief.
"Uh… W-What?!"