"It seems very different from what I thought," Riku mused as he swept his gaze across the meeting table, noticing the eager faces of the Beasts seated around him. He raised his eyebrows slightly, his faint smile not betraying the growing confusion within him.
The most perplexing sight was Fiya Hatsuse. Her face was flushed, and her expression alternated between shyness and frustration. Riku felt strange about this; although they had grown close, it was more like the bond of comrades. So what was with the embarrassed, almost flustered, look on her face?
To be honest, Riku had expected the Beasts to outright reject Fiya's proposal, which would've allowed him to use more forceful tactics. However, things were taking a turn he hadn't anticipated.
"Ha ha! Mr. Riku, you're here at last!" The Beast leader's voice boomed through the hall. His eyes gleamed with something mischievous as he approached, grabbing Riku's arm warmly and leading him toward the grand throne at the center of the room. "Come on, you are our honored guest! Please, sit here."
The other Beast elders stood in unison, greeting him with exuberant respect. "Welcome, Mr. Riku," they said, giving him enough regard to make anyone feel like royalty.
Riku's confusion deepened as he allowed himself to be led to the throne. Something felt off. These seats, he knew, were reserved for those with the highest status, yet here they were, asking him—a guest—to sit beside Fiya Hatsuse, directly on the highest throne. That was not normal, even for an outsider as important as him.
"Come, Mr. Riku, Fiya has been waiting for a long time. You must be hungry, right? We've prepared all these dishes just for you!" the Beast leader exclaimed with a broad grin.
"That's... really thoughtful of you, Beast Leader," Riku replied, a slight smirk crossing his face. He couldn't figure out what was behind all this, but there was no sense of malice—just a strange, overwhelming friendliness. His heightened senses didn't detect any deception. Still, he stayed on guard.
Dinner commenced, and Riku ate freely, unconcerned about the possibility of being poisoned. His confidence only seemed to further impress the Beasts, whose respect for him grew with every bite.
As the meal progressed, Riku glanced at Fiya Hatsuse occasionally, trying to silently ask her, "What's going on?" But Fiya avoided his gaze, her blush deepening as she fidgeted in her seat, barely touching her food.
Once the meal was over and the room quieted, Riku's face grew serious. "I assume the leader and elders are aware of my alliance with Fiya. Have you reached a decision?"
The Beast leader's jovial expression remained, but his tone shifted as he responded. "Yes, we have discussed it thoroughly." The other elders, silent throughout the conversation, nodded, leaving the Beast leader to speak for them all. "After much consideration, we've decided that the Beasts will pledge ourselves as loyal allies to you, Mr. Riku."
Riku narrowed his eyes, not showing any signs of relief. He knew there was more to this. "However," the Beast leader continued, his tone suddenly more playful, "we do have one condition."
Riku raised an eyebrow but stayed calm. "And what condition might that be?"
At this point, Riku failed to notice that Fiya's blush had deepened to a crimson shade, her fox ears twitching nervously, and her small feet swinging slightly beneath her chair. Her anxious movements betrayed a level of embarrassment that confused him even more.
"Our condition is simple and favorable for you, Mr. Riku," the Beast leader said, stroking his beard thoughtfully. "We would like you to marry Princess Fiya Hatsuse and form the strongest possible covenant between our people."
"What?!" Riku, despite his usual composure, was momentarily stunned. He stared at the Beast leader in disbelief, his mind racing. He had expected some political maneuvering, but he hadn't imagined they'd go this far—offering him a political marriage by essentially "delivering" their princess to him.
"..." Riku found himself speechless, and as he turned to Fiya, he could see that she was barely holding herself together. Even his own ears felt hot, and to his horror, he noticed a thin wisp of smoke rising from Fiya's head as her face glowed bright red. He rubbed his forehead, trying to gather his thoughts.
This move from the Beast race was bold—no, brilliant. By marrying their princess, Riku would gain not just their alliance but the ultimate bond with the Beast race itself.
"Ha ha! Mr. Riku, what do you think?" the Beast leader asked, grinning like a fox who had just pulled off the perfect trick.
Riku took a moment, still rubbing his forehead before finally responding. "It's... not impossible," he said carefully. "But I need to know if Fiya is truly serious about this."
At that, all eyes turned toward Fiya Hatsuse. She took a deep breath, her small frame trembling slightly as she gathered the courage to speak. Her voice was barely a whisper, her words almost lost amidst the silence in the room. "Th-this princess... is serious."
Riku's eyes widened as he watched her, and for a brief moment, he was caught off guard. Fiya's shy demeanor, coupled with her petite stature and fox-like features, made her look impossibly cute. Even he found himself momentarily stunned by the sight.
"In that case," Riku said softly, a small smile tugging at the corner of his lips, "let's get married."
He had gained the loyalty of the Beast race and, on top of that, was now set to marry a cute, beast-eared princess. No matter how he looked at it, this was a massive win. If he refused, well, there wouldn't be much separating him from a fool who didn't know how to seize an opportunity.
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