As i neared the mayor's manor the atmosphere shifted; the air felt heavier, charged with an unspoken authority. Towering at the entrance were the beastkin royal guards, their imposing figures clad in ornate armor that gleamed in the sunlight.
Each guard was a striking blend of human and animal traits, their muscular frames adorned with fur that shimmered like precious metal. One guard, with the fierce features of a wolf, stood tall, his piercing eyes scanning the crowd with a mixture of vigilance and pride. His ears twitched, catching every sound, while a long tail swayed behind him, betraying his otherwise stoic demeanor.
As I stepped even closer towards the royal family, i could feel the weight of the guard's gaze, a reminder of the kingdom's might and the unyielding protection he offered.
"Greetings, your highness" Tanya bowed, offering her reverence to the symbol of power she stood in front of.
The beastkin king stood brazenly in the sight of everyone now present, a striking figure that commanded both fear and admiration. His physique was powerful, a mix of human and the regal traits of a wolf, exuding an aura of authority.
His fur, a rich grey hue, bolstered in the light, and a majestic beard framed his face, with the sparse fur cascading down his shoulders like a crown of glory.
His eyes, a deep amber, sparkled with intelligence and wisdom, reflecting the weight of his responsibilities. Adorned in intricate armor that bore the insignia of his kingdom, he wore a flowing red cape that trailed behind him, symbolizing his royal status. Each movement was deliberate and graceful, a testament to his strength and agility.
The king's expression was often serious, yet there was a warmth in his gaze, especially when addressing his subjects. He was a ruler who understood the balance of power and compassion, reflecting it in his interactions with Tanya.
"Tanya, it's nice to finally meet you in person" He responded, waving for her to stand.
His wife and daughter just stood quietly besides him, patiently waiting for them to conclude the pleasantries.
His wife had a cold glare, befitting her blurry brown eyes as she stroke gently at her daughter's ears, smiling.
She was clotthed in a teal flowing dress, gracefully swaying in the light wind. Her demeanor was that of both a warrior who had experienced the perils of battle; cautious and deadly, while still bearing the softness of a mother.
Unlike her husband, there were no visible furs on her body and her hair was a tinted brown colour, as she tried to maintain a more human form, reflecting the beauty of it.
It was a skill they had harnessed over the years, allowing them to communicate with humans without feeling prejudiced.
At least, that was what I had heard.
I could only catch a glimpse of the daughter's eyes as they walked towards the main hall, the depicting similarity of the amber bliss her father's eyes held, extending to comprehend the feel to it as she stared hurriedly towards me.
I followed after them, stopping as the head guard of the beast king obstructed my entrance.
The aura surrounding him was austere as if built around the constant skepticism towards other.
"It's alright, he's one of mine" Tanya assured, stopping by the doorway as she stared into my eyes.
I turned towards the knight, smiling scornfully, as I tried very little to hide my discontent.
He clutched his sword immediately, wishing to cut me down in the spot.
A very random and unwarranted response for a minor taunt.
"Beltros!... What do you think you're doing!" The king roared, stirring up fear within his subject's mind, as he cowered reclusively.
"I'm sorry your highness, I just felt weary of him that's all" Beltros gathered, pulling away as he stared down towards the ground.
Just looking at his tacky appearance, made it vivid that he felt more compelled to worry about appearance, rather than actually fulfilling his duty as a knight.
From his loose fitting sleeve, poking out of his awfully bright silver armor, to the mismatched knickers, carefully hidden under flashy boots.
His fur also looked weird, as if a special lotion had been applied on it, then washed off hurriedly after.
'What a fucking joke'
The main living room was lit up gracefully, chairs padded with additional extravagant gold linens, giving the room an even more approachable view.
The center table had been cleared, with tea and four cups placed around it, adding sweets in a bowl at the very end.
The mayor walked over to her seat first; a singular armchair, before gesturing for the royal family to settle down as she proceeded to do the same.
Sabrina came in after, followed by Grant and Rosemary as Tanya urged Sabrina to show the young princess her way around, with me accompanying them.
I was a little shocked she didn't want me sitting for the meeting, but shrugged off the thought.
The princess was dressed in the same attire as her mother, teal flowing gown that grazed the staircase till she picked the sides of her dress.
The elegance in her movement, resonated her status as princess but strangely though, I felt it was forced.
Her lean shoulders trembled the minute Sabrina touched them, revealing a pale smile as she chuckled lightly at every statement.
Her ears looked like that of humans, and her gait was not dominated by the stealth of a beast.
As if to crown the oddness of her being, her tender voice found its way to my ears, soothing and innocent like that of a virgin maiden, and that was the last tick that set me off.
"What happened to being a true born wolfkin" i muttered softly, as i trailed behind both ladies.
The hallway on the top floor was overrun with servants, frantically trying to be at multiple places at the same time, but they all cleared as they noticed our presence, tucking themselves away at the sight of the princess.
After showing her most of the rooms, we decided to stop by at the main library as a final spot for sightseeing.
The propriety of Sabrina's approach, revealed how mature she was as she moderately distinguished between, what was to be touched or only viewed from afar to avoid disrupting the usual arrangements.
As I stared at them from a distance, I asked myself how I had misjudged her age the first time we met.
"How is it like in Droncus, princess Lunara" Sabrina asked as they stopped by the shelf that held the historical books.
The princess gripped tightly at her dress the minute the question surfaced, before raising both hands in protest as she spoke.
"Please, just call me Luna". She corrected, beaming with a wry smile as she proceeded to pull out a random book, flipping through as she spoke.
"Honestly, it's kind of suffocating for me" Her eyes were downcast in disdain, reminding me of a similar look, and I couldn't pinpoint the who exact person that shared it was.
"Oh, sorry about that princess". Sabrina sympathized, a conflicted look hanging on her face.
For her, she must have lived most of her life wishing she was the person she stood in front of and the same was the case for the princess.
'Those who hold freedom, envy bondage while those who are bound, envy freedom. Doing it unintentionally, all the while.'
"Humans really are insatiable" I concluded, shaking my head slowly.
A light tapping sound came from the door, followed by an announcement by Veronica, demanding our presence in the main dinning hall for dinner.
I stared out the window, watching the glowing red ball of flame, rescind slowly into the clutches of darkness, as nighttime fell.
We left before the sun set totally, reaching the living room first, as the members seated, accompanied us to the dinning room.
The spacious area was lined by a long table, extending to the depths of its walls, stopping just before it.
Chefs and maids continuously piled dish upon dish as we arrived, setting aside cutleries and cups as they doubled their pace before the guests sat.
Cuisines of different regions were contained in most of the dishes displayed, ranging from steam cooked crab, reverse seared steak, fried brown rice ladened with a rich vegetable blend, to even the Brithuels popular Bèarnaise sauce that must've been inspired by Natasha.
Apart from the already present individuals, two of the mayor's officials joined them for the meal.
Sabrina headed into her room for her own dinner, as I stepped out towards the lawn at the back of the villa, watching the sky from afar.
The laughing and jeering of one of the officials echoed from inside, almost startling me as I stared at the stars.
Stargazing had become my most cherished hobby, since I got to enjoy the silence of the night alone, a safe haven for my mind.
*******
Not too long after, the back door creaked open, revealing the shy stare of the princess as she mustered up the courage to walk towards me.
She must've grown tired of the lively atmosphere, ditching her meal for the quiet.
She was holding a plate in her hands, filled with different pastries including cake.
She handed it to me, before mouthing the words stamped on her thoughts.
"Here, I- I saw you miss the evening meal" she stuttered slightly, the ends of her dress held by her right arm.
I gestured for her to join me where I sat, before taking the dish from her and setting it aside.
She sat so close, that I could feel her cold skin graze my shoulders calmly.
"It's beautiful isn't it" I murmured, eyes fixed at the sky. There was silence, and her reply came with another stutter.
"Hu-Huh" She replied confused, her cherry dipped cheeks broadening in curiosity as her flustered look deepened.
"The moon. I meant the moon."
My mind wandered towards what her interpretation could've possibly been, rewinding back after finding no valid answers.
"The view of the moon in Droncus is different. More alluring than from here" She presented bodly, supporting herself with both hands besides her as, she shook herself gently.
A thought came into my mind and I immediately just mouthed the statement without thinking about it.
"Maybe that's why you were named after it, because your beauty would always represent it no matter where you went"
Her fluster grew into a full blown blush at the sound of my cringe compliment. She tugged at the hair behind her ears, revealing a more reddened part of her face.
She smiled, not knowing how to respond, before putting the words together as it came to her.
"I thought you were just only a quiet boy" she replied awkwardly.
I reached out to her face swiping at the bits of food at the end of her lips.
"Well, I thought you were a shy princess too afraid to hold a conversation with someone".
I was willing to take my chances while she was still young and untouched. Adding a beastkin to my collection, would undeniably solve a critical mystery in my sex life.
But before I could utter my next line to woo her even further, a feminine form stood in front of us. Her frown descending down from above us, as it warped her lips.
"What are you doing here, Sylvia?!"