#32

“Why attack an innocent priest?” Ivan, ever defiant, retorted.

Hey, you’re the one who kidnapped him in the first place. I had a lot to say but swallowed my words. My priority was to stop Zerakiel from killing Bianco.

“I just brought him here because I was happy to see someone I knew.”

“Someone you knew?”

“He’s the beastman who helped Chichi raid the storage.”

“Ah.”

Zerakiel smirked, looking down at the unconscious Bianco. Sensing the danger in his eyes, I quickly stepped in front of Bianco.

“Just let him go. He helped me a lot when I was in the forest.”

“But, Lady Chichi, you said you wanted to bite him just a while ago because he ran off, leaving you behind.”

Zip it, Ivan!

I glared at Ivan, shaking my head, but it was too late. Zerakiel had already pieced everything together.

“So, he’s the one who betrayed you?”

“That’s…”

“I knew I should have acted first and thought later.”

Zerakiel clicked his tongue regretfully, a smile playing on his lips as if he were ready to end Bianco’s life right there. A chill ran down my spine.

Zerakiel muttered, looking genuinely puzzled.

“Why spare someone like him?”

“I’ll never see him again anyway.”

“Right.”

Zerakiel chuckled and kicked Bianco lightly. Bianco groaned but didn’t wake up.

“You don’t let a traitor live, especially not in Jabisi.”

“Are you really going to kill him?”

“Who knows.”

Zerakiel gave me a long, hard look. It seemed he hadn’t yet decided on Bianco’s fate. Despite his claim about not sparing traitors, he was being surprisingly lenient.

“He doesn’t even know I’m that ferret from back then.”

“Hmm.”

“Sure, he raided your storage, but I’ve eaten more of your food since then…”

“Enough with the excuses. I won’t kill him.”

Zerakiel sighed, pulling me closer and putting more distance between me and Bianco. He then ordered Ivan.

“Take him away.”

“Yes, sir.”

Ivan quickly grabbed Bianco and disappeared. While I was worried about where Ivan would dump him, I hoped it wouldn’t be in a shallow grave.

It felt like a storm had passed. As I breathed a sigh of relief, Zerakiel spoke.

“Show me some of that mercy too.”

His face was filled with displeasure. His grip on my hand felt strangely tingly. I glanced down at my wrist and replied.

“Depends on how you behave.”

“How much better can I treat you?”

Zerakiel smirked, tilting his head slightly. His black hair fell softly, like petals.

I found myself staring at him, and quickly looked away. Meeting his gaze felt strangely difficult, probably because of the proposal he’d made.

Zerakiel bent down to meet my eyes. Startled, I stepped back, and he asked.

“So, what’s your answer?”

“…”

“Still thinking about it?”

I nodded slowly, still processing everything. The fact that he was even giving me a choice was surprising. He could have just demanded my acceptance, and I would have felt compelled to agree.

“My answer doesn’t really matter, does it?”

With the imprint already on me, what difference would my response make?

Zerakiel’s serious expression didn’t waver as he spoke.

“It matters.”

“What?”

“It matters, which is why I’m waiting.”

I found myself looking at Zerakiel, utterly confused. His expression was unreadable, making me question everything.

“So, why?”

Zerakiel could easily have brought in a beastman from a more prestigious family. Typically, heirs married for alliances.

Even though alliances were shattered, they once united with the honey badger family through marriage.

Seeing my puzzled look, Zerakiel just grinned.

“Why do you think?”

It was clear he wouldn’t give me a straight answer.

I sighed, unable to hide my confusion or frustration. I didn’t even know why I was sighing.

* * *

Hebel was bustling with the farewell banquet. Thanks to successful prior meetings between the leaders, the atmosphere was incredibly amicable.

It had been nearly a hundred years since the peace era began after the Great Chaos.

Centered around Hebel, representatives from each region vowed not to attack one another and reaffirmed their intentions through this event.

It was more of a symbolic gesture, meant to keep Jabisi’s madness in check.

The alluring pheromones of the top-tier enchantment class were a significant threat, especially with the occasional outbreaks of madness in their bloodline.

Given that they couldn’t be sure when or how these beasts might go mad, it was a move to maintain checks and balances.

For those affected, it was far from pleasant. The madness wasn’t something that erupted without warning.

Mentioning it here would only expose vulnerabilities. Moreover, they couldn’t explain why the Great Chaos wasn’t prevented.

It remained an unsolved mystery within Jabisi.

In the end, letting them misunderstand was better. Such trivial events helped ease their anxieties.

Unlike the relatively friendly West and East, the North’s Page openly expressed their discontent.

Had Hebel not mediated, the representatives might have been exchanging blows instead of toasts.

Zakari wished for the tiresome banquet to end soon. He frowned when he spotted Zerakiel and Chichi.

Chichi, wearing a pink hat that resembled a bread roll, was enthusiastically devouring desserts.

Zerakiel tapped her puffed cheeks, causing Chichi to hiss at him, her eyes gleaming with a fierce but harmless threat. Seeing Zerakiel’s blushing face still didn’t sit right with him.

‘What is he thinking?’

Since Zerakiel had imprinted on Chichi, Zakari had been deeply contemplative. Zerakiel seemed infatuated with the little ferret.

He had always been indifferent, even towards his parents. Several attempts to socialize him with beastmen from allied families had backfired.

No family was willing to have their children near Zerakiel anymore.

Then came this fearless white ferret who dared to treat his son with such impudence. Even Ivan, notorious for his impudence, didn’t provoke Zerakiel as much.

‘Perfect match, really. They suit each other well!’

Zakari sighed inwardly and looked away. Just then, he caught the eye of Hilla, the head of the Luien family. Her characteristic reddish-brown eyes of the bear family were full of curiosity.

“Who is that adorable girl? I haven’t seen her before.”

Her interest was evident. The white figure among the Jabisi family members stood out.

Transforming in Hebel had made hiding her impossible.

Zakari decided to be honest, considering that presenting her as a future daughter-in-law was better than a pet.

“She’s soon to be my daughter-in-law.”

“Oh my, really?”

Hilla exclaimed, looking at Chichi. At that moment, Chichi was biting Zerakiel’s finger. Hilla marveled at the sight.

“What boldness. She’s not intimidated by the lions at all; she must have great courage.”