Astri and her family stayed so days at the Sacred Castle of the Mizuryuus. Reigan sends a ssenger to the Jade Palace, where Seijuurou, the Emperor of Tsukihana, lives.
The emperor is a Peacock beastman. He’s a fair ruler and is loved by his people because, since his great-grandfather, who assud the Jade Palace after horrible tis in the hands of a tyrant Tiger beastman, the realm of Tsukihana beca prosperous and peaceful.
Renzai sent an Eagle beastman to et the Emperor Seijuurou.
By carrying a blue emblem of Mizuryuu, the Eagle beastman could enter the Jade Hall, which would lead to where the Emperor works on his daily duties.
A guard excuses himself to announce the arrival of the ssenger:
"Excuse us, your highness. A ssenger from Lord Renzai has arrived."
Seijuroo’s fra is lean yet strong, with broad shoulders that speak of a discipline of training his body every day, and a posture that commands reverence without demanding it. His skin is white, and he wears a layered kimono in deep indigo, erald, and gold, inspired by peacock plumage without being garish. The outer robe is lined with embroidered feathers that shimr subtly in the light. The inner robe is white, symbolic of purity and balance. He has long, flowy hair, and its color is dark blue; when the sun hits it, it has almost an erald shine. He ties a tight high bun on top of his head with a thin gold circlet with a small, upright feather crest at the back.
He looks up to see the ssenger kneeling and bowing to him. His facial features are refined, with high cheekbones and a strong jaw. And his almond eyes are dark blue.
"Lord Renzai? He was supposed to arrive here tomorrow." Seijuurou says.
"For this reason, Lord Renzai sent this ssage, Your Highness." The ssenger shows a scroll, holding up with his two hands.
The guard takes the scroll and brings it to Seijuurou. Seijuurou reads the scroll:
"Greetings, Your Highness. Through this letter, I bring my apologies. For the reason that I won’t be able to visit you as we have agreed. I promise you that the reason is very reasonable.
We had the ultimate honor to be visited by the Goddess of Nature. She’s been staying here, and her presence itself is overwhelming with its pureness. Her guards and spouses are being trained by . For this reason, I couldn’t visit you. I promise that I’ll notify you beforehand of the day I’ll visit you. Once again, I apologize.
Renzai"
The letters on the scroll are delicate and very well written, and at the end, there’s a golden emblem in the form of a Mizuryuu, proving the letter is legit because only Renzai has this stamp.
Seijuurou is looking at the letter, amazed. The only reason for Renzai not coming could be only two reasons: he died, or sothing more important appeared. And the second reason is almost impossible. At least until now.
"Commander, prepare my leave. I’m going to the Mizuryuu Castle." Seijuurou orders.
"Yes, your highness." The guard bows, and then leaves with the ssenger, leaving the Emperor alone again.
"The Goddess of Nature... Renzai would never be fooled by a female pretending to be a Goddess. This must be true. I need to go et her. If she’s here, in Tsukihana, that must an sothing." He says.
——
Every day Astri is preparing dinner with the castle servants and has beco very friendly with them. Once Seiryuu was walking through the garden, and then he heard people talking about her:
"The Goddess of Nature is so kind and giving. She expresses her love for her guardians all the ti. And she teaches anything we ask." A servant says.
"It’s true. She taught us even dicine teas!" Another servant says.
"We’re truly blessed for having her here. I hope she stays forever. Or at least for a long ti."
Seiryuu smiles, agreeing with them and also hoping that she stays for a long ti. He finds Astri painting, while Reigan plays around the garden with a ball. He sits next to her and watches her painting.
"Is that the Spirit Tree?" He asks, looking at the painting that is forming a tree.
"Yes. My dear friend. Kenzou kept the Shrine pure, making it capable of pulling my soul. It saved . I want to put it sowhere important to , so everyone always rembers it." She says.
"I understand."
"You never answered where you put the painting I gave you." She smiles.
"Oh.. It’s in my chambers. Do you want to see it?"
"Oh that was smooth." She smirks.
That’s when he realized that he had invited her to his bedroom, making him blush pink because calling her there could an only one thing.
"I-I apologize.." He stutters.
"I’m just teasing. Don’t think too much about it. Please, don’t get wrong, too. You’re soone I would easily fall in love to."
"Really?" He asks, with his eyes shining.
"Yes. But you’re soone important to the balance of this Kingdom. We are ant to be friends, because I could never be the reason to remove the main pillar that sustains this beautiful kingdom."
He sighs a little sad after hearing that, but he understands what she ant. He has a role that he feels honored to have and that he knows the importance of it. He’s happy to know that she sees him as a male, and also as soone important that she believes she needs to sacrifice her own desires to keep the balance of the world.
"I understand.. If you can abstain from your desires, I can do that, too. I was fated to have a female only for heirs either way. It’s good to know I’ll have your love at least as friends." He smiles.
"I wouldn’t confirm that you won’t find a female who truly loves you, my friend. We never know what tomorrow can bring. Once I believed I would never be loved, too, and never would feel part of. Look at , now. I was literally taken to another world and brought back here. Never fail to trust Nature. Nature will always surprise you." She tells.
He nods, with a calr smile. He’s happy with what he heard, also happy that she trusted him enough to tell him part of her past and that she had the sa insecurity.
Zin cos walking to them, carrying a plate with bean buns. He sits next to Astri, giving the plate to her. Skalven also cos, after making sure that the children were connected to him sohow. Understanding the mont, Seiryuu stood up and left them with their spouse.
Astri makes Zin eat a bun. He already gained so body, and she’s happy to see him shining again. Skalven is a bit more awkward, not used to expressing his love. He’s a bit anxious, because after Claud, he’s the next on the line and he has no idea of how to even kiss her.
They stay there, watching her painting and also singing. They decide to enjoy her energy and simply watch her painting.
"Were you bullied while I was out?" She asked them after several minutes had passed.
That was sothing she wanted to ask them since they got back together.
"No. I rarely spent ti with the people. And they ignored when I did. The guards and our family treated us the sa." Zin answers.
Astri nods, relieved, then looks at Skalven, after his answer.
"I was ignored most of the ti. So females tried to make their spouses to have a chance to co live in the castle, and once I refused, they would be mad and say bad things, but I didn’t mind." Skalven tells.
She smiles, holds their hands after putting down her brush.
"Both of you are important to and our family. Never let anyone or any thought of yours make you believe that you’re not worthy. I love you for everything you are." She says to them, and kisses Zin and then Skalven.
Their hearts lt with her words. They get closer to her and hug her waist sohow and keep on watching her painting.
"It’s unfair that I had Shinkou to help with the hole in my heart because of your absence." She admits to them.
"No.. We had each other. We had the children. Yuki would always comfort us with her natural good energy. It was just never enough to fill the gap you left, that’s all." Zin says.
"The sa for you, I believe. Shinkou, Kenzou and Reigan were not enough." Skalven says.
"It’s true. It wasn’t enough.. But were essential." She smiles.
At night, the spouses bring Skalven to the bedroom selected for them to stay. They weren’t using it because they were sleeping with Astri, but they decided to make a decision, and Lee says to Skalven:
"You go stay with Astri tonight."
"W-what..?" Skalven asks, blushing.
"It’s been three days since Claud had her. You’re the next in line, and we’re all needy of her. All of us need to wait in the line. And you’re taking long to make the move." Koa spills the beans.
"Only if you don’t want her. I’m next in line after you, and I will happily take your turn." Wayde says, smirking.
"Of course I want her! It’s just... I don’t know how to... You know.. I never thought I would have a spouse." Skalven admits, in a low voice and shyly.
Dieg wraps his arm around Skalven’s neck, and then pulls him close.
"Let teach you so things, then. Astri loves to be touched.." Dieg started to say that it was a secret, but then Claud stopped him.
"Skalven needs to learn by himself. That’s what makes everything more special. Learning what she likes, and learning how only he can make her feel good. That’s the beauty of not knowing." Claud says.
The others agreed entirely with Claud, and Dieg nods, agreeing, too. After hearing Claud, Skalven felt more confident to go spend the night with her. He walks to her chambers with his heart jumping on his chest, breathing deeply to keep calm. Only imagining what will happen is already making him hard, and he tries to calm down before he opens the door to her bedroom.
He slowly opened the sliding doors, and then he saw her wearing white robes, making her skin even more pale and inviting. He swallows hard and closes the door behind him.
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