"I feel guilty," Hu'er mutters as Shun Su combs her hair.
He sighed and sat in front of her. Shun Su shook his head. "You shouldn't. It's for your safety." When he heard her situation, Shun Su's immediate thought was to protect her.
He knew way more information about Seers. Reading historical information has been part of him after he put down his work for wood crafting. He not only read what the Fox Tribe had, but also information from other tribes that aren't that important to them. He only needed to trade some goods to borrow it and have some time to read it.
Most seers have been discovered at a very young age, not yet mated, which made it easier for other tribes to take the Seer from themselves. Of course, it will depend on the discussion of tribes, food that can be given to the seer and the strength and defense of the whole tribe.
He only hopes that due to Hu'er being mated already, it will change the situation and let them, the Fox Tribe, keep her.
Shun Su felt a squeeze on his hand.
"But I made a promise." Her heart feels stuffed. Hu'er just felt that it's unfair that Jiu Lin can have his days but the others couldn't
He caresses her cheeks, "With the situation now… We all understand and will do everything to make sure you are safe. If you really want to fulfill your promise, you can do it later."
"Later..?" Hu'er went into deep thoughts. 'Why do I feel so emotional that I actually didn't think of that? What is happening to me?' Her heart still feels stuffed and even her eyes and nose feel hot.
"Hmm. Once you mated… ten beastmen?" Hu'er immediately looked up after hearing Shun Su.
She immediately shook her head. "No. I can't.. Just eight?" The book only said eight, so Hu'er doesn't think there is a need to mate more. She also wanted to give them a cub each.
Yes, she chose to conceive males instead. Hu'er thinking is simple. Mate more fox beastmen, conceive more little tods. Due to many little tods, the tribe would want to take them away from the Fox Tribe. Hu'er can also use her little tods as a reason why she couldn't go to other Tribes.
Shun Su nodded. "En, we will see if your body can mate ten beastman this season. If not, we will do eight."
"Yes," Hu'er agreed, although in her head she knew that eight mates is the limit and wouldn't agree for more.
Shun Su then began to list down the current and every future mate of Hu'er that was already in line. "Jiu Lin, Song Li, me, Xin Hua, Ke Rin, and Hu Guo."
"I'll figure out the rest," Hu'er interjects. She already has a beastman in mind. Her thoughts were to think who will be the last one. In her mind, she decided, 'I'll let Jiu Lin decide.'
He hummed… "Next season you can start spending your days with one mate every three days."
She disagreed. "Three days is short…" Jiu Lin spent more, and didn't want to wrong them by spending so little.
"How about five?"
Shook her head. "Let's do fifteen."
Shun Su chuckles and shrugs his shoulders. "Just stick to ten then." Fifteen days would be too much for everyone, especially not just them, who she promised will get alone time with her, other mates that will be chosen for this season will definitely ask for it too.
Finally she agrees,"Okay ten days."
He nodded. "Do you still want to start with Jiu Lin?"
"Song Li first. I can bond with Jiu Lin last since he already had his." Yes, although Jiu Lin already had his, the fact that they acted first before telling him about mating others now is still against what they have discussed.
As the first mate, he does have the most rights to give his input whether to mate or not. Other females don't really care about their first mate's opinion which lessens the bond between the female and the first mate, creating a lukewarm relationship between the two. For the beastmen, it means the first mate does not have any authority toward the other mates.
This is what Hu'er wanted to prevent. The only thing she can think of is that, letting Jiu Lin be in charge of choosing who she can be with after this whole season. It is to let others know that Jiu Lin held the power to let other beastmen be her mate or never have contact with her.
Her eyes suddenly shone. "Oh!" She ran towards her chests and opened the golden color with pink flowers engraved.
Hu'er grabbed one package and went back to Shun Su. "Give this to Song Li first. Don't open it! I will give yours."
Shun Su knew what was in the package. It is the book she created with many paintings inside. It is wrapped in a fabric and tied with red string. As Hu'er informed them, every beastman she mated will be given a book. "I won't." He chuckled and walked out.
Hu'er took another book out of her chest. This one is for Shun Su. She grinned and went to sit on her bed. Excitedly waiting for him to come back.
—
"What is this?"
Shun Su shrugs his shoulders, "From Hu'er."
Song Li looked at the familiar package. "Is this the book…?"
"Yeah, I think so." Shun Su then tapped his shoulders. "Thank you."
Song Li chuckles, "What are you thanking me for?"
"Hu'er."
He shook his head to deny his gratitude. "I did it for her and myself too. There is no need to thank me." Song Li knows his strength wouldn't be able to protect Hu'er. The only way to make her safe is to get more mates.
Shun Su sighs and looks at the staircase leading to Hu'er's room. "She's been emotional…."
Song Li agreed, "Hmm... Might be due to Jiu Lin and knowing that every plan she had is not possible anymore. We all know how she always wants to make sure that everything is under her control. This… Everything might just overwhelm her."
"Indeed." Both of them couldn't help but smile. Only a small number of beastmen knew about Hu'er's inner personalities. And it can only be seen when Hu'er treats them as one of hers.
"Go. Don't let her wait."
"I won't. Let me see yours once you are done." Shun Su grinned.
Song Li laughed. "I'll think about it."