A Tail Mishap and the Wife’s Ordeal(?)
Under Akio’s guidance, the new village in the depths of the forest steadily took shape, built through the cooperation of humans and beastfolk. Among them, the young beastfolk girl Kina stood out with her natural cheerfulness and tireless energy, handling everything from logging to hauling materials with strength rivaling any man. Her presence became the heartbeat of the community, and both Akio and Silvia grew fond of her sunny disposition.
Then, one day, Akio was working with Kina, hauling logs from a nearby clearing to load onto a cart. Kina lifted one end, Akio took the other, and just as they coordinated their movements toward the cart—Akio lost his footing in the mud.
“Whoa!”
In a reflexive attempt to steady himself, Akio’s hand shot out—and firmly grabbed Kina’s fluffy, reddish-brown tail.
“Hyann!?”
With a yelp, Kina jumped, nearly dropping the log, and turned to Akio, her face flushed bright red and her large beast ears twitching madly. Around them, other beastfolk stopped their work, grinning knowingly as they watched the scene unfold.
“Wh-what… M-Master…!” Kina stared at Akio, eyes wide, stammering before blurting out loudly, “Y-you… you’re seriously proposing to me!? I mean, I don’t mind, but you know if a human marries a beastfolk like me, people might call you ‘tainted’ or something! You really okay with that!?”
Her voice carried clearly to the other beastfolk, prompting a chorus of teasing remarks like, “Whoa, Kina bagged herself a human husband!” and “Way to go, Kina! That human’s got guts!”
Akio, utterly bewildered, could only stand there, dumbfounded.
“P-proposing…? Tainted…? Kina, what are you talking about? I… I’m sorry for grabbing your tail, that’s all,” Akio said, scratching his head in confusion.
Kina puffed her cheeks in mock indignation.
“Don’t play dumb, Master! Grabbing a tail, especially of an unmarried girl like me, that’s a proper marriage proposal among us wolf beastfolk! Don’t think you can talk your way out of this!”
With her hands on her hips, Kina appeared to scold Akio, though her tail wagged happily behind her. Then, without warning, she bounded over to Silvia, who was sorting herbs nearby, and pulled her over in front of Akio.
“Hey, Principal Wife! Your man here just proposed to me! I don’t mind being second or third wife, so if you’re cool with it, I’ll gladly accept!”
Silvia stood frozen, struck like lightning.
“P-Principal Wife!?”
The title shook Silvia to her core—yet it also resonated with a hidden sweetness in her heart. Her cheeks flushed scarlet, and she dropped the bundle of herbs in her hands. Akio’s wife… Principal Wife… it was a title she had secretly, fervently longed for ever since she and Akio had vowed to be together.
“W-what nonsense are you spouting, you unruly girl! Akio wouldn’t… wouldn’t make such a… casual proposal…!” Silvia tried to deny it, but Kina pressed on gleefully.
“Come on, though, grabbing a tail like that in front of everyone? Where I come from, that’s practically a public engagement announcement!” Kina’s voice rang out, joined by the beastfolk’s playful jests: “Looks like your grace is being tested, Principal Wife!” and “Akio’s got himself quite the harem leader, huh!”
Silvia’s head spun under the weight of their voices and Kina’s bold claim.
“I-if… if that’s what Akio truly wants… I wouldn’t… entirely… be opposed… but… b-but this is so sudden… I… Principal Wife…!?”
Her flustered muttering revealed a side of Silvia none had ever seen—flustered, overwhelmed, yet undeniably pleased. The normally cool and aloof elf apothecary looked like she was on the verge of accepting the misunderstanding-born proposal without a fight.
Akio could only stand there in stunned silence, caught between Silvia’s unexpected reaction, Kina’s mischievous confidence, and the surrounding beastfolk’s spirited teasing.
(… What… just happened? I only grabbed her tail…)
With Kina’s unforeseen marriage drama stirring up the community, Akio’s supposedly peaceful slow life was once again heading for turbulent waters. And with Silvia’s unexpectedly easy-to-please side revealed, their relationship might just be headed in a surprisingly sweet—and chaotic—direction.
What do you think about this chapter?
