The Principal Wife’s Grace and the Next Furnace Plan
Kina’s sudden marriage declaration and Sylvia’s historic meltdown brought a burst of noise and laughter to the village-building site. While Akio flailed in confusion and Sylvia stood frozen, red-faced and mumbling, Kina proudly declared, “Looks like the Master’s made up his mind!” to her fellow beastfolk, nearly turning the scene into a full-blown celebration.
At that moment, a calm, clear voice rang out.
“Everyone, please settle down!”
It was Ayane, having arrived after hearing the commotion. She looked over the bright-red Sylvia, the triumphant Kina, and the bewildered Akio, and smiled gently.
“Kina-san, your feelings for Akio-san are honest and wonderful. And we all know how deeply Sylvia-san loves Akio-san too.”
Her words left Kina and Sylvia blinking in surprise.
“But as you can see, we are at a crucial time working together to build this new village. Winter is coming fast, and there’s still much to do. How about we save this important discussion until life in the forest settles down a bit, and everyone can live here in peace?”
Ayane’s composed demeanor and reasonable proposal quickly cooled the surrounding excitement. Even the beastfolk, who had been teasing, agreed, saying, “Ayane’s right,” and “Guess we’ve got more pressing matters.” Kina pouted and grumbled, “Tch… not just the Principal Wife, but even Ayane’s got a good head on her shoulders. Guess the Master’s a lucky guy. Fine, I’ll shelve this talk for now,” flashing a mischievous grin.
Sylvia, grateful for Ayane’s quick intervention, let out a quiet sigh of relief. Thus, the matter of Akio’s “proposal” was shelved with a temporary truce: no changes until the new village reached a proper milestone.
From that day on, Sylvia’s daily life saw subtle but undeniable changes. Whenever beastfolk called her “Principal Wife,” she maintained a cool front with a “Hmph, call me whatever you like,” though her pointed ears flushed red and a shy smile crept to her lips. Her behavior toward Akio grew sweeter and more attentive; standing by his side became her natural place. Sometimes, while tending the herb garden, she’d hum ancient elven love songs no one else had ever heard before, much to Akio’s flustered delight.
Meanwhile, Kina continued calling Akio “Master,” finding excuses to stay close: “Hey, Master, where should I haul this log?” or “Master, what’s for dinner tonight?” regularly earning a twitch of Sylvia’s brow. Yet it became a cheerful part of their daily life in the growing village.
With the marriage chaos resolved for now and foundational work progressing well, Akio gathered his family (which naturally included Sylvia, Ayane, Alto, and the now indispensable Kina) to discuss improving their living environment.
“Now that we have firebricks and charcoal, it’s time to think about what could really improve our daily life. Any requests?”
Ayane immediately raised her hand.
“Yes! I’d love a proper bread oven! Something big enough to bake fresh bread every day so the whole family can eat their fill!”
Her eyes sparkled. Sylvia agreed, adding, “Good bread brings strength to our daily life. A stable, high-heat furnace would also be useful for drying herbs and preparing medicine.”
Kina chimed in cheerfully, “Yeah, a bread oven sounds great! Us beastfolk love fresh bread too! Oh, and Master, we could really use a bigger, stronger cooking hearth! The current one’s too small for our appetites!”
“Alright, it’s decided,” Akio said with determination, looking around at their eager faces. “First, we’ll build Ayane’s bread oven and a new large cooking hearth for everyone. With firebricks, charcoal, and our cart, we’ll make the best furnace yet!”
Cheers echoed from everyone. With Sylvia’s sharp advice, the beastfolk’s fire-handling skills, and the children’s eager anticipation, a new chapter of creativity and craftsmanship began—one that blended cultures, techniques, and hopes to create a better life for all.
What do you think about this chapter?
