HIBTF 11

Chapter 11

Tigris oppa, who was standing beside me, placed a hand over his chest and bowed politely.
“We are welcoming guests from Evanoil. I am Tigris Gladwin, the Great Ho of Gladwin and the temporary head of the family. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
“The Great Ho of Gladwin, Razban Gladwin.”
“The Great Ho of Gladwin, Tabian Gladwin.”

After even my twin brother introduced himself, I bent my knees in turn.
“I am Systia Gladwin, the Great Ho of Gladwin and the heir to the family head.”

After finishing my greeting and raising my head, I noticed a boy standing behind the Imugi family staring at me even more intently than before.
What’s this? Was my self-introduction that impressive…?

I tried to ignore the boy’s gaze, but a middle-aged woman gracefully bent her knees.
“Pleased to meet you, members of the Gladwin family. I am Raisa Evanoil, the Imugi of Evanoil and head of the Evanoil family.”
“The Able One of Evanoil, Modest Volovia Evanoil.”
“The Imugi of Evanoil, Arick Evanoil.”

After listening to the Imugi family’s introductions, I realized something was wrong.
My fiancé’s name was neither Raisa, Modest, nor Arick.

I whipped my head toward the boy who had been staring at me all this time.
The boy bent his knees in a dance-like, graceful, wind-like movement and pronounced his name clearly, one syllable at a time.
“The Imugi of Evanoil, Yehokin Evanoil.”

As Yehokin bent, the hem of his clothes slipped down, revealing the nape of his neck.
The moment I saw the marks of recent whipping there, I understood why this boy had ridden a horse instead of coming by carriage.
Yehokin was being ostracized by his family and his household.

After sending the Evanoil family’s carriage to the stables, we all headed to the guest reception room.
Walking at the back, I stole glances at Yehokin beside me.
The trace I had noticed peeking from his collar earlier caught my attention.

I already knew that Yehokin wasn’t a beloved beastman in his family, but I hadn’t imagined it was to this extent.
Yehokin was fifteen, five years older than me.
What on earth had the Imugi of Evanoil done to a young beastman barely halfway through his growth period?
Truly, they were bad both inside and out.

I sighed heavily, and Yehokin, who had been walking straight ahead, spoke to me.
“Do you like me that much?”

It wasn’t customary for members of a family meeting for the first time to speak casually, but since Yehokin and I had been engaged for ten years and were both still growing beastmen, we decided to speak freely to each other.

I tilted my head.
“Like you? What are you talking about all of a sudden?”
“You’ve been staring at me all this time, so I thought you liked me.”
“No. Absolutely not.”
“Firm answer.”

I answered lightly with a laugh, but Yehokin looked somewhat sulky.
Was it worth being sulky over…?

Feeling a little guilty, I quickly added,
“But you’ve been staring at me since you first arrived at Gladwin. Why do you keep looking?”
“Oh. Was it burdensome? If so, I’m sorry.”
“It wasn’t burdensome; I was just curious why.”
“Because you’re pretty.”
“…Huh?”

I widened my eyes in surprise and looked up at Yehokin.
Seeing my expression, Yehokin laughed, the smile seeming to sparkle from the smooth corners of his eyes.
He was very pretty.

“Your surprised face is pretty too.”
“W-Who’s saying who’s pretty? Don’t tease me.”

I pretended not to be affected, but my heart was thumping wildly.
Ugh, my heart.
For a moment, I thought it would fall straight to the floor.
Thanks to my brothers, I thought I’d grown used to handsome beastmen, but this was a different kind of beauty, and adapting wasn’t easy.

Yehokin gently replied as if to console me.
“I’m not teasing; it’s just that you’re really pretty. I was curious what kind of beastman my fiancé would be, and you really are a pretty beastman. It makes me happy.”
“Do you usually say ‘pretty’ to any new beastman you meet?”
“No. Normally, I don’t even talk much to a new beastman.”
“….”

What? Could it be…
…my face is his type?

For me, who had planned to subtly get information and items from my fiancé to make him the Great Ho, this was incredible news.

Feeling pleased, I smiled broadly, and Yehokin tilted his head with a smile.
“Do you always smile so well?”
“Me? I tend to. Why?”
“I see… I thought you only smiled at me. That’s disappointing.”

Yehokin’s black hair fell lightly across his neat forehead as he lowered his head in mock disappointment.
Even his disappointed face was so pretty.

Alright. While I have the chance, I’ll take a good look at him too.
The more good things you see, the better.

We all gathered in the guest reception room where tea and snacks were set out.
Around the table with thinly sliced meat and light liquor, four Gladwin beastmen and four Evanoil beastmen faced each other.

Yehokin immediately grabbed a few pieces of meat and ate them in a hurry.
For some reason, his hands were trembling, though it seemed no one noticed except me.

Raisa, the head of the Evanoil family, smiled, her slit eyes like a snake narrowing.
“Congratulations on entering your growth period, Systia. You look very healthy. How do you feel?”

Contrary to my expectation that she would be vulgar and unpleasant, Raisa was unexpectedly polite and elegant.
“I feel very good. It’s strange, as if I’ve entered a new world.”
“You must have transformed into a dignified and brave Great Ho, like the other older brothers, yes? Or perhaps a lovely and beautiful baby Great Ho? Haha. I’m very curious which kind of Great Ho you’ve become.”

Raisa laughed behind her fan, and Modest and Arick, sitting beside her, glanced at me and giggled together.
Funny? Are they joking? I don’t find it funny at all.
Bad Imugi.

Seeing that we didn’t react as expected, the Evanoil Imugi looked disappointed.
But Evanoil was not about to give up.

Arick, glaring at me with his snake-like slit eyes, took something out from the luggage he had brought and held it out.
“Oh, I nearly forgot. Systia, as a gift to celebrate your becoming a growing beastman, we have prepared a present for you.”
“Wow, a present for me?”
“Shall we open it? I’m very curious about your reaction.”

Judging by his words, it seemed they had prepared some kind of strange gift.
Think I’ll fall for such a shallow trick?

I snorted inwardly but smiled brightly on the outside.
“Thank you. I’ll open it right now!”
“Hehehe. Please do.”
“I wonder what the gift will be. I’m so curious.”

Pretending to be very excited, I untied the ribbon and lifted the box lid.

And…
“Wow! I’m really surprised!”

It turned out to be a gift so underwhelming it was almost laughable