Beastmen Love-Chapter 196: Let Me Protect Your Heart

At the castle, Astri cleaned Aurora and Albus with Dieg and Claud’s help while her other mates took care of dinner and other chores.

Galion explains to the new guards how things work in the lodge of the guards, how they need to keep everything clean and organized, the living rules, and the schedules of training. He explains that Saul is the one in charge when he’s out, and who is in charge of the children’s safety is Skalven.

They were sent to bathe and were given new clothes. Guards need to wear clothes that conceal their marks when they’re outside. At first, they used to conceal their marks to avoid calling people’s attention because some had several marks. Now, it’s like a uniform. People don’t need to know how many marks they have because they have the sole responsibility as Daughter’s Nature’s guards. She wears elegantly and conceals her body too, so they mimic her attitude.

Learning the reason they wear different clothes impressed Drack and Gilliard. They didn’t know that they did that as a sign of respect for Astri.

"Now I must say some last things. Living near Astri and Claud will make you live longer, or even forever. Saul is 90 years old and he’s a gorilla. Old for his kind, but he’s not old in looks and on his body. Also, you might develop abilities from Nature, not as strong as Astri’s spouses. I developed the capacity to create smoke. Saul developed more strength than the other gorillas, and so on. You must take these gifts very responsibly. You’re now part of a group, and your actions will reflect on Astri’s image and her work." Galion says, and they nod, understanding and absorbing everything. "If you ever fall in love with a female and you want to become her spouse, there’s no problem with that. We wish your happiness, but you won’t be capable of staying a guard anymore because when you have a female, you instinctively will focus your life on her and won’t risk her safety. We can’t risk Astri and her children’s safety. Claud’s and Kangki’s, too. They’re very capable of protecting themselves, but I would give my life to them if that meant protecting them. All of us are ready to give our lives, and that’s why we decided not to have spouses. But, as I said, if you ever fall in love, there’s no problem. It’s not a crime. It’s something you need to decide. Just know that by accepting a female, you will lose your position as guard, so you can live your life the way you choose to live."

They nod again, and Galion sighs and drinks some water.

"You’re dismissed."

"Galion?" They hear Astri from the front door of the castle.

He walks to her.

"Yes?" He asks.

"Come, bro. You’re too tense and really need to relax. Take the day off tomorrow. Skalven?" Astri says, pulling Galion inside, and then she turns around to call for Skalven.

He runs to her, and then she pulls him inside, too. She brings them to the common bathroom, and there are two bathtubs ready for them.

"Relax, you two. Galion has been working so much these days, and Skalven has never taken a day off since he started living with us. You deserve it. Take the day off tomorrow, too. It’s an order." She says, smiling and tapping their shoulders.

She leaves and closes the door, making them chuckle. They won’t deny a warm bath with great soaps and calming herbs, so they relax in the bathtub.

"What happens if we fall in love with Lady Astri?" Skalven asks, shyly, and in a low voice, as he was scared someone might listen.

"You would be just one more." Galion snorts, with his eyes closed and relaxing as he is having a spa day.

"More guards are in love with her?"

"Of course. She’s the best female ever. Who wouldn’t? She treats all of them so well and kindly, as if she were their sister. She doesn’t do it on purpose, it’s in her nature to treat others well."

"I see.. Did any guard ever become her spouse?" Skalven asks.

"No. Not until now."

"Did any of them ever ask her to become her spouse?"

"Not that I know. If you want to ask her, just do it. If she accepts, it won’t change your job very much. The worst answer you could get is a no. But if you can’t handle a no, then don’t ask her." Galion shrugs his shoulders.

Skalven looks at the bubbles on the water and then passes them on his arm. Of course, he would fall in love with her, but he doesn’t know if he dares to say anything to her because he doesn’t want to lose her. If he asks to be her spouse, and if she says no, she might become distant, and that is the last thing he wants.

After dinner, Astri wanted to paint the moon because it was so beautiful that night. She walks out and sits on the bench to start painting. Xzan sees her painting, then slowly goes to sit on her side and watches her.

"You can come closer." Astri says.

Xzan looks at her confused, but then she looks behind a tree next to the lake. It was Drack and Gilliard, watching her curiously. They were walking around the area to get to know it more, when they saw her there, they decided to watch her.

They stop in front of her, apologizing for disturbing her. Xzan sighs, annoyed, thinking he finally had some time alone with her.

"Sit, please. Your shadows are making it hard to see. And don’t apologize. I wanted to talk to you and get to know you a little more." She says.

They sit on the ground and also start to watch her painting.

"Why did you want to become my guards? Be sincere. I won’t judge any of your answers." She asks, then looks at them.

"I... I heard from the Centaurs’ Leader that you were a great farmer. Then once you treated my wound in the hospital and I saw that you also know medicine. I thought you were more special than you looked before you told everyone about your identity. I wanted to offer my help as a farmer to you in your garden, but the guards said that only you and your spouse, Zin, take care of it." Gilliard tells.

"So you wanted to be my gardener instead of guard?" She jokes, giggling.

"Well, in the beginning, yes." He answers, smiling awkwardly. "But when I heard and saw how much you do and did not only for our tribes, it made me want to protect you somehow.. You have too much on your shoulders. The world is big and you’re..small."

"Thank you, Gilliard. I appreciate your decision and words. Sometimes it is heavy, but knowing I have people like you to support me makes me feel stronger. And you can help me with my garden, too." She says.

He smiles and nods. She looks at Drack and smiles:

"You made a very smart move on the tournament. If I weren’t there, I wouldn’t believe if someone said to me you can mimic my voice so well." She snorts.

"Yeah.. I’m sorry if it was disrespectful. I just wanted to win." Drack says.

"It wasn’t. You were smart. We could prank my spouses someday."

They chuckle. Drack and Gilliard didn’t imagine she was so easy to talk to.

"I won’t lie. At first, I wanted to be closer to try to become your spouse. But I also saw how important you are and how much you sacrifice, staying here and traveling to faraway places to help people. I thought that if I can’t have a Goddess as a spouse, I can at least help her." Drack answers.

"I appreciate your sincerity. I’m glad you want to help me. I won’t lie to you, too, it’s sometimes tiring staying only behind these walls, but if I decide to be selfish and do only what I want to do, I will only hurt the people I love. And I will hurt you, who are protecting me." She says, and they listened silently, and learning that she can’t be free hurts them. "I hope we can be friends. If you need anything or want to learn anything, you can ask me."

She touches the paper carefully to check if the paint is dry. She’s using water color, this way her paint takes longer to end.

"We heard you train your guards, too." Drack says.

"It’s been a long time since the last time we trained together because I’m waking up tired because Aurora wakes me up a lot during the night. They train in the morning. But soon I’ll be back training together with them." She answers.

"Why are you not resting then?" Xzan asks.

"The moon looks so beautiful tonight."

"He’s right. You should rest. You can see the moon always." Gilliard says.

"Each day is a divine gift. When you live today fully, you create a bright tomorrow naturally. Remember that, my friend."

What she said was deep and made them thoughtful. Xzan gathers courage, and then he asks her:

"Can I talk to you alone?"

"Sure. Have a good night, boys. I’ll see you tomorrow."

They appreciate and then leave, happy that they got to know her a little more. She finishes her painting and then puts her painting tools back in the pouch.

"I... I asked to talk to you alone, but now I don’t know what to say." He admits, shyly.

He was never shy, but he felt shy with her, and that’s a big sign for him that he still wants her as his spouse very much.

"I understand. I need to admit something, Xzan. Before meeting Wayde, I didn’t want spouses. And until this day, I am always impressed with how many spouses I ended up finding and loving. And I always say to myself that now is enough, and I don’t want more. Sincerely, after Kangki, I thought that no other male would make me think I want another spouse." She says, his heart freezes, and she chuckles. "I was wrong again."

Her laughter made his heart grow hot again. She looks at him, then he gets closer to her and holds her hands.

"Astri.. I know I will be the weakest of your spouses, but let me help take care of your heart, please.." He softly says.