Beastmen Love
Chapter 238: Tension

Chapter 238: Tension

Astri and her family are staying for 40 days in total. The first line to spend a night with Astri is over, and all her mates are visibly more serene. Seijuurou and Masayori went back to the Jade Palace three days after the Goddess Festival.

While they were having breakfast, Shinkou, who was the last on the line, was hugging Astri from behind enjoying the morning after a night of love with her.

"This line takes forever." Shinkou says, smelling her good scent.

"Talking about forever. Don’t you think we’re here too long? We are so many for them to keep feeding and taking care of us." Astri asks everyone.

"You don’t have to worry about that, milady. It is our honor to have you here." Renzai says.

"It is ours, too. But you have your duties. I feel bad eating all your food and not paying back."

"Lady Astri, while you were here you taught our servers to cook and this knowledge was spread to everyone else. Now they have more ways to have money. You gave us more than you imagine. You taught the younger heirs of to paint, gave them the honor to play with you and your children. Made them toys."

"My uncles are almost arriving to help your spouses decide where will the best place for you to build your palace." Seiryuu says.

"Your uncles?"

"Yes. My younger brothers, who also live as Shoguns on further away locations are coming this way to meet you and help you." Renzai says.

"So you have more than one Mizuryuu Castle?" Yuki asks.

"This one is the biggest and most ancient. And the one where affects biggest part of our realm, but their castles are also important to keep the balance of the whole realm." Renzai explains.

"Since they know other places of this realm, they can help you decide the location of your palace." Seiryuu says.

"Oh.. That’s great. Thank you for doing this. I didn’t know." Astri says.

"It’s my fault. I forgot to tell you this." Claud says.

Astri looks at Claud. He looks way better from when they were reunited, but it looks like that he’s caring a heavy duty on his back.

"I understand, love. Don’t worry." She smiles. "However, if you’re making plans without my knowledge, I will make mine, then."

"It’s not that. I’m sorry.."

"Let’s do like this, then. Lord Renzai and Seiryuu. You come with me. The others can keep on working here." Astri says, startling everyone.

"What?.. Why only with them?" Claud asks.

"We need to go with you and protect you." Wayde says.

"Don’t worry. I’ll just take them to Aquaterra to take Seiryuu’s ship back. His ship is ready. You can keep on and I can do something else." She says, shrugging her shoulders.

"Is she mad?" Seiryuu whispers next to Kenzou.

"I believe so." Kenzou whispers back.

"I won’t let you go to another realm without me." Kangki says to Astri.

"Don’t be mad at us because of Claud." Zin says to Astri.

"All of you could have talked to her. Don’t put everything on my back again." Claud says to all of them.

"Stop.. talking." She says, and they go silent. "We are in a sacred place. A place that the Mizuryuus worked hard to keep balanced. Do not affect this balance, please."

They sigh, knowing they’re doing something wrong and apologize to Renzai and Seiryuu.

"I still won’t let you go without me. 8 years, Astri. 8 years without you. There’s absolutely nothing in this world that will take you away from me again." Kangki says.

Astri sighs, passing her finger on her forehead.

"All right. Then you and Claud go take the ship with Koa and Beau, please." She says to Kangki.

"..I know the others are powerful, but we had agreed before that we would never let you without me or Claud nearby because we can make portals." Kangki softly says.

"Oh. Interesting.. Didn’t know about that, either. Did you decide that before or after we got back together?"

"...After." He had to tell the truth because she can read him entirely.

"Hum.. All right, then."

"We just want to protect you, Astri." Cyprian says. His voice was soft, but strained like a thread pulled too tight.

"I know you are. And I love you for it. But I am feeling like a burden." She sighs.

"No! You are not!" They say in unison and walking to her.

"Ssh. Calm down. I’m sorry. Let’s all go, if you want. I promised Deanora I would go. So I have to go by any terms."

The children were quiet watching that weird and awkward situation. Astri walks to the garden with everyone following her, before Claud and Kangki walk forward to make the portal, Astri does the portal herself.

She looks to Renzai and Seiryuu and motions them to walk forward. They look at the portal impressed, and not moving for some seconds. Yuki kindly pushes Seiryuu’s arm, and he follows her. Renzai follows them and walks through the portal amazed. The others pass the portal quickly. Claud and Kangki looked at her before walking through the portal, not comfortable with her making the portal instead of them.

Renzai and Seiryuu are looking around amazed. They really are in a complete different realm. They can feel the different weather, location, the different way the people dress, the different energies. They’re in shock, but not in a bad way.

Astri goes greet Deanora with a tight hug and greets the Kings. She goes the presentations, then they’re brought to Seiryuu’s ship. It doesn’t look so much different by looks, but inside is very different. One of the Kings explains everything that was changed, shows the crystal hull and keel, which is the under and front part of the ship.

"This is amazing.. We can see underwater while sailing." Seiryuu smiles.

"Yes. And you can also sail without wind because now the ship is fed by the water." The King says. "Lady Astri said you’re rarely attacked by sea creatures, but, in case, this room is the safest one and if you close it from inside there’s nothing that can come inside."

"Amazing. Thank you. Lady Astri didn’t have to do all that, but I’m grateful. I’ll cherish this gift."

"Beau can teach your servants to use the ship. It’s not as different, but to make it come underwater is a process that is important to follow the right steps." Astri says.

"It can come underwater?" Renzai asks, impressed.

"Yes, it does. Before going underwater, all crew needs to come inside. The ship is not much bigger, but it’s possible to have at least seven or eight crew members inside." The King of Aquaterra answers.

"Wow. I can’t wait to try. Thank you, Lady Astri." Seiryuu smiles.

"Don’t need to thank me. It’s the least I could for all your help and for lending me this ship for so long." Astri says, then looks at Renzai. "Now you both can use this ship and travel to other areas of your realm faster and safer."

"Thank you, milady. It’s very kind of you. I wasn’t expecting such a great improvements." Renzai smiles.

Outside the ship, Astri’s spouses were waiting in silence. Deanora looks at them, and can already sense they’re feeling down. She giggles.

"What are these long faces? What have you done?" Deanora asks them.

They just look away, not responding.

"Queen Deanora is so experienced. It’s almost like she can smell facts." Yuki giggles.

Deanora giggles and calls Yuki with her hand.

"Come, dear. Tell me what happened since they don’t want help. And I love gossiping." Deanora says.

Yuki giggles and rushes to Deanora. The other children rush after Yuki, also curious to hear.

"Hey! Yuki!" Wayde call for her.

"What? Anyone can see what is happening." Yuki says to her father.

Deanora and the children walks away, and Yuki tells what she saw and heard from that morning.

"I see... I think I already know what is the problem." Deanora says.

"Mom is feeling put aside. If she called herself a burden, that’s what she’s feeling even if she apologized to avoid fighting. And I think she doesn’t want to fight because she knows they were very hurt spending so long away from us.. It’s hard to pick a side." Yuki softly says.

"You don’t have to pick a side. Shes not picking a side, so you shouldn’t too. But your fathers will need to face things differently if they want to keep peace. Astri is a female, not an object that can stay in a box and wait until is necessary to be used."

"It’s true.. You’re right."

"Thank you, auntie." Aurora says.

"Auntie!? Awwwn!! I love that!!" Deanora says, hugging Aurora tightly.

Deanora became very different after meeting Astri. She became more attached to children, and knows very well how Astri feels about being protected to an extent she feels like she can’t move properly. After what happened to her, Kahn consuming her soul slowly, her spouses feared anyone who would come near her. They wanted to prevent anyone to come close to her without being checked and questioned at least four times.

"Everything will be all right, dears. Your fathers are only hurt. You’re her children and already felt hurt with your mother’s absence. But for spouses is like losing part of your soul literally. When you have your spouses you might understand. But I hope you never go through something like this." Deanora tells the children.

They nod in response. Kenzou was standing near Astri’s spouses, wondering if he should say anything.

"Why didn’t you talk to her? You said you would ask her opinion." Kangki asks Claud.

"After voting I didn’t think if it was necessary.. I was so focused on things that I forgot to tell her. I have to think about everything, you all could help at least keeping her notified. I wasn’t trying to keep her away, or silent her." Claud says.

"Are you saying you do everything and us nothing?" Lee asks.

The tension in the air is growing, and Kenzou can feel that the strings are nearly close to break.