Villainess is being pampered by her beast husbands
Chapter 116 --116

Chapter 116: Chapter-116

Suddenly, Kaya stopped.

Her eyes had landed on a stall where thick animal hides were spread across a woven mat. At first glance, it was just like the others—but something about it made her pause.

She stepped closer and crouched down, her fingers brushing lightly across the material.

It wasn’t just raw hide. Some of it had been sewn into garments—tunics, cloaks, belts, and rugged pants. Rough but beautiful, styled in a way that spoke of a deep-rooted culture. She couldn’t deny the craftsmanship. Each piece was made with care, some lined with delicate stitching, others layered with fur for warmth.

Still... not her type.

Too bold. Too wild. Too tribal.

But the hides themselves—those were different.

She examined them with quiet focus. Some were pure white, almost silvery in the cave light. Others came in shades of dusty brown, deep charcoal, and smoky reds. One, in particular, caught her attention—a solid black hide, smooth and thick. Clean. Practical.

Her hand hovered over the white fur—it was beautiful. Soft. But something told her it would get dirty far too easily out here.

So, she went with the black.

Then, with practiced calm, she picked up two more. One deep red, another so dark it looked almost like ink in shadow.

Behind the mat, the shopkeeper watched her silently.

He was a fox-eared beastman with a bushy, golden-red tail lazily swaying behind him. At first, his expression was unreadable. But as he watched her fingers move—careful, deliberate, choosing only what she needed—his eyes widened slightly.

She wasn’t the most beautiful female he had ever seen. Not in the way beastwomen were—glamorous, sharp, wild with allure.

But she was captivating.

There was something in the way she looked at the hides. The way her eyes moved—measured, thoughtful, unfazed. And more than anything... the way she picked hides no other females, not even the trismen, would ever consider.

His breath caught for a second before he cleared his throat and slipped into business mode.

"Ah, miss! Excellent choice!" he said, tail flicking upward. "You know, these hides are the best in this whole range. Hunted by my tribe, by me, in fact. You won’t find warmer ones anywhere. This black one? Oh, it lasts seasons. Doesn’t even lose shape in rain or heat—"

But before he could finish, a small hand suddenly landed on Kaya’s shoulder.

"Don’t take it," a soft voice interrupted.

Kaya turned slightly—Cutie.

He stepped forward and crouched beside her, inspecting the black hide with narrowed eyes.

Then he muttered, "It’s... Roman Beastman’s hide, right?"

He looked straight at the shopkeeper, eyes sharp despite his childlike face.

"You know it’s unlucky. And you’re still selling it?"

The fox-eared vendor froze for a beat, his expression flickering.

Then he forced a small smile and leaned slightly forward, eyes flicking to Kaya’s shoulder. "Excuse me, young one, but if she wants to take it, she can. I’m not forcing anyone. And what do you mean by unlucky? It’s just animal hide."

Cutie stood straighter, his voice laced with firm disapproval. "Uh-huh. Azaan. That’s the most unlucky hide out there. You know how much heat this thing traps. It burns in sunlight. It dries out skin. And you’re still selling it like it’s treasure?"

The vendor’s tail twitched. His jaw tightened—but he said nothing, only staring between Kaya and Cutie.

Kaya’s fingers loosened around the hide for the first time.

Suddenly, the shopkeeper’s voice dropped—low and sharp, laced with frustration.

"Listen, young man," he said through clenched teeth. "If you want it, then take it. If not, then just get lost. I haven’t forced anyone to buy it."

Piotr’s eyes narrowed. He looked at the shopkeeper... then back at Kaya.

Kaya, however, didn’t flinch.

She slowly turned her gaze back to the vendor, studied his face for a breath longer, and then—smiled.

A small, unreadable smile that made Piotr instantly uneasy.

He knew that smile.

It wasn’t polite.

It was a signal.

She was about to play.

And if Kaya was going to play... he absolutely didn’t want to get involved.

Cutie took a careful step back, eyes wide, hands raised slightly like he was backing away from a lit fuse.

Kaya’s smile softened just a bit more as she faced the shopkeeper. "So... what’s the price?"

The vendor blinked. "Huh?"

She tilted her head slightly, voice calm, steady. "The price. For this hide. What is it?"

The shopkeeper stared at her a beat longer. And in that moment, he made a decision.

She’s new. Clearly.

So why not?

He raised one hand, fingers poised casually as if doing her a favor.

"Well, normally..." he said, stretching the words with practiced ease, "this would cost about one and a half white stones."

Then he gave a dramatic shrug. "But for you, I’ll let it go for just one white stone. What do you say?"

Silence.

Even the market noise seemed to hush in cutie’s ears.

One white stone? For that?

His jaw dropped. That’s a scam so big it could be carved into a mountain.

"What?! You—!" cutie burst out, eyes blazing. He stepped forward, finger half-raised—

But Kaya lifted her hand, stopping him mid-move.

She didn’t even look at him. Her gaze was still fixed on the vendor. Calm. Composed. That same subtle, unreadable smile playing on her lips.

The shopkeeper didn’t realize it yet, but he’d just walked into a trap.

Hearing his words, Kaya let out a soft, almost amused exhale. Not quite a laugh. Not quite a sigh. Just enough to make the shopkeeper blink.

Then, slowly, she bent her knees and sat down in front of the spread hides, right across from him. Poised. Silent.

Her elbows rested lightly on her knees. She leaned forward just slightly, her chin tilted as she looked up at him from below—like a predator studying its prey from a lower angle, not out of weakness... but deliberate control.

"What did you just say?" she asked, voice low, cool as still water.

The shopkeeper faltered.