Chapter 74: Oh, don’t worry. If Kian shows up, I’ll handle it

Chapter 74: Chapter 74: Oh, don’t worry. If Kian shows up, I’ll handle it "What is your name?" Isabella finally cared enough to ask the man who had been helping her craft things. And the only reason she was asking? He was too fast. Too helpful. So much so that she had actually leveled up to Level 1 Crafting. That alone was insane. But even crazier? He had just made her a knife out of bone. And not just any knife—a good one. The kind that looked sharp enough to gut a boar and yet smooth enough to slice fruit. Honestly? She was keeping this one. She didn’t care what Kian thought. Surely, he could spare one guy. The man perked up, clearly pleased by the attention. His tail flicked behind him, eyes twinkling as if his moment had finally come. "Luca," he answered, flashing what was probably supposed to be a charming smile. Isabella squinted at him. Oh. He thought this was flirting, didn’t he? How adorable. Well, time to mess with him a little. "Well, I want you, and I’m keeping you." The words left her lips so bluntly, so matter-of-factly, that the entire clearing froze. The girls, who had been idly chatting, turned their heads. Opehlia even straightened up. Luca’s ears twitched. "Wait, really?" His tail stiffened, and for a second, his dumb little beastman brain short-circuited. Did she mean like... want him want him? Or want him normally? Because if it was the first one, oh, he was ready. Only one person was brave enough to ask outright. Sheila. She clicked her tongue. "Hold on, hold on—when you say ’keeping him,’ are we talking pet-level keeping? Like, ’Good job, Luca, go fetch me some sticks’?" Ophelia was already smirking. "Or do you mean... keeping him?" Luca’s tail started wagging. Oh, he was so hoping it was the second one. Isabella gave him a slow once-over. Not in a flirty way. More in the way someone sizes up a suspiciously discounted horse at a market. "Hmmm..." she mused dramatically. "I’m thinking... both?" Luca blinked. "Both?" "Mhm. You work fast. You make good tools. You’re practically leveling me up for free. And you listen to instructions. I like that. So, yeah. I’m keeping you." A beat of silence. Then— "Like a slave?" Shelia asked, baffled. Luca shot her a glare. "Like a valued companion," he corrected. Isabella snorted. "Let’s not get ahead of ourselves. You’re more like... a free worker." Ophelia cackled. "Ooooh, free! Harsh." Sheila clapped a hand to her chest. "The poor man. Not even a trade?" Luca looked between them. "Wait. So... do I get benefits?" Isabella smirked. "You get to stay alive. That’s a pretty good one." Shelia’s expression shifted instantly, the teasing light in her eyes vanishing. She turned to Luca, arms crossed, her tone suddenly serious. "Wait a minute. You’re from the palace." Luca froze mid-carving. His tail twitched once before going still. "Uh." "Yet look at you," Shelia continued, narrowing her eyes. "You’re out here practically agreeing to belong to another. Just like that? If Kian finds out, what do you think he’s gonna say?" The air tensed. Luca licked his lips. "Uh... well..." Yeah. What would Kian say? No, scratch that. What would Kian do? Probably break a tree in half, snarl something about loyalty, and throw him into some grueling punishment that involved a lot of running. A bead of sweat slid down his temple. ... Maybe he hadn’t thought this through. But before he could respond— "Pfft. Kian is a king," Isabella cut in smoothly, tossing her bone knife in the air and catching it without looking. "He can spare one man." Shelia turned her glare to her. "Isabella, it’s not that simple—" "Sure it is." Isabella shrugged. "Besides, he’s your brother. You can just talk to him." Shelia stiffened. "I—" Isabella tilted her head. "You are a princess, aren’t you?" Silence. Luca’s ears perked up. Oh. This was about to be good. Ophelia smirked. "Oooooh. That’s right." She leaned on Isabella’s shoulder. "Princess Shelia should have some authority, no?" Shelia gritted her teeth. "I do have authority." "Then problem solved!" Isabella said brightly. Shelia let out a sharp breath. "Okay, yes, Kian is my brother. Yes, I can talk to him." She shot Isabella a pointed look. "But my brother can also be scary." Ophelia perked up instantly. "So you admit you’re scared of your brother?" Shelia’s spine straightened. "I am not scared of anyone." Ophelia lifted a brow. "Mmm-hmm." Isabella bit back a smirk. Shelia folded her arms tightly. "I’m just saying... it’s one thing to ’talk’ to him, and another to get him to agree." She shifted her weight. "But hey. If you want to take him, you can take him. Like, you know." Luca perked up. ... Wait. Wait, wait, wait. Did she just mean— His ears twitched, his tail gave a tiny flick. He didn’t smile—no, that’d be too obvious—but internally, he was grinning. Isabella noticed. She squinted at him. "Why do you look suspiciously happy right now?" Luca straightened immediately. "No reason." Shelia sighed. "Look, do whatever you want, but if Kian comes storming in here, I’m not defending you." Isabella grinned. "Oh, don’t worry. If Kian shows up, I’ll handle it." Shelia looked at her flatly. "You’ll handle it." "Mhm." Luca blinked. "... How exactly?" Isabella shrugged. "I’ll just say you’re mine now. Simple." Shelia dragged a hand down her face. Ophelia wheezed. {Congratulations+120 points on making a mortal and a pestle +10 crafting points} Isabella looked at the notification, she was really getting better and better and Luca will be her key to that. Ok not EVERYTHING but at least when it comes to crafting most things. As far as Bubu, doesn’t specifically say she must complete it herself. Taking a deep breath she decided to pause things for today, because the sun was just starting to set. "I hope you’re hungry, ’cause I sure am," Isabella said, flashing Luca a smile so bright it nearly melted his heart into a puddle. He stared, momentarily forgetting how to breathe. But before he could even process that moment— "Isabella." Shelia’s voice cut in, weak and tragic, like she was on the brink of collapse. Isabella blinked. "Huh?" Shelia and Ophelia both stared at her, heartbroken. "We’re both so hungry too," Shelia whined, holding her stomach dramatically. "Don’t forget about us!" Ophelia nodded furiously. "We’re suffering!" Isabella gave them a long, slow look. "Oh, you mean the same ’we’ that sat there all day, doing absolutely nothing, while gossiping behind my back? That ’we’?" The girls didn’t even blink. Instead— Puppy dog eyes. Full force. Big, shimmering, devastatingly innocent puppy dog eyes. Isabella’s lips parted. "... Are you serious right now?" Shelia clasped her hands together. "Please?" Ophelia even added a small pout for extra effect. Isabella stared at them, deadpan. Then exhaled sharply, rubbing her temples. "You both are so lucky I’m a generous soul." Shelia perked up instantly. "So you’ll cook?" "I’ll supervise," Isabella corrected. "It’s time to start cooking." She turned to Luca, tossing a knife his way. "Go hunt." Luca caught it easily, nodding. He shifted, about to stand up— Then he paused. Turned. And, with the straightest face ever, asked: "... What is cooking?" Isabella’s eye twitched.