Chapter 240: Sister -In- Law

It was already morning by the time Sora returned to the Wolf Tribe with the others.

After receiving the batch of lightweight and useful pottery, the Dragon Beastmen held Sora in even higher regard than before. They warmly invited their Leader to stay and have a meal with them in the Tribe.

However, Sora politely declined.

After the bumpy journey back, all she wanted was to rest.

Besides, preparing an entire meal from scratch would take too much time. She was tired, and with her pregnancy progressing, she didn’t want to exhaust herself unnecessarily.

Her plan was simple.

She would get some food from Colorful Sunset, eat something quickly, and then return to her Wooden Hut to sleep.

The dragon Beastmen wanted to persuade her to stay a little longer, but Drake stopped them.

He could clearly tell that their Leader was exhausted.

Furthermore, he had recently noticed some unusual movements in the celestial signs.

Although he didn’t say much about it, he believed that the Leader needed more rest.

Therefore, the Dragon Beastmen could only respectfully bid Sora farewell.

After leaving them behind, Sora soon arrived at the Plaza.

At that moment, Colorful Sunset was leading a group of Females in preparing food.

The aroma of cooked fish filled the air.

Sora walked over and smiled.

"Is there anything to eat?"

Clare immediately looked up.

The moment she saw Sora, her face brightened.

"Of course there is!"

She happily smiled.

"We’re having Braised Fish today. Wait here. I’ll get you a serving."

As she spoke, Clare handed the spatula in her hand to Zainabu, who was standing beside her.

She then quickly scooped some of the cooked fish into a bowl and brought it over to Sora.

The moment Sora saw the bright red dish, her mouth began watering.

She immediately took a bite.

The rich aroma spread through her mouth.

Sora couldn’t help eating one bite after another.

Seeing how quickly she was eating, Clare laughed.

"Now that you’re carrying a little cub, you’re eating much more than before."

She looked at Sora’s stomach.

"It’s been almost two months, hasn’t it? Your belly should start showing soon."

She paused before continuing.

"When I was constantly craving food during pregnancy, my belly started growing quite quickly. But yours seems to be showing a little later than mine did."

Sora instinctively lowered her head and looked at her stomach.

Pregnancy was supposed to make a Female’s belly grow.

Yet, after so much time, she still hadn’t noticed a particularly obvious difference.

She had thought she would simply have to wait longer.

She hadn’t expected Clare to say that it would soon become noticeable.

Still, when Sora thought about it carefully, she had indeed noticed that her belly seemed slightly softer and fuller over the past few days.

She had assumed she was simply gaining weight.

Apparently, that wasn’t the case.

"I do feel like I’ve gained a little weight recently."

Sora nodded thoughtfully.

Clare smiled.

"That’s completely normal when you’re carrying a little cub."

She looked Sora up and down before adding,

"I also think you’ve become much prettier recently."

"Prettier?"

Sora blinked.

She hadn’t looked closely at herself in a Mirror recently.

She hadn’t really been concerned about her appearance either.

But after hearing Clare say that, Sora suddenly remembered the reflection she had seen while bathing.

Her eyes did seem larger.

Her features appeared softer.

Could that have something to do with the little cub?

Before she could think about it further, a clear and pleasant female voice came from nearby.

"Are you Mark’s sister, Kaelira?"

The voice was gentle.

"You’re truly beautiful."

Sora looked up.

A Female with willow-leaf eyebrows and large eyes was standing nearby, smiling at her.

Her skin was fair, and her appearance was delicate.

She looked gentle and well-behaved.

She was also quite beautiful.

However, Sora didn’t recognize her.

The Female wasn’t someone she had seen around the Tribe before.

Sora turned toward Clare.

"Who is she?"

Clare smiled.

"This is Red Frost."

Then she leaned closer to Sora and quietly added,

"Mark brought her back."

Sora nodded.

"Hello, Red Frost."

Red Frost smiled politely.

She looked obedient and gentle.

Sora couldn’t help thinking that Martin probably wouldn’t have to worry anymore.

Mark had apparently found a Female for himself.

Red Frost looked at Sora with undisguised admiration.

"I’ve finally seen what the Heavenly Maiden looks like."

Her eyes shone.

"You really are as kind-hearted as you are beautiful. Thanks to you, our plague toxin was cured."

Sora smiled lightly.

"That was because of the guidance of the Heavenly God. It wasn’t entirely my credit."

"But I still think you’re amazing."

Red Frost’s praise sounded sincere.

Clare, who was standing nearby, also smiled.

"Kaelira really is amazing."

Then she looked at Red Frost.

"But you’re not bad either."

"You only arrived yesterday, yet you’ve already helped us Females with so many things. You even learned how to cook different kinds of fish."

Sora looked at Red Frost with some surprise.

"You learned how to cook fish that quickly?"

Red Frost’s expression became slightly embarrassed.

"It’s nothing."

"I’m used to doing a lot of work, so I learn things fairly quickly."

She smiled shyly.

"Besides, the food in the Wolf Tribe is so delicious. I simply wanted to learn more."

The truth was that Serena had always been proud of her cooking.

But in Red Frost’s opinion, her cooking skills couldn’t compare with the Females of the Wolf Tribe.

If she could learn how to cook well here, she would be able to prepare delicious meals after returning to her own Tribe.

Then Henry would have no reason not to fall for her.

Therefore, after seeing the Females cooking, she naturally took every opportunity to learn as much as possible.

While the three Females were talking, Lyra walked over.

She smiled brightly at Red Frost.

"Red Frost, come over for a moment."

She held up the beast-skin skirt she was working on.

"Help me see how this is turning out."

Red Frost immediately responded.

Then she smiled apologetically at Clara and Sora.

"I’ll be going now. Madam is calling me."

Clare nodded.

"Go ahead."

She chuckled.

"Otherwise, the Leader’s Wife will scold me again."

Red Frost quickly left with Lyra.

Sora watched her retreating figure.

Then she casually said,

"It seems my Mother likes her quite a lot."

Clare immediately gave a cold snort.

"Exactly."

She glanced in the direction Red Frost had gone.

"Red Frost has a good temperament and a sweet tongue. She can make the Leader’s Wife smile from ear to ear."

Then Clare looked back at Sora.

"Look at how she doesn’t even give you such a pleasant expression."

Sora wasn’t bothered.

"I’m used to it by now."

Lyra had never liked her.

Ever since Sora had saved Martin, however, Lyra had become much quieter.

At least she hadn’t caused Sora any trouble recently.

For Sora, that was already good enough.

After taking another bite of fish, Sora suddenly asked,

"Where did this Red Frost come from?"

Clare thought for a moment before answering.

"According to Mark, he found her on the way back to the Tribe after trading for salt at the City-State."

"She had fainted on the road."

"Her Father and Mother had apparently died from the plague toxin, so Mark brought her back."

Sora raised an eyebrow.

"He found her on the road?"

She couldn’t help laughing.

"Mark’s luck is certainly pretty good."

"Indeed."

Clare nodded.

"I’ve noticed that he’s been very attentive to Red Frost."

She gave Sora a playful look.

"It looks like you’ll have a Younger Brother’s Wife soon."

Sora didn’t feel particularly strongly about it.

Mark wasn’t really the kind of person she would choose to associate with closely, but they didn’t see each other very often anyway.

Therefore, whatever happened between him and Red Frost didn’t affect her much.

However, seeing that Mark seemed to be preparing to form a Contract with a Female suddenly reminded Sora of something else.

The letter Black Bear had written to Damien.

She still hadn’t properly asked Damien about it.

Originally, Sora had planned to finish eating and immediately return to her Wooden Hut to sleep.

But now that the thought had entered her mind, she changed direction.

Instead of returning to her hut, she headed toward Damien’s Wooden Hut.

Damien’s Wooden Hut was only half closed.

When Sora approached, she noticed him sitting inside.

He was squinting slightly while using a specially made Stone Knife to carve into a tortoise shell.

Every few moments, he would blow away the dust that accumulated on the shell.

Sora’s steps immediately stopped.

She stared.

A tortoise shell?

Was Damien actually performing divination?

If she had known that beforehand, she wouldn’t have entered.

She had really walked straight into trouble.

Sora quietly lifted one foot, intending to retreat.

But before she could take even one step backward, Damien suddenly appeared in front of her.

He blocked her path.

He leaned slightly toward her.

His eyes sparkled with amusement.

"Swee—"

He paused before correcting himself.

"Kaelira, you’ve come."

His lips curved upward.

"Are you here to tell me when we’re going to form our Contract Totem?"

Sora pursed her lips.

She had barely opened her mouth when Damien extended one finger and gently pressed it against her lips.

"Don’t tell me yet."

His eyes held a teasing expression.

"Let me guess."

He pretended to think.

"Is it this month?"

He gestured toward the tortoise shell.

"I prepared this shell just in time. I can use it to divine the auspicious day."

Sora stared at him.

She sometimes felt that Damien’s train of thought was completely different from everyone else’s.

She slapped his hand away from her lips.

Then she stepped backward several paces.

"You’re overthinking it."

Her expression remained calm.

"I’m actually here to ask for your Mother’s mailing address."

She paused.

"I want to send her a letter too."

Damien’s hand dropped.

He rubbed his fingers together thoughtfully.

Then he shook his head.

A moment later, he stepped forward with a laugh.

Before Sora could react, he pulled her into his arms.

He sat down on the chair nearby and brought her with him.

Sora’s eyes widened.

"Damien—"

Before she could say anything else, Damien had already moved behind her.

He took her hand and guided it toward the tortoise shell.

The shell was held above the nearby fire.

Heat rose from the flames, causing the surface to slowly warm.

Damien’s voice lowered.

There was a strange, almost seductive amusement in his tone.

"Then guess which day the Heavenly God thinks would be suitable for us to form our Contract Totem."

Sora’s expression stiffened.

She suddenly had a very bad feeling about where this conversation was going.

Damien, however, seemed completely pleased with himself.

He carefully held the tortoise shell above the flames.

His eyes remained fixed on Sora.

The question hung between them.

"Which day," he repeated softly, "do you think the Heavenly God has chosen for us?"