Ari (Child of the Beastman Goddess)

I woke up in my room and there was quite a commotion, but I have not opened my eyes just yet. My father was furiously reprimanding someone. I can hear his voice even when I was still half asleep.

“What have you done to my daughter for her not to wake up until now?!” My father angrily asked the person he was yelling at.

I can also smell Dillon’s scent just in front of my room’s door. So I guessed he was the one being scolded so I opened my eyes and attempted to stop my father, but strangely, I was too weak to sit up.

“F-Father…” I mumbled, trying to get my father’s attention.

My father suddenly turned his head to me trying to help me get up.

“You! Call out the elders. Hurry up!” He suddenly ordered Dillon, who was kneeling just in front of the door. He was not allowed to enter my room as expected.

It was a relief that his wounds were already treated though he looked messed up because of my father. He obediently followed my father’s command in a haste.

“Are you hungry? Is there something aching on your body? Did that bastard do anything to you?” My father inquired worriedly.

“Can I have some soup first father? Please… I’m pretty worn-out and hungry. How long have I been asleep?” I pleaded as I dodged his questions.

“You were unconscious for three days. I will prepare your food once the elder healer arrives.” He responded while he stroked my hair and hugged me tight.

The elders all came in a hurry with serious faces. Dillon stayed in front of my room’s door, then kneeled back when my father looked at him sharply as if furiously roaring inside.

Dillon looked like a kitty being scolded. I thought he looked so cute and I laughed unconsciously. The elders looked at each other and their faces brightened up.

“I’ll just prepare your food in a short while. Let the elder healer check your condition first.” My father said in a hurry and left the room to prepare my food while Dillon gave way to the alpha. He bowed down his head nervously.

“Ari dear, do you know what situation you are in right now? Can you tell us what happened and why you two were together that night?” The elder healer carefully asked as she gave me water to drink while checking my condition.

I drank a little to relieve my thirst before responding, “Uhm… I’m sorry grandma Lony, we tried to go back early that time when I found him on a cliff, but we got stock in the forest due to the heavy rain, then I found out he was poisoned so I had to take care of him the whole night before you all found us.”

The elders were surprised while whispering at each other as if they were told a different story. I was confused and looked at Dillon as if asking what he had told them when I was unconscious, but he just blushed and looked away.

“*sigh* Dillon insisted that you both had inappropriate physical contact due to his situation.” Another elder added.

I was taken aback. I blushed in embarrassment and looked sharply at Dillon, who recently turned like a tomato and couldn’t look at my eyes.

“B-but grandmas, grandpas… I-it was not an actual kiss! I was just trying to revive his breath and his heartbeat at that moment by pumping his chest and blowing the air into his lungs through his mouth because he could have died back there if I didn’t do so…” I rattled explaining what exactly happened.

I saw Dillon’s face saddened lightly as I refused to acknowledge the kiss.

My father was already at the door when I started talking so he heard everything I said.

“So it was a life and death situation that you had to do so, right? Do you understand that Dillon?” My father asked for confirmation as he stepped inside the room while holding a bowl of soup.

I nodded desperately in response, but Dillon was saddened when I agreed with my father’s conclusion.

“D-despite that… I… I still want to be Ari’s guardian and wed her once she comes of age. P-Please give me your permission to take responsibility. I could never go back to my words.” He desperately pleaded emotionally as he bowed his head on the ground while kneeling in front of the alpha and the elders while trembling as he cried in tears due to mixed emotions.

He looked at me crying as he reminded me of his words during that morning and pleaded to accept him, “Ari, I already promised you that I will take responsibility please don’t reject me.”

I felt hurt as I saw him sobbing emotionally like a trembling cat abandoned by its owner.

“F-Father, he did promise me to take responsibility and you know how important a promise of a lion beastman is. Please grant him your permission and please forgive him. He didn’t mean to offend you.” I held my father’s hand, trying to calm him down while helping Dillon with his plea.

“*sigh* Eat your food first, we will continue this conversation once you both recover fully.” He sighed as he hesitantly cut the conversation trying to control his temper.

He ordered the others to go as he talked to the elder healer about our condition.

Dillon was hesitating to go as if he wanted to have a better conversation with me, but he couldn’t do so as my father looked at him sharply.

He went away with agony on his face.

I was wondering why my father was hesitant to let Dillon be my guardian. Was it because Dillon obviously snuck out of the tribe to follow me without permission from him or the elder healer? It was a clear disobedience to the rule, but I don’t want him to be punished harshly.

I was afraid that if my father refuses Dillon to be my guardian male, a harsher punishment will be given to him. A punishment similar to what Arvad had experienced. My conscience would never allow me to just passively obey my father if worse came to worst.