(Manga: male lead i respect ur taste)
3rd POV
In the afternoon Maxine and Sebastian had arrived in the ape castle. During the morning an eagle beastmen was sent out to them to deliver an important command given by the ape king. Now they are inside the ape king's castle walking through the spacious halls that were filled with various decorations and colors of yellow.
Sebastian went through the crowds of various guards and servants scattered around. Everyone was staring at him while he carried his mate. He looked straight ahead at the familiar large wooden doors in the distance.
Maxine thought that most beastmen here would be ape beastmen but most of the orcs there were birds. There were some ape beastmen she saw but none were guards, mostly servants and cooks. All the beastmen there wore a yellow pattern skirt that looked like a uniform when working under the rule of the ape king.
When they arrived at the ape king's door they were gleefully welcomed by the ape king who was sitting right in the center of his office.
He was surrounded by two eagle beast men beside him and the two others just outside the front door. The two eagle guards stood still with a stiff expression on their faces.
Maxine's face lit up while in Sebastian's warm embrace. She curiously looked around the tall and large office. Her eyes and head wandered looking around the various décor in his office.
"Wow! So fancy" Maxine said in astonishment.
"To think that I would get to see the ape king is so cool! I wonder what the other kings office looks like?" She thought
The room was heavily decorated with colors of yellow and orange. There was wooden furniture and fur decor everywhere, the rugs, curtains, and chairs had cool fur patterns. Everything in the room was so luxurious that it even had shelves filled with various colored books and brown papers in it.
It made Maxine's pink eyes sparkle at the various books present. She viewed the ape king to be an intelligent orc since ape's are similar to humans because of evolution and primitive timeline. She felt excited to meet the ape king, he gives a serious vibe. He was the center and brains to the beasts city. The orc in front of her dedicated and swore his life to only the beast god. That's what she really respected about him.
"Welcome! Come in come! I was expecting you two. I'm so happy to meet Maxine again! How was your stay at the leopard castle?" He warmly asked the two.
Sebastian sat down on the chair with Maxine still in his grasp. She tried pulling away but was pulled back by him not wanting to let her go. It made her annoyingly pout at his antics since she only wanted to sit in the other chair. She was embarrassed that the ape king had to see her like this. Especially with a clingy jaguar really holding on to her.
The ape king chuckled when seeing the two's funny situation before him. He wore a gleeful smile at the two finally meeting them again.
The last time he visited was during his trip to the stone wolf village to visit his step-brother Lezon, years before. When he discovered about the two's struggle he couldn't help but feel pity for them.
He felt miserable just watching from the sidelines. He knew he had to help in some way even if it was a bit.
Out of return Sebastian worked for the ape king for some time during his journey. He and Sebastian tremendously made a lot of contributions to the beast city as the population began to increase. The ape king felt proud of the jaguar beastmen right in front of him. Similar to that of a teacher guiding his student to getting stronger.
Now in the present his student that used to be a one marked was now a tera (4) mark beastmen even surpassing him in strength.
" We appreciate the gift and kindness you gave! It really meant a lot to us. Thank you ape king" Maxine said with a cheery expression.
She gave a gleeful smile back expressing her gratitude and happiness to him.
In return he smiled back almost tearing up when she thanked him as no female he encountered has ever expressed their thanks or even complimented him this way.
Most females were stuck up when in his presence as they thought of him as a very old man which irritated him. Females thought he was weak and soon about to die from old age but he didn't think his age was that old. right?
His heart softened when seeing her bright smile that instantly made his day. He wished that his student Sebastian was this kind to him. Always greeting him with that same kindness Maxine did. But alas the ape king knows that punk student of his would just cause more trouble than kindness to him.
He dramatically turned with his hand to his forehead.
(Manga: male lead I respect ur taste)
The day he swore his life to the beast god he has been pretty lonely. Most of his life he chats with his "close" friends Sebastian, Lezon and his four eagle guards whenever he forcibly calls upon them.
Sometimes when all beast-city kings meet he would purposely delay the meeting time longer so that they wouldn't leave. Just for him to chit chat with each other. After all, ape beastmens are social creatures.
" Such a sweet female! I wish I could just adopt you as my granddaughter!"
"Wait, actually that's a great idea!" He thought instantly answering his own question.
Suddenly the ape king's happy smile turned sour. He gripped his hands thinking of the hindrance that might stop him from adopting Maxine as his granddaughter. His own step-brother Lezon!
Who already adopted her as his own granddaughter!
"But that punk beat me to it!! If that punk found out about this I will be hearing a whole rounds of complaints again" The ape king sarcastically thought when imaging Lezon's annoying voice in the background. He imagined his voice blabbering on for ages.
He himself is a chatterbox but the nags and complaints of Lezon were endless!
It angered him when hearing the sentence he heard a million times "Stay away front my precious granddaughter you evil ape! She is my granddaughter!" It made him roll his eyes when hearing it through his mind.
"What makes him special! This punk thought he was her favorite! You're her only grandpa, you're just jealous she will favor me once she considers me as her new grandpa!" The ape king thought. He punched away the imaginations of clouds full of Lezon complaints that bubbled in his head.
Little did he know he forgot about his two guests in front of him and instead talked to himself like a crazy person.
Sebastian fake coughed to wake up the ape king from his delusions. The ape king snapped back to reality and there he saw the two youngsters in front of him. He then changed the subject since the atmosphere was dead silent. Even the eagle guard beside him turned silent.
Both Maxine and Sebastian freely listened to the ape king and the news going on in the beast city. He told them about the "great orc event" and that there is one every week. There was one event each of the three weeks during the summer season.
Then a banquet at the end of fall would be held to celebrate the upcoming cold season. A last celebration for everyone before the harsh cold comes.
Maxine nodded as she knew that in the next two weeks the great orc event played an important role in gathering all the characters in one place. This is where the story line is now beginning and where the heroine comes into foreplay.
The great orc event is a competition between single beastmen looking for a mate. Most participate in the various challenges hosted by the beasts kings. Fighting, swimming, and hunting were one of many contests they held. But for this season they are hosting three which are gathering, swimming, and hunting.
The hunting event was the last and main focus of the event as when a beastmen is crowned victor he has the right to choose any female to court. Females that received the most prey given to beastmen can be crowned hunting queen. It is a huge perk as it can boost a female's reputation around the beast city. The title of being crowned hunting queen is that of titling the most prettiest female in the whole city.
To be specific, the heroine! Maxine doesn't know how she did it but she recalls the heroine Willow winning as the hunting queen before she even met the male leads. Maybe it was her suitors?
Who knows but it felt really suspicious for a female that just arrived in the beast's city to win the biggest event.
Despite her being called a beauty in the book. The heroine wasn't much different as there were lots of other females she encountered in the beast city that were also pretty. She knows that loads of females take part in this event just to search for stronger mates or to boost their reputation.
Unlike other females, she herself was not all that interested in taking part in the hunting event. The only thing Maxine was curious about is meeting this renfound heroine named Willow!
Besides there is a saying "keep your friends close but keep your enemies closer". Maxine knew that she had to be prepared for what's to come. In order for her to plan what comes ahead.
She knew some of the tricks up Willow's sleeve but not all. Rather than the main villain of the story. Maxine concludes that Willow is by far dangerous to come across. That skank has a godly halo for god sake!
A goodie has two shoes on the outside but the literal hell hound on the inside was what Maxine thought of Willow.
Willow was the one that literally abandoned the people who helped her. Using Sebastian as a weapon against those who defy her, the leopard king for power over others and Raymond as a meat shield whenever there's danger coming her way.
Though crossing Willow's path might be rigorous for her, it needs to be done. In order to completely change the storyline of the book. Maxine already changed Sebastian and Raymond route but there is still one other character she needs to meet.
She needs to meet the leopard king before Willow does!
When they were about to leave the ape kings office they both heard his sudden announcement which shocked the both of them. By "them" it was her!
Maxine stood like stone while her mouth went agape when hearing his praise of something that she never knew about. She never once thought about the sudden possibility even though she and Sebastian have been doing it every day.
" Pregnant?!" They both synchronously said.
(Anime: Norigami)
"I'm sorry what? Pregnant!? Not just pregnant but four weeks in! " Maxine panicky said, she didn't know what to say. She was happy but she had no words to be exact.
Maxine saw the millions of sparkles in Sebastian's orange eyes just overflowing with joy. Both his tail and ears perked up, his tail began flickering like crazy. Her lips curled into a smile when seeing him happy.
A caring best friend and now a loving husband, he deserves all the happiness in the world.
Sebastian on the other hand couldn't believe that she is pregnant with his cubs. He had always wished to have cubs with Maxine. He had always wanted to create a loving family he had always dreamed of having. Whenever they mated he would take the chance to completely fill her to the brim until his sperm leaks out of her.
He knew about her fertile fertility which meant he could use that to his advantage in getting her pregnant. Sometimes he felt bad for following his inner desires but he knew what she was getting herself into when it came to mating. To be exact every single day and night whenever they had the chance to do so and now he is soon going to become a father. Excitement and joy filled inside of him when thinking of his cubs.
Just then Sebastian pulled her in for a side hug and placed a warm kiss on her lips down to her neck. He pulled Maxine off and took a step in front of her, blocking her view as she only saw his bare back. She peeked her head out and saw Sebastian stare at the ape king in front.
" Ape king..." Sebastian said in a sudden serious tone.
"There's no need for me to attend meetings from now. My precious mate needs to rest, exertion isn't good for our cubs. As her only male I need to be there for her every step of the way-"
"I hope you understand, I will miss the meetings" He taunted the last part shedding a single tear of sadness in his left eye. He then wiped the tear off pitifully with his kitty ears drooped down turning his attention to Maxine.
Maxine couldn't help but laugh her ass off. His acting is downright ridiculous. It was obvious he just wanted to get away from his duties. Though she gets why he is doing it since the ape king forced his duties on him when arriving. Never once did Sebastian ask to be a part of the meetings. It was the Ape king's decision though it might be because he used to work for him.
"Pfft...hahaha! What a silly cat! " Maxine hysterically laughs.
Both the ape king and his two guards were all shocked yet slightly horrified by his ugly expression they just saw.
It was so oblivious that everyone in the room knew Sebastian wanted to excuse himself from going to future meetings and other pain staking duties. Maxine saw the ape king's eye twitch in irritation as he was tired of dealing with his stubbornness. Surprisingly the ape king agreed but only to his own terms of going to one meeting every four days.
Sebastian sarcastically sighed while rubbing the side of his hair. He thought that he was in the clear but nope.
" Can't you and the old geezer (Lezon) do it yourselves or are both of you aging so fast that you can't handle it?" He said.
"You punk! Respect your elders! 87 is still a young age!" The ape king yelled, slamming his hand on the wooden table.
He yanked a book from behind the cluttered bookshelf behind him and slammed it right at Sebastian's face.
When age was brought up the ape king was downright irritated knowing his stubbornness was soon filling over him. How dare that student of his show him attitude!
"You're lucky I dismissed you running off! I know that you've been sneaking around and-"
Suddenly just when the ape king was talking Sebastian quickly grabbed Maxine. She had no time to react whatsoever. Her arms instantly hung around his neck for support as he ran out of the door.
Before running out Sebastian yelled a farewell to the ape king while wishing him good luck! In the distance many orcs inside the castle heard the ape king fuming words of anger.
"Hey! Come back here you punk! I'm not done talking! YOU-" The ape king yelled back as his loud voice echoed through the stone halls.
There Maxine saw many beastmen guards and ape servants that were around covering their ears to the loud sound.
When Sebastian started to run faster Maxine saw something purple that ran past her. A dark purple haired beastmen to be exact. She didn't know who it was since it just appeared so fast. She could have swore it was a certain hottie that she often stumbles into. The earthy mint scent she smelled belonged none other than Rowen.
Maxine quickly looked back and there both their eyes met. She and Rowen stared at each other. The huge distance between them started to become farther away. Maxine gleefully smiles at the bewildered Rowen who looks so handsome today! She waved her hands goodbye hoping to meet him again. Just like the numerous times before.
A nervous sweat ran through Maxine's forehead when thinking about the fuming ape king. She felt worried that Sebastian might get punished. After all he literally ignored the ape king who was one of the kings in the beast city.
She tried to reconsider Sebastian to go back but he instead shushed her mouth to quiet her down. A slight grin appeared on her face when looking at his gleeful smile.
"What a mischievous kitty he is..." She thought.
- thx for reading🥹🥰🥰👍