I Became the Villainess, But My Beast Husbands Can Hear My Mind?!-Chapter 155: The Jealous Fox
"Roxie! Roxie! Do you think all of this is enough for me to bring to your tribe?" Aelin asked excitedly, waving her hand toward the large pile of items, so many that Roxanna couldnβt even guess the number. ππππ¦ππππππ·ππ.πΈπ°π
The pile contained eating utensils, hydroponic plant seeds, and fresh vegetables that were already ripe. On top of that, they had even caught two more swordfish for Roxanna to take back to the Vixeria Tribe.
To be honest, Roxanna felt truly grateful because she hadnβt expected them to show her so much kindness. But the problem was... how would she and her husbands carry all of these things?
"T-This is more than enough!" Roxanna said. "If you bring more than this, Iβm not sure weβll be able to carry everything."
Aelin gasped. "Ah, Iβm sorry! I really canβt help myself when it comes to packing things for others. We rarely have guests, so I just want to make sure everyone leaves our home feeling happy and satisfied."
Roxanna smiled warmly. "We already feel more than satisfied with your hospitality. You donβt have to worry."
"Thatβs good!" Aelin bounced a few times, then said, "Alright, Iβll go check on my brother first. It looks like he overslept and still isnβt here. Please wait for me for a moment."
Roxanna nodded. "Take your time, Aelin."
The moment Aelin left, Roxanna spoke to the system. [Can I put these things into my inventory?]
[Unfortunately, Host, the only items you can store in the inventory are those received from the system.] The system replied quickly.
Roxanna sighed inwardly, feeling disappointed that she couldnβt lighten their burden by storing the items.
[I just donβt want to trouble my husbands...] she murmured in her mind.
Meanwhile, her husbands, who could hear her thoughts, found her rather adorable whenever she worried about their well-being.
However, carrying the items down the mountain was not actually that difficult for them. After all, Cyrus and Luan had once been nomads, so they were used to transporting their belongings whenever they moved from place to place.
"Since there are so many things, how about we divide them into three parts?" Roxanna suggested. "I can store our bags in my magic portal, but unfortunately, the portal canβt be used for outsider items."
Luan scrunched his nose. "Divide them into three? Cyrus and I alone are enough to carry all of this. We can tie everything with ropes and carry it on our backs."
Roxanna thought Luan was simply being overconfident. But when they finally left the Golden Mountain, Luan and Cyrus truly managed to carry all the heavy items. They didnβt even let Roxanna carry anything, except for her motherβs book.
"Brother! Iβm leaving the mountain for a while!" Aelin said cheerfully.
Elior looked exhausted, perhaps still wondering if he had made the wrong decision by allowing his little sister to leave their home.
He had even refused to get out of his hut at first, thinking he was still dreamingβuntil Aelin dragged him out of bed.
"Why do you look so sad?" Aelin asked. "Itβs not like Iβm leaving forever. Iβll be back in three weeks. Donβt worry, I wonβt run away."
After all, Aelinβs safety was now Roxannaβs responsibility. If she were to run away, her brother would surely direct his anger at Roxanna, and Aelin did not want that.
"I still think you shouldnβt leave home," Elior said. "Maybe I can send someone else to the Vixeria Tribe."
Aelin clicked her tongue. "Did Michaela ever consider handing her responsibility to someone less capable?" Before any reindeer beastkin could feel offended, Aelin quickly added, "Itβs not that other reindeers are less competent than me, but if weβre looking for the great doctor, wouldnβt I be the most suitable person for that role?"
Elior fell silent. He couldnβt find a response, because his sister was right. In the end, the only thing he could do was pat her head. "Be careful. I know youβve gone to the foot of the mountain before, but the outside world is far bigger than that."
Aelin giggled. "Of course, I know that! Roxanna and her husbands will protect me. Iβm sure Iβll be just fine!"
In truth, Roxanna had her own worries. This was Aelinβs first time leaving home, and she might behave like a caged animal suddenly released into the wild.
She needed to be careful. Otherwise, Aelin might get lost or hurt while exploring the unfamiliar world.
Roxanna simply didnβt want the trust the Reindeer Beastkins had placed in Michaela and her descendants to be damaged because Roxanna failed to protect Aelin properly.
To Roxannaβs surprise, Aelin was actually very easy to handle. Even though her eyes sparkled with curiosity at every new and unfamiliar sight, she never wandered off on her own. Instead, she stayed close, always walking beside Roxanna.
The most she ever did was bounce excitedly and point at something interesting, just like a child who had discovered a wonderful toy for the first time.
"I-Is that a tiger?!" Aelin gasped, her voice filled with amazement as she stared at the large striped beast walking not far from them.
They had spent nearly three days and two nights making their way down the mountain. Strangely, the snowstorm hadnβt caused them any trouble. Still, they paused from time to time, since Roxanna insisted her husbands rest from carrying the heavy loads.
And finally, that afternoon, they had successfully left the Golden Mountain and continued their journey toward the Vixeria Tribe.
"Shh... donβt speak so loudly," Roxanna whispered gently. "If the tiger feels threatened, it might attack us."
"But it looks so adorable," Aelin murmured. "Itβs just like a giant cat. Oh! Wait, didnβt you say your husband is a cute cat?"
Roxanna pressed her lips together, trying to hide her reaction, while briefly glancing at Luan walking behind them.
"Yes... he is a cat," she said softly. "B-But I donβt think he likes it when others point it out."
Luan always carried himself with a strong and intimidating presence. To most people, he looked far more fearsome than cute. Roxanna doubted he would appreciate being called something like "cute kitty" by a stranger.
Besides, that kind of nickname felt far too personal because it sounded like something meant only for lovers, and Roxanna absolutely did not like the idea of another woman calling him that.
[Iβm the only one allowed to call my Luan a "good kitty"...] Roxanna grumbled inwardly. [O-Or else... Iβll get jealous.]
A jealous Roxanna?
Cyrus and Luan both found themselves wondering what Roxanna would be like when she was jealous.
Still, no matter how curious they were, they would never deliberately tease her just to see that reaction.
"Oh! Iβm sorry!" Aelin said quickly, her face turning slightly red. "I didnβt know he wouldnβt like being called that!"
Roxanna smiled. "Thatβs alright," she said. "I know you didnβt mean any harm."
On their way home, they came across a few wild horses. Since Aelin didnβt know how to ride properly, she ended up sitting on the same horse as Luan, while Roxanna rode with Cyrus.
From time to time, Roxanna glanced at Luan and Aelin. Both of them respected each otherβs personal space, and Aelin didnβt even hold onto Luan from behind to keep from falling. Still... seeing her husband so close to another woman made Roxanna feel a little... jealous?
Roxanna lightly shook her head. [Why am I acting like this? How could I possibly stop them from interacting with another woman when I have five husbands myself?]
It would be unfair to forbid her husband from being near other women. And honestly... if her husbands ever wanted another wife, shouldnβt she allow it?
[But I donβt want to share my husbands with another woman...] she admitted in her mind.
She knew it sounded selfish, but she couldnβt help how she felt. Still, if someday her husbands truly wished for another wife, Roxanna would try her best to suppress her jealousy so she wouldnβt upset them.
After all, that would be the fairest thing she could do.
[But I hope they never feel that Iβm not enough for them.]
Roxanna had five husbands because they had once married the "evil Roxanna." In truth, she wasnβt the one who chose this life.
Maybe... that was also why it would hurt her so deeply if her husbands ever chose to marry another woman by their own will.
"Roxanna... are you upset because Luan is riding with another woman?" Cyrus suddenly asked beside her ear, startling her.
Roxanna turned to him and whispered softly so Luan and Aelin wouldnβt hear. "What makes you think that?"
Cyrus lightly poked her cheek. "Youβve been puffing your cheeks and pouting. If you donβt like it, you just have to say it. Maybe we can find a way so Aelin doesnβt have to ride with Luan. Wild horses can understand when we ask for something."
They had even willingly carried their belongings on their backs, so the horse would certainly be able to walk even if Aelin couldnβt control it.
"The horse can do that?" Roxanna asked, her eyes wide. "Why didnβt you tell me from the beginning?"
Cyrus leaned closer and stole a quick kiss from her lips before saying, "Because we didnβt think you minded this arrangement. If youβre jealous, you should say so."
