Ai o Ataeru Kemono-tachi

[Virgil] “Okay, that’s it for the formalities.
So, from here on out, Chikayuki-dono, I’d like you to tell me all about yourself as Gail’s mate if you don’t mind.”

 

[Chika] “Yes, of course.
Umm… Virgil-sama, Rickham-sama, if you don’t mind, could you call me Chika instead of Chikayuki-dono?”

 

[Virgil] “Hmm… I just don’t like the idea of calling my son’s mate just by his name.
Then, how about Chika-dono?”

 

“I’m fine with that, if that’s all right with you, Virgil-sama.”

 

“Then, as the father of your spouse, may I ask a favor of you as well?”

 

Virgil-sama stared at me with a very serious expression on his face.

 

What is it? If it’s something I can do, I’ll do it.

 

“Is it something I can do?”

 

“Oh, it’s not that difficult, in fact, this is something that only you can do, Chika-dono.”

 

“I understand.
If it’s something I can do, I’ll gladly do it.”

 

“Thank you.
Now, why don’t you look up, call me ‘father-in-law’, and smile at me?”

 

[Gail] “Father!”  

[Rickham] “Virgil!”

 

Gail-san’s and Rickham-sama’s voices overlap.

 

[Rickham]  “How can you say such nonsense with such a serious face?”

 

[Gail] “Father, you are talking such trivial things with such a serious face!”

 

[Virgil] “But think about it! My son is just like me.
He’s big, he’s stiff and he’s not cute.
My wife doesn’t indulge me much either.
And then, there he is, my son’s adorable wife.
Isn’t this a little dream of a father! What’s wrong with that!”

 

[Douglas] “Master, I know the feeling.”

 

[Gail] “Doug, shut up.”

 

Gail-san glared at Douglas-san, who had crossed his arms, and nodded in agreement.

 

[Gail] “Chika, you don’t have to worry about it, just leave him be.”

 

[Chika] “Bu… but, he seems to want it so badly.
Also, it’s not that difficult…”

 

[Virgil] “Chika-dono, please!”

 

Virgil-sama was holding his hands together in front of him.

 

“Fa… father-in-law, I know that I have a lot to learn, but please take care of me.”

 

While saying this, I looked up and smiled as much as I could at Virgil-sama.

 

“Oi, Gail.”

 

“What is it, Father?”

 

“Well done, and thank you for bringing me such a lovely wife.
One hundred points!”

 

When Virgil-sama, no, my father-in-law said that, he gave Gail-san a thumbs-up.

 

At his side, Rickham-sama was sighing.

 

“I’m sorry, Chika-dono, but I’m sure he’ll be quite satisfied soon, so can you accompany me for a while?”

 

“No, it’s fine with me.
Umm… Rickham-sama, would it be okay if I called you mother-in-law as well?”

 

“Oh, that’s right.
To be honest, I don’t feel comfortable with either of them.
You can call me by my name if you want, but I’m pretty sure Chika-dono can’t do that.
Well, since you mentioned it, I guess you can call me mother-in-law.”

 

“Yes, I understand!”

 

Having settled that one problem, we had a cup of tea and took a short break.

 

The tea that Sebastian-san made tasted better than any other tea I’ve ever had.

 

After the break, it was my mother-in-law who opened her mouth.

 

“We’ve heard the whole story from Paris,” she said.
“About how Gail and you met, and also the fact that you, Chika-dono, had been made to suffer as a …… s*x s*ave by the people of this world.”

 

As I thought, they already knew.

 

It’s not something that can be hidden.

 

It’s somewhat better than having to tell them myself.

 

“Yes.
I was a s*x s*ave from the time I came to this world until Gail-san bought me.
The curse from that time still remains in my body, and I know that I am not suitable to be the companion of your precious son.
However, my only wish is to stay by Gail-san’s side.
Please forgive me…”

 

I stood up and bowed my head, the deepest bow I’ve ever made.

 

Gail-san and Douglas-san both needed me.

 

But I’m sure none of both their parents or family members would feel good about hearing that their precious partner was a s*x s*ave.

 

Still, I wanted them to forgive me.

 

“Chika, I told you that you are never unworthy of me, didn’t I?”

 

“Thank you, Gail-san…”

 

[Rickham] “Chika-dono, please raise your head.
It’s an unnecessary concern.
It should be us, as people of this world, who are sorry that you had to go through such a painful experience.”

 

[Virgil] “That’s right, I want to get rid of those bastards who tormented our lovely bride.
I’ll do that as soon as I can after being reinstated.
Also, Chika-dono and Gail are [pairs], right? What do you think would have happened if Chika-dono hadn’t shown up in front of this guy?”

 

That’s something I’ve thought about before as well.

 

I’m sure Gail-san would have met someone better if it weren’t for me.

 

[Chika] “That… welcome someone better as your companion…”

 

[Virgil] “Oh, no there isn’t, because there never will be.
Gail’s stubbornness was pretty strong, even from my point of view as his father.
Also, he spent his life following Douglas-sama, that I think he’s no longer interested in others.
If it wasn’t for Chika-dono to be his [pair], he would have been alone for the rest of his life.”

 

[Gail] “That’s right, Chika, I don’t need anyone but you.
No, all I need is you.”

 

Gail-san smiled at me when he said those words.

 

Virgil-sama and Rickham-sama widened their eyes again at the sight.

 

“Oy, Rickham, is it just me, or did I just see and hear something impossible?”

 

“That’s funny, Virgil because I just heard something that would never have come out of my own son’s mouth.
I’m not sure I’ve seen Gail’s smile since he was a baby.
So our son was a full-blooded human being, after all.”

 

“I don’t know if it’s because of his [pair] or because the other party is  Chika-dono, but his change is a little weird, even for my own son.”

 

I’m not sure what kind of person the Gail-san I didn’t know was, but when he reacted so bluntly, it made me a little curious.

 

“Well, that’s why you don’t have to think about what you used to be like, Chika-dono.
We welcome you as Gale’s spouse, and you can tell us anything that troubles you.”

 

“Besides, I heard that you risked your own life to heal my son’s leg, and we are very grateful to you, Chika-dono.
Please make Gail happy.
In return, I promise to protect you as long as it is in my power to do so.”

 

Both of them are Gail-san’s parents, after all.

 

They’re really kind.

 

“Thank you very much.
I am also indebted to Gail-san for all the care he has given me, and I would like to return the favor.
Please take care of me from now on.”

 

I felt like crying a little, but I managed to finish what I was saying.

 

Gail-san hugged me from behind as if to say well done.

 

“But it’s an amusing twist of fate that Gale’s [pair] and Douglas’s [pair] are the same, isn’t it?”

 

“Yes, Master.
That’s why I’m truly grateful to Gail.
Because if he hadn’t saved Chika, I wouldn’t have been able to meet him.”

 

“Hmm! I never thought I’d hear such words from Douglas-sama.
In the royal castle, Albert-sama and Hector-sama were really looking forward to seeing you when they heard that Douglas-sama had found his [pair] and taken him as his spouse.”

 

“Geh! I really have a bad feeling about this…”

 

“Well, you’ll have to go and see for yourself.”

 

Father-in-law was laughing happily.

 

Though Douglas-san looked troubled.

 

After a while, Sebastian-san came to tell us that the room was ready.

 

We were told that the food would be delivered to our room, as we were probably tired from the trip, and we were allowed to rest a little early.