The Spoilt Beauty And Her Beasts-Chapter 595: Winter Rush

Two weeks before winter arrived, the village suddenly became much busier.

From dawn till sunset, the sound of chopping, sewing, carrying, and shouting filled the valley. The clear lake nearby reflected a paler sky, and the wind that used to feel cool now carried a bite of cold.

Food counting, storage checking, hunting parties, sewing furs, drying meat.

Every corner of the village had someone doing something.

By the stone palace, several large storage pits had already been dug. Villagers squatted at the edge, counting bundles of dried meat and carefully placing them inside.

"Twenty strips here."

"Add five more. The lion king eats a lot."

"Do not blame the king. Look at the males who are competing to impress Goddess Isabella. They eat enough to feed a small tribe every day."

At the drying racks, rows of meat strips hung neatly. Thin smoke from slow-burning wood curled around them, giving them a deeper color and a faint fragrance.

On another side, men stood in a line chopping wood. Their upper bodies were bare, only animals hides wrapped around their waists. Every swing of their arms made the muscles on their shoulders and backs stretch and flex.

The sound of axes striking wood echoed one after another.

In the center of the village, the women had their own battle.

Several females and young girls sat together with animal hides spread over their laps. Bone needles went up and down, pulling sinew thread through thick fur.

They had gotten faster.

In the beginning, when Isabella had first taught them to sew more carefully, their stitches had been messy. Some cloaks had holes. Others were too tight in one place and too loose in another.

Now, their hands moved smoother. The seams were straighter. They had managed to sew padded cloaks lined with softer fur for the children and some sturdy ones for the hunters.

At the side, a separate stack of materials looked different.

These were the pieces Isabella had brought back from the mountain. Softer hides, finer fur, and many strange but exotic materials that the women could not stop talking about. 𝚏𝕣𝐞𝗲𝐰𝕖𝐛𝐧𝕠𝕧𝚎𝚕.𝐜𝚘𝗺

Many of them could not wait to use it next season!

"These are for the pretty outfits," one woman whispered as she touched a piece of lighter hide. "Goddess Isabella said after the winter clothes are ready, we can use these to make nicer skirts and tops."

Another woman giggled. "Maybe the future queen wants the village to look good when other tribes visit."

They all laughed quietly while their hands continued working.

Not far from them, Isabella walked slowly across the yard.

Her belly was noticeably rounder now. The padded robe she was wearing could no longer be tied tightly. Her steps were still steady, but when she tried to bend down to pick up a basket that had fallen over, three hands reached her before she could even touch it.

"I will do it."

"Let me."

"Goddess Isabella, you should not bend."

The women around her all looked nervous. One of them quickly picked up the basket and placed it back in its place.

Isabella straightened up and pinched her nose.

"I am pregnant, not made of glass," she muttered.

A nearby auntie patted her arm. "You are carrying future guardians. Of course you must be careful."

Isabella could not argue with that, so she turned her head away and pretended not to hear.

"Isabella!"

A cheerful voice called her from behind.

She turned around and saw Ophelia and Shelia walking toward her.

Ophelia’s cheeks were rounder than before, like soft steamed buns. She wore a newly sewn dress that looked a little crooked, but the stitches were clearly made with care. Her eyes were bright, filled with curiosity as always.

Shelia walked beside her with a more composed expression. Her features were similar to Kian’s. The same eyes, the same shape of brows.

But where Kian’s face usually looked cold and distant, Shelia’s expression had more life. She had a hint of playfulness at the corners of her mouth, as if she was always thinking of something clever.

They both rushed over and grabbed one of Isabella’s arms each.

"Isabella, is it true?" Ophelia asked immediately. "They said your belly grew again this morning. Let me see."

Isabella rolled her eyes but did not push her away. "You can see with your eyes. Why do you need to say it out loud like that?"

Ophelia leaned in and peered at her stomach anyway. "It really is bigger. Ah, I am so excited. I want to see the babies."

Shelia poked Ophelia’s cheek. "You say that every day. You are going to scare the babies into coming out early."

"I will welcome them," Ophelia said confidently. "I will bring them snacks. When they grow up, they will call me Aunt Ophelia."

Isabella imagined little hatchlings following Ophelia around, eating snacks and learning her way of thinking. Her head hurt a little.

Shelia looked at Isabella’s face and laughed softly. "Do not worry. If Aunt Ophelia spoils them too much, Uncle Kian will glare her into silence."

"Your brother already glares too much." Isabella sighed. "If he glares more, his eyes will freeze."

The thought made both girls laugh.

For a while they simply walked together through the village. They watched men chop wood, women sew, and children run around with tails and ears showing their beast forms. The air smelled like smoke, dried meat, and approaching winter.

After some time, Ophelia clapped her hands.

"I have to go," she said. "I promised Valen I would help him move some things to the upper storage. I don’t want him carrying everything alone because he always tries to act strong even when he is tired."

Her round cheeks flushed suddenly. "Also, after winter, I want to get pregnant too."

Isabella almost tripped.

Shelia widened her eyes. "You said that so boldly."

Ophelia’s face turned redder but she did not back down. "Females can say what they want. I want to have a chubby baby. So I have to work hard with Valen after winter."

She waved her hands, then covered her own mouth in embarrassment and ran off, leaving a trail of laughter behind her.

Isabella watched her back and rubbed her forehead. "She is really a sweet dumpling with a dangerous mouth."

"Valen likes it," Shelia said calmly. "If he did not, he would not be chasing her around like an eager beast every day."