Xavier paused for a second, taking in my words. Finally, he said, "Are you sure?"
"Yes, I am." I stated, looking him straight in the eye. "I think it's important that I meet him... You know... Because meeting the parents is an important thing before becoming mates..."
Honestly, I wasn't sure if meeting each other's families was a thing in this world. Especially when there was a chance that brothers could interfere with each other and try to take their sibling's mate for themselves.
Then again, considering that the crocodile beastmen seemed to share, maybe it was the same for others. I couldn't be too sure about the customs in this world. I was still trying to figure them all out.
That being said, I still wanted to meet Xavier's father seeing as we were beginning to get serious about our courtship. Maybe it was because it was common on Earth to introduce your partner to your friends and family that I felt the need to continue doing it.
It seemed weird not to at least meet some of Xavier's family and friends, if not all of them. And I had already met his mother, her mate the king, who was at this point seemed like stepfather to Xavier, and some of his siblings.
Though the latter was quite brief and not on good terms for all of them. So, why miss out on the chance to meet his father. Especially when it seemed that the two had a close bond.
Was I overthinking this...?
"Is that a custom of yours?" Xavier suddenly asked, giving me a chance to escape the drowning thoughts.
"Um... sort of?" I mused, not sure how to explain this. "Eh... where I'm... I mean was from, it was common to introduce a serious courtship to your friends and family, so they could see who you wanted to spend your future with. And you know... make sure they were a good... mate?"
The words seemed a little strange on my tongue and harder to say. Earth probably still existed, but I couldn't go back to it. So, it was better to make it seem like it was all gone. It was easier that way.
"I see..." Xavier murmured, moving through the crowd again with me tagging alongside him. "I suppose it would be good to introduce you both... It's just sad that I won't meet your mother and father beasts."
"Yeah." I shifted my gaze to the ground, a lump forming in my throat. "They would've loved to meet you."
A part of me did wonder how my parents would react to meeting Ahi and Xavier and maybe Atlas... but I quickly pushed that thought away. I didn't want to have an emotional breakdown in the middle of the city's market.
Instead, I decided to shift the topic a bit and said, "Anyway, is there anything that your father likes? I want to get him a gift."
It wouldn't be good to visit his home without a gift in hand. I did want to make a good impression considering the queen originally looked down at me for being a "feral" female.
Which at this point, I was starting to think was an easier explanation than constantly saying that I was human. I doubted anyone would know what that was anyway.
"I don't think that's necessary..." Xavier stated, directing us to some food stalls.
"If you don't say anything, I'm going to give him that mermaid silk." I threatened, though it was a weak one.
Thankfully, Xavier fell for that bluff and told me to just get him some fruit because apparently his father had a sweet tooth. I, of course, made a mental note of that for future reference.
Once I had gotten a small basket of fresh fruit, sending some of the extra food to the palace along the way, and Xavier had gotten the supplies he needed, we left the market.
Xavier led us back to the upper district, but instead of heading for the palace, he went west. We weaved through several streets before reaching a small home near the edge of the wall.
Well, small wasn't quite the right word seeing as it was a two storey stone building, but compared to the other buildings around it, the home was tiny. Then again, for one person it was a lot of space.
As we headed to the front door, I spotted a small garden in the back filled with various plants. Once Xavier stopped in front of the door, he turned to me and said, "Let me do introductions for now... Also I should warn you that his injuries... are quite gruesome."
"It's alright." I murmured. "I don't mind."
Xavier gave me a weak smile, clearly nervous about this whole thing. Perhaps, I should've told him he could've said no. Well, it was too late anyway because a second later the door swung open.
"I thought a feral finally got you." A voice muttered as a younger version of Xavier appeared from behind the door.
However, he was on the skinny side, wearing lon, green linen robes and had the queen's eyes. Which instantly shifted over to me and had the beastman stiffening.
"Is father inside?" Xavier asked, seeming to ignore the jab.
"Yeah..." The other beastman answered, narrowing his eyes. "Mind explaining what's going on?"
"I'll explain everything inside." Xavier stated, shoving past the younger beastman. "These bags aren't getting any lighter."
The younger beastman rolled his eyes as he moved away from the door. "And you're meant to be the stronger one."
Xavier grumbled something under his breath and I smiled stiffly at the other beastman before following after the bird beastman. This was so awkward.
Still at least I had an inkling of who the beastman was - Xavier's brother. He did say he had one from the same father, so I assumed it was this guy. Besides, I doubted any of his half-siblings would be staying here.
Not when they had the palace.
Xavier led us to a simple living room which had a low table in the center with some furs on the floor. He dumped everything on the table with a huff just as someone entered the room from another.
He was a little shorter than Xavier, but still had a strong presence and a middle-aged look to him. Like what Xavier would look like when he was older. However, that was where the similarities ended.
A fur patch covered his left eye, thick claw mark scars running down the left side of his face to his neck. His left arm was completely gone from his shoulder and scars covered his other arm. He wore linen robes, but I had a feeling there were more scars under it.
"You're back, Xavier. You know, Jaxon, was worried when you-" The older beastman murmured, right eye shifting over to me. "Oh..."
"Father, this is Elisa, the beastwoman I wish to spend my future with." Xavier stated plainly, getting a faint blush out of me with those words. "Elisa, this is my father beast and younger brother, Jaxon."
The younger beastman nodded briefly in my direction before heading over to the table to look over at what Xavier had brought over. Meanwhile, Xavier's father kept his gaze on me, a blank look on his face.
"It's nice to meet you." I stated nervously, holding up the basket. "I hope you don't mind the sudden visit."
Because I was beginning to regret it a little. I had jumped the gun here a bit, wanting to meet Xavier's father and forgetting that it was probably better to have arranged a meeting instead of dropping up.
And my heart sank as Xavier's father finally spoke, "A feral female."
Right, he had those injuries fighting rootless beastmen. Maybe a few older ones from ferals themselves. And now his son was interested in a feral lover... or in his eyes a feral.
Guess there went getting a good first impression. I should've really planned out this trip instead.
"I suppose there is a first for everything..." Xavier's father added before anyone could speak. "Hmm why don't we all sit down for some tea. It's been a long time since you've visited, Xavier and Elisa seems to have brought some nice fruit."
Well maybe it wasn't a total bust.