Chapter 84: Confession
Kael didn’t comfort Kiona because he knew she didn’t need it. She was a strong woman who would prefer to fight rather than be protected and sheltered, so he respected that.
He just chuckled at her latter part and said, "I should be honoured then, as you did call me your family."
"Because you are my family, Master." Kiona stopped and stared at him seriously. "You are a very cunning master, even though you pretend to be a silly person. I know you’ve already realised my feelings, so I won’t pretend to be shy about them or act like they don’t exist."
She took a step forward, closing the distance between them, and said, her voice full of resolve and determination, "I’m not worthy of you now, but I will become someone who is. And the day that happens, I will come at you with full force. This is my declaration."
She paused, a silly smile appearing on her face as she added, "And we also need to repopulate the Sunmane Tribe, so I need your help with that."
Kael stared at her with a deep, unreadable look in his eyes. No one would have been able to guess his exact thoughts at that moment, and Kiona was no different, which made her a little nervous.
But she wasn’t willing to back down. She liked him and was ready to do everything to win him over. Before, she might have waited for some time, but Rias’s appearance had given her a fright and a sense of urgency.
She realised that the position she currently held in her Master’s heart might be snatched away, and there was no way she was going to let that happen.
Lionkin tribes were generally too obsessed with their loved ones, and Kiona had inherited that same trait. This was the reason she declared her intentions upfront—so if she were to be rejected, she wouldn’t have any regrets at least.