Imara Diversifies The Beastmen World

Chapter Thirty Six: I've Known Of You For A Long Time

When I woke up, the evening light was already filtering into the room. This time, I was feeling a bit sore all over, but it wasn't unbearable. I actually caught myself smiling. It wasn't such a bad way to live—being loved, pampered, bathed, fed, and cherished until I drifted back to sleep.

I joked to myself that if this kept up, I might need to invest in a wheelchair. The thought made me giggle, though the movement caused a little sting as I tried to sit up.

"Oh, oh, ohhh," I groaned, chuckling softly at my own struggle. Glancing down, I noticed my body was already clean, and Harvey had dressed me in a soft, comfortable muu-muu. Fresh furs were spread across the bed, and the room smelled faintly of herbs and Harvey's scent.

As I attempted to get up, my legs wobbled, making it clear I wasn't going anywhere fast. Embarrassed, I sat back down, memories of last night flooding my mind. My cheeks flushed with warmth as I vividly recalled every moment that had led to this soreness.

Just then, Harvey entered the room, carrying a tray filled with food. His face was etched with guilt, his steps hesitant.

I couldn't help but laugh, though the movement made me wince slightly. "Ohhh, my love, don't be so hard on yourself," I teased, trying to lighten the mood. "It's perfectly normal, and you don't hear me complaining."

As if on cue, my stomach growled loudly, breaking the tension.

Harvey approached with the food and carefully set the tray down. His voice was soft, almost apologetic. "I can't help but feel guilty," he admitted, his eyes filled with concern. "I should've exercised more restraint. Your health and well-being mean everything to me, Imara. I can't give you too many crystals in such a short time. I promise, I'll do better from now on."

I reached for his hand, squeezing it gently. "Harvey," I said, my tone reassuring, "it's normal to feel a bit sore after making love. I'm not dying. In fact," I added with a playful grin, "I really liked—no, I loved and enjoyed every moment of it."

He blushed deeply, the tips of his ears turning a rosy shade, and nodded. Then, settling behind me, he pulled me close and reached for the tray.

"Here's the preventative tea we talked about," he said, surprising me.

I looked at him, puzzled. "My love, I don't need to drink this until it's almost the cold season," I reminded him.

"This is more than just a preventative tea," he explained gently. "It's a pain-relieving, detoxing, and cleansing tea. It'll help with the soreness, give you energy, and flush out any impurities in your body. It's healthier for you than relying on crystals all the time.

"That's why I asked about its effects a few days ago. Transparent crystals reduce fatigue and impurities, but they could have also flushed out other things from your system. This tea will do the same, but in a safer, gentler way."

I stared at the tea, my expression softening as I took in his words. "Oh..." was all I could manage, touched by his thoughtfulness.

I nodded my thanks and reached for the tea. As I did, Harvey warned, "It doesn't taste great, but I brought some cut-up fruit with honey to help with the aftertaste. You can chase it with water too."

A sense of apprehension settled over me. I wasn't a fan of things that tasted bad, and I'd always prefer to take something in pill form if given the choice. But I didn't voice my thoughts. I took a deep breath, swallowing the tea in one go. It tasted earthy, with a hint of that bitter green food powder flavor—not awful, but not exactly pleasant either.

Turning to the honey-drizzled fruit, I quickly popped a piece into my mouth. The sweetness chased away the bitterness, and I smiled.

"See?" I said, looking up at Harvey. "You take such good care of me. Don't be too hard on yourself. You'll keep looking after me, won't you? So, you can do whatever you want."