The Devil’s Cursed Witch

After Isa and Erlos left the garden, Clio and Reya were visibly happy as they flocked around their master.

“Miss, you were really good.”

“Pardon my words, but that was so satisfying to watch!”

Ember didn’t get to comment as her attention was caught by something else. There was a large group composed of males and females who were being led around by Yula. The sight was so eye-catching because the blue-haired female elf was the shortest among them all despite being at the front of the group.

“What’s that?” Ember asked. “Are those guests?”

Clio and Reya looked at where Ember was looking.

“Oh, those people? They’re also servants like us, Miss,” Reya replied, “just that you might be unfamiliar with their faces since you can consider them as temporary hired help.”

Clio then further added, “They have just arrived to replace some of the servants from the beast clans for a few days.”

“Why?” Ember was curious as she stared intently at the group. By now, she could identify they were all elves.

“Miss, last time, didn’t we tell you that it will soon be the night of the full moon?” Clio replied. “That night is important for all the beastmen. For those servants, they are granted leave, so that those with mates can spend the next few days with their partners, while the others get to return home. This scene in the palace repeats every time the night of the full moon is about to occur so it’s not a special case for us. You will get used to this once-a-month situation too.”

The words ‘night of the full moon’ was enough to freeze Ember in her place. She had almost forgotten about it, and now her servants reminded her, she realized she was yet to answer the King.

“Miss, we are told to give you ‘that’ tea,” Reya said as if she remembered it suddenly. “I will go and bring it for you. For now, please wait and relax inside the gazebo.”

Reya left while Clio guided Ember’s way towards the gazebo. The human girl blindly followed behind her servant, immersed in her own thoughts.

“Miss, please sit here,” Clio said as she pulled out the chair for Ember, but then, she noticed her master seemed to be in a daze. “Miss, are you alright?”

Ember nodded quietly and proceeded to be seated, but her gaze once again headed towards that group of newly-arrived servants passing through one of the open corridors.

Noticing this, Clio stood on the side and explained, “Miss, as it will be the night of full moon the day after tomorrow, the servants are passing over their tasks to the replacements today. However there is no need to worry about those servants who just came in—the majority of them have already previously worked in the palace before, so they will do their work well.

“Look at those grinning servants accompanying them. It is so obvious that they’re beastmen even though they are in their human forms with just a glance. That they will get to go back home, this is a privilege unique to their kind. Then for the next three days, they won’t return. It is like a monthly off day for them where they get to spend good time with their mates.”

“Why three days?” Ember asked as the night of the full moon is only one night.

“Hmm, well, even though we say they will go to their mates, there is more to just spending the night with their bonded partners. For example, tomorrow, there will be a festival in all cities dominated by beastmen where the males will take their females out to enjoy the festival.”

“A festival?” Ember asked with a wide eye. She had never been to a festival before, thus, her curiosity grew.

“Yes, Miss. There will be music and dancing the entire day, and the mates normally give gifts to their partners. Basically, doing things to make their mates happy. On every celebration of the full moon, the cities in the territory of the shapeshifter race are all beautiful sights to see. It just shows how mating is very important for their kind.”

Ember didn’t know what to say. She was curious to know more about the festival, but then she realized that shouldn’t be her priority at this moment—after all, she was the mate of a divine beast. That night would be important for her and her mate as well.

After a while, Reya brought the tea and served it to Ember. “Miss, have the tea while it’s hot.”

“Thanks, Reya.” Ember accepted it and then asked Clio after taking a sip. “I have a question. What about those who don’t have mates? From what you said, they also get to take a leave from work.”

Clio smiled. “That is one of the interesting aspects of the festival. For those who have no partners, this is their chance to meet others, and if they are lucky, they might find a mate during the festival. For those who don’t find any, they will try again on the next celebration of the full moon in another city.

“However, Miss probably knows this, but not only is the lifespan of supernatural beings longer than a human, and the fertility of beastmen grows lower the stronger their power is. It normally takes decades for an ordinary beast to become an adult, and it takes a century for divine beasts. Chances are, if one cannot find their mates now, they need to wait for tens of years to try searching for one again. Currently,  hardly anyone is left alone as most of them had somehow found their mates already.”

Just then, Reya said, “Miss, it would be a special time for you and His Majesty as well. It is your first celebration of the full moon! Are you going somewhere with His Majesty? I mean, are you going to attend any of the festivals? There are many  cities to choose from!”

Ember shook her head. This was the first time she even heard of a festival celebrating the full moon.