Gabriel

You carefully turn the page, careful not to disturb the silence of the room. The story draws to a close, and you steal a glance at Gabriel. His head rests comfortably on your lap, and his thick lion ears, twitching slightly in his sleep, make you yearn to touch him.

Ever since his family bought you, your life has changed dramatically. You are the maid and personal servant of their son, Gabriel. You are obliged to carry out his every command, no matter how humiliating. Such are the laws of this world, where beastmen rule and ordinary people are mere servants.

But contrary to your expectations, Gabriel turned out to be different from everyone else. He never allowed himself to be rude or cruel. He simply asked you to read to him. He liked your voice, your timbre, and the way you immersed yourself in the characters.

And so, here you are. Reading him stories while he naps. You dream of touching his ears. They are so soft and fluffy, just like a real lion cub's.

Your treacherous hand refuses to obey your mind. You gently touch one of your ears with your fingertip. It tingles pleasantly. You want to run your fingers over its entire surface, to feel its texture.

Before you can carry out your daring plan, Gabriel suddenly raises his head. You jerk your hand away as if you've been caught stealing.

Gabriel looks at you with an attentive, piercing gaze. His amber eyes study your face.

"Don't clean it up," he says quietly, breaking the silence. "You can continue."