The Spoilt Beauty And Her Beasts-Chapter 145: You looked like you were carrying too much alone

Chapter 145: Chapter 145: You looked like you were carrying too much alone

Just as Isabella was about to call out to Bubu and check if everything was ready, a string of unexpected system notifications popped up in rapid succession.

[+15 Strength Points | +7 Survival Points | +10 Foraging Skill Points]

She blinked, startled.

Then Bubu’s excited voice chimed in, chipper as always:

[Congratulations on building a well!]

Reward: +50 Crafting Skill Points

Bonus Reward: Infinite Water Pouch

[Congratulations! You have leveled up to Crafting Level 2]

Isabella froze.

Then her mouth fell open.

A slow, stupid grin crept up her face before she could stop it. Her feet started twitching like they wanted to break into a victory dance right there. The villagers could keep whispering and staring all they wanted—right now, she was winning.

She clapped a hand over her mouth to muffle the squeal threatening to burst out.

She looked like an idiot.

She didn’t care.

This. This was what satisfaction tasted like.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, she was done with this damn well! Civilization—check. Infrastructure—check. Progress—check, check, check!

And the best part? She didn’t have to lift another finger. These men—though annoyingly big and brainless at times—could now recreate the well on their own. They’d teach others, pass it down, and soon enough, this place would be crawling with well-builders. Bigger wells. Better designs. Smarter hands.

A whole ripple of change, all because of her.

Isabella was so freaking happy she could explode.

And Cyrus...

She glanced at him.

The man was starting to look like a genuine blessing.

He had sped things up so much she might’ve kissed him on impulse—might’ve. Not that she would. Probably.

The villagers, for their part, were stunned. Not just because the water was now clean or because of the magic. But because—for the first time since she arrived—Isabella smiled.

Really smiled.

Big. Bright. Triumphant.

It was the kind of smile that made people step back and think, Maybe this woman really is some kind of goddess.

But no one dared let their gaze linger too long. The last guy who stared too long got mentally body-slammed with a glare so cold he stuttered for a full minute.

Nope. Admire from afar. Silently. Safely.

Isabella ignored the villagers and walked straight up to Cyrus.

She stopped in front of him, arms folded, lips pressed together like she was holding something in. Her eyes trailed from his hands—still faintly glowing from the lingering magic—to his face.

"You," she muttered, squinting slightly. "You’re... way too helpful."

Cyrus didn’t flinch. He simply looked at her with that same soft, steady gaze. Like he had all the time in the world to listen.

"I mean..." she exhaled through her nose and looked to the side, suddenly very interested in the cracked dirt beneath her feet. "Thank you. For the well. For helping. You didn’t have to."

She risked a glance at him. "But I’m... glad you did."

Cyrus didn’t say anything right away. He just nodded once, slowly, and then spoke—quietly, gently.

"You looked like you were carrying too much alone," he said. "I only did what anyone should do."

That made her blink. Her arms loosened just a little, the tight line of her shoulders relaxing.

There was no smugness in his voice, no expectation in his eyes. Just calm sincerity.

And for once, Isabella didn’t feel like she had to rush away or pretend she didn’t care. She simply gave him a small nod in return.

"Still," she murmured, "I owe you."

Then she stepped back and cleared her throat—already trying to compose herself again before anyone noticed she was being soft.

That was when one of the men who had helped build the well approached her, wiping sweat from his brow and brushing dust off his chest with a kind of respectful caution.

"Will you like for us to inform the king?" he asked, voice steady as he patiently waited for Isabella’s reply.

Isabella fell silent.

Kian.

She had noticed something odd about him that morning—too many odd things, in fact. Something about the way he looked at her. The way he looked at the others. A strange tension under the surface she couldn’t quite name.

Still, she nodded slowly and turned toward the man. "Yes... he deserves to be the first to use it," she said, her tone even.

This wasn’t about flattery or politics. Kian was the king of this village, and no matter what, she wasn’t the type to disrespect authority without reason.

Something this big—an actual functioning well—had happened. She had to inform the head of the village. It was only right.

The man’s eyes briefly widened in surprise before he nodded quickly and jogged off in the direction of the stone palace, his footsteps kicking up little clouds of dry earth in his wake.

Before she could fully turn back, a voice—soft and gentle—cut through the thick summer heat.

"We should go stand under the tree there," Cyrus called out, his tone low and warm.

Isabella lifted her gaze, placing a hand over her forehead to shield her eyes from the blazing sun, squinting until she could see him properly.

He stood a few steps away, gesturing toward the large tree near the center of the clearing. Its thick, winding branches cast a pool of shade that looked sinfully inviting in this weather.

"The sun is too much for you," Cyrus added, his gaze locked on her with quiet concern.

His words were simple, but the way he looked at her—like she was something precious that needed shielding—made her chest feel funny.

He wasn’t wrong. Sweat clung to her back. Her sleeves stuck to her skin. Her throat felt parched despite everything. Still, she hadn’t even noticed any of it until he pointed it out.

Because she’d been too busy watching everyone. Too focused on making sure things got done. Too distracted by the newness of everything.

But Cyrus? Cyrus had been watching her.

He didn’t move closer. Didn’t insist. He just stood there with that open expression—hoping she’d listen, but not pushing her.

And somehow, that made Isabella’s heart feel even warmer than the sun.

A small smile tugged at the corner of her lips.

Cute.

The woman who’d get to mate with him in the future? She would be the luckiest woman alive. Without question.