80 The Pact

The wooden cup looked organic compared to the high-grade tea sets that were always used in the capital. However, he was more accustomed to the wooden cup in front of him, he started to relive the memories of his past life. The tea that their family used to drink was the cheapest kind. Their cups were also wooden, made from the trees from their backyard. Their old neighbor taught him how to make simple wooden utensils when he was young. It was something that he did while he was resting under a tree after a hard day's work of labor. It was a good way to pass the time by.

The aroma of the tea was pleasant to behold, a stalk was floating in the middle as it swayed with every movement of the cup. It looked normal, just like the usual tea he used to drink. However, the smell coming from the tea made his whole body relax. He put the tea close to his mouth and took a sip. The warm liquid flowed into his body, it circulated in his whole body just like his mana. The pleasant sensation made him want to moan in ecstasy.

*hmm*

A sound escaped from his mouth. Max's eyes opened wide with the whole experience. He stared at the liquid in the small wooden cup. Just one sip and he was able to experience something unimaginable. He had heard of elixirs from legends. He wondered if he would also feel and experience the same if he were to drink those. A mixture of joy and sadness was swirling in Max's emotions. He felt the joy from experiencing the wonderful drink. On the other hand, he felt the sadness from remembering his past life.

The brother and sister duo was observing Max's reaction with a hint of satisfaction. Orville did not lie when he said it was a delicacy that was hard to acquire. It was no ordinary delicacy as well. You will be able to circulate in your body the stored energy from the World Tree in one's body. The effect is dependent on the body of the person drinking the tea. In simple words, it was affinity. Verdi's smile bloomed like a flower, what the smile meant, no one can tell.

It was a shame that Max was focused on the drink in his hand that he was not able to capture that one moment.

Time passed in total silence.

Max was lost in his own little world when he finally noticed that everything was completely silent. Orville was a chatterbox, it was weird that he was not making any noise. It made him looked at his companions in the room. Both were smiling at him while he looked like a statue stuck in one position. Max could not hide his embarrassment as he feints a cough.

"I apologize, I was caught up on the moment."

"I'm glad you enjoyed it," Verdi said with a smile. Her eyes turned to crescent moons as she looked at Max's embarrassed face.

Max tilted the cup once more to drink the precious liquid in his cup. But to his dismay, it was already empty. Max thought that he only took a sip, he was unaware that he had already drank all of the tea in the cup. He felt disappointed that he will not be able to taste and experience the tea from the elves. Max did not know how to start the conversation, therefore he sat there in silence.

Verdi broke the silence.

"Maximilian"

Max looked straight at Verdi once he heard the tone of her voice. Just from saying his name he knew it was something serious. Verdi's smile was gone, she was now emanating a noble aura. Max had already heard from the elven people that Orville was the prince. Therefore he had no choice but to believe that Verdi was their princess.

"This must be how she carries herself in front of their people." Max thought this to himself. The relaxed and familiar face was gone. The person in front of him could only be described as a noble lady with a high standing in life. He felt a pain in his heart when he saw this. Max did not know what this feeling meant.

"Max"

Verdi called Max once more but this time it was more intimate. The cold aura that was sweeping in his heart turned into warmth. This was how Max remembered Verdi. He felt that Verdi had a purpose why she showed her other side to Max. Although he did not know what it meant, he wanted to find out.

Max looked straight into Verdi's eyes. Verdi still had a solemn look but it was not cold and indifferent. Waves of emotions could be seen in her emerald eyes. The two looked at each other for a time, neither one wanted to lose sight of the other.

Verdi's lips moved. She wanted to say something but her lips quivered slightly. She was unable to say what she wanted. She decided to close her mouth. She bit her lower lip, as though she was hesitating to say something.

Max was only observing Verdi's reaction. He found it refreshing. The changes in her facial expressions made him curve his mouth and smile. Max found her, at this moment, to be adorable.

Verdi furrowed her brows when she saw Max smiling at her. She realized that her face must have revealed her emotions. Deep down inside, she was afraid of saying the words deep down in her heart. Truthfully, in the beginning, it was nothing more than something as she had to do. It was her responsibility as part of the elven race that protected the World Tree. Max was nothing but a mere boy when they met, therefore, she treated him like one. But as she started to observe Max from afar, she started to open up her heart little by little. Those feelings, like building blocks, developed into affection.

Affection for the person that her race needed.

A necessity for their race and their World Tree to survive.

Verdi closed her eyes. She wanted to remove the turmoil in her heart.

Once she opened her eyes, Verdi finally had the courage to say what she needed to say.

"This is about the pact that I made with you."