7 The First Encounter

Of course, these are just some of the characters in the story. But they are the most important ones.

The other names can be forgotten but not of these. For this is a love story disguised under a lore of fantasy.

One centered on the now deposed elven queen who we now see departing the castle she called home for the last hundred years of her life.

The tree of life has decided on a new ruler for the kingdom. One more deserving than her.

She has served for a hundred years and a half but alas she now could serve no longer.

She wanted to ask why, she wanted to at least protest. Wasn't it so unfair to serve the empire only to later be told that she didn't qualify?

She has tried to be the best monarch she can be. She was a just ruler, and she took nothing for her own gain.

She sighed as she looked at the sack of gold in her saddle. She only accepted this as compensation because there was no other way for her to survive otherwise.

She has to purchase a new home for herself. She also has to settle down and find new employment.

She didn't have to earn more because the amount of gold in the sack can last her a lifetime if she should live frugally. But she did want to be occupied.

Being stuck in a hut somewhere without anything to do will drive her mad. She even could not possibly enjoy the company of books.

Reading novels was one thing she quite enjoyed during her previous life in the modern world of course. But what is the use of reading in this world when she can barely understand the words written on paper?

Yes, of course. It was all the fault of this elven body she has transmigrated to. The deposed elven queen would have been perfect if not for the fact of her stupidity.

As she mounted her horse, she could hear her stomach grumble. Ahhh yes, another one of this body's annoying traits is its inability to control its hunger.

Always getting hungry all the time and behaving like a moron, she wondered how people cannot be disappointed.

She stopped in front of a tavern, hauling her sack of gold coins with her as she stepped inside the noisy place.

The men inside looked at her as if she was a monster who has grown seven heads. Then their eyes would travel down her body, their gazes staying on her bossoms.

Not like she was dressed scantily, it just was unusual for a girl to be barging inside a tavern, wearing a knight's clothing.

She wasn't the type to be easily annoyed, though their gazes are irritating she knew better than to cause more trouble for herself even if it means putting these men in their place.

Some people are not worth the trouble, besides she doesn't mind them staring. They cannot be blamed. It is a good sight.

She sat in front of a table and ordered beer and meat. She felt like she would collapse any moment from lack of nourishment, that is beside the point of her having had a full breakfast earlier today.

"You do like being the center of attention, don't you?" the raven-haired man with silvery blue eyes seated across from her would say.

"Aye, I have no trouble catching people's eyes. As long as all they do is stare," she answered him, assessing him as she gazed into the stranger's eyes.

Ahhhh, such beautiful silvery-blue eyes. She really has never seen something so perfectly odd and yet so very captivating.

"You don't mind even if it looks like they were about to strip you naked?" his deep voice has a sultry quality, to be honest.

Ahhhh, why was she analyzing this rude man's voice anyway? Just because he was the most handsome man she has ever seen doesn't mean that he can be excused for his rude behaviour.

She removed her sword from the scabbard as if to show the insolent man she is capable of protecting herself.

The man ignored her and proceeded to drink his ale, irking her even more. He really is pushing all of her buttons.

"You would initiate a conversation and stop midway through it?" she asked him, wanting to gain back his attention.

The imprudent man won't even glance back at her though as he answered, "I am simply pointing out that you should at least stop wearing something so provocative or at least not in places such as this. But since you seem to have no brain cells left, I have decided to keep my mouth shut."

She raised her hand to slap the stranger only to feel his strong grip around her wrist, "I do not get hit by a woman. Please calm down and behave yourself like a proper lady madame, least I forget you are one."

She took back her hand, pulling it away from him and planting it close to her chest. She wasn't sure if it was the warmth from his skin or the way his voice sounded when he speaks but she became very much aware of the flooding of her blood in her cheeks.

Goddamn, she was blushing! She would, later on, berate herself for lashing out and feeling this way afterward.

But before she could gather her thoughts, the man stood and turned his back on her.

The discourteous young man walked out of the tavern, leaving her with a heart pounding heavily against her chest.