CH. 10

"No need to look so tense there, Baronet. I assure you that we have no ill intentions in coming here."

"Was that before or after your brother went looking for a fight…"

"Come now, I thought we were starting over? Let's not rehash something that's now in the past, or rather water under the bridge, so your kind says. Hmm… I rather like that, such eloquence, it sounds pleasant, no?"

"I assume you did not come here to exchange pleasantries. So, without meaning to be rude, allow me to be blunt. Why are you here?"

"Why, indeed, are we here…?"

The sweet smile of Loriell was bewitching, as she sat across Keiran, one leg folded over the other. Keiran also sat across from her, trying to smile back but grimacing instead.

The elven soldiers stood to the side, formed up and headed by Sret, who still looked scornfully at the town around him. Stoldt and the other guards were still on edge, eyeing off the elves warily and seemingly ready to pounce at the drop of a hat.

And myself?

Standing beside Keiran so nervously I was struggling to stop myself from jittering around.

This was not what I had expected, and I was not comfortable. I almost felt like screaming at Keiran that he could find me at home and that I was going to run at a full sprint back to the safety of my room.

Twice now I had entered this town. Twice. And both times, some very serious things had gone down that made me think maybe I was biting off more than I could chew.

The shut-in lifestyle didn't seem so bad at all compared to the life threatening dangers I seemed to constantly find myself in lately!

"If I said we were just passing through and seeking supplies, would you- ah thank you-, believe me?"

Loriell was handed a glass of wine mid-sentence, politely thanking to towns girl who brought it to her.

"Asking if I would believe you, makes me think somehow I should not, believe you."

"Very shrewd of you. However, that is the case. The supplies we had with us have been exhausted. If we do not recoup what we have lost, we may very well starve on our return to the empire. You couldn't, in good conscience, let a fragile little thing like me perish from hunger. Would you?"

She battered her eyelashes at Keiran, who grimaced even more.

Even though the relationship between the elves and humans was abysmal, there was nothing stopping them from entering the kingdom and traveling either through, or throughout, it. The elven empire was the only one that prohibited non-elves from entering its borders, as secretive as they were.

Which was odd.

How could the kingdom let them wander throughout its own, plus all the other territories accepted that as well, yet were refused the same treatment when it came to the empire?

"If that is all you wish for… Then I will have the supplies readied for you immediately."

"Ah! So very generous Baronet. I very much appreciate the kindness and pity you show us! Here is a short list of what we require. Nothing extravagant of course, just the necessary goods for our survival."

Clapping her hands delightedly, Loriell drew out a scrap of paper that had been hidden in her breasts and handed it to Keiran. Almost hesitantly, he took it and ran a quick eye carefully over it.

"Stoldt."

"Sir."

Keiran held the scrap up to Stoldt, who immediately stepped up and took it.

"Please ensure that every item on the list is obtained. Bring it here immediately once completed."

"Of course, sir. I won't be long. Oi! You two! Come with me."

Stoldt and the other guards that accompanied him set off at a brisk pace. Obviously wanting to get the supply collection completed as soon as possible so as to be free from the elven presence.

Loriell sipped on her drink in silence with her eyes closed. I focused on the staff that rested against the table beside her, which, the more I looked at, I began to appreciate the finer details of.

The large uncut red stone which sat at its top, glowed with the angry appearance of the sun. Two expensive looking gold and purple cloths were tied underneath it, wrapped with a golden chain that bore the same golden crest on her clothing, in a pendant that hung from it.

If I didn't know any better, by all appearances it looked like the kind of staff a mage would use.

Curiosity started getting the better of me and I moved forward with the intention to have a closer look at it.

"Seth."

"…"

Except a firm hand grabbed my shoulder as soon as I took that step towards it.

I looked at who the hand belonged to and unsurprisingly, it was attached to Keiran. With a strong tug, he pulled me back to his side, continuing to hold my shoulder. He shook his head in warning.

The message was clear.

No. What do you think you're doing? Stay right where you are and don't move so much as a centimeter from that spot. You promised, remember?

"Hmm?"

Loriell peeked at me with a single open eye.

"The brat was eyeing your staff sister."

Sret left the spot he had been standing in and stood by her side. The index of his finger tapping the pommel of the dagger he wore at his side.

"Please forgive the boy. Sometimes curiosity gets the better of him and he acts without thinking things through first."

"Oh no, no need apologize… It's fine. This must be your son, yes?"

"… Yes. Seth is my eldest child and my only son."

"Come child, let me get a good look at you."

"S-sure… Allow me to introduce myself. I'm Seth Vite Brumann. It's a pleasure to meet you."

Beckoning me towards her, I glanced at Keiran who nodded once, and stood before her. Thankfully, from the scrap of memories I could recall, I managed to properly introduce myself as expected of male nobility.

With my right hand on my chest and my left arm folded behind me, I bowed slightly.

"My, what a respectful child you've raised Baronet. And those boyish looks of his as well… No doubt he will grow up to be a handsome young man all those noble women of the capital will fawn over."

"Thank you… He is a good boy… For the most part." Keiran shifted nervously.

"May I?"

Smiling sweetly, Loriell held out her hands to me. Slightly confused as to what she wanted, I stepped closer towards her, so that there was only a foot of distance between us.

"You know…"

She purred as she touched my face with her hands. With a surprisingly gentle touch I wasn't expecting, she patted my cheeks and other parts of my body.

"We elves don't have many children you know. Since we have such long lives, we devote ourselves to experiences or endeavors that could take centuries to complete. So when a child is born, it's celebrated with a festival that lasts a whole week. Sometimes, how envious I become that you humans are surrounded by children with your short lives… Children are precious aren't they."

She heaved a sigh and leaned back in her chair.

"My children are the light of my world. I do not know how I would survive if I lost one."

Keiran agreed with her, his eyes closed over. He must have been thinking about the time he thought his son had died.

With the topic of conversation one both could seemingly relate to, it almost felt like they were friends. Almost being the key word here.

"Come to think of it, this kingdom suffered quire severely from the sickness that swept through it, no? It appears that you were rather fortunate and were spared its grasp."

"If only that were true. Seth here did come down with that illness. I very much thought he had perished, but somehow, miraculously, he managed to pull through and survive."

"Really? That is interesting…"

Sitting up straight, her undivided attention was now centered squarely on me. That piercing gaze that I had felt only earlier, now struck me again, seeming as if to stare right into my soul.

Nervously I shifted my feet and looked around awkwardly. Not only was I nervous because of how she looked at me and demeanor the elves had held previously, but also because here was the most beautiful, alluring woman I had ever seen.

For a shut-in to be so close to one like her, who had never been able to speak comfortably with any girl, I was feeling the pressure.

I mean, when she had touched my face, I thought my heart would burst from my chest. Her exposed skin and little clothing covering her, didn't leave much to the imagination.

"I wonder…"