"She likes to get ahead of herself—I thought you were already used to it," another voice states, attracting my attention. "It seems half a year of not meeting each other is enough to make someone forget about you."
The playful jab that is thrown at me makes me quirk an eyebrow after I find out the identity of the speaker. I never expected the stoic and formal Elven Queen Haletha would say something like that to me.
This development just proves her point. Half a year is enough time to make someone not recognize you. People change every second and she is no different. She used to be serious all the time but she smiles easily now. I guess she enjoys her life as the Queen of the Dark Elf more than she did years ago.
"Does that mean she is not joking?" I ask, addressing the issue.
"When a female Elf says something like that to you, she shall never be joking," Haletha explains, prompting me to glance at Arieda in mild bemusement. "As I said, she likes to get ahead of herself, so you don't have to feel pressured to answer. Time is young—she can still wait for another century."
"Isn't the sooner the better?" Arieda rebutted.
"Do you even know how massive of a point in life marriage is? You can't get married like buying candy from the store: you have to be fully prepared for it and think about it seriously," I retort.
"Ah, Layland is a conservative, I see…"
Shaking my head faintly at Arieda's comment, I karate chop her head—playfully enough to not split her head but give pain nonetheless. As she rubs her head to soothe the pain that will be gone in a few seconds, I wonder if her brain also matured along with her physique.
From how she has been behaving, I don't think her brain did. I wonder if she even has something inside her head. Oops, that is a bit harsh. She is not as stupid as my friend Vibiane is. Her vision is just tinted with pink, which makes her think that things will go the way she wants as long as she puts her will into it. Reality will quickly wash the tint clean.
"Well, we are hungry and I think of inviting you to join us. What do you think?" I ask after discarding my thought.
"It has been a long time since we last had a meal together with you. How can we say no to that? it is not every day we can have the opportunity to sit together with the ruler of Antares," Haletha answers with a smile.
"Indeed. Layland is so busy that he even forgot to visit us, breaking his promise!" Arieda adds. "You have to let me sit close to you as an apology."
Waving my hand lightly, I usher them to the dining room. We can use the Banquet Room but I still find the dining room more comfortable. I can see the faces of my fellow Warriors whom I rarely meet there and interact with them. I don't want to be a pretentious prick who thinks he is superior to everyone. I interact with everyone as much as I can to prevent myself from developing the traits.
Thud!
Though, I have to admit that the attention is slightly annoying. As soon as the door to the dining room is opened, everyone turns their heads to me. It is mind-boggling to me that they find me more attention-worthy than the four peerless beauties on my side. I nod my head at them and only then did they turn their heads away.
We head to one of the empty tables and sit down. I can still feel the Warriors' eyes on my back but I pay no mind to them—I am already used to it. As usual, Valeria sits on my right. Since I have promised Arieda to let her sit close to me, Millonia gives up her seat next to me. Much to my puzzlement, Arieda shakes her head faintly at the gesture.
I am about to ask her if was just joking earlier but before I can open my mouth, she sits on my lap. Everyone in the dining room stops eating at once as they observe how Valeria reacts to it. They seem to worry about her ire more than her future husband (me) does. As usual, she barely reacts to what happened, prompting everyone to heave a sigh of relief.
Haletha is doing it subtly but I can tell she is looking at Valeria carefully. Unlike her daughter, she knows her daughter has crossed the line slightly.
To save the situation from getting awkward, I tell Millonia to sit as if nothing happened. "Come take your seat and we should eat."
"…okay."
I activate the Rune that is inscribed on the marble in the center of the table and ask the Elven mother and daughter duo what they want to have. I already know what Valeria and Millonia like to eat, so I don't waste my time asking them. In case I get it wrong, they will attack my plate. That is what they always do either way, so it doesn't matter even if I get it right.
After the food is ordered, it is time to wait. The Dark Spirit will bring us the food in a few moments, leaving us some time to chat.
"So…how is it going with Antares, Layland?" Haletha initiates the talk.
"It is growing well economically but that is not what I am most proud about. The people have integrated well into the Cursed Creation's society. The barrier has been completely shattered and they now see what we see. They are nothing compared to the rest of the world but we have gained another ally," I answer.
"I heard the army had a lot of skirmishes with the Paladins," Arieda remarks.
"Yes, it did. The Temple makes my death its current priority, so we coincidentally meet the Paladins on our journey quite a lot."
The Temple's eagerness to kill me puzzled me for quite some time. I thought Brianna no longer had her influence on the Temple after she became Paladin Master Jacques des Horten's bitch, so I didn't think it was her behind the phenomenon.
I figured that out thanks to Hadrian's Black Merchant. After their two months of hard, life-threatening work; they managed to infiltrate the main Temple, the Sacred Home or better known as Deisomum, where God rested when he visited the mortal world.
"How much control do you have over the Holy Land?" Millonia asks, showing rare enthusiasm about what she considered boring when we were in Antares.
"I have none but I can affect a certain decision they make."
What I am talking about is the decision about whom to be sent to kill me. Three of the Black Merchant's merchants have attained a quite high position in Deisomum. They can make the Temple send the High Paladins whom I want to kill. The High Paladins they suggest have never been weak, so no one has ever suspected them.
"When I heard that you have a personal grudge with the Holy Maiden, I thought you would be focused on her," Haletha remarks. "It is great to see that you are looking at the bigger picture."
Agreeing with Haletha's remark, Millonia and Valeria nod their heads. The food comes at this moment. The flying skeleton wrapped with black ethereal flesh never ceases to amaze with its power. It is barely the size of a human adult but still can carry a lot of things at once. You can never judge a book by its cover in this world but looking at what Dark Spirits can do is always amusing.
As soon as the last plate is put on the table, Luxia reveals herself. The Dark Spirit shrieks in horror and immediately storms off. Luxia keeps her stoic look for a few seconds before bursting out laughing. I flick her forehead for that, stopping her laughter. It is not her first time scaring a Dark Spirit with her Divinity and I don't know whether I should chastise her for her shenanigans or be proud of it.
"Hello, Luxia. It has been a month since you showed yourself," Millonia greets.
"Hi, Millonia. It's been a month, yet you still keep being—"
"Shush! Don't run your mouth off on something you don't know, micro-woman!" Millonia cuts as she pinches Luxia's mouth.
Slapping the fingers away, Luxia exclaims, "How dare you call me micro! For your information, I can grow myself to be this big!"
Landing on the ground, the Forest Spirit shows everyone how big her current actual form is. It is way bigger than the usual form she assumes but is still no bigger than an eight-year-old.
"Ku-Ha-Ha! Midget!"
"I am growing, you tsundere!"
"Huh? What is a tsundere?" the puzzled Arieda asks.
"I don't know." Luxia shrugs. "Layland tells me that Millonia is a tsundere and I think that word suits her greatly."
I have never told Millonia about the meaning of 'tsundere' but judging from her reaction, she seems to know what it means, which begs the question; who she is and where she is from? I didn't expect her to tell me the truth soon but I am getting closer to the truth myself. I will be happier if she tells me about it before I figure it out myself.
"Kuhum! Anyway, are you planning to let go of the Holy Maiden?" Millonia asks, changing the topic.
Instead of immediately answering her, I give little Luxia who is sitting on Millonia's lap her daily dose of Nature Essence. Cutting my steak afterward, I pick up the steamy meat with my fork.
"You see, revenge is a dish best served cold. Brianna is having her moments right now. I will let her enjoy it for a while before dragging her to hell."
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