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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Mod7
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I woke to the familiar scent of wood and the subtle fragrance of dried flowers.
I reached for the newspaper I usually kept beside my bed, but my hand grasped only a handful of flower petals.
A knock came at the door.
“It’s time to wake up and prepare, Young Master.”
“Yes, I’m awake.”
Ella, who had unpacked my belongings and retired to her own room last night, had come to wake me.
We’d shared a room before, but she still maintained a formal tone, perhaps due to the presence of the other guests.
I quickly dressed and left the room. The knights were already awake, polishing their weapons, while the elves, their preparations complete, sipped tea.
I ordered breakfast from the elven innkeeper, and the food arrived promptly. A salad with fresh, colorful berries and a savory stew filled with various vegetables.
I’d known elves were vegetarians, so I had no complaints.
After a satisfying meal, the elves stood up, and Sylvia approached us.
“If you’ve finished eating, we’ll begin the tour of the Great Forest.”
“I look forward to it,”
“You won’t be disappointed. The Great Forest is our pride and joy.”
She wasn’t wrong.
The Great Forest was more beautiful than any place I’d ever seen.
Lush greenery and clear blue skies, waterfalls cascading down sculpted rocks, colorful fruits hanging from the branches, and the invigorating scent of leaves rustling in the gentle breeze.
“Mister, mister, are you a human?”
“…Yes, I am.”
“Hee hee, I’ve never seen a human before!”
“A real human! A human!”
Young elven children flocked to us, their parents struggling to pull them away. It was quite endearing.
A gentle breeze rustled through the leaves, and everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves.
The knights watched with interest as the elves demonstrated their unique combat techniques, while Ella eagerly learned elven cooking methods from the innkeeper.
I browsed the bookshelves, seeking knowledge I’d long sought.
A book titled “Spirit Mana and Circuits” caught my eye. Their approach to magic, from mana manipulation to circuit construction, was completely different from human methods.
I purchased the book, thinking it might be useful later.
The sun had already begun to set as the elves gathered us together.
“If I may have your attention.”
“…?”
“We will now visit the Royal Palace.”
Another unexpected announcement.
The Royal Palace. The home of their ruler.
Elves didn’t have a formal class system, no nobles, no commoners, no slaves.
But they did have a ruler.
Not chosen through hereditary succession, but by the World Tree, the sacred tree the elves revered as a guardian deity. Outsiders were rarely granted access to its presence.
On rare occasions, the World Tree would speak, choosing a ruler. And we were going to visit the palace where this chosen ruler resided.
The announcement stunned everyone.
“W-What…?”
“The… Royal Palace…?”
Even the stoic knights, usually silent and reserved, chattered excitedly, and Ella, who’d been standing beside me with her hands clasped before her, gasped, covering her mouth with her hands.
“Th-The Royal Palace…? Are you sure there isn’t some kind of misunderstanding…?”
“No. Her Majesty has extended a personal invitation. Please, don’t worry.”
Robert, his hands trembling slightly, tried to maintain his composure as he sought clarification, while Sylvia, seemingly unfazed, confirmed her earlier statement.
He leaned back, placing a hand on his forehead, muttering something under his breath. I couldn’t hear him.
I was the only one who wasn’t surprised. I’d been informed of this yesterday.
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The Royal Palace was closer than I’d expected.
Beautiful stone and wood structures, carved and shaped by nature itself, the palace rising towards the sky like a magnificent tree, its walls imbued with powerful magic.
Spirits danced through the air, their vibrant energy confirming that this truly was a place of power.
The entrance, formed from intertwined tree branches, was a work of art.
“Welcome to the Royal Palace.”
“This… this is the palace…”
“Yes. Dinner will be served shortly. Please, unpack your belongings.”
Elves appeared and escorted us to our assigned rooms. We followed them, marveling at the smooth stone floors.
The inn we’d stayed at last night had been comfortable, but the palace was on a completely different level.
Massive beds, a fragrant aroma unlike anything I’d ever smelled before, luxurious furniture crafted by master artisans, and even the water tasted refreshingly pure.
I unpacked my belongings and lay down on the bed, rereading the book I’d purchased earlier, when a knock came at the door.
A soft, yet firm voice followed.
“Excuse me, dinner is ready.”
“…I haven’t finished reading…”
But I was hungry, so I couldn’t refuse.
I entered the main hall and saw wooden tables and plates, and on them, food I hadn’t expected to see in an elven palace – meat.
Sylvia explained that the chef had gone to great lengths to prepare the meal, and we all began eating without hesitation.
It was delicious. The meat was tender, the vegetables fresh and flavorful, the elven sauce adding a unique, savory touch.
After a satisfying meal, as everyone prepared to retire to their rooms, Robert, his face slightly flushed, perhaps from the wine he’d consumed, approached Sylvia.
“Haha, Princess Sylvia, as representatives of our respective nations… perhaps we could… retire to a more private setting…”
He was clearly trying to seduce her, his words slurring slightly, the word “representatives” emphasized suggestively.
He knew it was inappropriate, but the alcohol had emboldened him.
His behavior, however, didn’t go unnoticed. The other elves frowned, and even the knights exchanged uneasy glances.
“…”
“Princess Sylvia…? Are you—”
“Jenison.”
Sylvia, ignoring Robert’s drunken advances, turned to me and whispered,
“Same time as yesterday. I’ll come to you.”
“…?”
Her words filled me with a sense of unease. What was she planning?
But to someone else watching this exchange, it must have seemed like a tender, intimate moment.
The slight crack in the wine glass he held suggested as much.
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“Jeni—son!!!”
A crash echoed through the room, followed by the shattering of glass, the splintering of wood, the ripping of fabric.
Robert, his face contorted in rage, finally stopped his rampage and collapsed onto a chair, gasping for breath.
“Why… why him and not me?! He’s not even from one of the four great families! What does she see in him?!”
His bitter monologue, delivered to an empty room, fueled his rage. He lashed out again, smashing another object.
“She keeps ignoring me… That bitch… she’d be a slave if she lived in the empire…!”
He cursed, forgetting that he was in the elves’ domain.
“I’ll… I’ll make her submit… I’ll throw her to the starving soldiers… heh heh…”
“That’s a rather interesting plan…”
A voice, unexpected, answered him, and a thought struck him.
If this elf heard him, he couldn’t let him leave alive.
He wouldn’t get away with insulting the princess, not even a nobleman like him, not in the elves’ domain.
He quickly launched a spell towards the source of the voice.
“Huh? Dangerous!”
“…Gah!”
The spell was swallowed by a foul energy, then flung back, pinning him against the wall.
“Ah, my apologies. I couldn’t help but overhear.”
“Cough… Wh-Who… are… you…”
“You really have no shame, do you? ‘Senior’ is much better than you!”
“Gurgle…”
“Hmm, I didn’t expect to find ‘Senior’ here… I might need to adjust my plans—”
The speaker’s words were unintelligible to Robert, who saw nothing but a blurred figure and the dent in the wall, his gaze fixed on its glowing red eyes.
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