"Achoo!" Elodie sneezed, quickly shaking her head. "Someone seems to have cursed my name again. How unpleasant!"
Adam only frowned. "Why are you so calm about this? Should you not be more...more despicable?"
As they entered his manor, Elodie glanced around comfortably, as if to analyze his home. "There is no need to be impatient, my love. They will all receive what is coming to them sooner or later."
"But—" Adam was about to address her nickname for him when the butler came up to them.
"Sir Adam! And—Barret scanned over Elodie with an observant expression.
Adam quickly felt the need to cover for her, clearing his throat as he spoke up. "This is Lady Victoria, from,"
"The Queen's memorial anniversary, yes! Who could forget such a woman?" The man cut off Adam with a smile.
Elodie raised a brow, glancing at Adam in disbelief. However, she couldn't hide a small smile from blooming. "You've spoken about me?"
The butler laughed. "Yesterday's ball was the only time our sir has come home the evening after! And soon after that, he left the manor to go find you!"
The butler seemed entertained by the enthusiastic story, whereas Adam only cleared his throat. "Moving forward, please get the room across from my own ready for Lady Victoria."
"Yes, yes, we will be most efficient!" Barret bowed, walking away and up the stairs. Adam and Elodie stood at the bottom of the stairs, by the main entrance of his home.
Elodie gazed up at the crystal chandelier that welcomed her into the manor. Her black hair cascaded down her slender, bronzed shoulders. Without raging magic or a furious expression, a look of peace seemed to etch its way onto Elodie's face. With a look of tranquility, she turned to look at Adam.
"I'm sure you could've cleared up such a misunderstanding these staff of yours have of our relationship. And you choose not to?" She covered her lips with a dainty finger. "My, have you fallen for me?"
Adam ignored her idiosyncratic manner of speech. "What did that woman give to you back in the forest?"
Realizing her taunting was wasted, Elodie frowned, sighing before waving her hand. A green orb appeared in her hand. In another second, it was replaced with a small item. "You tell me. It looks quite worthless. But for the prince to try and kill her for it..."
"It must be something big." Adam's gaze hardened. Elodie hummed, and Adam moved closer. "Let me take a better look."
She handed it to him, uninterested. It was a pink-shaded flower paperweight. Adam examined it, thinking deeply. "Perhaps it's a key for something?"
"A key?" Elodie glanced at him but glanced away. "Regardless, I will deal with it."
The paperweight was consumed by another green orb, disappearing into the air.
"I wasn't done looking at it." Adam frowned.
"Oh? Forgive me, darling, but I suddenly remember where it might go."
"What? Where?"
Elodie turned to him, smiling. "Looks like I will have to pay him a visit in person."
"Who?" Adam grabbed her arm. "You are randomly leaving again?"
Elodie smiled teasingly. "Would you like me to stay?"
Her easygoing tone seemed to finally be his breaking point. Adam's voice got harsher. "Men are still looking for you. Not only did you nearly kill the Prince, but you also made such a public threat against the King at the memorial yesterday. Why do you insist on living so dangerously?" Elodie walked up to him, still smiling, without saying a word. "What, what is it?"
Elodie placed her hands on his chest, lost in thought. "It's been a while since someone genuinely cared for me," she said, reminiscing over something Adam couldn't figure out.
"What... what are you—" Before he could finish his words, he saw the same sorrowful expression on Elodie's face as earlier. The same expression she had when she teleported him away from the inn. He grabbed her hand that sat on his chest and squeezed it. "Don't."
Elodie smiled up at him. "I'll return soon, Adam."
"Wait!"
When she pulled away from him, Adam reached to grab her arm. However, just like the paperweight had done, Elodie vanished.
"Sir, the room has been prepared—oh? Where did Lady Victoria go?"
Adam sighed, glancing at Barret, who stood on the staircase.
"I'd like to know the same, Barret."
๏๏๏ꪉꪉꪉꪉꪉꪉꪉꪉꪉꪉꪉꪉꪉꪉꪉꪉꪉꪉꪉꪉꪉꪉꪉ๏๏๏
Appearing in an empty courtyard, the darkness of the moon cloaked Elodie's figure entirely, and the cherry blossom trees felt petals falling, making her look more mysterious and mystical.
Elodie glanced at her outfit. She'd been wearing it through two fights and a long horse ride. It had definitely been worn for too long. It also didn't fit the environment around her.
She waved her hand, changing into something far more suitable for her next task. A cute, relaxed sage green gown with thin straps appeared over her shoulders. Mimicking the design of the cherry blossoms were small pink organza fabrics scattered around the dress, growing denser and more frequent closer to the bottom of the gown. A translucent pink fabric draped over her shoulders, and her hair was tied up into a girly bun by the wind. Two pieces of hair accessories appeared in her bun, sitting comfortably with strands of hair hanging by her nape.
The dress was very different from her typical attire, yet Elodie glanced down after changing and smiled. satisfied.
"Hey! Who is there?" The voice of men came closer. With a smile, Elodie turned around, changing her expression.
"Oh, my! Forgive me!" She quickly bowed.
"You..." The two guards were stunned for a moment. Where was it that they had seen such a beautiful woman? "What are you doing here?"
"Why, I am looking for the Second Prince's manor, of course," Elodie laughed, feigning innocence.
The guards easily believed such a lie. Seeing a breathtaking woman who belonged to the second prince, notorious for keeping such beauties as his concubines, who wouldn't be surprised?
"Right. Allow us to guide you." One guard, the one who returned to his even-mindedness first, spoke up.
"Truly?" Her eyes lit up, quickly leaving the trees to stand by the men. "How kind of you! Surely, I shall tell the prince of your good deeds!"
Both of the men grew excited, hurriedly guiding who they thought was the prince's new concubine straight to his room. "Sir, someone is here to see you."
"Oh? Bring them in!"
They opened the door, and Elodie politely smiled to the both of them, walking in with her head tucked.
"Greetings, your highness," Elodie repeated softly. She chose to feel sick about addressing anyone so cutely later rather than now.
The Prince of Love motioned to the guards from his bed, signaling them to close the door.
Once it shut, Elodie couldn't help but let out a laughing breath, piquing the prince's interest.
"Oh? What do you find amusing?" He asked, raising his head to try and get a look at the girl's face. Her dark, shining skin and small face reminded him of someone else he'd seen today. However, the girl in front of him was far too cute to be the same as such a crazy woman.
Elodie covered her face craftily. "I dare not face you directly, your highness." As she lifted her arm, it exposed her delicate collarbone and thin wrists. The prince's desire for the girl in front of him manifested immediately.
He stood from the bed, completely dismissing the concubine sitting next to him, and walked towards Elodie.
Elodie moved backward, a smile still on her lips.
"My, you fox!" The prince laughed. A matching melodic laugh left Elodie's lips.
The concubine on the prince's bed watched this; she quickly became enraged. Who was this b*tch trying to take her spot?!?
Just as she stood to speak, the prince raised his hand. "Rebecca, darling. Please leave us."
She stood there, stunned. "You're Highness... might I—"
"Rebecca! Be quick," he said, looking at the girl in front of him with a smile, watching her intently.
The concubine could only leave in disbelief. What the hell just happened?!?!
Back inside the room, Elodie took many steps, retreating away from the prince. She just so happened to walk herself into the wall, conveniently enough for the prince to place his hand on the wall, trapping her romantically.
"Show yourself, won't you?" His voice was a flirtatious husk, one that Elodie mimicked perfectly.
"Your highness, I doubt I shall be up to your standards," she whispered. The smooth voice alone was enough to entice the Prince of Love.
"Should I not at least check, darling?" The prince's eyes gleamed in lustful excitement.
"Ah... in that case... You mustn't be scared."
The prince laughed. "Such a beauty like yourself couldn't scare a prince like me. Please lift your head, darling."
"If you say so," Elodie finally tilted her head up. Her eyes sparkled with a laugh. "Boo."
The energy in the room changed in an instant. The prince's expression paled, as if he had eaten something bad.