Ælfen-Majesty: Oh, it is going all steady, Me Hûm 😄
Elva: [Troublemaker.]
Duke Balin stares at the youngest Imperial Prince, who seems lost in thought, his gaze fixed on the precious Crystal Stone necklace resting in his palm.
Duke Balin: (Teasingly) You're drifting away again, Ernest. What is it with you and that stone?
Ernest: (Closes his hand over the Stone) Nothing😅.
Elva: Hold on.
From her wrist, Elva raises a bracelet—the other half of Prince Ernest's—to the air.
Elva: It's the same. [Pa did say that my curly-haired childhood friend was my younger brother. And that, to unite after a separation, he would have the other half of the Jane Crystal. Does that mean…?] Eric, it's you.
The dreamy behavior of the ælfen maiden toward the young prince puzzles everyone (apart from the Elflord) as Elva squats beside Ernest, placing her hands over his.
Elva: Eric, it's me, Elvÿ.
Ernest: 🤨
Elva: Remember? We used to play Bulb Dock.
Ernest: Elvÿndia😲?
Elva: (Grins widely) Yes, it's me, Eric. (Embraces him tightly) Where have you been all these years?
Alf: Uhh, what's going on?
Ernest: After I went missing, the Imperial House found me. I returned to my real home.
Elva: (Breaking the embrace) Meaning?
Ernest: We are not actually related.
Elva: I know, we're step-sib—
Ernest: I am a descendant of the Imperial blood.
Elva: Hm?
Elflord: Oh, my child. You see, the night before Ernest's birth, the diabolical creatures of the outlands—the Goblins, specifically—threatened to seize my unborn son, planning to use him as a weapon against me. They knew Alf was more trouble to them than Ernest. I was troubled beyond consciousness, but your father came to my aid and fled with my son immediately after he was born. He raised you both until his death a year later, after which my youngest son was found by my nephew here.
He gestures toward Duke Balin.
Elva: Oh… (stands up). So that means there is no relationship between us 😔
Ernest: No, it's not that—
Elflord: Nonsense! You cared for my son and kept searching for him, even when you thought he was your stepbrother. (Approaches her) That alone proves your genuineness. For that reason, I consider you my daughter.
The Elflord embraces her, alongside Prince Ernest and the overjoyed Ælfen-Majesty, who beams at the thought of having a "daughter."
Elva: (Smiles) I am forever thankful. [😏 Bullseye.]
Princess Raina : 😒
A leaf from the Crown Prince's dish lands squarely on Raina's face. She glares at him, but he only chuckles mockingly.
---
That night, Elva lies awake, unable to sleep. She decides to meditate, unaware that Crown Prince Alf is doing the same. She struggles to gain access into the spirit universe, while Alf proceeds deeper in cultivation.
Elva's body weakens again, but she continues striving. Princess Raina, restless from the pain of her Anahata (Heart Chakra), twists and turns until she falls from her bed.
Red Maid: Shaman Princess, is it the same problem again?!
Elva opens her eyes, reversing her cultivation cord, and exhales. Raina lets out a shout before fainting.
Red Maid: Shaman Princess?!
Alf, back in the real world, presses his forehead to his palm in exhaustion.
Elva: This won't work.
She takes her dagger and steps out of the room. As she walks down a hallway, her steps stop in front of a shelf lined with eye-catching treasures. Her eyes lock onto a Gem Box.
She quickly scoops it into her pouch. But then—
Alf: It's quite late. Yet you're up. (She turns toward him). Reason?
Elva: I don't need to explain my night actions to you, do I?
Alf: True.
Elva: But if I must say… you seem to possess a different personality apart from your Dragon Spirit.
The Crown Prince tilts his head slightly.
Elva: Mischief, for one. And the fact that I'm the only one who notices it—that's rather strange.
Alf: (Smiles, stepping forward) What of you, hm? The Urulòkë's nature is quite different from what I've observed within you. You're slow to anger—shouldn't that be considered strange too?
Elva: Whatever. I guess the Dragon Vessels are allowed to show their own colors. (Shrugs) Who knows?
Alf: (Folds arms) I can't believe you're standing before me again.
Elva: (Grins) What? You thought I'd forget everything that happened at the tavern that night?
Alf: Shh. (Unfolds arms).
Elva: If I hadn't seen it myself, I'd never believe the enchanting eldest Imperial Prince of Edhel-Ambar would be caught in such a place. Imagine what the Regal Elflord would do if he ever found out.
Alf: (Steps closer) Don't you dare utter a word to anyone.
Elva: 😏 Ess, so serious. Alright. (Takes two steps back) But it comes with a price.
Alf: Can—
Their sharp ears catch someone approaching. Elva becomes graceful at once, offering a courtly bow before the Crown Prince.
Elva: You need your rest now, Crown Prince.
Alf: (Exhales) I hear you.
He turns away, walking off—waving the same box she had stolen from the shelf.
Elva: What?! (Checks her pouch, wide-eyed) How did you…? (Lifts her head, but he's already gone). You😑…
---
A little later, Duke Balin is seen gazing at the stars from a high balcony.
Elva: (Approaches) Nice view.
Duke Balin: Mm.
Elva: What were you doing at the tavern that night? I recognized you by your nose and eyes.
Duke Balin: Shh.
A raven glides by, delivering a secret message. Duke Balin acts as if the bird has nothing to do with him.
Elva: What? Why are you both trying to shush me? You, as the future Grand Duke, is permitted to inspect such places. But pretty boy? He's not. I'm just curious—you must have been after something.
Duke Balin: Nothing in particular. You accused us of theft, but we were simply refreshing our minds.
Elva: Liar. A big one. Tell me the truth, or I'll report.
Duke Balin: Hmph. Against a Duke? Even if you are now a High Official, you have no evidence against me.
Elva: Tsk, tsk. Don't forget, as an "important criminal" of this realm, I have my ways. Besides, I've got the favor of the Ælfen-Majesty and Prince Ernest. That should be enough, don't you think?
Duke Balin: [🙂 Cunning.] True. But how can you be so certain of your assumption?
Elva: I don't know, I just… know. It's a gift. Now start talking.
Duke Balin: Ah-ah, the Urulòkë has the Power of Perception? Impossible. I don't believe you.
Elva: And I don't care. Believe it or not, I'm all ears for your explanation.
Duke Balin: Ah, are you always this persistent?
Elva: Oh, you haven't seen anything yet. The truth.
Duke Balin: Okay😄. I had misplaced a valuable item, and the prince decided to help me retrieve it. But when we arrived, we found agile little you dancing and singing on the table. That reminds me—how was it possible for you to drink half a barrel of Grey Berry wine and not collapse into drunkenness?
---
⚜ Note: Grey Berry Wine is made from grey berries. It has medicinal effects but also very high alcohol content.
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