"Hopefully, next time, you'll listen to my orders before you start blabbering about things you're not supposed to." Stated Elif with a smile as he sat down on a bench and enjoyed the pond view while propping his legs atop the back of the kneeling Marley.
"B-But, you didn't say we couldn't speak about that, your Highness." Replied Marley timidly, not wanting to possibly anger Elif and increase the duration of her punishment.
"Ho, did I just hear you talk back, Marley? Maybe, I should increase the punishment; what do you say, Idonea?" Questioned Elif with a smirk before shifting his eyes to Idonea standing in the distance.
"N-No, your Highness! I-I was just stating that you looked exceptionally charming under the sunset." Declared Marley quickly, interrupting Idonea before she could say anything that might worsen her situation.
"Hmm, I can't deny that; I do look even more charming than usual." Said Elif narcissistically as he stood up and looked at his reflection in the clear pond, relieving Marley of her punishment.
"Since your compliment lifted my mood, I'll cut your punishment short; however, next time you disobey my orders, I'll have you work as a royal maid again. Understand?" Stated Elif as he injected Qi into his quạt tay before waving it at the kneeling Marley, causing her to stand up while simultaneously cleaning her.
"Yes, Your Highness!" Replied Marley while bowing with an expression of disgust as she reminisced about her time as a royal maid.
"Good, now let's get going; It's been almost two hours since we separated from Eyvor, so I'm sure the banquet is almost finished, if not already. I've been craving some lighting cherries, haven't had any this entire day." Remarked Elif as he flew into the sky toward the center island while Idonea, Marley, and Illumia trailed right behind him.
Once we neared the center island, we landed in a decently populated spot outside before heading toward the manor. However, while doing so, we came across Hail, Eyvors Maid; or more like she suddenly appeared before us.
"Young mistress Eyvor had just ordered me to inform you that the banquet is ready." Stated Hail.
"The timing couldn't be more perfect; we've just arrived. Now if you wouldn't mind leading us to the dining hall, Hail; during Eyvor's tour, we skipped over it as neither of us deemed it important." Said Elif with a light smile while imagining the sheer amount of lightning cherries at the banquet.
"Of course, Prince Elif, just follow me." Replied Hail kindly as she turned around and guided them through the manor.
Once we arrived at the dining hall, I was surprised at the sheer number of people present, there were roughly one thousand Fairies, and that's not including all the servants.
"Hmm, there are a lot more people than I imagined, though I should've expected such from the Fairy Clan." Commented Elif as he followed behind Hail, who was leading them to Elif's arranged seating.
"This is where you'll be sitting, Prince Elif; Young Mistress Eyvor had slightly altered the seating arrangements, so you will now be sitting directly beside her instead of across from her." Announced Hail, directing Elif to a seat near the Patriarch's and Matriarch's seats, signifying Elif's importance.
"Now then, allow me to guide your servants toward their seating; unless you had other arrangements for them, Prince Elif." Asked Hail while pulling out the seat for Elif to sit down.
"No." Replied Elif while intently focusing on the large bowl of lighting cherries on the table, ignoring every other dish.
"I'll stay here beside His Highness." Said Illumia as she stood adjacent to Elif's seat and closed her eyes.
"Nope, Idonea; just go with Hail and Marley; I don't need the both of you standing behind me for a banquet; Illumia will be more than enough." Said Elif, interrupting Idonea before she could even open her mouth and speak.
While Hail assisted Marley and Idonea with locating their seats, I currently had the large bowl of lighting cherries directly in front of me and was snacking on them, though someone happened to catch me eating them.
"Don't you know it's impolite to start eating before the banquet has officially started?" Stated a beautiful older woman, whose appearance slightly surprised Elif.
"Well, I couldn't help myself; the lighting cherries were just sitting there, practically begging me to devour them. Besides, don't you know it's impolite to suddenly sneak up on someone you've never met before, Matriarch Aasveig?" Replied Elif with a smirk as he eyed Matriarch Aasveig, no longer bothering to conceal his actions.
"Haha, you've got me there, Prince Elif, touché. Though, I am curious; how did you know who I am? We've never met." Said Matriarch Aasveig, lightly chuckling at Elif's response before looking at him with eyes of curiosity.
"Well, you're the Matriarch of the Fairy Clan; acquiring basic information on you is quite easy considering your high status; there is only one Matriarch of the Fairy Clan, after all. Though that isn't how I deduced who you were." Replied Elif casually, his words causing Matriarch Aasveig to nod in understanding.
"Hmm, you're not wrong; finding a detailed picture of me would be quite easy for a normal person, let alone someone of your status; however, if that isn't how you knew my identity, what was it?"
"You're appearance; you look just like Eyvor, except more womanly, of course, though your appearance does clear up my suspicion on where Eyvor inherited such beauty from." Stated Elif with a smile while still eating lighting cherries.
"Oh my, Prince Elif; I've heard many things about you, but they never mentioned that you were such a ladies' man." Said Matriarch Aasveig with a light smile.
"I'm not, but it was sort of forced upon me; being so charming does have its downsides; it's impossible for women not to fall in love with me." Declared Elif narcissistically as he sighed in fake sadness, eliciting a chuckle from Matriarch Aasveig and a sigh from Illumia.
"I've indeed heard rumors about your narcissism; however, currently, you don't seem narcissistic; If I were young again and weren't married, I too probably would've fallen for you." Stated Matriarch Aasveig; although she was married, not even she was completely immune to Elif's heavenly appearance.
"Ho, you gravely underestimate my charms, Matriarch Aasveig; just because one is in a relationship doesn't make them any less immune to my bewitching charms." Declared Elif with a smirk as he seductively ate a cherry and winked at an elder in the distance that had been looking in his direction, causing the elder's cheeks to blush before quickly looking away.
"See, no woman, whether young or old, in a relationship or not, is safe from my charms." Remarked Elif with pride as he eyed the speechless Matriarch while he returned to eating his cherries normally.
"Your Highness, please refrain from behaving like that in public; you're a Prince and have an image to uphold. Also, the Elder wasn't the only one looking at you." Advised Illumia blandly while slightly regretting agreeing to teach Elif her seduction techniques.
When Illumia mentioned that, I momentarily stopped eating and observed the surrounding people, though when I did, I noticed a lot of women constantly peeking in my direction with slightly blushed faces while the men seemed somewhat annoyed by my presence.
"Well then, Prince Elif, it was certainly a unique conversation, and it was a pleasure meeting you, but the banquet will be officially starting very soon, so I need to return to my husband. Though I'm sure, Eyvor will be here shortly to entertain you." Said Matriarch Aasveig with a friendly smile, emphasizing the word husband before walking away.
Watching her walk away, I couldn't help but find her choice of words quite amusing, especially when she emphasized the words husband, which caused me to chuckle.
"Hehe, you see that Illumia, she purposely emphasized the word husband to remind me that I shouldn't attempt to flirt with her, as if I would ever, though it's funny since her choice of wording makes it seem like if I were to try and pursue her, she doesn't have complete confidence in refusing my advances. Just as I said, no woman is immune to my charms, including you." Stated Elif with a smirk while chuckling as he looked at Illumia.
"You say that, your Highness, but from a spectators standpoint, which I was, the conversation you had with Matriarch Aasveig and while you may not have intended it to be so, sounded very flirtatious." Remarked Illumia as she eyed Elif with suspicion.
"Oh, please, Illumia, don't look at me like that. You know, I wasn't being serious; I had no intention of flirting with her; I was merely stating a fact and proving a point. The only people I'd ever attempt to flirt with would be you, Elaine, Idonea, Marley, Mandy, and possibly Sarah. However, I won't deny it; I find seeing women become awkward and embarrassed somewhat amusing." Declared Elif with a smile while he dismissively waved his quạt tay at Illumia.
"Also, it is merely some harmless flirting; I'm sure several other descendants from Immortal hegemonies do it all the time; besides, you know, there is only one woman I'm actually serious with. Well, I suppose she technically isn't a woman yet, but in do-time." Added Elif with a smirk as he subconsciously rubbed his earring while displaying a beautiful smile filled with love and adoration, causing nearly every woman who saw him to stop what they were doing and mindlessly stare at him.
"I know, your Highness, I've seen firsthand how you look at her, eyes filled with nothing but love, affection, and adoration, while you view everyone else as merely a source of entertainment." Stated Illumia blandly as she looked at Elif when he was rubbing his earring, causing even her steady heart to pound slightly faster when she saw his lovely smile.
"I've said it once, and I'll say it again; everyone in the OverRealm is beneath me! Except for her." Replied Elif arrogantly while mumbling the last part to himself, full of love, though Illumia still managed to hear him.
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Created a discord server, so if anyone wishes to join, [https://discord.gg/TGc9yymDJP]
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Elven Legacy (Chapter 217: Suscila The Fiancé) || Hero of Harmony (Chapter 98: Orc!) || One Piece: Chaos Kong (Chapter 169: Trenza's Pain?)|| Marvel's Black Steel (Chapter 84: Death of James!?) at [patreon.com/Ozonelayer691]