Chapter 18: Marriage proposal
The elven kingdom's capital or rather it's main kingdom Amberia is one of the largest kingdom in the mystical type species part of the realm. The royal family are known for their excellent mana level and magic affinity, noting that each family members can use up to three elemental attributes. Most talented mages even come from this glorious kingdom.
.........
As we walked into the main hall, we all gasped in awe. Servants maids and butlers all stood in rows on either side.
In the hall, On the balcony of the forest themed double staircase, stood an elven man dressed in white. His long silky blonde hair shining under the light.
He is beautiful....
"father!" Issac beamed as he ran to the figure and jumped into the man's arm.
"I'm so glad you're safe, when I heard the news, I was so worried that it almost too a few years off my life" the man spoke in a gentle voice as he embraced his son.
I smiled softly, watching the tender moment. The man put the elven boy down before turning to me. He held my hands in his.
my face flushed in surprise. My followers glared at our hands. if stares could kill, this man would be six feet under in 100 different ways.
I sweatdropped
God, his even more gorgeous up close, I can see were the princes got their good genes from🤤...
"I heard that you were the one who saved my sons and even sir luke, you have my most sincere gratitude" he bowed his head slightly
"Please raise your head!... we were only doing our jobs!..." I stated as I was still a flustered mess.
"You have such humbleness as well..." He smiled letting go of my hands.
I internally sighed in relief.
"Let me properly introduce myself, my name is Steven van Milford and I am the current king of Amberia... "
"I'm Shiori komori, current queen of the ethereal city embassy as well as ruler of it's capital, the ethereal city..." I said smiling
"I've heard about it, as well as how melivanne is improving much better in only a matter of a few weeks..." He said impressed. I just stood there beaming with pride.
"Shall we go sit for some tea, I'd like to speak with you more, not many beautiful ladies like yourself are this competent, it's a rarity indeed" he gestured to the Terence not fat from us.
We all sat in the Terrance for tea. Ryu, kuro and kyokota all sat on table with Issac, while I sat on another with the king.
"I'd like to thank you again for your aid. If it weren't for you we'd be having a funeral right now" he said sadly
"It's no problem honestly "
"if you ever need anything, just ask." king Steven smiled
"Thankyou, do you know who the attackers were?" I queried.
"Being as I'm the current ruler of a powerful nation despite my magic affinity being pathetically average, most find me incompetent and tried to kidnap my children in hopes of blackmailing me into resigning the throne..." He explained, causally sipping his tea.
"I see, that can be rough" I sipped my cup of tea.
Just then Nathaniel- I mean Nate joined us.
"Sorry for the wait, father, lady shiori..." He smiled charmingly at me.
"Did you speak to Emily, yet?" King Steven asked Nate.
"Yes, however I didn't tell her about the incident to avoid worrying her..." Nate replied softly before taking a sit next to me, distinctively I silently shifted away a bit.
"Um, excuse me but whose Emily?" I asked
"She's my wife, unfortunately I can't let you meet her, even though you saved my sons lives..." The king replied.
"And why is that?"
"She's blind" he sighed uncomfortably
"Oh? Is she Ill?"
His brow furrowed
"Yes, I happened a year after Issac was born..."
"Did you try healing magic?" Ryu queried
"Yes we did, even though her body was heal, she had fully lost her eye sight. That said, the purpose for my son's travel was so to visit their grandmother would has a great affinity for light magic, also commonly known as healing magic, however, even she couldn't help my wife..." Steven clenched his fist in fustration.
"If only we had some moonlit lilies, they're known for their potent healing mana..." It was Nate's turn to clench his fist.
"Nate be reasonable, moonlit lilies are very rare, basically a myth and even if we did managed to find some, we'll need to make a highly potent potion, and no alchemist is capable of such..." Steven frowned
"Question, What if someone eats the lily?" I queried. They both stared at me like I was crazy.
"Well hypothetically, if someone did eat them, the power of the lilies would be absorbed into their bodies, however, in order for their blood to fully absorb such a herb, the person would have to be eating said flower on a daily basis..." Steven replied.
Ryu, kuro and kyokota's eyes lit up as they all turned to me with sparkling eyes and sly grins.
Steven's and Nate's eyes widened as they stared at me with a 'it couldn't be' expression
I sweatdropped.
........
We enter the queen's chamber, as we opened the door, a beautiful elf woman was sitted by the window. Her blonde hair swaying slightly as her dull eyes stared out the window as if feeling sunlight would give her some closure.
She turned her head upon hearing our footsteps approaching.
I walked over to her with a blade, everyone watching with anticipation. Then the next moment I sliced open my palm...
the sound making everyone cringe with discomfort. I then placed my hand over the woman's eyes.
{Healing master activated}
My once red blood was glowing bright green, after a moment I retracted my hand before healing myself. The woman slowly yet carefully opened her eyes.
"How to you feel?" I asked in a gentle tone.
Emily turned to face Steven, Issac and Nate who were close by, staring at her in anticipation.
"I...i can see..." she said, her voice cracked up a bit as a tear ran down her cheek.
"Honey, Issac, Nate, your both so grown..." She stood up with a tears in her eyes, carefully approaching them.
"Mommy!" Issac hugged her tight, soon their whole family was embracing in a group hug, with tears running down there faces.
I smiled, just then Ryu tackled my in a hug. "Hey?!" My cheeks flushed.
"I knew you could do it!" He beamed as he embraced my form.
"Master is truly incredible!" Kuro smiled hugging my other side, snuggling his nose in my cheek.
My face turned warmed at their gestures.
"So kind, rushing to aid others with no cares for her own well-being, well done shiori-sama..." Kyokota smiled softly with pink dusting his cheeks.
.......
We sat in an entrance hall, basically a room for guests to chat with the noble in their home. My servants all sitted on a lounge chair at the corner of the room, whereas I was sitted with Nate on a small soft, directly facing Steven and his wife Emily who were smiling cheerfully.
"Shiori komori, no only did you protect my son's, but you've also cured my wife, allow me to show you my gratitude..." Just then a servant gently placed a sliver tray on the table which had a large group pouch and a small chest.
"Firstly, your reward for your Quest..." He said passing me a the pouch which was surprisingly heavy, I opened it up to see dark slivery coins in it.
"Wait how much is this?" I queried
"Oh, 50 platinum coins" he replied casually.
My followers spat out their tea In shock, causing me to stare at them.
"Is that a lot?"
"It's supremes of gold! One platinum is equivalent of ten gold!" Ryu explain as he shakenly held his teacup before gulping the whole thing down.
Ten gold huh, that makes it...
I did the calculation as my eyes widened in disbelief.
"50,000,000 yen?!" I was dumbstruck
My eyes instantly turned into money signs.
CHI CHING!
Hello white lotus operations funds!
"I see that your satisfied with the amount, now for the next item" he opened the chest revealing four identical kingdom crests.
"These are my family crests with, them you may use any checkpoints here in Amberia, even one only accessed for nobility, proving that you have the Milford family support..." Steven smiled
"Thanks so much!" I smiled
"Aw, such a strong and sweet daughter-in-law~" emily spoke with a soft expression.
"Huh?! Daughter-in-law?!" My followers yell in unison at the news. I instantly stood up
"Yeah about that!..."
"Yes, what is it?" Emily asked titling her head curiously.
"No no no no no no no no way! How are you so accepting to this?! I get that Nate feels bad about my injury but You guys don't even know the first thing about me!" I protested
"Yes that's true, but if Nathaniel has chosen you to be his bride, then your obviously not a bad person." Steven smiled casually
"That's not what I meant! I'm not human to begin with!" I explained, taking off my ring as my fox features popped out.
Everyones eyes widened in surprise
"See! I've been lying about my species, clearly you won't accept a lier into your family!" I stated smiling ,trying to reason with them
"Um, no that's not an issue you didn't lie and there isn't any taboo about Marrying a different species. it's just, most options that approached have weak magic affinity compared to us" Steve stated unbothered.
I wanted to slam my head against the nearest wall in futstration, these people are stubborn as ever!
"Also, Nate actually has a thing for animal girl so there's really no problem" Emily stated, silently sending me a sly wink .
"There are loads of problems! For starters how old is Nathaniel?!"
"He's 18" Steven answered.
"I guess that's an okay age to get married, but still..." I muttered, I felt a tug on my sleeve, I turned to Nathaniel who looked anxious.
"D..do you dislike me? Lady Shiori.." he asked with adorable puppy eyes
"No, I don't dislike you " I sighed truthfully
"Then there isn't any problems" he smiled.
"Then it's settled, Nate, make sure to do your best to steal lady Shiori's heart, okay " Emily said
"Yes mother!" He nodded
I internally facepalmed before sulking.
"Very well, by your age of twenty, your engagement would be formally announced and you marriage will commence when you're twenty one " Steven beamed.
Seriously?! I wanted nothing more than to crawl into a hole.
Nate held my hand
"Here's to our new relationship, darling~" he said flirtingly before kissing the back of my hand.
I laughed awkwardly.
{A few days later}
I had told the Milford family about my spitritaul space and everything about me except about that I'm from another world or about the white lotus as well as my brother of course.
Got to keep my emmince identity hidden after all.
Since then, elf boy has been visiting me quite often, at least twice a week.
I hummed cheerfully as I had finished my duties for today and now I'm off with Eliot for some for some gardening.
"Lady shiori!" I tensed as a familiar voice called my name, turning stiffly to meet his gaze.
"Hello Nathaniel..." I forced a smile.
"Just Nate is fine, whose this?" He asked staring at Eliot.
"This is my friend as well as the ambassador of the ethereal city embassy, Eliot cin Melvialine..."
"A pleasure to meet you " Eliot acknowledged him.
"Likewise " Nate spoke with a forced smile before turning to me.
"And where are you off to? If I may ask?" Nate spoke intrigued
"Gardening" was all I replied before walking away.
My face fell as I stared at my weed filled garden.
"I thought haru was taking care of it " I sighed as I kneeled down to begin weeding.
"Such a beautiful garden, a shamed it's be left unkept" Nathaniel frowned before smiling softly.
"Here, let me help!" Nate turned to Eliot with surprise as both had said the same thing in unison.
"Oh, it's fine I can help her out, also not to be rude but I think you don't have to keep visiting lady shiori all the time..." Eliot stated with a forced smile.
"Oh I don't mind, she is my fiancee and if anything shouldn't you be handling the kingdom's current affairs..." Bate shot back with a forced smile.
Aw, Eliot is making friends, I stared at the two before proceeding to deweed my garden
{One de-weeding later}
We all sat down for some tea and cookies.
"So, lady shiori, when are you planning on schooling at the magic academy?" Nate asked
"Academy?" I queried
"Yes, all nobles have a duties to attend the magic academy once they've reached the age of 16" Eliot explained
"Then why aren't you guys in school?" I tilted my head curiously
"We're on break for the time being, we'll resume in spring " Eliot replied
I see, so 6 months from now. I instantly remembered, mia, Williams and...
Xavier...
"And It's opened to all races so you don't have to worry." He added
"You can even take the test a week before school starts, i would really love for you to join the academy..." Nate said.
Well it won't be bad, I can actually complete highschool and it could actually be interesting.
"I guess so, how do a buy an entrance ticket?" I asked
"Entrance ticket? Most students use their family's recommendation to get a seat to take the exam" Nate explained.
I paled.
I have no parents, Oh well, no school for me.
"For your case, I believe you just need recommendation from a high class noble family" Eliot suggested.
"Then Nate's family perhaps?"
"I'm sorry, as much as I would like to aid you, the academy only allow recommendations for three times per family, Issac is also planning to attend the academy once his of age" Nate stated sadly.
"What about your family Eliot?"
"There dead." He stated bluntly
I sweatdropped, then sighed
"I believe the gacier family could help, there demi humans so they'll be more willing..." Nate suggested
"Huh? Demi human?"
"Yes, they're the royal leaders of the beast human nation, Buarheld" eliot nodded.
"But are you sure, I mean what family will help a random stranger?" I queried.
"The royal family are actually looking for a tutor for their son, it's said that he has quite a temper and most tutors quit after a month. He had failed the exam to enter the academy the first time so their quite desperate, If you're accept the job as his tutor, they'll be more than happy to recommend you." Nate said with a knowing smile.
"That's great, your quite intelligent and patient lady shiori, I bet you'll be perfect for the job" Eliot encouraged
"It just might work"
"Very well, I'll arrange a meeting and let you know the date..." Nate said standing up to leave
"Okay, well expect some good news then " I nodded as he left.