Chapter 96: All is Well
Watching Airael eagerly unwrapping the gift, Arthur’s heart raced with anticipation.
He silently prayed in his mind.
“Please let Airael be pleased with the gift I have given her.”
Once she skillfully opened the gift box, a stunning ruby bracelet came into view.
The crystalline bracelet was adorned with a heart-shaped red gem.
At the sight of the bracelet, Airael paused for a moment.
Then, she turned to Arthur beside her and asked, “Is this the gift you want to give me?”
“Yes.”
Seeing Airael’s calm demeanor made Arthur uneasy.
Her reaction left him uncertain whether she liked it or not.
Airael focused her gaze back on the bracelet.
This time, she picked it up and examined it closely.
It was indeed a beautiful bracelet.
However, Airael was not accustomed to wearing bracelets.
“Aira, do you like it?”
Arthur mustered his courage to ask.
“Aurthur, put it on for me to see.”
Ignoring him, Airael handed the bracelet to Arthur.
Arthur instinctively took the bracelet.
Then he extended his right hand, rolling up his sleeve to reveal his pristine wrist.
Arthur looked at the bracelet in his hand and then at Airael’s wrist as he began to put the bracelet on her.
Soon, the bracelet was finally on Airael.
Although the bracelet was lovely, Airael’s fair skin shone even brighter.
“It feels so average,” Airael said with a frown.
Arthur nodded gently.
Indeed, it seemed quite ordinary in that light.
But in a way, it also suggested that the bracelet was good enough.
Not every woman had the same stunning qualities as Airael.
Moreover, the bracelet could still serve as a nice accessory.
However, it wouldn’t be a standout decoration, more like a background shade.
Realizing this, Arthur stared nervously at Airael.
If it felt average, would Airael still like it?
Airael looked up at Arthur and smiled, “Even if it’s average, this is the first bracelet I’ve ever received, so you passed.”
The unexpected response left Arthur in a daze, but joy quickly filled his face.
Seeing Arthur’s smile brought a glimmer of happiness back to Airael’s face.
Then, she pulled her hand back and returned her sleeve to cover the bracelet.
“Aira, does this mean you’ve forgiven me?”
After regaining his composure, Arthur asked Airael.
“What do you think?”
Airael countered.
Arthur’s expression changed.
Seeing his reaction, Airael chuckled softly, “This time, I’ll forgive you. Just remember, it won’t be so easy next time.”
“Aira, I promise there won’t be a next time!”
As Arthur felt a wave of relief wash over him.
The anxiety that had weighed heavily on him was finally over.
Listening to Arthur’s promise, Airael replied, “I hope you remember this.”
“I will remember.”
After saying this, Arthur reached out to hug Airael and share a warm moment.
However, Airael nimbly turned away from his hands and stepped towards her desk.
Where a pile of documents sat waiting.
Arthur followed Airael with his gaze.
Once she sat in her office chair, Airael looked at Arthur and said, “I need to get back to work now. If you don’t have anything else, you can leave.”
Arthur opened his mouth but didn’t know what to say.
As the Elven Queen handling Elven affairs, he shouldn’t interrupt her.
But to him, Airael was more than just the queen.
Airael sighed internally as she watched Arthur.
She sensed his conflicted feelings.
It was certainly a dilemma.
But soon, a solution would present itself.
Although she understood Arthur’s inner thoughts, Airael still pretended not to and asked, “Do you have anything else?”
“… No, not really.”
Arthur hesitated before replying.
Airael leaned on the desk, resting her head on her hand.
Watching a flustered Arthur made her want to chuckle.
“If there’s nothing, then you should leave. I usually deal with Elven affairs in the morning and have free time in the afternoon and evening.”
Arthur’s eyes lit up at her words.
Though he didn’t know whether Airael was being deliberate or not, he understood her schedule.
“Then I’ll come find you in the afternoon.”
“Mm!”
Airael nodded gently.
“See you in the afternoon, Aira.”
After bidding farewell, Arthur got up and left Airael’s office.
Airael watched him go and then turned her attention back to her Elven duties.
For her, managing Elven matters took precedence over personal issues.
Once outside, Celia, who had been waiting nearby, asked, “Axi, was everything smooth?”
“Thank you, Celia, everything went well.”
Seeing Celia, Arthur smiled in response.
He felt grateful toward Celia.
Without her guidance, he would still be worried over this matter.
“That’s wonderful to hear.”
Celia also wore a smile.
As expected, it was just as she thought.
The queen simply desired a gift, not caring much about what it actually was.
After exchanging more pleasantries with Celia, Arthur said his goodbyes.
Celia was also called in by Airael to assist her with tasks.
Arthur walked alone out of the Royal Palace.
Strolling through the streets of the Elven Race, he suddenly found himself at a loss for what to do next.
His goal in visiting the Elven Race was to see the “Ailia” in his heart and the daughter he’d never met, safeguarding Ailia from being taken away by others.
Now that he had accomplished this, he felt somewhat aimless.
With nothing to do, Arthur wandered around the Elven streets before returning to the inn where he stayed.
Once back at the inn, he discovered he had a visitor.
Today’s guest was an Elf.
“You must be Axi.”
Inside Arthur’s room, Linis said, looking at him.
“Yes, may I ask who you are?”
Arthur nodded.
“I am Linis.”
“So it’s Lady Linis!”
Arthur remarked, astonished.
“You don’t need to be so surprised. It should be quite normal for me to come looking for you, don’t you think?”
“Lady Linis, I don’t quite understand what you mean by that.”
Arthur shook his head in response.
He heightened his guard.
As far as he knew, this Linis was not a simple character; she was the former leader of the Elven Race.
