Page 28 of Plaything of the Dark Elf

Etheron

Ienter my office, ready to take on the new day. The sun shines bright through the windows. One peek through and I see the lively gardens outside of my mansion, delicately trimmed by my servants.

My butler, Meru, enters as I’m sitting down behind my desk. He bows low, a show of respect.

I fight the urge to ask him about Dalia and what she’s been up to since my departure. I don’t want to entertain any thoughts that include her. She’s another servant, another splotch in the background that I don’t need to worry about.

“Do you need anything, sir?”

“You can get out of my sight. That would be great,” I say as I begin flipping through my documents.

Meru bows again before leaving. I’m alone with my thoughts, which is a dangerous thing. I’m mindlessly fiddling with the objects on my desk, searching for something that can distract me. I don’t feel like working. Curiosity claws at the walls of my mind, threatening to make me do something that I’m going to regret.

What does it matter? I can do what I want. I’m the fucking leader around here.

My chair shoots backwards as I rise to stand and I make the familiar route to Dalia’s bedroom. It’s been too long since I’ve seen her. I can’t stop thinking about how she’s doing, how she looks, if she misses the nights we spent together. Because I surely have.

I don’t bother knocking on her door. I slam it open and look around, hoping to see the woman sitting by the window or on the edge of the bed, waiting for my arrival.

Yet, there’s nothing. The bed looks untouched. The room itself appears spotless, as if no one is residing here in the first place.

My face contorts with confusion. I move the curtains, peek underneath the bed, and check the bathroom, but there’s no one around. No Dalia. Fear pools in my chest. Where is she?

“Meru!”

My butler runs in quickly. He stands underneath the doorway with a rag over his shoulder. His eyes gaze around the room, an action I notice. Does he know that something is wrong here, too?

“Where did she go?” I ask, drawing closer to the servant who, for some reason, pales with each second that passes. “I wanted to see her, but she’s not here. Did she escape? Did one of you imbeciles allow this to happen?”

“N-No, sir. She did not escape.”

“Then what happened?” I loom over him, anticipating his answer.

For some reason, Meru doesn’t want to look at me. His eyes land everywhere else, except me. This is wrong. And I’m starting to think he played a role.

“Why aren’t you answering? I asked you a question.”

“Sir…” Meru sighs. “Forgive me. I-I didn’t know–”

“Didn’t know what?!”

“I thought that you grew tired of the human female, so I sent her to do manual labor.” Meru raises his gaze. “S-She spent days in her room, doing nothing, so I–”

This stupid fucking idiot. Without another word, I launch him into the nearest wall, feeling the material crack upon collision. Meru groans, gripping his sides.

I approach him slowly, giving him a few seconds to catch his breath, before I crouch down and take the servant by the back of his neck. I force him to look me in the eyes. Blood dribbles out of his mouth.

“What makes you think you can make decisions on my behalf?” I ask, quietly raising a brow. My grip on his neck tightens. “Do you think you have authority over what I say?”

“N-No, sir. Not at all. I-I don’t–”

“It’s clear that what you think and what you say do not coincide very well. You say that you don’t want to undermine me, yet your actions prove otherwise.” My hand moves towards the front of his neck. I want to rip his throat out. “Where is she? Bring me to her.”

“S-Sir, I will find her for you immediately. Just let me–”

“I don’t trust you to do anything right.”

Flinging his head into the wall, Meru gasps and his eyes cross momentarily. Instead of waiting for the fool to compose himself, I take him by the scalp and drag him through the hallways. Ignoring his cries, I drag him for the rest of the servants to see.

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