Page 39 of Plaything of the Dark Elf

“Entirely. I don’t want you suffering when I’m around. I made a mistake by leaving you with those servants and it’s going to haunt me for a long while. Forgive me.”

“I-I…” Dalia laughs incredulously. “I don’t know what to say. Are you serious? What happened to you?”

“What do you mean?”

“Oh, come on! I thought you were like the rest of them.”

“In what way?” My eyebrows furrow together. “I don’t want to hurt you.”

“Maybe not now, but that wasn’t the case in the beginning. I thought you wanted to break me.”

“That’s in the past. I don’t feel that way any more.”

“...Well, that’s good to know.” Dalia settles against my chest again, letting out a sigh. “Sorry if I’m feeling apprehensive about this whole thing. It’s… surprising. I don’t know what to make of it.”

“Don’t worry too much about it. My feelings are sincere and I want to prove that to you.” My hand traces along the small bumps of her spine. “I changed my mind about you. You’re not like the other humans I’ve met.”

Dalia hums. Her eyes flutter close as she basks in the soft morning sun that kisses her skin delicately.

“It’s like the sun rose from the west,” she whispers. “This doesn’t feel real. I was prepared for the worst.”

“Really?”

“Of course. I thought that I was going to die soon. If you hadn’t arrived, those dark elves might have killed me. I didn’t have much will to live anymore and I didn’t plan on fighting them if they chose to kill me. I wanted to die.”

“I’m sorry.”

“When you found me by the river, I thought about letting the water whisk me away. Dying felt better than living in this mansion.”

That remark makes me frown. I regret ever putting her in a position like that. If only I had the power to go back in time, I would strike myself endlessly and tell myself to open my eyes. Everything that I’ve ever wanted is right here in my arms. What was I doing, going out into the world trying to find a replacement for something that is so inimitable?

I grimace. That wasn’t too long ago. It’s amazing how quickly things can change from one day to the next. I never want to lose Dalia. She means too much to me.

“I have some plans for us today,” I say, which catches her attention. “After we get ready and have breakfast, I want to take you for a tour of the mansion. A proper one. I’m sure there are spots that you haven’t encountered just yet.”

Again, Dalia stares at me as if I’m a creature from an unknown world. This time, she props herself up on her elbows. Her blonde hair cascades beautifully down her shoulders and across her back. I fight the urge to pin her down and start repeating everything I did to her last night.

“Are you serious?”

“How many times have you asked me that already?” I smile. “Of course I’m serious. I wouldn’t joke about something like this.”

“But I’ve already seen most of the mansion. I don’t think there’s anything left for me to see.”

“I doubt it.” There’s one place in particular that is closed off to my servants. No one goes there without my consent. “I would like to show you something near and dear to my heart. And I don’t think you’ve seen the full beauty of my home. I want to treat you like a guest, not a slave.”

“...Okay,” she breathes out.

I kiss her gently. “Don’t be so afraid. I promise I won’t hurt you.”

“I trust you, Etheron.”

“Thank you.” That’s all I want to hear. It’s what makes my heart melt. “Thank you, Dalia.”

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