Page 53 of Plaything of the Dark Elf

“Excuse me.”

The butler raises a brow. Our height difference makes me feel like a child.

“Would it be alright if I helped take care of Etheron, too?”

Realization flashes in his eyes and he softens. His shoulders become less tense and the frown on his face slowly disappears.

“Ah,” he breathes out. “You’re the one he cherishes the most. I’ve heard of the things he’s been willing to do for you. You’re of great importance to him.”

I nod. “May I help you?”

“...I suppose that would be a good idea, but please be careful. He’s in a precarious state right now and we cannot risk endangering him further.”

“No, no, of course. I want to nurse him back to help. Tell me everything I need to do and I’ll do it.”

This butler is different from the one whose head got chopped off. He’s much nicer and soft-spoken. He doesn’t raise his voice at me, even when he gets a bit frustrated. I like spending time with him. He treats me like a person, but I can still see in his eyes that he’s not completely excited with the idea of a human spending time around dark elves.

Thankfully, he doesn’t do anything about it. I’m sure he knows what happened to the last batch of servants who openly demonstrated their disdain for me.

Nightfall comes and Etheron is still asleep in his bed. The butler folds up a fresh set of clothes and sets them at the foot of his bed.

“Are you alright with spending the night with him?” Concern laces his words. “If he wakes up and he needs something–”

“Don’t worry. I’ll handle things. If anything happens, I’ll make sure to let you know.”

He nods. “Yes. I’d need to fetch the healer immediately.”

“Do you think there’s a chance he could wake up soon?” I gaze upon Etheron’s sleeping form, a deep longing in my heart. “...I miss him.”

“We all do. If it’s true that the healer fed him multiple potions for his wounds, then it’s likely that the General will stay asleep for a few days before he stirs.”

“Really?”

“Yes. Have you ever consumed a healing potion before?”

I shake my head.

“They’re extremely potent, enough to put worgs to sleep. And the healer said he consumed multiple.”

“So it’s going to take a while until we get to talk to him again,” I say, smiling sadly. Reaching down, I take one of his hands and hold it with both of mine. “That’s a shame.”

“Maybe we’ll be lucky and that won’t be the case.”

“Maybe.”

The butler tells me goodnight and departs from the room, leaving me alone with Etheron. I don’t want to disturb him, so I make myself comfortable on one of the chairs at the corner of the room, opposite to the bed.

On second thought, it’s not comfortable at all. I’m folded up in a strange position and it’s making my neck hurt, but I endure it. I don’t want to leave him.

Just as I’m feeling my fatigue surpass my discomfort, I hear a noise coming from the bed. My eyes shoot open and I raise my head.

Etheron’s head lolls to the side. I squint at him. Am I going crazy or do I see his eyes fluttering open?

“...Etheron?” I whisper. “Etheron, are you awake?”

He groans. His eyes are open!

“Etheron!”

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