NOVEL NEXT Ch. 39 - It Wasn't Over Yet
Heidel, of all people, had no reason to kidnap Yuriana, not to mention other elves.
Even if he took her, what would he do with her… just make her a rice and bread thief who ate up all the food?
And since Lulu would be accompanying her, the cost for meat and feed would be considerable too.
In conclusion, adding two food hogs!
The boy couldn’t easily shake off his guilt even when he saw Yuriana’s smiling face.
It probably meant he liked her that much.
“Yuriana…”
“Ah! There he comes.”
Having apparently finished their conversation, Heidel was returning with Asil.
She was sparkling brightly.
Yuriana’s eyes sparkled with inevitable curiosity and admiration.
“Dad!”
Her voice was livelier and cuter than when she asked to visit the capital.
If you couldn’t figure out what she wanted after hearing that call, you weren’t a parent.
“…”
Elves. Fascinating, right?
If one were Yuriana’s age, they’d be sticking their head out to see an elf too.
Damn!
“Don’t you have anything to say to Yuriana? Huh?”
For his expectant daughter, Asil barely managed to speak through clenched teeth.
“He’s… my friend… his name is Hei… del. Do you remember seeing the map with Dad in the garden before?”
A past rival, now someone he didn’t want to see. No, it couldn’t just be called an elf.
“Yes!”
“To the west of Dark Town where we live, more precisely near the southwestern border of the kingdom, there’s the elf country Elodia. This person…”
“Your friend.”
Heidel corrected the title with a beaming smile, and Asil gritted his teeth and added to the explanation.
“… yes, he came from there.”
He spoke in a tone one might use for a hated enemy, but Yuriana, understanding the situation, was simply happy.
Whoa! She met everyone except Aidan. This was a miracle!
What was Heidel’s setup again?
Elves usually had blonde or silver hair, but Heidel had rare red hair.
Such a prominent feature couldn’t be dismissed as a simple appearance difference.
The character description said it took countless efforts and overcoming others’ resistance for him to lead the Ichelle Allied Force.
‘A rare red-haired protagonist. Still, he looks good!’
Seeing Yuriana’s bright, sparkling eyes, Heidel smiled.
Even though Asil had purple eyes, these blue eyes were also beautiful.
‘Cool sky blue? They look like a refreshing spring hidden in the forest. When she grows up, she’ll have eyes that men will praise like a lake.’
Suddenly, a foreboding feeling arose.
Those eyes reminded him of someone who deserved to be forgotten.
‘This is troublesome. Asil, you’re really… an amazing guy.’
However, Heidel didn’t make the mistake of mentioning that name lightly. Unless something major happened, he wouldn’t do so in the future either.
No one present would want that.
Even though Heidel was an arrogant elf, he had more than enough courtesy.
He exaggerated his words deliberately.
“Haha, she looks just like you, Asil. Truly a beautiful princess. Should I kneel and pay my respects to the princess of Dark Town?”
“Be quiet.”
“I’m also willing to kiss her hand…?”
“I said it’s not necessary!”
Asil was utterly exasperated.
He just wanted to have a peaceful tree-viewing outing with his daughter. Now, what was all this?
He desperately needed vodka.
Above all, the reason he was so reluctant to meet Heidel…
This guy was different from the polite Aidan and Harun’s loyalist Al.
A crazy elf who could say anything!
‘How could the Ichelle Allied Force have been so lacking in talent that they put this guy in charge?’
It was still a mystery.
Not blonde or silver. A red-haired elf who united all elves.
A more pressing question was why he and Harun, the Emperor of the Empire, had left Elodia to come here?
He wouldn’t say a word about that…
Asil glared at the arrogant elf and spoke.
“What brings you here, leaving your base?”
“They’re doing fine. There won’t be any problems just because I’m gone for a few days.”
“Haa…!”
So confident.
He hoped he hadn’t forgotten the lesson of being wiped out by dark elves in an instant.
Heidel knew what Asil’s glare meant and spoke confidently.
“With the dark elves’ conspiracy crushed, our victory was as good as secured. The restoration is proceeding smoothly, so trust me.”
“I just hope you won’t flood our kingdom with refugees.”
“That won’t happen. Besides…”
“What?”
Asil sensed a foreboding as he asked back, but it was too late.
Heidel’s blue eyes grinned.
“Let’s go see Alice.”
“You!”
Bringing up that name again?
It was infuriating.
He had gotten over his attachment to Alice, but now this guy was bringing it up…
It felt like looking into a broken mirror.
‘Is this what they call self-loathing? A few months ago, those who knew my situation must have seen me like this guy. It’s really awful.’
To be blunt, it was pathetic.
If you were dumped, you should quietly pull back and calm your mind instead of coveting someone else’s wife!
Asil looked at him like he was an idiot, and Heidel shrugged his shoulders.
“What, is it difficult?”
“I’ve decided to forget the past. So, you should find your own life.”
“Oh. Is it not convenient for you to meet the queen of the kingdom in your current position?”
“…”
Heidel taunted him quite harshly.
“It’s surprising how quickly the status of Dark Town has fallen. About 50 years ago, the boss could summon royal relatives for a card game if he felt like it.”
It was meant to provoke Asil, but he didn’t get angry.
Because protecting the children was more important.
Specifically, Yuriana.
“Is that a joke? And watch your mouth, there are children here.”
He wished the elf would shut up or that the two kids would step back.
But Al showed no sign of leaving with Karas.
Yuriana, too, would be staring at the elf with wide eyes and perked-up ears, no doubt.
He didn’t even need to look.
“Ha…”
Asil’s only concern was this.
It was true that elves, as a beautiful race, were worshiped.
He knew and understood it. But… for his precious daughter, the first elf she saw was this guy!
It was the worst.
Heidel, if he fell a little more, the dark elves would worship him as their evil leader!
Was he aware?
Regardless of Asil’s glare, Heidel smiled and took out a note.
“I didn’t come to the kingdom for nothing, Asil. I have a clear purpose. Would you like to see it?”
“If it’s that nonsense again, I won’t let it slide.”
Asil was also a man of principles.
If Heidel spouted nonsense, he would punish him.
Since this was inside a hotel, he wouldn’t draw his weapon…
But he planned to corner him and bend his spine like a shrimp.
In conclusion, he was almost threatening to kill him!
The note Heidel handed over explained… why he had borrowed
A monster presumed to be a doppelganger had appeared near the border of the Nea Kingdom and Elodia.
Asil looked away without showing his tension.
In no time, the note was reduced to nothing, not even leaving a speck of ash.
Ignoring his daughter’s exclamation from behind, Asil tried to act as usual.
If it was near there, it was also close to the Empire.
If the three countries cooperated, they could handle anything that wasn’t a dragon.
The real problem was if it wasn’t just a doppelganger but a smart monster.
Even if it was just a monster and not a doppelganger, they had to deal with it.
If it was not just a strong beast but a smart monster, it would be more troublesome.
‘Damn, no wonder he left his country to come here.’
Asil realized his past mistakes.
He had chosen love over the kingdom’s crisis.
Because of that, the simplest solution, the Mirror of Origin, was never released from Dark House.
As a result, the one who ultimately defeated the doppelganger was Aidan and Alice.
It was Asil’s fault that it ended up being a half-victory.
He shouldn’t have been swayed by vain love and emotions.
He should have focused on the most important task!
‘No more regrets. This time, I’ll handle it cleanly.’
“I’ll take care of it. So, stop looking for them.”
Even though Asil spoke sincerely, Heidel insisted.
Asil was worried because if he and Heidel lingered near Alice, it would irritate the king.
He had to regret once again the narrow-minded actions of his past.
‘Damn it. I made one mistake, and it never ends. How harsh.’
At that moment, Heidel clapped his hands.
With his business with Asil concluded, Heidel hummed a tune as he rummaged through his bag.