MEHJABEEN

"Haha" saying, Elffy rolled her eyes in mock annoyance.

"That was very funny, you are such a blessing in disguise to me—you know what I mean!" Elffy smacked his shoulder and chuckled at his pouting face.

"But there are no such invincible things right?" As scared as she felt inside, at least she made some efforts to make sure, as she distractedly played with her fingers up and down her tortoise purse's shell making the tortoise poke its head out its shell hole to play with her fingers.

This little tortoise named —Kubri is a priceless jewel for her which she found out during her childhood days in a pond nearby the aquatic life as a baby turtle. Kubri isn't normal, she can hold a lot of things in her shell and has a way of always guessing its Master's mind and grabbing the ingredients out of the shell hole with its mouth. As cute as it sounds, its loyalty lives a huge part in its master's lifetime.

Nobody except the respective master can order it around. It's a done deal when she saved this little creature. Which is Elffy! It's a wonder, nobody around the kingdom has it with them. It's an extinct kind, but only the fated person can afford to have it. If anyone kept it against its will, it might run away, using each possibility available to it. It's clever, as well as has an instinct to madly protect its owner and to be near them. Kubri will do anything to be near and safe around its master.

Backing up to the weirdest thing.

Elffy could not think of anything scarier for her, than suchlike headlessly creatures.

"No, my love." Quen pinched her cheeks cooing sweet nothing and continued as he pinched the bridge of his nose, once his laughter died down.

"But we do pay him well enough for his discretion, that way kids in the castle may not freak out at his presence. It's safer that way."

"Okay, then I think it's good for me too that way." Elffy retorts imitating his former line.

Suddenly their gabbing sounded less interesting for some time as they stood in the living room opposite each other, eyes boring into each other's, both waiting for the other to look away first or say something.

" So, " Elffy dragged. The desperate need to end the pleasant-awkwardness lurching between them.

" Anything— I mean, should I know specific things about your family, Quen?" She stuttered in a hurry her voice sounding like a whisper.

" You already knew them, my love. Churns any doubts? " Quentin arches his brow in a question sigh.

" Yes, it does. Though it isn't my everyday thing to walk beside you as your lover, am I? And for the thing you're going to say, I should least know their unsaid likes and dislikes, right? Although today's weather is good, I'm overbound to be in their good books too." She rattled her words in a mess and dragged some more after a short breath,

" Quen, what we have is so precious. I can't lose you nor their kind generosity to make me— a no one to live in their kingdom. " In the end, Elffy's hands were slightly shaking as the pre-jitters hit her nerves one after another, thus making her thoughts line up to imagine the worst possibilities happening. The person who is in receiving terms of her speech tries to gain her lost attention on him, knowing that she was gonna have an episode soon, as he watches her lively changes.

" Now now, remain calm. Just breath, in and out." Quen said using all his softness in his voice but she ain't listening in the first place and her nervous twitch is having a toll on her, now making her eyes tear up.

" Please, my love. Look at me. " Quen pleaded to hold her chin in his hand. Once she was trying to process her state, Quentin fastens her gaze solely on him and says,

" Yes yes, you're doing great! Just like that, look me in the eyes. Come on, love. Now follow my voice and breathe along—With me." When she heard his voice pleading with her to breathe, without her knowledge Elffy complied with his words her knotted nerves were freed gradually as she followed his voice with her eyes glued on his blue orbs. Once her breathing is picking up to the pace of its regular beats, and finally when she is stabilized, he shed a sigh of relief.

" See, that doesn't take so long, isn't it? " And pulled her for a walk around the curvy staircases, which led them to the balcony sidewalks around the main hall. The view beneath her was screaming royalty for all the little built-in her eyes were on. On contrary, Quen has been quiet for a while, but Edwin doesn't miss his eyes roaming over her body whenever she isn't looking.

" With the earlier said, there's a lot you should know." Quen smiled at her and turned off the corner which turned into another vacant space of the viewer's balconies.

"But I think you would find out more when you meet them after many lapses indeed, since your last arrival in this castle." Saying, Quen tilted his head and thought for a second.

" My mom cannot stand fake pleasantries, she can see through you if you try, so don't bring it up. Also, she might not like you at first after my confession about our love given your um…" he trailed off, eyes boring into her.

" Since I'm no one. A sole Elf living under their wings with their grace. To which I'm still really grateful. " Elffy completed his unsaid words.

Nodding his head, Quen turned back ahead facing nothing in specific.

"She will relax once she observes that you do not cling to me and more importantly once she gets to know you more, that you're not like other leeches—or nothing like them. " He added quickly.

" Okay, so should I expect to receive a dirty stare for the first few minutes." Elffy implores knowing the upcoming answer.

" Sadly, yes, but I won't let it go any further. Also, my little sister would be there too, Zazie loves you more than me, so it's easy for you to get along in front of the king and queen, in case you feel out of place, which I won't let you go through." Quen beamed at his sinful beauty asking her for acceptance.

Practically speaking, he should have confessed everything earlier to her so she shouldn't have gone through it all in a short time, on the contrary, Elffy might plan to give a questionable excuse to him like the early times regarding his only chance to meet his parents. So, he was left with no option, but to remain numb till the matter was about to happen.

On the other end, with all said, Elffy chewed on the inside of her cheeks, contemplating what to say to make him know that she is feeling a lot better right now, but sadly nothing came up. Instead, she just gave him the most reassuring smile she could muster up, thankfully there came a soldier, successfully ending their conversation before it turned sour with an announcement of the King's arrival in the gate beyond the staircase laying on the other end of the balcony sidewalks.

Once they reached the gate, it opened up on its own after a weird light scanning their bodies, making Quen place her tugged in his chest once the doorway is fully wide-spread.

Till now, Elffy has thought the main hall behind them is what is called a feast to the eyes. But after seeing this richness-filled arena with a homely input she felt the urge to blind her eyesight to the aspiring sight.

" Well, it's going to be a long day, my love." Quen chuckled on seeing her gaping mouth.

Elffy gasped in realization, and stood her ground, thereby clutching her dress hem tightly in a fist. Seeing her changes, Quen nudged her sides,

" What? " He asked in concern.

" I didn't bring any gifts, for the majesty. " Hearing her, he just smiled and said,

" My parents would not mind. I never bring gifts. I think you have enough gifts for them. "

" Still, it's a bit rude since it's my first visit after many lapses. Then as just a girl now as your girl. There's more difference, silly." I frowned.

" I promise. It's okay, my love. Let's go in." Quen smiled assuredly.

Slowly Quen led her through the red carpet role, and she could not help but the gap at every magnificent piece passed after the other. This room was just as large as the previous hall, but it had more ornate and detailed designs that looked like they dated back centuries ago.

" I will bring you on a tour later," he said, seeing how interested she is. 'That she is true,' Elffy thought to herself.

" Oh, you don't have to " Elffy brushed it off with a wave of her hand and a smile.

" I insist. "he smiled back lovingly at her as he guided her down the curvy staircase to reach the gate before them.

From the sound of kids running around and small chattering, she knew they were close, and for some reason, her nerves shot up at this point. Elffy had not given it much thought before agreeing to come.

And, to be said, she had never been to a real family dinner before, actually, the only thing she knew about a family dinner was a dinner shared with her best friend Inès, she was the closest thing she had to a family. Quen though came later in her life permanently. So compared to him, Inès is her closest family.

Elffy took a deep breath and squared her shoulders, mustering her courage to walk past that door Quen held open for her. It led to a rooftop where everyone is waiting for them.

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