"Your Excellency,"
I stood up as Issa and the other elves came to the greenhouse the next day. They had asked to meet me during the banquet, but thanks to yet another mishap on my day, I couldn't receive them yesterday. So I invited them to my private space as an apology.
"Oh, you don't have to stand," Issa hurriedly extended her arms and grasped my hand. "I heard something bad happened yesterday."
I looked at the smooth, fair hands clasping mine, wondering when did we become this friendly? But the genuine concern on their face made it impossible for me to retract my hand. Well...not that it was uncomfortable.
"Ah, it's just...a little mishap," I told them with an awkward smile.
"A little?" one of the elves gasped. "The vibration even reached our lodging."
