The trip back to the palace was a relatively quiet one; mostly everyone was silently pondering, leaving only Goliath's loud voice to resound throughout the carriage, and it didn't help he was drunk, so he was really just talking to himself. Though I didn't mind as Elaine and I were in our own little world, his voice sounded like distance yells, which were easily ignored by the two of us; in fact, if it weren't for Illumia tapping my shoulder, we probably would've stayed in the carriage until nightfall, and I already know how that would've turned out.
"You're Highnesses, we've arrived at the palace." Said Illumia softly as she quickly retreated when Elaine glared at her with her silver eyes, full of madness.
"That quickly? I could've sworn we had just entered the carriage." Muttered Elif with a raised eyebrow as he glanced at Illumia, only to notice he and Elaine were the only two left in the carriage.
'I suppose time truly does fly when one is enjoying themselves.' Mused Elif with a wry smile as he stood up with Elaine in his arms and exited the carriage, spotting the group we had traveled with walking toward the castle entrance in the distance.
"Follow us, Mandy." Stated Elaine lightly, lying in Elif's arms as she turned and eyed Mandy, who was standing behind them just beside the carriage.
"Y-Yes, your Highness." Said Mandy in slight surprise as she quickly nodded and followed Elif, walking beside Illumia, who felt something was amiss.
"Hmm, what do you need Mandy for, Elaine? I've only seen you speak with her whenever you leave the royal grounds on your own accord." Remarked Elif curiously as he glanced at Mandy before looking down at Elaine, who displayed a mischievous grin.
"Hehe, not telling, Brother. It's a secret, but since I'm such an amazing little sister, I shall give you a little hint; it has something to do with you." Stated Elaine with a slight chuckle while looking at Elif with teasing eyes before smiling, imitating him as she flicked her lustrous silver hair, causing him to roll his eyes.
"So, you like keeping secrets from your elder brother, Elaine? I think that's deserving of some punishment, don't you think so?" Questioned Elif, seductively smiling, and softly pinched Elaine's nose before changing their positions with her legs wrapped around his waist to keep her upright as she stared into his eyes.
"Hehe, I don't know, Brother; how about you take me to your room so that you can conduct a thorough punishment? You don't want me to turn into a bad little sister." Declared Elaine with a sensual smirk as she rested her hands on Elif's shoulders, only to lean and whisper into his ear with a slightly raspy voice containing an untold amount of sexual desire.
"Don't tempt me now, Elaine; we enter my room; we won't be leaving for a few days at the minimum." Replied Elif passionately as he gripped Elaine's slightly plump butt and stared directly into her silver eyes while lightly kissing her, though just before they could start kissing to their heart's content, someone interfered.
"That was an enjoyable lunch, Elif; I thank you for the hospitality." Said Suscila calmly with a soft smile, which threatened to crack as she looked at Elaine and Elif's position.
"Oh, it's of no concern, Suscila; it may be my birthday, but I must still treat my guests." Replied Elif lightly as he frowned before slightly smiling at Suscila, who nodded, while Elaine suddenly dropped from his waist and walked to the front of the group.
"Before everyone disperses, you all are people my Brother interacts with the most besides his servants, so if possible, I'd like it if you all could follow me back to my room; I'd like to converse about Brother." Stated Elaine with a lovely smile as everyone walked through the massive double doors, entering the castle while stopping and looking at Elaine.
"Ho, speaking about Prince Elif on his birthday? Don't tell me it's a surprise for him, Princess Elaine?" Asked Birger with a knowing smile as he glanced at Elif, who was behind them all, before focusing back on Elaine.
"I don't know what you're referring to, Birger; I'd just like to speak about Brother, that's all." Said Elaine lightly, shaking her head, only to wink at Birger, who slightly widened his eyes and nodded while everyone else seemed to understand her hidden message
"Why, of course, Princess Elaine. Yes, I'm sure we'd all love to join such a conversation. Count me in, too, your Highness." Stated Eyor, Suscila, and Sarah, respectively, while everyone else nodded in agreement, though all were oblivious to what Elaine truly intended to do.
"Ah, wonderful." Remarked Elaine with a grateful smile as she looked at everyone while a trace of madness flashed through her eyes, something only Illumia and Nerthus happened to catch.
'Was I mistaken?' Mused Nerthus with a slight frown as she intently observed Elaine, who merely gave her a curious look before cutely smiling, causing her to shake her head, though Elaine's trick couldn't fool Illumia.
'Please call me your Majesty.' Thought Illumia with a troubled expression as she glanced at Elaine's back, which looked so harmless, but it was, in fact, the back of a woman who had already taken thousands of lives.
While I was curious as to what Elaine would be talking about, I didn't try to get the information out of her; it was more enjoyable when I was left in the dark; however, I still followed along even though I knew I wasn't going to a part of the conversation, in fact, she probably wasn't even going to let me into her room.
'Eh, that's fine; my room is nearby; I can wait in there; better than speaking with all those annoying guests.' Mused Elif lightly as he walked at the back of the group with Illumia and Mandy flanking his sides while Marley and Idonea walked behind him.
Once we arrived at Elaine's room, everyone began to enter, though, for some reason, she stopped both Goliath and Birger from entering, same with Suscila's servants, which required a bit of persuading.
"Hmm? What's going on, Elaine?" Asked Elif curiously as he stood beside Elaine, Birger, Maxim, and Suscila's servants, who were all just as confused as him.
"Nothing, it's just I forgot the conversation was going to be a little touchy for men and women to speak about openly; it's better if just us girls talk. I hope you don't mind." Replied Elaine gently, though while Elif was still a little confused, a kiss on the cheek made him entirely forget about it.
"Oh, can your servants join as well, Brother?" Asked Elaine with a smile as she backed away from Elif after just kissing him, causing him to nod.
"Yes, they can join; just don't be too long. I feel a little naked when I don't have at least one of my servants with me." Said Elif with a nod as he waved his hands, prompting his four servants to bow before entering, though Illumia seemed much more hesitant than the others.
"Are you sure my presence is required, your Highness?" Asked Illumia, hoping she may stay by Elif's side, or really, she just wished to keep her distance from Elaine if possible.
"Oh no, you're most definitely needed, Illumia; after all, you're the one who taught Brother how to seduce." Stated Elaine while shaking her head as she firmly rejected Illumia, who inwardly sighed before bowing and entering the room.
"Hehe, I promise we won't be too long, though we might end up speaking about women things, so we may take a little longer. I apologize, Birger and Goliath." Added Elaine with a weird chuckle as she kissed Elif before swiftly entering her room, closing the door, and locking it.
"No worries, Princess Elaine." Said Birger lightly as he looked at Elaine, who ignored him and disappeared into her room mid-sentence.
"Welp, I suppose it's just us three." Remarked Goliath as he glanced at Birger and Elif while ignoring Suscila's servants since they were, well, servants.
"Hmm, yeah." Muttered Elif with a nod while standing before the door, which suddenly released a soft glow.
"Formation? Princess Elaine really doesn't want any information to leak." Said Birger with a raised eyebrow as he looked at the softly glowing door before glancing at Elif.
"Don't look at me; I have no idea what she could be speaking about." Remarked Elif with a shake of his head before turning around and walking down the hall, prompting Birger and Goliath to follow while Suscila's servants guarded the door with Maxim flanking the other side.
"Since Princess Elaine said they may be speaking about women things, why don't we men talk about Men things?" Said Goliath with a grin, causing Birger to join in and grin as well, while Elif just raised an eyebrow.
"Like what, Goliath?" Asked Elif curiously.
"Obviously, Goliath is referring to women, Prince Elif; fine woman as well." Declared Birger with a slightly lustful smirk as he looked at Elif, who turned and walked backward.
"Ho, women? I'm listening." Said Elif with a slight smirk as he summoned his Quạt tay while winking at a passing maid, who blushed uncontrollably.
"I saw you speaking with the heir of the Fox clan, Prince Elif; she's a fine woman, no?" Asked Birger with a smirk, while Goliath nodded in agreement.
"She is, but she already has a fianceé; besides, I'm only interested in being with Elaine, though I will admit, her tails are incredibly soft. I wouldn't mind resting my head on them wherever I pleased." Remarked Elif lightly with a shake of his head before smirking, prompting Birger and Goliath to do the same.