The Demon Lord's Bride (BL)

We ended up playing with the elf children until Jade said he was sleepy--which was a sign of losing the energy to keep the boy’s appearance.

So we bid goodbye to the children, who were whining and tugging on our clothes, asking if we were going to be there tomorrow as well.

"Jade go to forest tomorrow," the little boy in my arms replied drowsily.

"Oh, you’re going home?" they sighed, sounding so sad that it actually made me happy. I guess...it was the kind of comfortable feeling of being instantly welcomed and accepted in a new society.

Jade seemed to be happy too, recounting his feelings while snuggling inside my embrace in the carriage home. "Jade have fun," the little boy said, calm and quiet from feeling sleepy. "Going to new place is fun, Master...Jade have lots of new friends..."

"I see..." I patted his side with a smile. "Then let’s go to lots of places from now on."

"Mm..." he murmured for the last time, and it was steady breath after. I continued to pat the little boy for a few minutes until Jade began to glow and turned back into a little bird inside the heap of children’s clothes.

Both elves stared at the little bird in fascination, and the rest of our journey home was filled with the story of how the elemental bird could gain the ability to transform into a child--or rather, the child version of me. It helped ease the awkwardness and the slight tension I felt at the end of our conversation regarding Izzi’s punishment. Thanks to that, I could face them as usual after we arrived in front of the cabin.

"I apologize if I seem to be impertinent, my Lady," holding Jade in my arms, I bowed my head a little bit. While I didn’t feel guilty about what I said, I was also being harsh and accusatory, so I wanted to apologize for that at least. "The elf in question is a dear friend of mine, and I wish for him to be as free as the other elves. Of course, I don’t mean he shouldn’t pay for the damage he caused, but--"

"I understand, Your Excellency," fortunately, Issa received it with grace. She paused for a bit and stroked her chin while shaking his head slightly. "Unfortunately, the decision is not one I could make on my own. That being said, all I have to do is talk to the person in charge. I will make sure to...deliver what you said earlier."

Well, I expected that already. Issa was a high-ranking court member, but it wasn’t like she could decide on every policy made in the kingdom. In the first place, I talked to her only with the hope that she would do just that; talking to the one in charge. "That is enough, thank you."