Chapter 713: Request
With the arrival of the royal heirs, the gazebo became much more lively. Servants and guards circled around, attending to our every need and desire. Whenever a crystal chalice emptied, a new one was already being poured.
The initial tension of their arrival was quick to fade, as both Belisa and Benjamin proved skilled in a social setting. Their words were crisp and polite, never straying into territory that made anyone uncomfortable. It was clean and sanitized, almost making me miss the rude, pretentious atmosphere Belisa had carried with her.
The change was centered around the prince, who rarely looked away from Elise. He was tall and strapping, with dark eyes and hair. He had a few freckles on his cheeks and a low laugh that sounded genuine and sincere. His eyes glowed warmly, and though his right hand never strayed far from the sword belted at his waist, he felt...gentle. Even Elise lowered her guard, allowing herself to smile and occasionally giggle at his jokes and witty remarks, often made at his own expense. It wasn’t at all how the prince was supposed to act. He should be cold and aloof, calculating every word to bring himself more power and influence. No matter how closely I watched or how I read into his words, I couldn’t figure out why he was being so nice or what angle he was trying to take with his interest in Elise.
As the servants began clearing our dishes away, Belisa leaned across the table, eyes shining as she looked at R’lissea.
"Is it true you invented a method of healing corruption?" she asked.
R’lissea blinked, tilting her head slightly. "Where did you hear something like that?"
Belisa said, "One of our informants mentioned they’d gathered a rumor like that. But is it true?"
The elf’s eyes flicked to me. I gave her a subtle nod. The fact that she would bring it up meant she was more than aware, didn’t it? What use was there in hiding it?
"It is," she admitted. "Xiviyah and I created a spell that heals more permanent afflictions from both demons and mortals."
"Including sunpurge, right? Wasn’t the Oracle afflicted?" Benjamin asked, joining the conversation.
All eyes turned to me. Tail flicking anxiously, I clasped a hand to my shoulder, covering the flesh where golden scars had once burned.