Chapter 88: VOL 2 Chapter 33: what did you want to talk to me about?
At one side of the table, Thalia watched in complete silence what was undoubtedly a 'warning' from the strange fetishist known as Seraphina, not daring to say a single word. She was practically certain that if she dared to interrupt the moment, she'd have that terrible demon dressed as a maid behind her, and who knows what she might do to her this time.
Thalia trembled slightly with lingering fear as she recalled what happened the last time she ignored her grandfather's words and tried to outsmart Seraphina. She had been so young and ignorant then, and she was incredibly lucky to get out in one piece that time. Although the punishment her mother gave her was quite harsh, she hadn't gotten off lightly either. Well, one never gets off lightly after provoking the demon dressed as a maid.
But on the other hand, Thalia's interest in that boy Erik could only increase. After all, although Seraphina's strange fetish was well-known among the Master-levels, she had never before seen such an exaggerated attitude from her in this regard. She cared for him so jealously, to the point that she wouldn't let anyone else attend to him. Even that scene of her asking to be punished with emotion, as much of a warning as it was, was something she had never seen before.
(Really, what does this boy have to make them act like that...? Although it's certainly interesting that a young man is capable of reaching and surpassing the marks achieved by the three of us in the last millennia, I don't think it's that big of a deal...)
Lost in her thoughts, Thalia discreetly studied the young man in front of her, genuinely curious to discover if there was something beyond his incredible talent that attracted that pair of troublemakers and the terrifying "perfect maid" so much. But her thoughts were interrupted when the young man spoke again.
"And so, Master Sunforge, what did you want to talk to me about?"
Already feeling defeated by the world, Erik asked after once again setting his teacup on the table, while Seraphina, with a satisfied expression, placed a plate full of special cookies on the table—cookies she had made herself after threatening... convincing Eleonora to give her the recipe.
"Fufufu, where did the respectful attitude from a moment ago go?" Thalia asked with an amused smile on her face, watching Erik's mood improve in real-time with each cookie he ate.
"Well, I'm tired of talking like that; it's too exhausting. So if you want to take revenge on me for my loose tongue, go ahead. I've already surrendered to my fate." Erik said casually and with a relaxed attitude while eating his cookies with delight.
"You're really brave..." Thalia commented with a mysterious smile, staring intently into Erik's green eyes, who looked quite happy now munching on his cookies.
"Not at all. It's just that you wouldn't dare to move a single finger out of place with Seraphina here, so why be afraid?" Erik remarked with a mocking smile on his face while looking directly into Thalia's eyes and eating another cookie. Thalia's gaze sharpened as she asked.