Elsodd sat on the head of the table and the view it gave him of the entire dinner table was simply amazing: servants were tending all around him, and the food in front of him was carefully cooked and pleasing to look at, this was the kind of meal someone like him should have.

  His wife, who sits next to him, is slowly picking at the appetizer, his third born son is also here, at the age of thirteen, he looked amazing, all grace and muscle. Elsodd knew that he would become a fine young man one day.

  And yet, for all it's worth, Elsodd knew that this was nothing more than a false reality, he may seem like the head of this family, the one leading it, but it is far from the truth. His absent daughter, Ifira, has yet to arrive, and everyone is at peace because of it.

  "Euthiel, has Ifira told you when she would come?" A mere mention of her name caused the servants to slow down and Elis to go pale, what would her arrival do? "It's been so long since we had dinner together as a family."

  Elsodd wished that Ifira continued to avoid them, unfortunately, his wish was not just ignored, but he was granted the opposite of his desires. Presumably out of spite, the world is clearly out to get him by giving him his daughter so is it so strange for it to do this much?

  No, or course not.

  "Who knows? She came back to the mansion half an hour ago and has been in her room ever since, maids and servants went with her, I assume she's dressing up." His wife answered, putting on an air of normalcy much like him. "She was the one who invited us after all, so it's only normal that she chooses to dress up and make herself look pretty, a host should never be less than her guests."

  This was the philosophy Euthiel went by during her time in Kapatyan, in all the parties she threw, she always looked the best. Naturally, she would teach this to her daughter, she also taught Ifira about fashion, because why not?

  "Isn't it because of her new friend?" Elsodd pointed out, he didn't know the name of the girl but he has heard rumors about her for some time now. A prodigy. "I hear that she's killed an army of adventurers recently."

  "Nonsense." Euthiel shook her head. "Do you really believe that? There were platinum tags in that group, some of which have gone as far as the B rank."

  "I suppose you are right, it does seem impossible, doesn't it?" Elsodd agreed, if only for the sake of his own sanity.

  He knew that his daughter could probably do the same, Ifira has proven to be unnaturally strong, so would it be so strange for another girl to be the same? The reason for why this happened twice in a single area is foreign to him but if he had an inkling, he would definitely utilize it.

  Unfortunately, his daughter's strength remains a mystery to this day.

  Suddenly, the doors open and in comes the devil herself. Ifira stood by the door, her dress a glimmering thing that reflected the chandelier light in ways that caught the eye, her hair was perfectly braided and her face had a touch of light make up.

  She walks past the servants, through trays of food, and ignored her family members.

  "Father." Ifira stops to his side and Elsodd could feel the blood in his veins turn to ice.

  "Yes?" There would be fear in his voice no matter how hard he resisted, he would never be able to fix it.

  "Rontress will be coming here soon, I have told her to wait because I wish to tell you that if you make her uncomfortable, I will break your bones."

  "Of course! No discomfort, understood." Elsodd flinched, he did. Why wouldn't he? Ifira would keep her word. "Rontress wouldn't be uncomfortable around here."

  Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

  "Good." His daughter nods. "Next, I don't want you to try to set her up with my brother, for she is worth more than that, I will arrange her political marriage myself."

  Ah, his daughter really is naive isn't she? Ifira has been talking about things like this since she was a child, before her brother's death even, and now she's back at it again. Does she even know what to do with a political marriage?

  "If that's what you want." Elsodd can only agree

  "You promise?"

  "Yes, I promise." He nodded quickly..

  "Break your promise and you'll end up dead by tonight." From broken bones to death, what a way to escalate things. "Rontress is my friend, I will not have her disrespected."

  'And I am your father, shouldn't I be treated the same? Why does some random nobody get better treatment than me?' Elsodd mentally chagrined, he really didn't understand his daughter's mind sometimes.

  "A new friend, hm?" Euthiel hummed. "I hope she's interesting, Ifira."

  "Of course she is, why wouldn't she be?" Ifira let out a scoff before leaving. She was looking down on them!

  "She really is a handful." Elsodd sighed into his hands once Ifira left. "And now she's found a friend, hopefully that girl fixes Ifira's attitude."

  "You think that will happen?" Elis murmured, clearly irritated by how they've been treated. "Other nobles have tried to be her friends in the past, and look at how most of those turned out."

  Ah, Elis, such a young age and already so mature. Is it because of Ifira always stressing him out? It must be.

  "There's nothing we can do but wait in the end, and besides, I have a feeling that this Rontress might just be an interesting character, don't you think so, husband?"

  "I'm not sure." Elsodd shook his head, there's no way to know for certain how Ifira's new friend would act. "But she should be here soon, let's see her personality for ourselves then."

  As if on cue, the doors open and in walks a little girl with green hair, eyes of the same color, and pale skin. She walked with a strange sense of casualness to her, it wasn't the stiffness found in peasants but the grace commonly found in nobles isn't present either.

  He couldn't describe it, but if he were to try, he would say that it's like she walked knowing that she can go anywhere? Or maybe she's just used to walking in public places, again, he's not sure.

  The dress she's wearing is something to behold however, it is magical and something an esoteric mage would wear yet at the same time, it looked regal enough that it wouldn't be out of place in a ballroom.

  "Hello." Rontress bows, hands clasped in front of her and back ramrod. "I am Rontress Owelline, Ifira's friend and the daughter of Flotol's new leader."

  "Her father isn't actually the leader, she's the one managing the meetings that happen between the priest and other important people. They listen to her as well." Ifira quickly corrects, Elsodd did not know why she felt to add this, maybe she wanted to elevate Rontress' position?

  "Haha... Yes, that happens." The awkward chuckle was forced but there's no fear in it, her voice isn't even shaking. "You didn't have to do that Ifira, I could have done it myself when I felt that the time was right. Please don't talk over me again."

  Elsodd closed his eyes and prepared for the worst, everyone in the room did the same, it's been made clear that no one talks to Ifira like that, the smallest disrespect can cause his daughter to lash out and kill the offender.

  Outright asking her to not do something? That's asking for the worst.

  "Okay. Why though?"

  Instead of blood splattering to the floor like he expected, his daughter agreed and even asked what was wrong. What? How could someone not just survive talking to Ifira like that, but even make her reflect?

  "Sometimes, secrets are necessary." Rontress simply shrugs like she didn't just dance with death moments prior. "I don't wanna reveal certain things because it would mean people will know how to counter it in the future, it might get me killed you know?"

  "So you're not gonna be showing everyone here your strength, then?"

  Strength? Is this little girl also as strong as?..

  Elsodd's heart stopped beating for a moment.

  There's no way. There's simply no way that there's two of them now, he once believed the rumors surrounding this girl to be false but for Ifira to acknowledge it then...

  By the Light.

  "No, not at all." Rontress shook her head. "Keeping my abilities secret will be the reason why I'll survive getting ambushed in the future, which will happen, the King wouldn't want anyone to be out of control, let alone us."

  "I see. I'll try hiding my own strength as well." His daughter just agreed? But more than that, is Rontress influencing Ifira to be more cunning?

  That's not good!

  "So, Ifira says you're the actual leader in Flotol?"

  "No? Not really." The head shake implies she's being genuine? Or does she just know how to lie? Is good at it even? "I have people doing the managing for me, I simply make the plans."

  "And, do tell, what are you currently planning?"

  "Tourism."

  "What?" Euthiel was taken aback.

  "Wait! Let me explain this one!" Ifira butted in, and when both Rontress and Euthiel nodded for her to do so, she grinned and began explaining Rontress' apparent plan for Flotol.