Page 2 of The Dark Elf's Surprise Baby

Deciding not to bother him, I speak directly to the cook, telling him that everyone is ready for him to start lunch.

The cook begins to work, directing the kitchen staff while I wait next to the back door for the errand boy to knock and deliver the groceries.

“You’re late,” I tell him teasingly. Fythed, the errand boy, rolls his eyes at me.

“I heard that your master is back today from his mission,” he says.

“Yes he is,” I confirm. “Do you have any ijanos blossoms in your cart?”

“I do,” he nods. “I can give you a dozen for ten daler.”

“Ten daler!” I stare at him. “That’s practically robbery!”

“Take it or leave it,” he shrugs. I sigh, rolling my eyes and pull out my coin purse, giving him the dalers one by one.

“Here, and be grateful that I like you!” I tell him. He chuckles and hands over the flowers before helping me unload the groceries into the kitchen. I fetch Ivrir’s coin purse from his waistcoat and pay him the four jetons for the groceries. “Now scram,” I tease him.

Fythed nods his cap and takes his leave while I carry the flowers into the house.

The ijanos, also called morning glories, are Demethys’ favorite flowers. I bring them into the kitchen and start picking off the dead leaves and cutting the stems. This was the first flower he gave me, back when he asked to court me. He wanted to prove he was serious about me and that it wasn’t just a quick roll in the hay for him.

Once the flowers are cleaned and cut, I grab a heavy crystal vase and take it with me into the front entryway, arranging theflowers inside so they’re the first thing Master Demethys will see when he walks in.

I’m just in the middle of arranging them when suddenly a hand snakes around my waist. I gasp, smiling as I slap it away.

“Let me go,” I say with a giggle. The person behind me hums thoughtfully before leaning in and kissing my neck, inhaling my scent.

“You always smell so good,” they say in a hoarse voice. Lumiolas take flight in my belly, making it feel like I’m being lit up from the inside.

“It’s because I use fresh rirzed soap,” I tell them. “Hands off.”

“Hmm. I don’t want to,” they say. I smile. I know exactly who it is. “But maybe I can trade you. A kiss for removing my hands?”

“Ah ah ah!” I tease back. “I’m working. I can’t mess around right now. You shouldn’t be touching me anyway,” I scold in a mock-serious voice.

“And why not?”

“Because we could get in trouble.”

“Ah but there’s no one around,” he points out. It’s true. The kitchen staff are busy making lunch, the other maids are upstairs tidying the rooms and Ivrir is still napping in the kitchen next to the fire.

“True but it’s still improper,” I argue back.

“What if I don’t want to stop?” he whispers in my ear. “What if I want to be close to you, to smell your sweet scent. To feel your warm skin?”

“You flatter me,” I tell him. “But perhaps you should know that I already have a lover.”

“But is he as handsome as me?” he asks.

“More,” I tell him.

“Is he as clever as I?”

“Greater.”

“Ah, but maybe he’s not as strong as me,” he offers.

“He’s got the strength of ten dripir,” I tell him.

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