That night, a letter was delivered deep into the forest, to the elven settlement.
Though it was already evening, the elven grounds were still full of light.
Fireflies drifted through the air, and glowing plants shone all around.
Several young elf children were still laughing and playing.
Here, they lived carefree lives.
Combined with the elves' natural closeness to the world around them, the entire settlement constantly gave off the feeling of the natural world itself, attracting countless small animals.
Out on the sea, the Tontatta Tribe was famous for its skill with plants.
But the elves were no less remarkable.
Massive ancient trees covered the area, some of them several hundred years old.
Many small animals had made their homes here. Not only was it safe, food was plentiful too.
If outsiders ever saw this place, they'd probably think they had stumbled into a fairyland.
Along one of the settlement's forest paths, a male elf beat his transparent wings and sped through the woods.
It didn't take long before he reached a giant treehouse.
The guards were surprised.
Wasn't this one of the elves stationed outside?
Why was he back already, before his term had even ended?
One of the guards stepped forward.
"Kelsamon, weren't you stationed in the outside world? Why are you back?"
The elf named Kelsamon folded away the transparent wings on his back and produced a letter, handing it over.
"This is a letter from Lord Leonardo. It needs to be delivered to the Grand Elder."
The guard didn't doubt him in the slightest.
After all, no one had ever dared impersonate an elf and force their way in here.
Taking the letter, the guard headed into the treehouse.
Knock, knock, knock.
The guard knocked on the door.
It was still early. The Grand Elder hadn't gone to rest yet.
Otherwise, this would have had to wait until tomorrow.
"Come in."
A mature, composed female voice drifted out, clear and pleasing enough to make anyone's ears melt.
Creak.
The guard pushed the door open, entered, and knelt on one knee, raising the letter with both hands.
"Grand Elder, this is a letter sent back by Lord Leonardo."
A slender, jade-like hand reached out and took the letter.
Without opening it right away, the woman said slowly, "Oh? From Leonardo?
"What made him suddenly think to send a letter back? Did that little troublemaker Arya cause another mess?"
The guard kept her head lowered and said nothing.
She didn't know either. She would simply wait for instructions.
With a light wave of the woman's hand, the room brightened noticeably.
The guard dared a quick glance upward—
And the still somewhat-young elf girl's eyes instantly filled with hearts.
"Lady Lilith is so beautiful!"
The Grand Elder, seeing the guard's reaction, couldn't help sighing.
As the light grew stronger, a woman who looked strikingly similar to Arya came into view.
Or rather, Arya had clearly inherited her beauty from this woman.
The woman named Lilith lay lazily reclined on the bed, dressed in exquisite sleepwear made from top-grade silk.
Though the fabric wasn't transparent, it only reached as far as her thighs, leaving her long, pale legs loosely crossed and exposed.
Lady Lilith opened the letter, her lips moving silently as she read.
The guard watched those lips—soft, full, and faintly upturned, giving off an impression both sweet and inviting.
Her fall into total infatuation accelerated instantly.
She looked as though she might faint, thin wisps of white smoke practically rising from her head.
After reading the letter, Lady Lilith's beautiful lips curved into a faint smile.
Her deep-set eyes flickered, clearly considering something.
The slender fingers of one hand tapped lightly against the bedframe, showing that even she hadn't made up her mind yet.
A moment later, Lilith called out, "Someone."
Another elf guard hurried inside.
The moment she saw the state of her companion, she didn't even dare raise her head.
She wailed inwardly.
The Grand Elder's charm is so overwhelming that even we women can't withstand it.
"Grand Elder, your orders?"
Lilith casually pointed at the infatuated elf on the floor.
"Take her outside and let her get some air until she clears her head.
"Then go summon the Second Elder and the Third Elder."
The guard hurriedly dragged away her companion, who had utterly fallen to the Grand Elder's beauty.
Lady Lilith rose, put on proper clothes, and walked barefoot into the sitting room, where she began preparing the elves' special tea.
Not long afterward, two old women entered slowly, leaning on canes.
"Lilith, what is it?" the Second Elder asked the moment she came in.
It couldn't be helped—she was old, and her sleep had never been very good to begin with.
She had only just fallen asleep before being summoned, which made her rather uncomfortable.
The two elders were not nearly as affected by Lady Lilith's beauty as the younger elves were.
At most, there was a trace of envy in their eyes.
After all, who in their youth hadn't once possessed a beautiful face?
Once the two elders had taken their seats, Lady Lilith poured each of them a cup of tea.
This didn't look like an urgent matter.
Seeing that, the Second and Third Elders both relaxed slightly and lifted their cups to drink.
"I have to say, Lilith, your tea-making has improved again," the Second Elder praised with a smile after taking a sip.
Lady Lilith smiled faintly, but before she could speak, the Third Elder impatiently cut in.
"If you have something to say, then say it quickly.
"You know full well that you're the second most dangerously charming person our race has produced in centuries. This old woman can't hold out much longer."
Without ceremony, Lady Lilith passed the letter over and calmly sipped her own tea.
The two elders read it.
The farther they read, the deeper the wrinkles on their faces became.
When they were done, they both looked up at Lilith.
"You plan to agree to the World Government's conditions?" the Second Elder asked sternly.
Lilith slowly shook her head and topped up her tea.
"You both know perfectly well what the people of the World Government are like.
"If we agreed, some of our girls would never be safe again.
"Myself included.
"Our bloodline ranks just below the Lunarians."
"Then what do you mean?" the Third Elder asked uncertainly.
Lilith reached into her clothes and took out a piece of intelligence, passing it across.
Resting her chin on one hand, she said calmly, "This is information on that boy.
"He hides himself well, but you know that group always has ways to get information.
"He may not look ambitious on the surface…
"but isn't freedom itself the greatest ambition of all?"
After reading the report, the Second Elder said in a low voice, "So the reason those people moved against him in the East Blue last time…
"…was because he had gotten too close to Fish-Man Island and disrupted their plans to win Fish-Man Island over?"
Lilith nodded.
"That's more or less it.
"Fish-Man Island sees promise in that boy's future, so they've already placed their bet on him."
"Then you want…" the Third Elder began, leaving the rest unsaid.
But Lilith understood.
Her slender fingers tapped lightly against the table.
"There's an old saying among humans: you don't put all your eggs in one basket."
Lilith considered for a moment, then said, "Let Arya go.
"Hasn't she always been making a fuss about wanting to see the outside world anyway?"
Both elders nodded.
That was indeed a good idea.
Lady Lilith's lips curved upward.
"Leonardo stays behind.
"I refuse to believe it.
"Arya inherited my beauty.
"Could she really fail to wrap a young man around her finger?"
The two elders nodded.
When you're strong, your words naturally carry weight.
Just as that boy in the report had said, the elves had long since lost patience with a tasteless dream they had waited on for centuries.
Looking out into the night beyond the window, Lady Lilith's deep eyes flickered.
"Hmph. Betting your own daughter for the future of your race?
"I have to admit, Otohime, you really did make a ruthless move.
"But until the very end, no one can say who'll be the one laughing last."
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