"..." Alysia stared at the man who simply wanted the profit without any investment. She was aware that Eli wanted to hold the power of Elders and, using their position as the clan leaders, they could help Eli if he asked for money...However, what Eli was asking for was to cultivate numerous varieties of seeds, so it would take lots of resources and money to do it.
'It's not like I'm worried about them.... However' she thought inwardly and said, "What if they decide to use their clan to work for you for free?"
"Then they will lose their clan members and their position as Elders, degrading their popularity among the people, which makes it easy for you to eliminate them" Eli answered without hesitation as if saying he already had some other plans if it failed.
Alysia raised her eyebrow as a sly smile erupted on her face... She liked the plan.
"Could I get a share?" She asked just for fun, fully aware that Eli was the one who had been helping her a lot.
"Why not?" Eli said seriously, considering a trade was better than anything for him.
Alysia's lips twitched as she understood that Eli was only speaking to her to use her; otherwise, Eli would have already left the room. She felt like Eli was treating her like a stranger... She didn't like it.
"50%" Alysia said with annoyance, deciding to play along. If Eli wanted to treat her like that, then so be it.
Eli raised his eyebrows. What he had in his mind was a maximum of a 10% share and anything above that he wasn't going to agree to. However, "50%" was something he never guessed.
Seeing Eli's shocking reaction, Alysia couldn't help but laugh as she said, "Hahahaha... I... hahah... I am sorry.... I-ha- I won't ask for the share"
"..." Eli sighed in relief; he was just thinking of using some force on her to bend on his will.
Alysia was about to say something when,
'Knock, Knock'
"...."
"...."
'Knock, Knock'
"Hide!" Alysia said as she stood up and went to the door.
'Knock, Knock'
Just about to open the door, she glanced back and saw no one on the chair or bed. Sighing, she opened the door.
'Thud'
"What is it, Professor Aadya?" Alysia said with groggy eyes as if she had woken up just now.
Aadya frowned at Alysia before entering the room without permission.
"What are you doing?" Alysia asked with a frown.
"Nothing" Aadya said as she sat on the bed.
"..." Alysia didn't lock the door and walked towards Aadya.
"Professor Aady--" Alysia was about to ask when,
"Aunty, why are you being formal? Just speak as usual" Aadya interrupted Alysia, and her tone turned soft.
'Aunty?' Eli thought with a surprised face. He hid under the bed, just like in any movie. He chose this safe position in case Aadya were to look down; Eli simply attached to the edges so he wouldn't be visible to her.
"...." Alysia sweated like a bullet and was about to reject more when,
"Aunty Alysia, can you believe that Asher Eli bastard just entered this dormitory?" Aadya said with annoyance. If someone else were to see Eli entering and leaving the ladies' dormitory, then she would be the one who would suffer the consequences.
"I-Is that so?" Alysia stuttered, 'Please stop calling me Aunt!!!' she shouted inwardly.
"Hmm? What's wrong, Aunt?" Aadya suddenly frowned upon seeing Alysia's distress.
"Well...." Alysia's eyes roamed around, 'Sigh, I guess, the cat's out of the bag' She thought and said, "Nothing, so where did he go?"
"I am not sure; I already searched everywhere.....but he will definitely arrive at Mia's room" Aadya replied.
"I see...Then shouldn't you wait at Mia's door?" Alysia just nodded and wished Aadya would soon leave.
"Don't worry, I put my familiar on guard, so as soon as he arrives, I'm gonna catch that pervert" Aadya said with a serious and smug face as she thought various ways to torture him.
Alysia, for some reason, was scared, and she even knew the reason but refused to accept it.
"...Alysia"
"..."
"Alysia!!"
"I-I don't l-love y-you"
"Pffttt...hahahahahahah"
Hearing Eli's laughter, Alysia turned around her expression a mix of embarrassment and confusion.
Seeing her red face, Eli laughed even more.
"Why are you laughing?" Alysia shot back, her embarrassment transforming into frustration.
"Well, I never thought that once a prideful and carefree girl would now be trembling" Eli remarked.
Eli glanced at the ceiling before calming down, convinced that she had a crush on him. However, it wasn't as intense as Lilith and others, so his tone shifted from amusement to seriousness,
"Alysia Hill Morgan Flora"
"Y-Yes" Alysia's body suddenly flinched, awaiting what Eli had to say.
"You asked for a 50% share, right?"
"Y-Yes?"
"I will give you 100%, but..." Eli paused, closing the distance between them.
"...." Alysia stood her ground, refusing to retreat....even if her heart beat crazy.
"I don't know whether you remember or not, but...'You lo--'"
"'You look indeed pretty. But to me, it's nothing and worthless'...Right?" Alysia interrupted Eli, her voice revealing both vulnerability and strength.
He was the first man ever to tell her that beauty was worthless and nothing....not to make her curious or with any hidden agenda. He spoke those words from the bottom of his heart, and.....they were never meant to demean her. It was someone else whose beauty could only be seen by him and him alone.
Eli chuckled, he graced her his long, pointy ears adorned with diamonds and jewels. Her ears twitched in happiness.
"Make me fall for you" Eli said, surprising her with a sudden kiss. It was a simple peck, but its impact was profound. Eli soon separated from her face, his pupils flickering with pink. Alysia, too, saw her eyes flicker pink as well as if something entered her body.
As he continued, "Prove to me, Alysia, that there's more to you than just beauty and the current you are just living each day counting... There's nothing inside your heart... I don't like a woman who is just an empty shell adorned with beauty.
I want to see you shine more than the jewels you are wearing..." His expression turned blank as he added, "And that's what I want to attain....Make me crave for you".
Eli stared at her silvery eyes before calming himself down, walking towards the window, readying himself to jump out. Before leaping, he said as he turned his head,
"The more you shine, the more I will come for you, My dear Alysia Hill Morgan Flora".
After he left, Alysia blankly stared at the rising sun as her face, neck, and ears turned bright red. Her heart was beating wildly.
'Drip, Drip'
Some transparented liquid dripped from her leg as she fell down, covering her trembling lips.
"C-Crazy M-Man" she muttered as her expression turned slightly darkened.
.....
...
After leaving Alysia's room, Eli decided to head home, contemplating he would surprise his sister later and not want to cause any more trouble to Aadya. However, as he casually glanced at the window of Zera's room, a frown creased his forehead upon noticing an eerie black mist leaking out from her window.
Without a moment's hesitation, he leapt towards the window area. As he was about to knock on the window, a sudden cry reached his ears,
"PAPA!!"
As a dead fish-like face appeared behind the window and suddenly opened it and pulled Eli inside.