Chapter 377 A Good Tongue Game

"Hmm... It looks even better than Azarthan, and it is saying something considering the latter is our Empire's capital city," Iliana remarked as she looked around territory governed by Alphoetra Tribe.

Even though they weren't the first one to head to Padeitophys, they still arrived there first. They had rushed on their way there, so it was slightly relieving that the scene was worth the rush.

They knew they wouldn't be able to enjoy the beauty of the scenery the moment the representative of Frachtenhein Kingdom arrived.

"Why don't we get down, and greet them or something?" Iliana wondered.

"They are but mere tribesmen—servants." Basil gestured at the line of Elves standing in front of Deacon while marvelling at him. "You shouldn't be on the same ground as them until their Master arrives."

"Has spending your time too much with the King changed you to an obnoxious Noble?" Iliana remarked humorously.

"It is called common courtesy. We are the representative of the Kingdom, and we shall behave as such, unless we want to look like a bunch of imbeciles who know nothing about manners."

"... That just sounds obnoxious, really."

"I think the Tribe Chief who makes us wait is the one who is obnoxious," Ione retorted. "Those who need shall ask. It is a common courtesy to be on the spot the moment the guest whom you asked help from arrives."

Finding no worth in debating—the logic was sound too—Iliana shrugged nonchalantly. She was actually slightly disappointed that Ione even sided with Basil, but she realized she was the one who was wrong, thus she stayed quiet.

After another minute of silence, the waited person could finally be seen. Tinuviel and her vessel, Nissena, were just a few meters away from them, so they immediately got down from Deacon to not look rude.

... Except for Basil.

Gazing upwards absurdly, Iliana and Ione asked him what he was thinking with their eyes. He was the one who had reminded them about common courtesy, and now he was the one being rude—they couldn't understand him.

Turning to Tinuviel to look at her reaction, the two women heaved a sigh of relief when said Elf could still keep her gracious smile.

"Greetings to the Golden Apple of Braxtein Kingdom. I am Tinuviel tia Alphoetra, the Chief of Alphoetra Tribe." Tinuviel bowed politely. "I am very ashamed for making you wait."

"It must have been hectic dealing with the matter by yourself. Your tardiness is understandable," Basil said neutrally. "I am currently facing a problem too. I accidentally hurt my feet, so forgive me for my rudeness; I can't get down and walk beside you."

Gazing at Basil from the corner of their eyes, Ione and Iliana sighed in admiration. No one but him dared to blatantly lie to an Elf, who could read people like an open book.

"Ah, that is too bad, isn't that?" Tinuviel closed her mouth in sympathy, giving the impression she really believed what Basil said. "I will immediately guide you to the Manor I have prepared for you, so our best Healer can immediately treat you."

"That will be preferable. Thank you for the hospitality."

The Supreme Genius and the Elf Princess smiled at each other. Their smile indicated nothing but a declaration of war.

'This brat... Really? Just admit that you were joking!'

'As expected of My Lord, he never hesitates finishing the game he has started.'

Iliana and Ione had a different thought regarding the matter, but none of them showed anything outwardly. When Tinuviel led them with her entourage following closely behind them, they stayed silent and kept being professional.

The soldiers knew how to act professional too; none of them looked around in wonder even though it was their first time visiting Padeitophys. They remained stoic and marched mechanically, giving them the impression of an indestructible army.

"Here is the Manor that I have prepared for you, Master Basil. It is not as grandiose as yours, but I can assure you it will give you more comfort."

The Manor that Tinuviel had prepared for Basil to stay in was located in a vast field that was surrounded by trees. There were many huts decorating the field, which could be used by the soldiers as their sleeping place.

"The architecture of the Manor is better than mine. It looks more grandiose than any Manor I own; but, definitely, it won't be as comfortable," Basil remarked with a smile, prompting Tinuviel to look at him. "Nothing is warmer than one's own home."

"Ah, that is indeed the case. Pardon me for my cockiness."

Tinuviel couldn't help a smile. She had thought Basil would insult the Manor she had prepared for him, so she was glad he was being honest.

Thud!

Just as Tinuviel was about to take them into the Manor, Basil jumped down from Deacon, and landed firmly on the ground. She was astonished by his action, and intrigued by what his reason would be.

"Marvellous! What a good environment the Elves are living in," Basil exclaimed in amazement. "The Qi in the air is so pure, I can heal my injured feet by just circulating it throughout my body."

'Bollocks!' the two female Pacifers exclaimed in their mind.

"..." Meanwhile, the Elf Princess was too astonished to say anything. 'I—I have been played. I have been played in my own game!'

"That is a good news to hear! What a miraculous land we are living in indeed," she remarked after some time.

Basil lightly smiled at the still astounded Tinuviel and nodded his head lightly as a way to tell her that she could take them inside the Manor. She shook her head faintly, then returned the smile before taking them inside.

The soldiers remained outside, and maintained their rank in front of the Manor. Deacon had already shrunk himself—perching on Basil's shoulder, he followed the others into the Manor.

"It looks just like how I imagined it to look like," Iliana remarked upon entering the Manor.

The interior of the Manor resembled the interior of any Church one could find in the Human Empire, but with more grandeur. Instead of being heavily decorated with gold, the room was sufficiently decorated with jewels that made it look elegant.

Tinuviel gave them a brief tour around the Manor, then excused herself afterwards. She wanted to give them some time to rest before having the talk about the problem Alphoetra Tribe was facing after the representative from Frachtenhein Kingdom arrived.

Getting out of the Manor, Basil organized the soldiers who were still lining up in front of it.

"This is a foreign land. No matter how peaceful the people claim it is, it doesn't hurt to be careful," he exclaimed. "These huts are big enough to host two of you. I want the Knights to pair up with the Mages and stay in the same hut."

As the soldiers looked at each other, he added, "Anyone who can't find their pair of the same gender can join me in the Manor."

Although they were slightly dejected, none of the soldiers dared to show it. They nodded their head seriously, hiding the fact that they secretly wanted to have some fun.

As soon as Basil dismissed the soldiers, they immediately scurried away, and entered their huts to rest. Since the ratio of male to female and Mages to Knights was equal, all of them found their pair.

Basil entered the Manor afterwards, and meditated until Tinuviel was ready to call them.

...

In the library inside the house of Alphoetra Tribe's Chief, Tinuviel was staring outside the window with her hand on her chest, feeling her beating heart. She was reliving the memory of the event that had just happened a few minutes ago.

"Nissena," she said to her vessel. "That man, Basil Pacifer—is he a descendant of a long lost Elven Tribe?"

"I have heard of the Pacifer, but I am sure it was a human clan, Your Highness."

"Huh... It is strange, isn't it? I mean, can you believe someone as charming as him is a human?" Tinuviel quirked her eyebrow as she turned to Nissena. "Those two girls too. Dye their hair gold, and no one will believe they are not of Elven descent."

"I... Am sure they are humans, Your Highness."

"What about Basil Pacifer? Can't you feel it? His heart is pumping Mana—just like us!"

"Your Highness..."

"Yes?" Tinuviel lightly frowned at Nissena's hesitant tone. "Pray tell me your concern."

"Are you perhaps infatuated with Master Basil, Your Highness?"

Gasping in utter shock, Tinuviel covered her mouth. Her eyes widened in disbelief as she stood up abruptly, knocking down her chair.

Infatuation—she was confident she would never have one. The only love she knew was her love towards her mother, so she never understood how someone could show love to someone other than their mother.

She never learned, nor was she ever told about what infatuation meant. Hearing Nissena's statement, she was shocked to find herself experiencing something that she thought she would never experience before.

"No, wait. You have never even been infatuated with someone—how can you tell it is infatuation?" Tinuviel frowned. She was genuinely thinking about it.

"Your Highness, can you tell me what you feel whenever you think about him?"

"Ah, my heart beats faster, and I have this urge to meet and talk to him all day."

Tinuviel was actually just interested in Basil's intelligence because he was the first person to have ever beat her in her own game. She just wanted to see how similar they were.

"Your Highness, according to my friends, that is what you call infatuation," Nissena said surely and seriously. "You have fallen in love, Your Highness. You have just met your first love!"

"First love?!"

Alas, the two inexperienced maidens couldn't really differentiate between a simple curiosity and infatuation. Both of them reached an utterly false conclusion, and they weren't even aware of it.

"What do I do? What do I do? Do I have to send a marriage proposal immediately?!"

"Calm down, Your Highness! First, let's make sure if the other party is also interested in you. Forcing someone to spend the rest of his life with you is an insult to our principle."

"Yes... Yes, you are right." Tinuviel nodded her head. "I will just capture his heart during his stay here."

As someone who knew how the event had ended in another timeline, Basil had a full control over Tinuviel's fate. Unfortunately for him, however, he couldn't predict how the story would develop this time.