The Shepherds Are Dense

Chapter 54: Aiwass: I Like It Very Much

Avalon was an island country to start with, and the Silver and Tin Hall in the capital island, Glass Isle, was constructed on an island in that island.Aged elf at the entrance of Avalon Bridge leading to the Silver and Tin Hall had bark-like skin and green wolf-sharp eyes.

His lanky, tall frame seemed like a tree against the winter night sky.

"I'll see you off to here."

The old butler shifted his attention to the maid Lily and ordered, "Take good care of Master Aiwass."

"Yes, Mr. Oswald."

Lily answered respectfully.

Under the butler's watchful eye, she rolled Aiwass's wheelchair onto the bridge.

Early winter saw the sun set early.

The dark blue night sky wasn't yet completely dark, and the sapphire lake on both sides of the bridge sparkled beautifully under the streetlights.

The beautiful white griffins sat silently on the stone pedestals beside the lamps, as lion statues.

When Aiwass walked by, several of the griffins opened their eyes and looked at him.

Their eyes were gem-like colors of red or blue, sparkling as they reflected the light.

Their bright white feathers caught the warm amber light of the lamps and glowed with a divine sheen.

"So beautiful…"

The flaxen-haired girl, here for the first time like us, was entranced by the sight.

She couldn't help but comment, "It reminds me of your eyes."

"…What did you say?"

Aiwass, unexpectedly taken aback, was briefly at a loss. "The griffins?"

But Lily didn't retreat.

She answered in a natural way, "I meant the color of the lake. It reminds me a lot of your eyes, Master Aiwass."

"I see."

Aiwass glanced over his shoulder past the griffins to the lake shining in the glow of the lamp.

"I hadn't noticed… but now that you say so, it does resemble them a little."

On hearing those words, the griffins to either side of the bridge gave a low, thundering laugh of welcome.

Knowing that these white griffins had the ability to comprehend human language, Lily leaped in fright.

Her cheeks grew red, and she did not dare utter another word.

She merely bent her head and propelled the wheelchair quietly.

Since this was a private visit and not an official meeting, and they weren't to be meeting Her Majesty, there was no necessity for the royal steward to put an appearance.

Lily, under the guidance of a male servant, escorted Aiwass to one of the side halls.

The Silver and Tin Hall was always well illuminated.

Even the side halls where the royal successors resided were not an exception.

Though there were hardly any heirs remaining and less than one-tenth of the rooms occupied, each room still had its lights on.

This was to give the Red-White Queen's District citizens assurance that the Queen was always present among them.

When Aiwass came, dinner was already served in a grand manner.

All the dishes were placed on the table, not served separately as at home.

At first glance, Aiwass noticed roasted freshwater fish he did not know, fried strips of cod, breaded and deep-fried frog legs, lamb stew with radish, lemon oysters, and a few roasted crispy pigeons.

There was also a seafood soup of clams, razor clams, and shrimp, and a two-flavor ice cream of herbs and pineapple.

Practically everything was something Aiwass enjoyed eating.

It was practically all flesh and seafood—scarcely a trace of green to be found, except for one odd-looking spinach cake.

…Doesn't the princess eat vegetables?

Aiwass asked himself.

But then, the question was settled:

"These are the foods I was told you like, Mr. Aiwass."

Seated at the table, Princess Isabel gazed at Aiwass.

Her eyes, as radiant as the best emeralds, sparkled with delight and expectation under the light of the silverware.

"Do you like them?"

She had a crown of flowering on her head, and a pearl necklace around her snowy neck.

On the necklace, there was a tiny rose cut out of yellow crystal.

Her off-the-shoulder dress, leafy green with accents and pure white, was like the face of nature.

Her hands lay calmly on her lap, and she had a soft, regal smile.

She was breathtakingly beautiful.

Her golden locks were long, flowing freely to her waist, shining in the light—like the Silver and Tin Hall itself under the sun at noon.

Lily could not help but catch her breath, amazed by that raw purity and beauty.

Maybe because of the quarter-elven blood running in her veins, Princess Isabel was younger-looking than she actually was—albeit she was already nineteen, she looked even younger than Aiwass.

She was perhaps just a little bit older than Miss Yulia, Lily estimated.

Her waist was very thin, although her bust was not very noticeable…

Actually, it appeared even less than the fifteen-year-old Yulia's.

Or possibly that was the one flaw in her beauty.

Or possibly it was exactly because she lacked sensuality that her beauty was so clean.

Even Aiwass himself stopped breathing for a second.

This was his first face-to-face encounter with Princess Isabel as well.

Although he had long been aware of her looks and had watched her pose in the game, the real thing—maybe intensified by the effects of the Beauty Path—was utterly stunning.

"…I like it very much."

Seated quietly in his wheelchair, Aiwass looked elegant and soft-spoken as he replied truthfully:

"Thank you for your kindness, Your Highness.".

"I was briefly shocked at your beauty and couldn't reply immediately. I apologize if I was rude."

"Then go ahead and eat, Mr. Aiwass."

Princess Isabel just smiled and encouraged him softly.

She was surprised to discover that, looking at Aiwass, she felt no nervousness or apprehension she normally experienced when encountering strangers…

As if she had known him all her life.

—So hugging little Aiwass all those years ago actually paid off!

Then she recalled—Aiwass had lost his parents at a very tender age.

As per Mr. Sherlock's conclusions, Aiwass's natural parents must have enticed away the Hook Demon in order to rescue him.

The pathos of the story made her feel sad.

Although it could be nothing to do with her—perhaps she was just getting too emotionally invested—

Princess Isabel appeared to exude a maternal glow.

"Let's eat and talk, Mr. Aiwass. You're probably starving after the trip…"

Abruptly, she heard a discreet cough next to her.

Only then did it occur to her that she had left something behind!

—Her teacher had forewarned her!

Princess Isabel cleared her throat and aggressively switched topics abruptly, spiking in:

"Also, my teacher Yanice will be joining us for this meal—if you don't mind, of course."

…What an awkward transition.

Must've been a reminder.

"—Of course." The source of thɪs content is novelhall.com

Aiwass obediently picked up his knife and fork, smiling as he replied:

“I’ve long admired Master Yanice.”

“Oh?”

A charming, mature voice rang out softly.

“You’ve seen my works?”

A woman who looked no older than thirty appeared beside the table without anyone noticing.

She possessed both the allure of a mature woman and the innocence of a young girl.

She was seated nearer to Aiwass than the princess herself and regarded the platinum-haired boy with keen interest.

Yanice was a slender, tall girl, creamy blond corkscrew curls, and a slanted fringe which hid one eye.

Her emerald-green eyes were the same color as Princess Isabel's.

She was only one finger shorter than Aiwass, and the erect, stately posture made it clear—she was a pureblood elf.

As though she'd always been present, and Aiwass had just not paid her mind.

Or as if she was some sort of brought into the world, faintly transparent in the stage lighting.

Aiwass recognized immediately—

This was the skill .

Something only available to the "Painter" class when they'd hit level 40 and progressed into the specialty.

Painters might inherit some of Twin Mirror's ability, allowing their paintings to become mirrors.

They might conceal their actual bodies in paintings, move anywhere in them, and cast their images into the real world wherever there was artwork.

Converting the real to the false, and the false to the real.

Blending reality and paintings into their own .

Each major path had a teleportation of some sort, but "Reflected in Painting" was the cheapest, most convenient version.

In the world today, it was the teleportation one could access through the Beauty Path.

No wonder Master Yanice was able to travel the world at will.

With her teleportation talent, not even other supernaturals could hinder her—let alone normal people.

"—Of course."

With Master Yanice standing in front of him, Aiwass did not show an ounce of fear and gave his reply in a gracious manner:

"Whether it's , , or , I like them all very much."

…Though I have not seen them in actuality.

Aiwass did this in silence in his mind.

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(End of Chapter 54)