Harem System In A fantasy World

"What were you doing in the city anyway?" Elion asked.

After their brief conversation with the others, Tessa and Elion had parted from the group and moved elsewhere. As they had decided earlier, the two of them were now simply walking through the streets while talking.

A disgruntled Kiki had been convinced by Tessa to return to wherever they were staying. Aeron and Zenovia had likely returned to the Triad Alliance’s base by now.

Tessa glanced around the street before answering.

"Well, you see, my family’s residence is not too far from here. It is not inside the city itself, but I usually come here for basic needs and other things."

Elion raised a brow, "What do you mean it is not in the city?"

"I mean, the plot of land I call home is a large area owned by our clan," Tessa explained. "I suppose it is big enough to be called a village, but it is mostly made up of mages and warriors under my father’s banner and our extended family. So yes, calling it a village seems appropriate."

Elion nodded in understanding.

"Kiki usually accompanies me on these errands," Tessa continued. "But today, she was the one who suggested that we go out together."

She sighed in mild exasperation.

"After being dragged around the whole day with no clear objective, I realised she probably had no real goal in mind despite insisting we come here."

Elion gave her a light smile. Tessa did not seem like someone who naturally understood those kinds of things.

"Are you two close?" he asked. "If so, then she must have missed you terribly while you were at the academy."

Tessa’s eyes widened slightly, and her mouth formed a small O. It seemed she had finally caught on.

"Really?"

Elion nodded, "I would bet the poor girl simply wanted to spend time with you."

"Well, I guess..." Tessa crossed her arms. "We are close enough that I would not hesitate to call her my little sister in front of other people."

"If that is true, then it seems I interrupted your date," Elion said with a teasing smile. "How unbecoming of me."

Tessa laughed, "I am sure there will be plenty of other opportunities for Kiki and me to fool around in the city."

They walked in comfortable silence for a while after that.

The streets of Silvergrove were still lively, though the day was slowly leaning toward evening. Merchants called out to passing customers, carriages rolled across the cobblestones, and the scent of roasted meat wafted strangely in the air.

Even so, Elion could tell there was something weighing on Tessa’s mind.

She kept glancing at him and looking away when he turned to look away, yet she did not seem confident enough to voice whatever she was thinking.

Eventually, Elion sighed lightly, "What is it?"

"Huh?" Tessa looked at him questioningly.

"It looks like you have something on your mind," he said. "Tell me. What is it?"

As he spoke, he reached out and brushed a few loose strands of red hair behind her ear.

Tessa’s cheeks flushed slightly. Her hand unconsciously rose to touch the spot where his fingers had grazed her ear.

"Well..." she began. "It is just..."

Elion waited patiently.

"Are you sure it is safe for you to be walking around like this?"

Elion tilted his head, "What do you mean? I do not think a deadly spell is suddenly going to fall on me or anything."

"Not that, dummy." Tessa frowned, "I mean... I suppose you would not know yet."

Her voice lowered slightly.

"Duke Dawncrest said he would place a bounty on your head. A reward for whoever finds and kills you, and an even higher one for whoever brings you in alive."

Elion raised a brow, "Really? He did something like that?"

"Yes. That is why I am asking if you should really be walking around so openly."

Elion rubbed his chin. "How much is the bounty?"

Tessa’s head snapped toward him, and she stared at him with a deadpan expression, "Really, Elion? Is that all you are worried about?"

Elion smirked, "I mean, a man has to have standards. It has to be really high, or I will think they are looking down on me."

Tessa groaned, "Of course. I should have known." She ran a hand over her face.

Elion’s smile widened slightly, "What? This is important."

"No, it is not."

"It absolutely is."

"Elion, someone put a bounty on your head."

"And I am asking whether it is a respectable bounty."

Tessa stared at him for a long moment and sighed, looking both worried and deeply exhausted, "You really have not changed."

Elion looked ahead at the bustling street, his expression light but his eyes faintly more melancholic than before, "No," he said softly. "I have changed quite a bit."

Tessa looked at him, but his smirk had already returned

"But I still want to know how much I am worth."

Tessa sighed deeply, "Unbelievable."

Despite saying that, she found herself smiling.

As her gaze drifted toward Elion’s side profile, the smile slowly froze on her face. A faint blush crept across her cheeks, and she quickly looked away, fanning herself lightly with one hand.

For some reason, she suddenly felt very warm. The oddest part was that she had to look up to see his face now.

The last time she saw him, they had been around the same height. Maybe he had been a few inches taller than her back then, but now he was outright towering over her.

He was easily a head taller than her now, not to mention that he had somehow become even more handsome.

’How is it possible for someone to look that good?’ Tessa thought, her face heating further. ’It should be illegal, I tell you!’

Especially with those slightly longer bangs falling around his face. His hair had grown longer in general, and somehow, the look suited him far too well. She could stare at that face all day.

Tessa glanced at him again. Elion was smiling faintly, so her gaze dropped to his lips, ’Damn it. His lips look so kissable right now.’

The unhinged thought planted itself firmly in her mind. The moment she realised what she was thinking, she shook her head sharply.

’What are you thinking, Tessa? He is just your friend!’

She shook her head again, even more violently this time. The sudden motion drew Elion’s attention.

"Hm?" He looked at her curiously. "Something wrong?"

Tessa panicked and flung her hands around, "N-Nothing at all!"

Elion’s eyes narrowed, "I am sure that was something. Come on, out with it."

Tessa twiddled with her fingers for a few seconds as Elion waited. When she still did not speak, he assumed she was not going to say anything.

She suddenly blurted, "It is just that your appearance has changed so much."

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