REBORN AS A HIGH ELF SLAVE

Hans stood by the window, his hands clasped behind his back, watching the bustling market of the Hyra Counties. His stomach twisted with unease.

He had been here in this very room before, many times, in fact. But this time was different. This time, he was not just a butler delivering a message or negotiating for a trade. This time, he was very nervous because if he failed to get Lien’s word that he wouldn’t do something rash because of the incident back at their warehouse located in Edger County, then it might just lead to a war between the two counties. 

And war was the last thing Edger County needed right now. It barely started to recover after years of mismanagement. He won’t let the estate rot away like that ever again. Hans reinforced his determination to succeed at convincing Neir that they are not their enemy. He took a sip from his tea once again before Neir came inside the waiting room.

The door creaked open, and Neir Hyra strode in, his boots clicking sharply against the polished floor. Hans turned, forcing a smile that didn’t reach his eyes.

"Neir," he said, bowing slightly. "It’s been too long."

Neir’s gaze was cold, his usual easy grin nowhere to be seen. He dismissed his guards with a wave of his hand, the door clicking shut behind them with a click sound that made Hans’s chest sting a little.

"Hans," Neir said, his voice dripping with false warmth. "I was surprised to hear from you. After the… incident at the warehouse, I thought you’d have more important things to tend to. Like, oh, I don’t know…cleaning up the bodies!"

Hans swallowed hard. He reached into his coat and pulled out a small, velvet-lined box. Inside lay a row of glass vials, each filled with a shimmering liquid that caught the light. "A peace offering," he said, placing the box on the desk between them. "From the one responsible for this mess, as an apology. High-grade healing potions. The best he’s ever made."

Neir didn’t touch the box. His eyes flicked to it, then back to Hans; his expression was unreadable. "Peace, you say," he repeated, as if tasting how the word felt in his mouth. Then he laughed, a sharp, bitter sound that echoed off the walls. "Haha, You think this is about peace?"

Hans’s fingers twitched. "Neir, what happened at the warehouse was an accident. A misunderstanding. Eon didn’t know those men were under your protection. If he had…"

"If?" Neir’s voice was suddenly loud, cutting through the air like a blade. He slammed his hand down on the desk, making the vials rattle. "If? If? Hans, do you take me for a fool? My men didn’t just stumble into that warehouse. They were there on my orders. And your little elf knew it, right? He knew, and he chose to kill them anyway."

Hans’s breath hitched. "Neir, please. Those men were kidnapping women. Slaving them. You can’t defend that."

Neir’s lips curled into a snarl. "Defend it? Why should I? Those women were nothing. Beggars. Peasants. They were going to die anyway, from hunger, from disease, from the cold. At least this way, they had a purpose." 

His eyes darkened. "But your elf? He didn’t just kill my men. You know, right, whom he had killed there? He killed Viscount Foyle’s son, Hans. An elf killed a nobleman! Do you have any idea what that means?"

Hans’s stomach dropped. "Neir, I…"

"You don’t," Neir spat. "Because you’ve always been too busy playing the noble’s pet to understand how the world works. Those people? They were mine. But what about Foyle’s son, Huh? I haven’t yet written any letter to him. I mean, how can I? I really have no idea. I can’t just say some elf killed his son, and that's it, right? So tell me, what do I do? You have the answer, right? Isn’t that why you have come all this way with this gift?"

Hans’s hands clenched into fists. "Then what do you want? Gold? Land? I’ll give you whatever you ask."

Neir’s gaze turned icy. "Oh, I don’t want your gold, Hans. I want justice." He leaned forward, his voice dropping to a whisper. "I want the elf. The one who did this. I want his head, Hans."

Hans’s breath got stuck for a while. Then he said, "Eon is under the protection of Countess Teressa. You can’t…."

Before he could finish, Neir's hand shot out suddenly, gripping Hans by the collar of his coat and slamming him against the wall. The vials of potions clattered to the floor, shattering, the liquid pooling like blood across the wooden planks.

"I can do whatever I want," Neir hissed. "And if you think your little elf is safe behind Teressa’s skirts, you’re wrong. The Denares soldiers you have somehow put around the house won’t protect him forever. If you don’t get me his head when I am still asking nicely, then don’t be shocked when I show my real nature in front of you. I have been a good man in front of you all this time for your daughter’s sake, Hans. But that won’t last now."

Hans’s vision blurred. "Neir, please…"

Neir’s grip tightened. "Think about your daughter, Hans. Is this worth her happiness? Tell me.”

Hans was silent.

Seeing Hans silent enraged Neir more; he sighed, “Huh, poor little Clara. Do you remember her? Do you remember how she used to follow me around the academy like a lost puppy?" His voice turned sickeningly sweet. "I’ll take her if you don't bring me his head before Viscount Foyle gets the news of his son’s death by someone else. Or I’ll make sure she screams every time she thinks of you, mark my words."

Hearing the threat about his daughter, Hans’s body moved before his mind could catch up. His fist connected with Neir’s jaw, the crack echoing through the room. Neir staggered back, his hand flying to his face, his eyes wide with shock. He didn’t expect Hans to actually punch him.

Hans didn’t stop. He lunged, his fists flying, his body fueled by a rage that burned hotter than any fire at this moment.

Neir also recovered quickly. He blocked a punch, then struck back, his fist connecting with Hans’s ribs. Hans gasped, doubling over, but he didn’t stop. He swung again, his knuckles connecting with Neir’s cheek.

Neir snarled, shoving Hans back. "You stupid old man."

Hans stumbled, his breath coming in ragged gasps. "You stay away from my daughter," he growled.

Neir wiped the blood from his lip, his eyes burning with fury. "Oh, I’ll do more than that." His voice was calm and deadly. "I’ll take her. And then I’ll take Teressa too. And when I’m done with them, I’ll burn your precious Edger County to the ground, believe me. Hah hah ha."

Hans’s hands trembled. "You wouldn’t dare."

Neir’s smile was cold. "Yeah? Well, Try me."

The silence stretched between them; it was thick and suffocating for Hans. Hans’s chest ached, his breath coming in shallow, panicked gasps.

Neir straightened his coat, his voice dropping to a whisper. "You have until this week, Hans. Bring me the elf or your daughter, your choice." He leaned in, his breath hot against Hans’s ear. "Or I’ll take everything."

The door clicked shut behind him, leaving Hans alone in the wreckage of the room, the shattered vials glinting like broken hope for peace in the fading light.

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