"What are you doing here?"

I glance up at the rude half-elf interrupting my apology flower buying session. Ah, my little arch-nemesis, the princess's maid, Hisu.

Hisu for her part narrows her eyes at me after seeing me. I glance over her with a half disgusted expression on my face.

"Cheh"

In fact, I discover a common theme a long time ago, and found out exactly just how I feel about her.

I hate her!

It is not just about her being a half-elf either, it just feels like my role is being stolen. So I am acting as the love advisor to Aradon right, it went swimmingly with my secret genius superpower. There is a common theme actually. On the other hand, Hisu, the half elf is acting as an inferior version of me giving advice to the idiotic princess with her slightly inferior genius mind.

There! There is a common theme. She completely stole from me without giving up the copyright money.

If I were Disney, I'm sure she would have been locked behind 16 layers of supermax prison. On death row in fact, copyright is a serious business.

But still to humor her, I raise my hands magnanimously feeling proud about knowing everything that she doesn't.

"I'm buying flowers for my girlfriend."

"Girlfriend that you pissed off? As expected of mister Andarel."

Hisu covers her mouth and laughs

I glance down at the 12 blue morning lilies being picked up.

Curse!

I should have known the little half-elf has mastered the mysterious art known as flower language. It is a super power of girlfriend everywhere to know exactly what a particular flower mean even if their boyfriends are completely clueless.

Even worse was that she notices straight away the number of and meaning of the flowers.

Feeling a bit of my steam losing, still I continue.

"Well anyway, what I buy is my business. What is the princess's maid doing here anyway?"

I lean backward for a better view of outside the shop to see if princess Aelene is here today.

"It is my day off. And no, the princess is not here today..." Hisu says that last part with a sigh.

Suddenly, I start imagining what the princess would be doing today. A picture of chaos was slowly drawn. Now what would Aelene being doing today?

"You can't stop me mah!"

A picture of the princess climbing over the castle wall with her barehand suddenly appears in my mind. Nah, it is too ridiculous.

"I am the king of the world!"

A picture of princess Aelene grabbing one of the royal Griffon to go joy riding in the sky appears in my mind. Probably not.

"Chin straight, with the correct posture, a woman can conquer the world."

A picture of princess Aelen inside an etiquette class learning the etiquette that a princess should appears in my mind. Nah, definitely not happening. I put too much hope on the future of the elf kingdom.

Finally, I say sympathetically

"Well, if something ridiculous involving the princess happens next time, I could probably help you."

I use the word "probably" to make sure that it is not a promise. I am definitely not sticking my neck out for that princess. She ruins my image of what an archer is supposed to be.

"Yes, yes you probably could."

Suddenly, Hisu has a far away look in her eyes.

I glance suspiciously at the direction her faraway look is directed as. Am I imagining thing or is it directed at the Ranger HQ?

This narrative has been purloined without the author's approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.

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"Who is this new recruit called Allen?"

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"Why are there two bouquets?"

Suddenly, Hisu notices that something was amiss when the florist brings out another bouquet of 12 long stem blue morning lilies. I have no need to hide anything from her because that little half-elf is inconsequential.

"You may not know this, but in the world of adults, sometime a man can have multiple girlfriends."

I continue, ignoring the look of disgust the florist and Hisu have.

I have nothing to prove to them.

Hisu then ignores me and starts picking her own flower. Not to be outdone, I take notice of the arrangement and realize that it is a get-well-soon bouquet.

It is not for family because it is too formal. I try to think of the acquaintances little Hisu has and come up with the perfect answer that would shock her.

"Were you acquainted with the Diplomat's disciple?"

I thought of the human I sent into a coma just a few days ago to bait his master into a heart attack. Sadly, Te Celsa didn't die an early death, and so now I have to do it personally.

As expected, Hisu recoils with shock and a little fear hearing my words.

"How did yo-

...Never mind. I heard you played chess with him on the day he... You are acquainted with him too right? His name is Shio, he is my aunt's grandson."

I digest the information that I was given, Shio is Hisu's aunt's grandson, formally speaking, he should call her aunt. However, it is clear that he is on her human mother's side of the family.

Hisu's mother is 70 this year, it is just at the right age range. Elves's birth cycle isn't that quick, so it definitely has to be on her human mother's side of the family.

I was only a little surprise by the information, however, a connection between Hisu and the grand diplomat Te Celsa is established in my mind. I can also somewhat guess the circumstances behind Te Celsa taking on a disciple.

Knowing that Shio has a strenuous connection to a person that has the ears of the future of the Elven kingdom, master Te Celsa picked up a disciple. At the same time, no matter how smart you are, people often has tendency to be more inclined toward their family members. It explains her friendly relationship with Te Celsa, even being his chess master despite being a lowly maid.

If Te Celsa did indeed die of old age, he would still have a disciple who still has a connection with someone who has the ear of a royal elf.

In the first place, Te Celsa was many steps ahead of everybody.

If only Shio hadn't died early.

Correction, he isn't dead yet. I haven't finished the job because of the presence of the archmages in the city. In the first place, inviting Aradon's mom was my idea, however, it has slowly become a Sword of Damocles hanging over my head. I can't deal with all this disturbances cleanly with them being around to expose me. However, in the first place, how could I know Aradon's mom would be that sickeningly doting.

I glance at the Hisu picking flower for her nephew, thinking of using her. What would I be afraid of, she is already being used by the opposing force.

However, on second thought, I leave her to it. Even I feel bad sometime.

Then, with two bouquets in hand, I head off for Scarlett and Violet leaving her behind.