**Chapter 4 - "The Calm Before the Storm"**
**Tarious' POV**
A pin drop silence reverberated throughout the entire forest. Even after Mother was long gone, no one dared to utter a single word. "D-did that really just happen?" my voice, barely above a whisper, broke the silence. I looked up at Starlia for confirmation. She was not doing much better; her body was coated in her usual emerald green aura, and she was levitating in the sky. Her aqua blue eyes sparkled with confusion, and her mouth was agape. Her usually playful demeanor was etched with shock. She looked down at me. "I think so," she responded, her voice carrying the shock she felt.
"Zatk!" Before I could respond, I heard something strange behind me. I turned around to see the maids using hand signs to cast magic circles that were teleporting the commoners away. I took a deep breath, trying to calm my racing heart. Why did mother the woman that Ignored my existence since I was born suddenly stood up for me i Shook my head Not understanding anything that was going on."Let's go inside. I need some food after everything I just saw." Before I knew it, I felt the familiar warmth of Starlia wrapping me in a hug, and in a flash of green light, we were gone.
"Disgusting. So this is what the royal family has come to," a cold voice echoed throughout the forest. A shadowy figure who had been watching everything from start to finish from inside a tree scoffed in disdain, then disappeared.
**Tarious' POV**
We appeared inside the kitchen. I stumbled a bit before Starlia held me up. The smell of baked goods and food being cooked assaulted my nose. "You need to warn me before you do that." I looked up at Starlia with a deadpan expression. She just smiled at me, her aqua blue eyes sparkling with mischief. "What? Did I do wrong, Oni-chan? You said you wanted to go inside the kitchen, so I brought you to the kitchen," her voice came out genuinely confused, and if not for her eyes sparkling, I would have believed her. I sighed. "Never mind," I said, exasperated. I will get her back later.
The kitchen, like every other part of the palace, was made out of ice that beautifully sparkled in the sunlight. All around were different types of elves preparing various dishes. I took a moment to take everything in. House elves were making various meals, but what was interesting was how they were going about it. Some elves were using wind magic to make vegetables and meat levitate into the air before slicing everything into precise cuts with a gust of sharp wind. Another group was infusing magic into something similar to dough before using a hand sign to knead the dough into the perfect shape, then using fire magic to bake it. In less than two minutes, the baking was done. Seeing stuff like this never ceases to amaze me. Magic was considered impossible and fantasy in my old world, but here it was such a regular part of life.
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A house elf maid with emerald green hair and emerald green eyes knelt before us. She wore a white maid costume with the emblem of the Elven Kingdom of Nimloth. Her long, flowing green hair reached her big, firm, round ass, perfectly accentuated by her uniform. She had milky white, flawless skin that seemed to be a trait of all elves, but what really took my attention was her boobs. I raised my head to get a better view of her breasts so I could study them in extreme detail. She had big, round breasts that seemed to sway with each breath she took. Her uniform looked like at any moment the buttons would pop, revealing them in all their glory. Oh, what a sho— "Ow!" I felt something pinch me. I turned around, locking eyes with Starlia, who had an innocent smile on her face, but her body was covered in her usual emerald green aura, her hair flying chaotically behind her. "Take your eyes off her," her tone was sweet like honey. Now that I was awakened, I could feel the aura she was giving off. If I did not listen, I would not be alive much longer. A shiver involuntarily went down my spine. Who knew Starlia could be this scary? "Okay," I said in a quiet tone. Not wanting to die and wanting to appease the jealous, clingy demon beside me, I pulled her into a hug and began stroking her soft, flowing hair, trying to calm her down. This seemed to work; it was as if everything I just saw was a dream. She sighed in contentment, her aura disappearing like it never existed. A familiar warmth enveloped my body as Starlia wrapped her arms around me. I took a sigh of relief, my life no longer flashing before my eyes. I took a look at the maid whose emerald green eyes were sparkling with fear at Starlia's display. The poor girl's body was literally shaking. She knelt, trying to hide her fear. "P-prince Tarious and Princess S-Starlia, what would you like?" I couldn't help but chuckle as it seemed that saying Starlia's name sent her over the edge.
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"Nothing too heavy, just some moonlight nectar, elven lembas bread, mystical fish, and some silver tea," my amused tone rang out. "And for you, Princess S-Starlia?" the elf stammered like a nervous school girl. Starlia looked at the elf with a "you killed my dog" expression, her bright blue eyes clearly showing her jealousy. Her arm wrapped around me tighter as if afraid I would run away from her. Honestly, despite the murderous aura that was leaking out from her, I couldn't help but find her pretty cute. Something about her being jealous made me feel warm inside. The maid at this point was on the verge of passing out, feeling Starlia's aura come in contact with her. Her once pristine white skin was slowly turning a shade of deep ocean blue. I pinched starlia cheeks. "Aw!" She looked up at me with a pouting face as the pinch made her face turn from snowy white to a crimson red. "What was that for?" she said in a tone that made it look like I had wronged her. "Look at what you're doing to the poor lady." At this point, I was having trouble holding back my laughter. "Answer her question. What would you like?" Still pouting, Starlia looked at the woman. "Fine," she grumbled. "I will have the same as my brother," she said reluctantly. At this point, the girl's whole body was shaking violently, sweat was pouring down her body, and her eyes had a semi-vacant look. She was literally on the verge of passing out. Another maid quickly appeared. "We're sorry for this one's rudeness, Prince and Princess. Your orders will be delivered within five minutes. Please take a seat." The maid did some hand signs, and a magic circle appeared, teleporting the half-conscious girl out of here, presumably to the med bay, before scurrying off into the kitchen. By this point, I couldn't hold in my laughter. I fell to the floor laughing; the absurdity of the situation was too much. Like, what was she apologizing for? They did nothing wrong. Starlia was the only one completely in the wrong here. Starlia looked down at me, still pouting, before a glint appeared in her eyes. "What are you—?" Before I could finish my question, I found myself enveloped by familiar sparks of green as Starlia grabbed my foot, and before I came to, I felt my back connecting with a hard, cold surface. Pain shot through my body as I groaned. I straightened myself, looking around to see that I was in a chair. I realized where I was. Starlia had teleported us around the table. "What's wrong, Oni-chan?" A playful smirk was on her face as her eyes gleamed with a devious light. Jumping to my feet, I got myself in a running position. "Oh, you're gonna get it now!" I yelled. Just as I was prepared to run at her, two maids teleported next to the dining table with our food on trays made of ice. Our meals were placed before us, and the smell was absolutely delicious.
The moonlight nectar shimmered in its ornate crystal goblet, a luminous, silvery liquid that smelled of sweet moonflowers and tasted like a mix of honey and a hint of citrus, refreshing and revitalizing. The silver leaf tea, a clear, silvery-green brew, was served in a delicate porcelain cup, exuding a subtle, floral aroma and a light, soothing taste. The elven lembas bread, wrapped in large green leaves, revealed a dense, slightly sweet loaf, golden-brown with a crisp crust and a soft, chewy interior. Each bite was filling and satisfying, with a hint of honey and nuts.
The mystical fish was a sight to behold, with its iridescent scales still glistening slightly. Expertly grilled, the skin was crispy and the flesh tender and flaky. It was served on a bed of ancient grains, infused with herbs and spices, and garnished with edible flowers. The aroma was a tantalizing mix of savory and fresh, with a slight hint of the ocean.
Starlia's meal included the sylvan green salad, a vibrant mix of fresh forest greens, delicate edible flowers, and honey-glazed walnuts, all tossed in a light, citrus vinaigrette. The greens were crisp, the flowers added a splash of color, and the walnuts provided a sweet, crunchy contrast. It was served in a bowl made of ice, which kept the salad refreshingly cool. The luminous moonfish, the centerpiece of her meal, had ethereal, glowing flesh marinated in celestial herbs and gently grilled to perfection. Served alongside a pilaf made from elven grains, enriched with wild mushrooms and forest herbs, the fish was tender and flavorful, the pilaf a perfect accompaniment.
The enchanted root vegetables were a medley of roasted root vegetables, glazed with a delicate honey and lavender reduction. The vegetables were caramelized to perfection, their natural sweetness enhanced by the floral notes of the lavender, arranged artfully on a plate, each piece glistening with the glaze. For dessert, the starfire berry tart was a work of art, filled with rare Starfire berries that sparkled like tiny stars. The almond crust was golden-brown and buttery, and the vanilla bean custard provided a creamy and fragrant balance.
As we ate, I looked at Starlia. "For someone who's always teasing me that I will never get a girlfriend," I smirked, my amusement evident, "you're quite the jealous type. How am I supposed to get a girlfriend if you scare the girls away?" Starlia looked up at me, her face crimson red from embarrassment, but there was also something else hidden deep in her aqua blue eyes—pure and uninhibited obsessive love. Her voice came out in a whisper but still loud enough for me to hear. "You don't need any girls. They're all harlots that will cheat on you. You have me; you don't need them," her voice was filled with determination.
"You know, for someone so young, you're a bit too smart for your age," I laughed. I had noticed it before; in all the years I knew Starlia, she never acted like a child, not even once. Could she be one of the reincarnators the world tree mentioned? I flicked her forehead. "And a bit too obsessive." I smirked. "But don't worry. I support your obsession with me." My face got serious. "Starlia, I have a question." Sensing the change in the atmosphere, Starlia got serious as well. "Are you a r—" Just as I was about to ask my question, I felt my body seize up. I couldn't move.
I felt something. A wave of pure, alliterated bloodlust directed purely at me. "Crack." The furniture and surroundings began to crack from the pure pressure of the bloodlust.
This was edited with ai so tell me if there's any mistakes I missed.