By the time I reached the mansion, Fifi had already escorted the man inside. I went to open the front door, and as I predicted, the door wouldn’t budge. It was another invisible wall. I found a few open windows, but they didn’t let me move forward any better. These invisible walls were becoming extremely irritating. Thankfully, the open window led into a receiving room, which is where they had ended up.

I had a clear sight and could hear everything. I felt like a peeping tom standing in the bushes listening in on such a conversation, but I dealt with it. A glance into the room showed four people. There was Fifi, the cloaked stranger, an old maid, and then an old man who was wearing a fine suit. He was sitting in a nice chair, while Fifi was standing at his side, pouring tea for him. The old man had her sit down in a rocking chair, where she hummed to herself and knitted what looked to be a scarf.

“Now, why have you come to my home?” The old man asked, squinting his eyes and tilting his head like he could barely hear or see the man sitting only a few feet in front of him.

“I would like to speak to you about your slave.” The man declared.

“What?” He asked, turning his head forward and cupping his hand around his ear.

“You wish to speak about me?” Fifi asked, and although she had been surprised, she finished pouring her tea with exquisite skill.

He turned to Fifi and nodded. “I have recently heard about the death of your mother. To be suddenly attacked by a monster, and for her soul to be damaged to the point she could not be resurrected, you have my condolences.”

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She stiffened slightly but gave a nod of recognition. “Yes, my mother’s passing was sudden, but we endure.”

The old man held his tea and sipped contently, giving a pleasant smile while seemingly oblivious to the conversation being carried out between his maid and the guest. This had a certain practiced feel to it like she often handled the affairs while standing next to her elderly master.

“You and your mother were fortunate to be purchased by an extended family member when the main family tried to sell you off.” He spoke carefully.

“Yes, I agree. This has been my home. Now, the household just has me to keep it running.”

“Just you, huh?” The old lady looked up with a wry smile.

Fifi blushed. “Ah! I didn’t mean it that way.”

“It seems pitiful that a woman with your caliber and status must sacrifice her best years taking care of a senile old man.” The cloaked man’s words seemed to drop all the pleasantness once he decided that the old man wasn’t paying attention. “You never should have been a slave at all.”

“When I was young, my mother made a deal with the master of the main family. If my brother and I produced a child of our race, we would not become slaves. However, my brother… fell in love with a human woman, and betrayed my mother’s word. We both paid the consequence of those actions.” Her expression turned bitter as she spoke of distant things that I had just recently seen.

“Haven’t you paid enough?”

Fifi glared at him suspiciously. “What do want with me?”

“I’ll be direct. I intend to pay your fee and free you from slavery.”

She took a step back. “Why would you pay such a cost?”

He pulled back his hood, revealing two pointy ears. “Because I, the Elf Hero, have searched far and wide to find a proper mate.”

“An elf?”

“Will you become my wife, Faeyna?”