Arcadia's Ignoble Knight: Dark Elf Arc

Chapter 69

Caspian had been invited to join Queen Lenismare for tea. Elincia was currently spending time with her father. He was surprised that the queen had asked for his presence alone, having believed the woman would be more interested in speaking to her daughter, but perhaps she wanted something from him that she couldn't speak to Elincia. Those were his thoughts, at least.

"Thank you for coming," Queen Lenismare said with a refined smile. Sitting at a table just big enough for two people, she gestured toward the chair opposite of her. "Please, sit down."

"Yes, ma'am."

Caspian sat in the chair opposite the queen, his posture stiff and nowhere near as refined as the woman before him, which did not go unnoticed by his current companion.

"There's no need to be so tense." Queen Lenismare giggled just a little. "Unlike my husband, I do not necessarily disapprove of your relationship to my daughter."

"It isn't just your approval or disapproval that causes me to worry," Caspian admitted, though he did try to relax.

"Oh? Then what else are you worried about?" the queen asked curiously.

"That I won't be able to live up to Ele's expectations and will end up not getting along with you and her father."

"Hmm..." Humming, the queen took a slow sip of tea, allowing a tense silence to spread between them. As she set the cup down, she spoke again. "While convincing my husband of your sincerity and feelings might be difficult, I could tell from the moment you two appeared in that throne room that you and Elincia love each other. So long as you always place her first in your heart and do your best for her, I will never have any reason to complain."

As Queen Lenismare spoke, a female attendant walked in through a doorway, carrying a plate of elven bread and a pot of hot tea. She placed the tray on the table between them, poured some tea for Caspian, and refilled the queen's cup. While all the bread looked more or less the same, Caspian noticed the different types of spread smeared across them. It looked like they were jams made from different kinds of berries.

"Please help yourself." Queen Lenismare gestured toward elven bread.

"Thank you." Caspian plucked a slice of bread with a brown jam that looked almost like glazed sugar. He placed the small slice in his mouth. It was very sweet. The sweetness of the jam complemented the light crispness of the bread.

"How is it?" asked the queen.

"It's delicious," he said after swallowing. "Elincia would love it."

"She still has a sweet tooth?"

Caspian smiled wryly. "She once ate 16 crepes on her own." knowing that Queen Lenismare didn't know what crepes were, he did his best to explain. "They're a type of very thin pancake made from flour, milk, and eggs. They're very sweet and usually filled with fruits and whip cream."

"I see. Yes, that does sound like something she would enjoy." Queen Lenismare smiled.

"Do you mind if I ask something?" Caspian suddenly said.

"Not at all." With the gesture, the elven queen bade him to ask his question.

"Do you know an elf named Carelel?"

While Queen Lenismare did not lose her smile, a melancholic air replaced her happiness. She grabbed a slice of bread and placed it in her mouth. Caspian thought she was using the time needed to chew her food to think about what she should tell him.

"I do," she said at last. "Carelel was the greatest warrior among the elves. During the war with the humans, she had distinguished herself by being one of the only elves who could survive a confrontation with Sylvia and her elite knights. However, despite her incredible strength and magical prowess, Carelel was not really interested in fighting. I think she was more interested in learning from humans than fighting them."