The Council of Elders

Fren was telling the truth when he said it would not take long.

He returned to the room in just fifteen minutes.

The message delivered by Sif, who had visited at this late hour, was simple.

“They’re holding a council meeting tomorrow morning.”

“Please go to sleep now.”

The next morning, as soon as daylight broke, Vanessa dressed neatly and headed to the temple with Fren, where the council was to be held.

The moment they entered, someone asked bluntly, in a tone lacking even a hint of dignity,

“Hey, Fren. Is Prince Artua really dead?”

Fren looked ahead.

At the center of the vast meeting hall were five chairs shaped very much like thrones, and a woman stood before them.

She waved cheerfully.

“So you were there, right? Is he really dead? I heard it this morning, but I couldn’t believe it.”

“You only heard this morning? The messenger should have arrived last night.”

“Oh my. Still so innocent.”

The woman walked closer to Fren.

Thanks to that, Vanessa could see her clothing more clearly now—an off-shoulder violet dress, a cloak, and a pointed hat on her head.

She touched the brim of the hat and grinned mischievously.

“I was busy sleeping comfortably with some beauties. Didn’t hear a thing.”

“Aren’t you sleeping too much these days?”

“I like sleeping. So—is he really dead?”

Fren nodded calmly.

“Yes, he’s really dead.”

“Wow…”

Her mouth opened in admiration, then she burst into loud laughter.

“Ahahahaha! AHAHAHAHAHAHA!”

She laughed so hard that the pointed hat tumbled to the floor.

While Vanessa quickly knelt to pick it up, she said with a relieved expression,

“Well, I’ll be damned. Thought that cockroach would live forever before dying.”

“Is that so?”

As she put the hat back on, she continued without hesitation,

“At least I’ll never have to see that ugly bastard’s face again.”

“Watch your language, Medeia.”

The woman called Medeia pouted and turned her head.

The door on the opposite side opened, and a man with long white hair trailing to his ankles entered.

His back was perfectly straight, like someone who had never bowed to anyone.

He spoke with a rigid tone that matched his posture.

“No matter how crudely you speak, you’re only hurting yourself.”

“Iason.”

Medeia crossed her arms and glared sharply.

“Shouldn’t you greet people properly when you see an elf?”

“You think you deserve a greeting?”

“Are you fighting first thing in the morning?”

Fren tried gently to stop them, but it was useless.

“If you’re an elder, at least act with basic manners!”

But Iason only smirked cynically and refused to greet her.

Instead, another elf spoke awkwardly,

“H–hello…”

All three turned simultaneously.

From a corner stepped a small man whose bangs covered his eyes entirely.

He fidgeted with his fingers and laughed sheepishly.

“Polyphemos, how long have you been standing there?”

“S–since the beginning.”

“Wow. Still unbelievably invisible, huh?”

“That’s just… always been the case, I guess…”

Even scolded, Polyphemos smiled happily.

The four elves sat in their chairs.

Only one seat remained empty.

Iason pointed at it and asked,

“Where’s Io?”

Having met Io the night before, Fren answered kindly,

“He’ll be late. Needs to feed his pet ox.”

“…He keeps slaves just to make soup?”

“The ox refuses to eat unless Io feeds it himself, apparently.”

Iason silently scanned the assembled elders.

Medeia’s expression suggested she did not want to even look in his direction.

Polyphemos’ eyes were hidden by hair.

Fren smiled innocently.

Iason could only sigh.

“These are the people leading the council. The world is doomed.”

“I agree. The fact you are an elder proves that.”

Iason glared sharply.

Fren once more stepped between them to mediate,

“Please stop arguing. This is not the time for us to fight each other.”

Medeia narrowed her eyes.

“You’re too young to butt into adults’ business.”

“You were the first to support my appointment as elder, Medeia.”

“……”

Medeia fell silent immediately.

Once the room quieted, Fren stood and spoke,

“As you know, we’ve gathered today because His Highness Prince Artua has passed away.”

“He was intelligent. A shameful loss.”

“B–but honestly, isn’t it a good thing?”

All eyes turned to Polyphemos.

“T–that bastard always p–p–picked fights with the council. I feel g–good, honestly.”

“Right. Iason, stop pretending. Tell the truth. Who here is genuinely sad that he died?”

Medeia’s tone grew harsher and harsher.

“That bastard stirred up fights every day about council authority—oh.”

Her hat fell off again.

Vanessa knelt and picked it up.

“Dropping it often today, aren’t you?”

“If it bothers you, at least take it off indoors.”

Medeia stared blankly at Iason, then stood up.

Iason looked nervous, wondering what madness she would pull this time.

Medeia grabbed her clothes—and stripped them off entirely.

Her smooth, unworked body was revealed in front of the council.

Everyone was too shocked to speak.

Then Medeia asked slyly,

“What? You told me to take it off.”

“…I meant the hat, you lunatic.”

“That’s what you get for provoking me, idiot.”

“Put your clothes back on.”

Vanessa quietly helped her dress again.

In moments she was immaculate once more, as if nothing happened.

Iason looked as though he had aged thirty years.

“So what were we discussing?”

“I–Iason told M–Medeia to take it off—”

“I told her to remove her hat, how many times must I say it.”

“Polyphemos, want to go hang out with some beauties after this?”

“N–no, I’m meeting a friend…”

“Oh, that Odysseus kid? He’s not even that cute. Why keep meeting him?”

“M–Medeia, if you keep living like that, your bones will crumble.”

“Heroes are supposed to be lustful.”

Iason finally exploded, unable to hold it in,

“For once in your lives, take things seriously! This is a crisis!”

“Is there really any need for seriousness?”

Medeia leaned back and opened her mouth.

Vanessa fed her a piece of fruit.

She chewed loudly and patted Vanessa’s head like a dog.

“In an age where everyone is happy, where everything is plentiful.”

“……”

“Even you admit it, Iason. The royal family and the council don’t need to fight anymore. There’s plenty to share without conflict. We should be celebrating!”

Vanessa brought a wine bottle.

At Medeia’s gesture, he poured wine into each glass.

“Artua dragged even peaceful people into pointless fights. We never wronged him. He just couldn’t stand Fren being better at painting and tried to crush him.”

Vanessa filled Polyphemos’ glass.

He drank one sip and flushed instantly.

“S–so pathetic.”

“Right? Pathetic.”

Vanessa poured wine for Iason as well.

He still looked serious.

“…But because of this, public trust in us—”

“You can’t act based on suspicion alone.”

“……”

Iason stared at Medeia.

She narrowed her eyes.

“If you have something to say, say it now. Don’t just glare like your stomach’s upset.”

“Medeia. You killed him, didn’t you?”

“…What?”

Fren motioned to Vanessa.

Vanessa stepped closer beside him.

“Why would I kill him?”

“You just said it yourself. The one who hated him most wasn’t Fren—it was you.”

“Are you deaf? He jumped off the cliff on his own.”

“You used some trick. Like when your younger brother died.”

“Are you finished talking?”

“No. Not even close.”

Medeia hurled her glass to the floor.

Shards scattered everywhere.

Fren placed Vanessa onto the armrest of his chair protectively.

“A wicked woman who chases nothing but pleasure.”

“A man who can’t do a thing on his own.”

“Filthy elf.”

“Moron.”

Iason and Medeia leaned close enough to nearly touch lips, glaring murderously.

Fren wrapped his arm around Vanessa’s waist and pulled him close.

They looked absurd.

“Say another word about killing my family and I’ll kill yours.”

“Go ahead. You’ll die first.”

Fren looked down at Vanessa, who sat on his lap helplessly, and smiled brightly.

He should have done this from the start.

Fren stroked Vanessa’s hair gently.

At the same moment, Medeia grabbed Iason by the hair.

Watching silently beside them, Polyphemos thought,

Those two aren’t normal either.

Fren and Vanessa gazed at each other with deep fondness.

As if nothing in the world around them mattered as long as they had each other.