The Shepherds Are Dense – Chapter 54

Chapter 54

Eivass: I like it very much.

Avalon was originally an island nation, and the Silver and Tin Hall in the capital, Glass Island, was built on an island within an island.

At the front of the Avalon Bridge leading to the Silver and Tin Hall, an old elf, whose skin was like tree bark and whose oil-green pupils were like a wild wolf, stood straight. His tall, slender, and straight figure appeared like a tree under the winter night.

“I’ll escort you this far.”

The old butler instructed the maid, Lily, “Take good care of Young Master Eivass.”

“Yes, Mr. Oswald,” Lily replied respectfully.

Under the old butler’s gaze, she pushed Eivass’s wheelchair onto the bridge.

In the early winter, the sun set very early. The deep blue night sky was not yet completely dark, and the sapphire-like lake shimmered beautifully under the illumination of the streetlights on both sides of the bridge.

Tall white griffins, like stone lions, quietly landed on the stone platforms on both sides of the streetlights as night fell. As Eivass passed by, some white griffins would open their eyes and look at him. Their pupils were gem-like red or blue, crystal clear, reflecting the light of the lamps. Their pure white feathers reflected the orange-yellow glow of the streetlights, shining with a sacred radiance.

“They’re so beautiful…” The girl with long, wavy, flaxen hair was also here for the first time. Immersed in this beautiful spectacle, she couldn’t help but say, “It reminds me of your eyes.”

“…What did you say?” Eivass, suddenly teased, was momentarily dazed. “The griffins?”

But Lily was not shy. She said matter-of-factly, “I’m talking about the color of the lake, which is very similar to Young Master Eivass’s eye color.”

“Is that so?” Hearing this, Eivass looked past the griffins at the lake illuminated by the night lamps. “I never really noticed… Now that you mention it, they are indeed a bit similar.”

Upon hearing this, the griffins on both sides of the bridge let out low, friendly chuckles. Lily was startled to realize that these white griffins could understand human speech. Her cheeks instantly flushed, and she didn’t dare to say anything more, simply lowering her head and pushing the wheelchair.

Since this meeting was not an official one and did not require an audience with Her Majesty the Queen, the Royal Steward did not need to be present. Under the guidance of a male servant, Lily took Eivass to the side hall.

The Silver and Tin Hall was always brightly lit, even the side halls where the Royal heirs resided. Even though there were not many heirs left, and less than a tenth of the rooms in the side hall were occupied, the lights were lit in all of them. This was to let the residents of the White Queen District see them at any time, reassuring them that the Queen was always with them.

When Eivass arrived, a sumptuous dinner was already prepared. All the dishes were placed on the table, not served slowly as they would be at home. Eivass immediately saw that the dinner included freshwater grilled fish he didn’t recognize, fried cod sticks, fried frog legs coated in breadcrumbs, lamb stewed with carrots, lemon oysters, and several crispy roasted pigeons. There was also seafood soup made with clams, razor clams, and shrimp, and a double-flavored ice cream with vanilla and pineapple. Almost all of them were dishes Eivass liked to eat. At a glance, it was almost all meat and seafood, with the only green item being a strange spinach cake.

…Does the little princess dislike vegetables? Eivass wondered.

But soon, his question was answered: “I inquired about what Mr. Eivass likes to eat.” Princess Isabel, sitting at the table, looked at Eivass. Her eyes, as beautiful as the finest emeralds, reflected the brilliance of the silverware, shining with joy and anticipation. “I wonder if you like it?” She wore a flower crown, and a pearl necklace with a small rose carved from yellow topaz adorned her fair neck. Her pure white off-the-shoulder gown had emerald-green leaf decorations that evoked nature. Her hands were clasped on her lap, and she smiled gently and gracefully. She was so beautiful, her light golden, waist-length hair cascading naturally, seeming to shine in the light, just like the Silver and Tin Hall shining in the midday sun. Lily couldn’t help but hold her breath, struck by such pure clarity and beauty. Perhaps due to her quarter-elf heritage, Princess Isabel appeared younger than her actual age—though she was nineteen, she looked younger than Eivass. She seemed only slightly older than Miss Yulia, Lily thought. Princess Isabel’s waist was very slender, but her bust was not very prominent… in fact, it seemed even smaller than fifteen-year-old Miss Yulia’s. This was perhaps the only imperfection in her beauty. Or perhaps, it was precisely because it blurred the lines of sexuality and seduction that her beauty appeared so pure. Even Eivass held his breath for a moment. This was his first time meeting Princess Isabel. Although he had known of her beauty and had seen her model in games, perhaps due to the influence and bonuses of the Path of Beauty… in reality, she was far more “beautiful” than that.

“…I like it
very much,” Eivass, sitting quietly in his wheelchair, appearing refined, gentle, and magnanimous, replied from the bottom of his heart. “Thank you very much for your consideration and care, Your Highness. I was just stunned by your beauty and couldn’t respond to your question immediately. Please forgive me if I was rude.”

“Then please eat quickly, Mr. Eivass,” Princess Isabel urged with a smile. She was simply surprised that when she looked at Eivass, she didn’t feel the timidity and nervousness she usually felt when meeting strangers… it was as if she had known him already. “So holding little Eivass when he was young really worked!” Then she immediately thought of how Eivass had lost his parents at such a young age. According to Mr. Sherlock’s deduction, Eivass’s biological parents should have lured away the Hooked Demon Jack, saving Eivass’s life. The tragic nature of this story made her sad. Although it might have nothing to do with her, or perhaps she was too immersed in the role—Princess Isabel seemed to exude a maternal radiance. “Let’s chat while we eat, Mr. Eivass. You must be hungry after your journey…” Suddenly, she heard a soft cough in her ear. It was then that she suddenly remembered she had forgotten something! That was something her teacher had reminded her of beforehand! So Princess Isabel coughed and forcibly changed the subject, quickly adding, “Also, my teacher, Janis, wishes to join this banquet—if you are willing.”

…What an abrupt transition. She was reminded, wasn’t she?

“—Of course,” Eivass obediently picked up his knife and fork, smiling and replying, “I have long admired Master Janis as well.”

“Oh?” A voice with mature charm rang out softly. “Have you seen my works too?” The elf, who looked no older than thirty, possessing both the mature charm of a woman and the innocence of a girl, appeared by the table unnoticed. She sat closer to Eivass than the princess, looking with interest at the boy with white-gold hair. Janis was tall and slender, with creamy curly hair and a slanted fringe that covered one eye. Her eye color was the same emerald green as Princess Isabel’s. She was only a finger shorter than Eivass—looking at her height and her elegantly straight back, it was clear she was a pure-blood elf. It was as if she had been there all along, but Eivass had not noticed her; or perhaps she was just a projection “painted” there, appearing somewhat ethereal in the lamplight. Eivass immediately realized this was “Reflection in the Painting.” It was an Extraordinary Ability that only “Painters” could acquire after reaching level 40 and advancing to “Artistic Master.” Painters could obtain some of the power of Twin Mirrors, thus using paintings as mirrors. They could hide their true selves within paintings and move freely within them, projecting their reflections into reality wherever their paintings existed. Turning the real into the fake, and the fake into the real. Transforming reality and paintings into her Twin Mirrors. All Nine Great Paths had teleportation abilities, but “Reflection in the Painting” was the lowest level and came with the smallest price to acquire. In the current version, the reflection teleportation of the Path of Beauty was the only means of travel. It was no wonder Master Janis could travel to various countries. With her ability to teleport at will, let alone mortals… even Extraordinary individuals would have no way to stop her.

“—Of course,” Eivass said fearlessly and eloquently in front of Master Janis. “Whether it’s ‘Paying Homage to Akropolis Shrine,’ or ‘Golden Dawn,’ and ‘Crystal Sea,’ I like them all very much.” Although I haven’t seen them… but let me pretend I have, Eivass added in his mind.