07 Sunlight

(Kyle's pov)

I don't believe Ella's story.

She said a dark elf saved her thirteen years ago. That's absolutely a lie.

Thirteen years ago, I was locked in a dark prison. I'm very certain I was the only one in that dungeon. And before me, the Elven Kingdom hadn't expelled any elves in a very long time.

That day, Sereis stood in the center of the royal court, his expression sorrowful as he told everyone—he had seen the Lifewarden's prophecy.

In the prophecy, I, the Grand Prince of the Elven Kingdom, would destroy the Elven Kingdom.

The Lifewarden guards The Tree of Life for life. Unless the kingdom faces a truly major crisis, they would never leave The Tree of Life. Sereis claimed the Lifewarden gave him the prophecy in a dream and handed him an elven leaf as proof.

I don't know how Sereis obtained the elven leaf, but I know that prophecy was a lie.

I could never do something that would destroy the Elven Kingdom!

Yet it was this clumsy, almost laughable lie that the Elven King believed.

His Majesty the Elven King, whom I most respected, easily believed Sereis's words. He sealed my magic power, stripped me of my prince status, personally broke my wings, and threw me into the dungeon.

Even now, I still dream of that pain.

An elf's wings aren't just tools for flight. They connect to magic power, perception, and life force.

My wings were forcibly broken. Shattered bones pierced through skin and flesh, forming deep wounds on my back. The physical pain was nothing. That feeling of my soul being split apart—that's what I'll never forget.

I can never forget that day. Blood stained the entire altar. I was tied to a pillar, covered in wounds, like some kind of livestock about to be slaughtered.

And my brother Sereis stood in the back of the crowd, quietly watching me. His gaze was so calm.

Elves belong to the forest. Sunlight, trees, streams, floral scents—these things are as important to us as breathing.

But there was no light in the Elven Kingdom's dungeon, and no plants either.

It was damp, cold, and the air was forever filled with the smell of decay.

I was thrown into the dungeon on the brink of death. I don't know how long I was unconscious. When I woke up, I had become what I am now.

Darkened skin, mutated magic power, golden elven wings turned black.

Even my power itself began to carry the breath of corrosion and curse.

I became a dark elf, the legendary dark elf.

Dark elves aren't formed in an instant. It requires a long process.

So I'm very certain that thirteen years ago, it would have been impossible for a dark elf to leave the Elven Kingdom. Because the only dark elf thirteen years ago was me.

Ella is lying.

But she really is a clever girl.

When I questioned her, she didn't panic or explain.

Instead she immediately asked me back—

"How would you know?"

Looking at her little expression trying hard to stay calm, it was rather cute.

So I didn't continue questioning.

Actually, I don't care at all why she's keeping me. I don't look at the process. I only need results.

Ella will help me hide, and I will recover from my injuries and wait for an opportunity to kill my way back.

She has secrets.

I have them too.

That's fair.

As long as she doesn't harm me, I'll temporarily stay here and protect her.

Thinking of this, I looked down at my hands.

The black magic marks were still slowly spreading. I could feel the speed of power loss getting faster and faster.

Without Ella's blood, I won't live long, and she's clearly already discovered this.

This little pharmacist who looks soft and unguarded is actually much sharper than I imagined.

Including that knockout agent last night—that was definitely not an ordinary potion. I distinctly smelled some kind of strange scent in the potion residue.

She must have modified the potion formula. She's very talented. Someone like her shouldn't stay in Thorn Town. She should go to the Elven Kingdom to study.

We have the oldest herb garden on the entire continent there, the most complete collection of potion texts, and rare plants nourished by The Tree of Life.

When I return to my throne, I'll allow her to enter the royal academy to study.

She'll like it there.

I coaxed Ella into making a deal.

She hides my identity and provides blood, while I'm responsible for protecting her.

This isn't a fair deal, but Ella was very happy. What a strange woman.

You should know that the existence of a dark elf itself is dangerous. Once exposed, she'll be implicated too.

After I agreed to stay.

Those beautiful eyes suddenly lit up, like sparkling stars.

She must really want me to stay with her. Thinking this way, my mood also relaxed in a rare moment.

However, there's always someone to ruin my good mood. Like that annoying werewolf outside the door.

Werewolves as creatures always rely too much on instinct. Crude, impulsive, and with extremely strong territorial awareness.

I don't like them.

Especially don't like the way that young werewolf looks at Ella.

Hasn't he realized that Ella is my contractor?

Base werewolf. If I were still an elven prince, I would definitely walk out and make this little werewolf understand who deserves to stand before Ella...

But the current me can only hide behind thick curtains, watching Ella's happy smile in the sunlight.

I tried extending one finger. The sunlight burned my skin, leaving a wound.

This is stupid, I know.

I just... haven't seen sunlight for too long.

Just like the man and woman before me. Brilliant smiles, warm sunlight.

Ella must also really like sunlight.

Ella said she would find me a new set of clothes to change into. I originally didn't have much expectation.

Human clothes are mostly rough and cheap. The fabric rubbing against skin is always uncomfortable. Moreover, this is just a remote small town. There probably aren't many clothes suitable for me to wear.

But when I took that coat, my movements still paused.

It fits very well.

Whether shoulder width or sleeve length, it's almost like it was custom-made for me.

Elves' builds are somewhat taller than humans, and this clothing is clearly not the size of an ordinary human male.

The fabric is light yet flexible. The lining even uses silver-threaded stitching. The design of the shoulder straps is also very peculiar, like a style I commonly saw in the Elven Kingdom before.

Why would a human girl living alone have this kind of men's clothing in her house?

Could it be that werewolf's? No, impossible. That bumpkin couldn't possibly wear clothes like this.

Ella seemed to notice my gaze and immediately explained: "This was left behind by an elf customer before."

I was half-believing, but this explanation was more acceptable to me than that werewolf.

I put on this outfit and, after a long absence, felt the breath of the forest.

Perhaps it truly once belonged to some elf.

These clothes are nice, but I still don't like wearing other people's old clothes.

Ella looked somewhat unhappy: "I know, I'll buy you new ones."

When I have money, I'll pay you back, stingy little pharmacist.

I lowered my head to arrange the straps.

But this kind of old traveling-style clothing is much more complicated than the ceremonial robes commonly used in the royal court now.

In the past, servants always helped me dress. I rarely did it myself.

So before long, I had tied the straps into a complete mess.

"...So troublesome." I couldn't help but frown.

Ella heard my complaint but naturally walked up to me to help arrange my clothes.

Her attitude was very natural, her movements very practiced, as if she had done it many times before.

I silently looked down at her slender fingers moving through my clothing, watching her fair neck and rosy cheeks.

Slightly curled strands of hair gently brushed across the back of my hand. Warm breath fell from a very close distance, carrying a reassuring faint herbal fragrance.

My body suddenly felt somewhat tense.

My waist was brushed by her fingers. With a "boom," I felt like my blood was ignited by something.

But Ella was completely unaware of the danger she was currently facing.

I forcibly restrained myself from pouncing on her.

She carefully retied the straps for me, straightened the collar, then stepped back half a step with a satisfied expression.

"All done."