[Babel tower]
The discussion with Camelia had been rather constructive. Once they had finished discussing the pros and cons, Sol had decided that they needed to inform Setsuna first before making the final choice.
Sol was happy that they could discuss more and understand each other better. Discussions couldn’t always help, but it was good to discuss as much as possible. It avoided useless misunderstandings.
Of course, it was impossible for two people to completely understand each other. No one could read the heart of another.
But Camelia's life was literally tied to his own in such a one-sided way that it was laughable.
This was also one of the reasons Camelia was so dangerous.
Back then, depending on how he acted, Camelia could have simply died and she had been ready for it.
There were few people more dangerous than someone who did not care for their own life.
Sometimes, Sol really wondered if he was born with nerves of steel. After all, keeping so many crazy girls around him was no small feat.
"I really wonder how the meeting between them could go."
Honestly, he was ready for the worst. But he had to try.
It didn't matter if they did not like each other, but he wanted them to at least have a more cordial relationship.
'Man, light novels always lie.'
He chuckled in jest.
In light novels or other such stories, the members of the harem could number in the 20 or 30 but still be friendly to each other. To the point of seeing each other as sisters and never having disputes.
But life didn't work like that.
Even relationships between two people were hell to manage, much less a harem.
This brought another problem to Sol.
"I don't even want to imagine how the weddings will go."
How many times would he organize a wedding? What about children?
"Forget it."
Pushing those thoughts in the back of his mind, Sol stood up from his chair and stretched.
Staying seated for hours made his body so stiff, but he did not really have a choice.
*Knock* *Knock*
“Yes?”
“Your highness, Lady Clara wishes to meet you.”
Hearing the voice of the maid from the other side of the door made Sol remember about his appointment with the elf.
“Let her enter.”
“Understood.”
The battle maid opened the door and let Clara enter before closing it behind her.
Now alone with the elf, Sol once again wondered if all elves were well endowed.
Before reincarnating, he had been under the impression that elves were rather below average curves-wise. Though they had that ethereal beauty BS.
Meanwhile, the elves he had met until now, had rather beautiful forms.
Clara was a brown-haired woman wearing tight fitting pants and an equally tight shirt.
Since her clothes hugged her forms tightly, little was left to the imagination even though she showed zero skin.
The way her breast jiggled while she walked was certainly eye-catching.
Thankfully, Sol was more than used to such sight and only spared a glance before focusing on her face.
“Hello, Clara. How have you been?”
Bowing, Clara answered respectfully, “I have been well, your highness. Working with the knights to help the reconstructions had been a fruitful experience.”
“I see. But judging from your tone, I guess it wasn’t the kind of experience you wished to have.”
Clara bit her lips before speaking, “May I be allowed to speak bluntly?”
Chuckling, Sol walked toward his chair and took a seat, while indicating to her to do the same.
Clara hesitated a little but nodded, then sat in a prim and proper way,
“Go on. I must say, I'm not really one for formality. As long as we keep a certain measure of respect, I am ready to hear anything.”
Clara looked at Sol and adjusted her glasses before taking a deep breath.
“I believe that my skills are not used to their fullest.”
Sol was impressed. His impression of Clara had been that she was somewhat of an airhead with how Lilin nearly sold her to him during their first meeting.
Then again, no matter how shy she could be, she was an elf. Elves were the most prideful creatures in the world right after the dragons.
One of the reasons was that it was the sole country where their respective divine beasts were active.
Yggdrasil, the divine Tree, had an incarnation in all elves' tribes, making it so they never lacked any resources. They could literally pick food just by raising their hands.
Meanwhile, on the dragon side, the four dragon kings, Fafnir, Welsh, Kiyohime, and Hydra represented the four tribes, respectively moon, sun, water, and dark elves.
Finally, the high elves, also known as the royal elves, were represented by his grandmother, Tiamat.
In all this world, aside from the angels, the elves were the only country to have never lost ground aside from what they conquered outside of their forests.
Remembering all this information in a flash, Sol indicated Clara to continue.
“My main goal when leaving the forest and following Lilin was to serve as an advisor–Your advisor. I have been trained all my life for this and I believe that I have the skills necessary to work for you.”
Sol knew that elves could only leave the forest after their coming of age, which happened when they reached fifty years of age; this was the equivalent of being 18 years old in his previous world.
Since he had someone who was a few hundred years old but looked like a teen as his woman, he wasn’t particularly surprised. Though he had to admit that the perception of time of a long-lived race was truly impressive.
But what really caught his attention in her words was something else.
"You have been trained all your life to become an advisor?"
"Indeed, Your Highness. Perhaps you still do not grasp just how important dragons are in our culture. For us, getting to serve a dragon is the highest honor that could be bestowed to us. This is even more so for my family."
"Oh? What do you mean?"
A fervor seemed to burn in her eyes as she said, "Since the creation of Southern pride, all my ancestors have served the dragons. My mother was the personal servant of Lady Blaze, your mother and as such, I have been trained to serve the future progeny of Lady Blaze–you."
"I see."
Sol tapped rhythmically on the table while thinking about how to treat her.
He certainly needed some assistance, but he couldn't exactly leave such confidential documents under the sight of someone he knew basically nothing of.
It didn’t really matter to him if her mother served his in the past. After all, using such flimsy reason to ascertain loyalty was the first step toward inevitable doom.
"I cannot in good conscience let you serve me currently."
Clara seemed crestfallen at his words, the way the light went out from her eyes scared the hell out of him.
He could only pinch his brow since it seemed that he had another crazy woman.
"But–"
"Yes!?"
"I can let you act as my secretary of sorts for now. Later, if you are willing to form a contract with me, I am willing to give you more access rights."
"Of course, I am!"
She was short of jumping excitedly. All the poise and seriousness she had previously shown seemed to vanish.
Looking at the beautiful woman with sparkling eyes, Sol wondered if it was going to be alright.
(AN: Clara was properly introduced in CH 57. Elves in general were depicted in CH 60. Fafnir and Welsh were properly introduced in the dragon special chapter. Next 2-3 chapters will be Nuwa and Sol meetings with our favorite Theresa. Gotta see what surprises she has for Sol. After this it will be a harem discussion and after that there will be some little closure before jumping onto the next big arc.)
