I just play innocent and look as confused as she is. Cara…doesn't buy it. Ulta finally speaks up in response to Alara's claim – she reminds me of Helena when Nina offered to demonstrate the lie detector spell.
"Fufufu…well, that has got to be the most absurd magic I've ever heard of. On top of that, you're claiming that it's enchanted, but the enchantment doesn't only affect the item, so it's doubly absurd. I expect to see this claim verified." (Ulta)
Alara smirks at Ulta.
"Well, Miss Ulta, you can try walking over to one of the black domes and asking the people inside to describe what you're wearing. Alternatively, feel free to treat all the men here to a show and climb in one of the empty jacuzzi yourself." (Alara)
Did she really just say that!? I glance fearfully between the two of them, but Ulta just gives Alara a smirk right back.
"Thanks, I think I will. You don't think I knowingly came to a hot spring unprepared, do you?" (Ulta)
Without wasting another second, Ulta slides the dress she's wearing down her body to her feet and steps out of it. She's wearing the bikini-like attire I noticed on some of the other elves. Hers is made of very fine-looking black leather.
Ulta is sporting a confident smile, and I don't blame her. American public school would be a brutal place for any son of Ulta.
"So, that's why you ignored my advances – you're into older women?" (Cara)
Cara whispers this to me with a smirk on her face – I guess she saw me looking at Ulta. Oh, she thinks she's funny, huh? I could tell her it was just because I was surprised by the bikinis, but that's not as fun.
I smirk back.
"If that were the case, wouldn't I have jumped at my chance with you? You're probably triple Ulta's age, right?" (Mizuki)
All traces of amusement leave Cara's face, and her eyes narrow at me dangerously.
"I'll pretend I didn't hear that, for your sake. I considered you a smart man, Mizuki, so I'd rather not have to lower my opinion of you." (Cara)
"Fufufu…I'm very flattered that you think I'm smart. I do think you're beautiful, by the way, I just assumed you hear it enough that me saying it would bother you. Also, I very much enjoy your company, so I didn't want to complicate our relationship. That's all." (Mizuki)
Cara's eyes go wide in surprise over my sudden change in tactics, and she becomes flustered. That's very unlike her…I fight the urge to laugh at her girlish reaction. After a moment, she seems to recover and eyes me suspiciously.
"Quit trying to throw me off with your empty flattery, Mizuki. It's not going to save you." (Cara)
I give her an amused smile.
"Just so you know, I consider us whispering like this to be a private conversation. That means our deal is in effect. Since empty flattery is basically lying, I can assure you that I meant every word of what I said." (Mizuki)
Cara maintains her suspicion momentarily while studying my face. I just wait patiently with an earnest expression, and eventually she smiles at me in amusement.
"Well, I'm happy to hear that. I don't think sharing my bed with you occasionally is too complicated, though. Offer is still available if you're interested?" (Cara)
This again? I sigh deeply. Giving the same answer again wouldn't be very much fun though. I glance to Cara, and she's eyeing me expectantly.
I smile at her in amusement.
"Sure, that sounds nice. Are you free tonight?" (Mizuki)
Cara's eyes go wide in shock, and I see color rush to her cheeks. She stares at me dumbfounded for a moment without responding. I knew it…that sneaky elf. I smirk at her and continue.
"Well look at that, not the answer you expected, hmm? So, why don't you tell me what you're really after? That's probably easier than trying to seduce me." (Mizuki)
Cara's expression rapidly turns bitter.
"Tch…that was extremely rude of you, Mizuki. While my offer wasn't out of something as naïve as love, I'm still interested in you. I admit that I hoped it would make you and your Lady more attached to my territory and this kingdom, but I wouldn't sleep with you over that alone. You're good company and appealing otherwise." (Cara)
Well…that's actually…shit, I might have been an asshole. Still, it's not like I'm being entirely unreasonable either.
"What if I told you that could be the case without you sleeping with me? I'm happy to be friends if we both put in the effort to show that we're trustworthy." (Mizuki)
Cara looks at me in surprise.
"I'd be very interested in that. Have I not been trustworthy?" (Cara)
"You haven't been untrustworthy, but no, I wouldn't say that I can trust you either. So far, you haven't taken a single action towards me or my Lady that wasn't motivated primarily by how it benefits you. By contrast, I made our deal to never lie to you even though it only inconvenienced me – it was done purely for your benefit." (Mizuki)
Cara's expression quickly changes, and it seems…pained? Guilty? She becomes thoughtful and doesn't speak for several minutes. Before she gets the chance, a commotion snaps my attention back to Alara and the guests.
Ulta is climbing out of a black-domed jacuzzi with a huge smile on her face, and she is dripping wet. Oh right, I kind of got distracted, but she was going to test out a jacuzzi. She walks over to the women's changing room to grab a towel, then walks towards us while still grinning. Arriving in front of us, she continues to dry off her body and hair.
"Remarkable, Lady Alara! Fufufu…I saw the little mirror to prove that it was working, but I wasn't sure until I tested it myself. It works exactly how you said, and the water felt amazing! Where can I commission one of these enchantments?" (Ulta)
Alara just shakes her head in exasperation.
"Nowhere, Miss Ulta. They were a gift from Lady Nedonera, and they can only be found here." (Alara)
Ulta gives a bewildered look to Alara, then shifts her focus to me.
"Mizuki, perhaps as gratitude for my little showing, you can explain that to me. I know that Elder Dragons are powerful, don't need incantations, and have other strange abilities, but I thought all their actual spells were related in some way to their named element? What does this strange privacy barrier have to do with earth? Also, setting that aside, why is Lady Nedonera giving such generous gifts only to Lady Alara?" (Ulta)
Those are…fair questions. Why is she the first person to bother asking? I guess it's because everyone else has 'watched' Nina perform non-earth spells, so there was no reason to question it. Until Nina's Dragon Bond with me, Ulta would have been correct.
"You're normally correct, Miss Ulta. All I can tell you is that my Lady managed to expand her abilities beyond that limitation. Even among the Elder Dragons, she is truly exceptional – probably the strongest of them all. As for why she's helping Lady Alara…Lady Alara extended her aid to us without obligation, even though it inconvenienced her. I felt that friendliness deserved reciprocity, so here we are." (Mizuki)
I hear Cara mumbling…
"So, that's the difference…" (Cara)
Meanwhile, Alara smiles gratefully at me, and all the guests turn to me in shock. Ulta seemingly voices the reason for their confusion.
"Mizuki, the other part is absurd as well, but are you saying Lady Nedonera did something because you told her to!?" (Ulta)
Uh oh…I should have been more careful about my wording. I shake my head.
"Of course not, I miscommunicated that. She allows me to speak freely around her, and I merely voiced an opinion. When she heard the opinion, she found it agreeable, and made the decision herself. Obviously, an Elder Dragon would never take actual orders from someone as weak as myself." (Mizuki)
Everyone seems to calm down some, but Ulta keeps eyeing me skeptically. I decide to change the subject. I smile at Ulta earnestly.
"So, Miss Ulta, was the answer to your question interesting enough payback for your 'little showing', as you put it?" (Mizuki)
Ulta snorts.
"Yeah, I'd say so. I'd have even let you join me in the jacuzzi if I'd known beforehand." (Ulta)
I shake my head in exasperation.
"Lady Alara, where to next?" (Mizuki)
Alara smirks at my discomfort, then begins leading our group back down the mountain. I glance at the unusually silent Cara just ahead of me, who let go of my arm earlier, and see that she's once again hugging the side of the stairs away from the edge. She looks terrified.
I quicken my pace slightly, and I loop my arm through hers. She looks at me in bewilderment, and I just return a warm smile to her. After a moment, she smiles back at me, but it seems forced and tinged with sadness. What is her deal? I speak to her in a low voice.
"I don't know why you look so glum, Cara, but is there anything I can do to help?" (Mizuki)
To my surprise, Cara's face twists into frustration. What the hell!? She looks back towards me and sees my bewildered expression, and her face immediately softens.
"I-I'm sorry, it's not you, Mizuki. I've just been thinking about what you said. You're right…I've been helpful, and friendly, but that's not the same thing as being trustworthy. I've acted as though every interaction with you is just a conduit for my benefit. In a way, that's like when people just gawk at me during empty conversation, and I hate making that comparison." (Cara)
Wow…that might be unnecessarily harsh towards herself. The last part, at least.
"Well, I think you're being a little unfair. Like I said, I enjoy your company, and I don't think there is anything wrong with putting yourself or your people first. Especially when you're still helping a human outsider who you don't owe anything. So, maybe cut yourself some slack, for me?" (Mizuki)
Cara stares at me dumbfounded for several minutes before responding. To my surprise, she outright changes the subject.
"Mizuki…I'd like to stay here in Eden a few more days. If you'll be available, I want to get to know one another better during that time. Could we do that?" (Cara)
Cara is looking at me with a mix of determination and hopefulness. I smile back at her warmly.
"I have people and projects I have to help with, so I can't constantly escort you, but getting to know one another better sounds nice. You're welcome to accompany me wherever you want, and I'll let you know if there are exceptions." (Mizuki)
Cara smiles with relief.
"That would be perfect. Uhm…also, could I stay in a guest room in that mansion? I'm sure the inn itself is fine, but…all those people…the small rooms…" (Cara)
Oh, this poor, pampered noble. How would she ever survive such a hardship?
[Hey, Nina! I hope the hunting trip is going well! Quick question – it turns out that Cara, that redheaded elf noble, showed up to tour Eden. She has asked to stay with us in the mansion for a few days. Is that okay with you?] (Mizuki)
I sense excitement from Nina through our connection.
[Mizuki, it is going well! I have already claimed the lives of four orcs! Fufufu…at this rate, I will not have to wait much longer for this game of pool! Fufufu… prepare to spoil me for my hard work when I get home. Oh, and I don't mind if the fire-colored elf stays with us.] (Nina)
[Great! I'm looking forward to tonight. Oh, with Cara here we'll have to be more subtle, though. Me sharing a room or a bath with my master would raise eyebrows.] (Mizuki)
[That is fine, you can teleport us somewhere private for any of those things. Oh! I see another orc, I must go!] (Nina)
Well, she's rather nonchalant. Cara is giving me a puzzled look, probably because I've been staring into space for over a minute.
"Ehem…sure, we can accommodate a pampered noble. Happy to have you!" (Mizuki)
Cara's face contorts with annoyance at my phrasing, but she squeezes my arm appreciatively. After that, we make our way down the mountain in comfortable silence, admiring the view of the valley.