"There’s no way... of all the coincidences possible, how could it be him.

Is this my punishment for losing my way and committing an unforgivable sin?"

A light pair of footsteps, almost like an ethereal fairy dancing through the night, hidden by the dark copper flames, barely able to light her figure as she faded into the night, wrapped in confusion and clarity.

...

Meanwhile, inside a tent not far from Luka’s. Galata sat on a crate with her legs crossed, resting on a makeshift table covered with documents and various brownish paper scrolls containing information about Babylon.

Across from her sat two women.

A buxom dark elf with silver hair, Luvia rested her back against the wooden pillar, sat on an overturned log, while wearing a light robe, barely able to stop her plump thighs and breasts from spilling out in her leisurely posture.

Beside her, standing straight with her arms by her side was a slim, half-elf, her midnight black hair loosely swaying at her thighs, completely different from the usual visage that the half-elf took during the day.

The look on the two women’s faces couldn’t be any different.

One was calm and almost combative, while the other was nervous and restless in the presence of Galatea’s aggressive posturing.

"So, this is what you truly look like. Heh... could have fooled me." Galatea slammed her foot on the table, her chainmail clinging as she scanned the two women.

"Stop with the posturing, human."

"What?" Galatea’s pupils shrank as she almost growled at the dark elf.

Luvia spread her arms, shrugging slightly as she pointed her palms toward the ceiling. "Look, you’re doing this because of our lovely master, right? Is it jealousy, disgust, or maybe you cannot accept he prefers plump, dark elf ass to yours?"

"!!!"

Galatea’s boots scraped across the table.

The scattered scrolls crumpled beneath her feet, while her sharp blue eyes locked onto Luvia with a dangerous chill.

"Big words from a filthy slut who likes to hide away in the shadows because she’s weak."

"Slut? Haha... Hahaha.... did you really say that? When you’re merely a bitch pretending to be a knight so she can bounce on her Lord’s lap begging for more."

Luvia didn’t relent, smiling at Galatea.

The chasm between them, which Galatea wanted to narrow, seemingly widened in an instant as she received a harsh counter blow beyond her imagination.

’I thought I’d kept my feelings hidden...’

But Luvia didn’t allow her to recover, and brought up something strange, a sensitive comment that rocked her entire world.

"Hey, Blondie."

The dark elf leaned forward slightly, allowing the loose robe to shift against her soft curves, but her golden eyes remained cold and clear.

"Let me guess. You’ve suddenly noticed the changes in Luka’s body, the way he speaks, moves, and it has suddenly got your pheremones pumping. His presence suddenly changed, and your lewd body started wanting him so bad you couldn’t help but summon us here to growl like a jealous cat."

Galatea’s shoulders shook as she flinched at Luvia’s words.

’I cannot refute her without lying...!’

The wooden table groaned as she clenched her muscles, almost crushing it into pieces.

Her lips barely parted as she managed to push out a few harsh words. "Choose your next damn words carefully, Dark Elf!"

"Why?"

Luvia tilted her head.

"Will you kill me?"

For a moment, the air inside the tent became heavy as Galatea grit her teeth, struggling to find a witty comeback.

’This bitch...’

"I thought not, if you killed me... well, your lovely Lord would be so deeply hurt, after all, his first partner in this world was killed by the woman he should’ve been able to trust with anything. His knight, just another bitch after his big white cock."

Meanwhile, Vaun, who remained quiet, lowered her head further, her long black hair hiding most of her delicate face. Yet her fingers trembled slightly on her thighs.

Though appearing to be fear at first glance, there was clearly something else.

"Nonsense, you dark elves truly are nothing but obscene whores obsessed with cock and filthy things like that..."

Galatea’s eyes flickered with a faint shimmer, as her back straightened and her expression almost as if she became a different person altogether.

"And you, what is your deal?"

Vaun flinched at the sharp tone.

The simple movement was enough to draw Galatea’s piercing gaze.

"Answer me, hunter... or should I say, huntress?"

"...My deal?" Vaun repeated, her voice softer than expected.

The half-elf slowly raised her face, revealing delicate features that didn’t match the rough, quiet helper who followed Luka during the day. Her midnight black hair framed a pale face, while her long lashes trembled over faintly glassy eyes.

’Another one...’

Galatea’s heart tightened as she saw the ethereal beauty standing before her, a confusing shock that stirred her jealousy.

’Where was this woman last time...? I have never met her before.’

"I serve Lord Luka, as his faithful servant and bow."

The corners of Galatea’s lips curled upward eerily as she spoke. "That’s not an answer, and we both know it. Are you going to serve him? Where? His bed, right?"

However, to Galatea’s shock, though Vaun appeared to be weaker than the dark elf. That was only because Vaun needed to keep her disguise hidden, but once the knight foolishly insulted her in the same manner as the dark elf.

Vaun’s brows furrowed, and she bit her lip.

"I don’t have any obligation to tell you, a mere knight, do I?"

Luvia chuckled from the side, though her golden eyes remained locked on Galatea.

"Oh? The little half-elf has a spine after all."

Vaun didn’t give Luvia a response and tightened her grip around her pants, pulling the folds while steadily trying to adjust her breathing.

"I never thought such vulgar things. Lord Luka and his family accepted me when I had nowhere else to go. From the very beginning, even before his change, the Lord was kind to me. Lord Luka’s father allowed me to live here without selling me, branding me, or handing me to the church. Though I only served for this grace at first... now I serve Lord Luka alone, and have no intention of backing down or taking it back."

"Oho! You go, sister."

"Shut it." Vaun snapped back at Luvia, who mocked her playfully.

Galatea stared at her for several seconds.

"Then why hide your appearance?"

Vaun’s lips pressed together.

"Oi, Galatea... come on, look at this woman, her face like a fairy, her hips so wide and yet lacking excess flesh... any man would want to rut himself to death between her thighs, so dainty and yet her tits are pretty and well shaped. I bet even Lord Luka wants to spurt his load all over her ethereal face—"

"ENOUGH!" Galatea slammed the desk, while Vaun’s cheeks turned bright red at Luvia’s insinuation.

’This half-elf is dangerous!’

Though she said nothing to insinuate she liked Luka or wanted him as a man, Galatea could tell from her reaction that this elf would spread her legs if he asked!

So she guided the conversation back on the rails.

Her heart thumped like a blacksmith’s hammer striking an anvil.

"Answer my question, Vaun."

"...Because half-elves are troublesome."

"Troublesome?"

"To elves, we are disgusting mistakes born from the lust of a human toward our kind. To the nobles, we are only useful tools, a pretty toy that can produce beautiful heirs or merely serve their dark desires... To humans, we are impure and resemble their hated enemy."

Her voice remained quiet, but all traces of fear and the slight tremble vanished.

"Heh, isn’t it simpler... you’re so pretty most men would lose their brains upon seeing you bend over with that tight, perky elven ass. I bet Lord Luka has thought about it once or twice... Oh? You’re blushing, fufu. What a cute girl you are."

Luvia continued to tease Vaun, ignoring Galatea’s anger.

Galatea’s expression also changed, but only for a moment.

"Then why reveal yourself tonight?"

Vaun glanced toward the tent entrance, toward the faint glow where Luka and Levi remained.

"Because he accepted me, this wretched form halfway between an elf and human... Master said he would never forsake me. Thus, I want to answer his trust and reveal myself, but the main reason is that Luvia found me changing my undergarments.... and then you dragged us here with that unsightly expression."

Luvia lifted both hands.

"To be fair, I only peeked because you made such a cute sound."

"You are shameless." 𝘧𝓇𝑒𝑒𝑤ℯ𝑏𝓃𝘰𝑣ℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮

"Naturally."

Galatea didn’t speak or complain about Vaun’s answer; she quietly shifted her gaze between the two women.

Luvia was dangerous in an obvious way. Shameless, poisonous, sharp-tongued and far too comfortable standing beside Luka, it was likely she’d slept with him, but Galatea didn’t know for sure and hoped it wasn’t true.

A woman like her would never retreat, no matter who blocked her path.

But Vaun was a little different... Her feelings stemmed from genuine gratitude and respect for Luka and his family. Galatea couldn’t blindly hate this quiet and devoted elf who remained faithful to her words from start to finish.

’That’s why she’s more dangerous...’

That made her worse in another way.

’One attacks from the front, the other has already nested beside him without anyone noticing.’

Galatea slowly exhaled, forcing the strange heat in her chest to settle.

"I see."

She then removed her foot from the table and leaned back.

"For now, this ends here. Luka needs useful people beside him, not women tearing each other apart, before we meet that crazy bitch from Ironhold, once she appears. I don’t know what Luka will do..."

Vaun lowered her head.

"Then I will continue serving him."

Galatea motioned for her to leave, pointing to the tent flap.

"Just don’t make me regret allowing it."

Vaun quietly left, while Galatea turned back to the voluptuous dark elf who smirked at her with an annoying face.

"So, what do you want me here for? I know you’re seething with rage because I got to taste his cock first. Fufufu." Luvia teased, but paused when Galatea didn’t react or get angry.

"The first...? Well, yes... technically you might be. But not because of skill. If she weren’t the daughter of a Duke, that crazy bitch would have swallowed him whole by now if not for me."

That’s when Luvia gasped.

"Eh, she doesn’t hate him for being sickly and weak?"

Galatea covered her face, speaking with a muffled tone.

"That woman... she’s not right in the head... her attraction to Luka... No, it’s more like an obsession! It is my eternal shame that I didn’t discover the traces until her fifth visit..."

Then Galatea looked into Luvia’s eyes for the first time properly.

"We cannot let them be alone together, Luvia."

"Why not?"

"...Because she is Luka’s first love, and his legal fiancée..."