The Devil's Cursed Witch

Reya held Clio’s hands to stop her from saying anything more and gave her cousin a look that said she’d take over from here. She had a feeling that their response would have a huge impact on their master’s current state of mind.

“Miss, I do not think you are clumsy as a person, but–” The elf put great emphasis on the last word. “But your body movements did seem uncoordinated due to many, many factors. I remember you telling us before you have been injured many times, yes? After that, you survived the mating phase and then were not well for long. You are human and your body has become weaker, and when we are weak, our bodies cannot function like usual. You are also not used to the lifestyle here so that might be another reason….”

“Right!” Ember exclaimed. “That is why I ended up falling a few times and that dress… It was the fault of those long dresses that made me fall. I am just not used to the long dresses, and, and those heeled shoes!”

“You are right, Miss! That is why now, Dame Yula instructed us to adjust the length of your dresses to fit your comfort. And you also got used to walking in heeled shoes since you practiced, right? You won’t fall anymore,” Reya assured while Clio nodded quietly. Internally, she was relieved that her witty cousin prevented her from almost telling the truth.

In the eyes of supernatural beings like her, who were inherently stronger than humans, all humans were weak and clumsy. Sadly, their master seemed to be on the clumsier side even amongst humans.

Then Ember remembered a certain memory–wasn’t she wearing a dress with a shorter skirt when the King had saved her from tripping down on that wooden bridge?

‘Well, that was not my fault. That dress was frilly and the skirt happened to be stuck on the bridge railing. So it was not my fault. That doesn’t count. Not like I volunteered to fall. It was an accident, and accidents happen from time to time!’

Able to breathe easier now, Ember sat at the edge of her bed. ‘I need to calm down. I just need to show His Majesty that he was wrong. I am not clumsy and I am not a liar.’

Seeing their master turn quiet, the elves shared a knowing look among themselves. Reya then let out a delicate cough to catch Ember’s attention. “Miss, weren’t you going to study? Is there anything we can help you with?”

‘Study? Right, I was going there to search for something important,’ she thought and stood up to go to her study next door together with her servants.

Inside her study, Ember found herself walking among each of the bookshelves, going through the books with a serious look.

“What are you looking for, Miss?” Clio asked. “If you tell us, we can help you. Though we can’t read books written in your language, we can check those with illustrations.”

Ember had a pensive look. “You said before that Erlos brought various kinds of books that humans read, right?” Ember asked.

“Yes, Miss. He said he bought every single book from the biggest shop in the capital city of the human kingdom where you came from.”

“Fine then. I am searching for a book that has stories about human couples and families. I want those kinds of books.”

“We will help you search!” Reya and Clio said as they started searching.

‘I am His Majesty’s wife so I need to learn about the matters between husbands and wives. Books should be able to help me know what I should do and how I should treat him. His Majesty asked me to think about what he did to me that day inside his study, so I need to see if husbands really treat their wives like that. I do not understand why they would touch them on their bodies to embarrass them, but if it’s normal behaviour, then there must be a justified reason. After I find answers to his questions, I will then work on resisting his scent. Hmph, just so you wait! I won’t fail to behave properly!’

She continued going through books but then stopped after she felt the need to stretch.

‘But why am I doing this? Didn’t I just tell him that I won’t consummate bond and he can get another mate? There is no need for me to do what he has asked…’

“Miss, I think this seems like a story of a couple starting a family,” Clio said as she flipped the pages of the book in her hand.

It pulled Ember out of her thoughts and she hurried to get the book, forgetting what she was thinking a moment before.

“Show me,” she said and Clio passed her the book.

Ember read the title which clearly sounded like a story between a human couple and she flipped the few pages. She read a few lines on top of each page. ‘This seems like it,’

When she flipped through the next pages, she saw the image of a woman in a dress and a man in a suit walking with their arms linked.

‘Gaia never brought books with pretty-looking people drawn on it. Oh, wait, there were. That princess in one fairytale book was so pretty. This seems like such a book but with more pictures.’

“Thank you, Clio. I will read this book,” she smiled and walked towards her desk.

Clio gave her a small bow. “I am happy to help, Miss. Then, we will try to find more books of this kind.”

Ember simply nodded and then flipped back to the first page of the book as she sat comfortably in her chair.

‘Though I told him I won’t consummate the bond with him, I can still find answers and show him that I am not a silly human. I will make him regret calling me clumsy and even Liar.’

====

Reader RMehrotra, thank you for the super gifts.