>> “I swore a fealty to the King, and fight alongside you. I will never betray you or anyone in the court, and my life is yours to take.”

I baffled from what she said. “Uhm...” I utter out. Countess Lilith stands up and looks at the Queen. “Let’s have a seat?” she offered.

We both sit down on the sofa. Alecto brings the tray with an ivory tea kettle and 3 cups on the coffee table at the center. She pours each cup with tea, wafting the calming aroma through my nostrils.

“Thank you, Alecto...” Astarte smiles. Alecto bows and took a glance at me and Countess Lilith. “Please enjoy your tea.” She mumbled and left.

Lilith then grabs the saucer and cup on the coffee table. She wafts the smoke arising on the tea and took a sip. Astarte does the same. “Hmmm... this is good.”

Astarte nods respectively. Alecto came back again to place a platter of biscuits. A tea snack, huh? Glaze with somewhat sugar particles and jam in the middle, it reminds me of biscuit in my world.

“Have some, Justine...” Astarte offered me. I can still remember what happened last week. The thing I might eating isn’t something I ever expect.

However, the Queen’s hospitality must not be declined. I reluctantly took a piece of biscuit and delivered it to my mouth. At first bite, the crunch of bread sooths on my palate and the jam filled over.

The sweetness is just right enough to satisfy the overall taste. “It’s delicious.” I mumbled out. Astarte smiles at me as she sees my response. “I’m glad you like it.”

Then, I grabbed the saucer and put my finger on the handle of the cup. I took a sip of the tea. The bittersweet taste washes away the sweetness, and a little spice of the tea made my throat feel warm.

The snack and tea are good combination. Perfect for this time to relax. “So, your name’s Justine, huh?”

Amidst the silence, a sudden voice speaks my name. “Ah,” I turn sideways and place the cup on the table. “Yes, Your Majesty.” I answered.

“No need to be formal. You can call me Lilith. It’s stifle, knowing a King formally addresses me.”

Her lips form a sweet smile. “And I bet you’re calling our Queen here by her name, right?”

Astarte glances at me, as I turn to face her. “Ahm...” I mumbled. “Hmmm... so you haven’t yet, huh?”

“I—I think it’s kind of early for me to do that.”

Lilith’s eyes smolder as she heard my reply. “I see, I see.”

“Then, what makes you visit here?” Astarte asked. “I am a bit curious what kind of person our King is. He’s interesting, despite of being a mortal.”

Taking a piece of biscuit, she delivered it on her mouth. “Hmmm...” Astarte’s eyes narrowed.

“Besides,” after chewing the biscuit and swallowed down, Lilith continues. “I am eager to visit my niece.” She smiles.

So, Lilith is Astarte’s auntie, huh?

“... You’re not scheming something, are you?” though her voice is mellow, it pierces like a sharp knife. Astarte’s eyes squint as she gazes.

“How awful! Saying that I will do something to Your Highness... I won’t do anything to make you sad, you know?”

Lilith’s guise frowned, but she composed and smiles again right away. “Rather, what happened last time.”

Astarte sneers, hearing what Lilith said. “... About what happened with your guest. A mischievous demon plays a little prank on him. Well, that can’t be helped since it’s been a while the last time, we encountered mortal—"

“Is that so? Playing prank to my guest here like a toy?”

Lilith’s mouth agape from what Astarte said. “Uhm...” I chided in. They both go quiet, as I trail the next words to speak.

“About that... Uhm... I understand that you are very caring and hospitable to me, but... I should think I must go back to my world— “

“... I’m sorry, I never realized it. It seems I became hasty for our sudden meeting. Despite of my race being hostile to you, I should think of way for you to be comfortable here. I apologize on my brethren’s behalf.”

Astarte suddenly blurt out. Her hands clenched on her dress as her eyes directly looks at me. She seems sincere from those words. I can’t rebut anything.

Lilith who remains quiet, continuously gazes at us. “I’m hasty knowing that you will come to get marry to me. So...”

“Uhm...” I utter out. I never intend to marry you... is what I wanted to comply, yet I hold it.

“Videor tibi conflictus es, quid vis animo tuo implicare?” (I seem you're conflict with what you want to imply with your feelings?)

A sudden thought rushed inside my head. It seems like someone’s whispering in my ear. I turn sideways, and sees Lilith smirking.

“What the—”

“Noli loqui, sic mecum loqui potes... Animo loquere, mortalis” (Don't speak, you can talk to me like this... Speak with your mind, mortal.

I gasped out. Lilith’s purplish eyes glow while still gazing at me. “What’s the matter?” cracking the silence, Astarte asked. I jolted from her sudden voice and quickly turns to look at her.

“Ah... ahahaha! No, it’s nothing.” I replied.

“I bet you understood what I said just now, don’t you?” Lilith asked.

“Uhm...” I grunt. “Hmmm? What’s the matter?” Astarte quizzically asked.

“I’m just wondering, if Justine already understands our language?” Lilith suddenly interjects. “Oh, yeah... I believe you’re taking some studies with your servants, right?”

“Ah... yeah?” I mumbled.

“Then...” Astarte smiles at me. “Adoro te rex meus.” (I adore you, my King.)

Her sweet smile captures my eyes. My heart skipped a beat as those words translated within my mind. “Well? Do you understand?”

I feel my face becomes hot as I slightly nods from what she said. This is the first time a girl tells me that word. Although, I mustn’t feel anything at all, her words seem to be different.

“I do also think you’re cute, Your Highness...” I answered. Astarte blushes as well. “Would you mind tell it in our language?”

I twitched out. That wasn’t going to happen! I mean, I never had a chance to try it. Knowing that I can read and write their letters, but there’s no way I can speak that.

“Is that a, no?” suddenly... Astarte got disheartened. She seemed seen on my looks right now that I don’t like the idea at all. “Hmmm... you’re not obeying the Queen?”

From my side is Lilith smirking. “Ah, no... it’s not like that. I mean—”

I trailed my words. But there’s nothing come out. “It’s okay, you don’t need to force yourself. I mean, this encounter and the way how I feel about you is only one sided.”

She forced a smile, and that pierce through me. What? Is she serious all this time for me? I mean... I never thought of her as a member of opposite sex.

And this sudden encounter just happened. I never even wish to be here at all.

Yet, my feelings stirred up as I see her looks right now. I feel bad for not doing it, despite of me not knowing much about it. Why do I feel conflict to this? What’s this feeling?

“In our race, telling a woman that she’s cute or adorable is a sign that you love her.”

Lilith suddenly butts in, grinning widely. “You sure don’t mean those words, huh?”

The heck!? “No, I do mean it. She’s really adorable... and pretty, and...”

Ah, I flustered out like a teenage boy who got caught by his friends teasing to his crush. This is embarrassing! “Come on, say it. Tell it that you mean what you said.”

Lilith, still grinning, speaks to me. Astarte’s looks still glum. I don’t know what I should do? Maybe I’ll just get along with it?

Clearing my throat, I process the words to convey in their language. “Venerabilis es... Celsitudo tua. Cogito?” (You are adorable... Your Highness. I think?)

Wha—I said it! Though, I don’t know if I said it properly. That time, Astarte flabbergasts from what I spoke, turning her shocking expression into mellow one.

That made my heart thumps fast as I see her face glimmer. “... I love you.”

Her lips left those words, making me totally stunned. I know from the moment we meet, she’s an impeccable being. Despite of being bizarre in looks, I never thought of her as a monster.

However, I just can’t give a proper response to her words. I felt happy, though. When she says it to me.

“Good for you, lad. You conveyed out your true feelings for her!” Lilith snickers at me.

Those words make me feel more embarrassed. “And please don’t bother to respond right away to my feelings. As I said, we have all the time here. I’m waiting for you to make yourself feel comfortable.”

Her words are clear, and it made me feel assure as well. But for how long will I stay here?

I know that there’s no sense for me to stay here. “I’ll wait, ‘til you are ready to tell me what you truly feel.”

Ah, this is tough. I can’t wait to make way to go back to my world. But at that moment, the moment I saw her smile stunned me. Recalling that makes my chest clump tight.

“I want to see that smile again...” my mind drifts that thought.