ENTICING AROMA greeted them once Elise and Faylinn walked inside. A man dressed in a server uniform approached the two and lead them to a vacant table near the entrance.

"Would it be okay if I order for you?" Faylinn proposed as soon as they settled down.

"Gladly," she readily complied.

Elise could read the letters but she did not know what they referred to. It was better to let Faylinn do it and just wait for the food to be delivered.

Fortunately, the seafood was the same as she remembered, further proving that there were more similarities between their worlds. While both eat in leisure and chatter along, the chair beside Faylinn was quickly occupied by Erkhan.

"How were your girls?" Faylinn probed while handing him a drink.

He took a gulp before replying, "Amazing as usual."

"You looked like you're energized," Elise commented wryly since he did appear refreshed.

"Aw. Are you jealous, Elise? Don't worry, if Eldest Brother gets tired of you, I'll definitely welcome you," he declared with his permanent smile.

"Why will he get tired when nothing is going on between us," she renounced once more, seeing how they kept on pushing her with their brother.

'Just why?'

"Don't need to hide it, Elise. It was the first time Eldest Brother acted that way to a stranger. He even implored us to let you stay. You're our first guest since forever," Faylinn revealed.

"Too bad I didn't use my charms on you or else you would have fallen for me," Erkhan remarked.

"I'm also glad you didn't," Elise shot back.

"Ouch. Am I getting rejected again?" Erkhan asked no one in particular, grunting with a hand on his chest.

But then, his expression instantaneously changed when something caught his attention. Erkhan abruptly stood up and advanced toward the newly entered customer. He kneeled his other leg to the woman in front of him in just a spur of a moment.

"Oh, my beloved goddess. It's been so long that I am blessed with your presence," he professed in such a serious voice and presented his palm.

Elise could not believe that there was someone who could say those kinds of gibberish in public. She fixed her eyes on the receiver of this ridiculousness.

From her line of sight, she could see the back of the woman with shockingly white hair, who accepted Erkhan's hand. She signaled him to stand up and they could overhear their conversation.

"Nonsense," the woman retorted.

The clear timber is moderate yet there laid a softness on her tone, highly emphasized by the diminishing clatter in the background.

"Such cruel fate that I could not stop admiring you, my lady. I wait for our love to bloom even if many would forbid our relationship."

There was no reply but he was not easily deterred.

"I am with my sister and a friend. Please grace us with your presence, my lady," Erkhan persuaded and gestured towards their table.

She saw the woman nod and the two went towards them.

'Oh my god. She is so stunning!'

Elise could not take her gaze off her. The woman could pass as an albino on how pale she was. Her eyes were so light — almost looking blind — but she was sure she was not after perfectly crossing the distance to their table.

Aside from her striking eyes, it was the first time she saw someone with pure white hair. Recalling her conversation with Aricson, it was no doubt that hers was real. The wavy classic-length tresses framed her delicate small face. Coupled with big doe eyes, and rose-colored lips, she was barely 5 feet tall — resembling one of those expensive dolls displayed in a vintage shop.

"Please have a seat, my lady," Erkhan offered and pulled a chair.

"Greetings," the woman spoke.

"Good day, Isabella." She heard Faylinn answer while she could not look away from the new guest.

Elise was not a vain person but she was aware of her appeal. Even so, it could not compare to this woman. With an ethereal bearing and clandestine features, it was as though an angel had descended.

The woman's beauty was the one she had always wished she had. Regal and cold but at the same time, exuded innocence and fragility.

"It seemed like no one could escape our dear Bell's beauty," Erkhan indicated that obstructed her train of thoughts. "No worries, Elise, yours is a beauty I wouldn't mind being trapped to either."

"Sorry, that was rude of me," she apologized since she did not notice she was eyeing her for so long and disregarded Erkhan's silly words.

"Allow me to introduce you. This lady here is our house guest, Elise, and this is Lady Isabella Morgian Aertian, a family friend and dear friend of our sister, Dryann," Faylinn relayed.

The woman offered her hand and she accepted it.

"Nice to meet you," she said and Isabella just gave a subtle nod.

"Go," she muttered looking at them.

"Won't you stay for coffee?" Erkhan tried to urge.

"Bought." She pointed towards her companion who was dressed in a maid outfit.

"I guess, I will accept today's rejection but my heart would forever pursue yours, my lady. But please allow me to send you on your way," he appealed and the woman agreed.

"Bye," Isabella mumbled and went together with Erkhan.

"They were too many familiar faces today. First, Arllian, then Isabella," Faylinn reflected as soon as they were the only ones left at the table. She had her chin propped with her hands, her gaze concentrating on her. "So... What's your opinion about her?"

There was only one word that came to mind. "Breathtaking."

"That's what everyone thinks. I mean, have you noticed how she speaks?"

Now that she thought about it, she contemplated for a minute.

"She didn't seem to talk much?" She just realized the woman named Isabella had not even formed a single phrase the whole duration of their meeting.

"Right. As you can see, she was known for being silent aside from her beauty and talent in magic. If not for that one flaw, she will be the most perfect lady as the daughter of the richest man in Humana and born from an Ancient Clan and a Royal Family."

Elise resumed eating while Faylinn had long forgotten her food.

"Only her friends can talk to her for long. No one can even break her defenses. I'm not a man but I could swear Isabella's a tough woman to seduce."

"If by seduction you mean, Erkhan's seduction then she must have high standards." She was not able to stop herself and was too late to take it back. She inwardly rebuked herself for never rectifying her bad habit of talking without thinking.

"I'm sorry," she quickly apologized.

Faylinn chortled, amusement dancing in her clear irises. "It's fine. I'm acclimated to Erkhan's antics but if I was a stranger, I, too, would think he is quite a degenerate. It is mind-boggling why women fall for him. Anyways, it's not that she has high standards, it is just painfully obvious that she is head over heels with our oldest brother, except, he was oblivious by that fact."

By 'oldest brother', she should be pertaining to Aricson. Elise could not help but imagine Isabella and Aricson. It was unquestionably picture-perfect.

"They would look like a beautiful pair. How come they are not together?" She pondered how someone could not fall for such a beautiful woman.

Men in her world would not care about anything as long as a woman is beautiful or rich, and that woman was both.

"Obviously, my brother had no time for love. She had been pining over him but Brother is too dense. But as much as I like her, I'm opposed since you know, Brother's attitude and hers would surely be incompatible. Imagine two poker-faced together," Faylinn admitted followed by short giggles. "And I think, that's where you come in."

Elise simply laughed it off. She was not sure how long she would stay and the situation would be a lot more complicated if the siblings played matchmaker.

༻❁༺

U n S c e n e s

Q: Did you get tired of explaining the Chronicles of Elith?

Faylinn: Why, of course! It actually made me parched. I actually don't talk that much---

Erkhan: Liar! You can talk nonstop that no one can withstand conversing to you for an hour---

Faylinn: *chants a spell to shut his mouth*