Chapter 409 Cambion
"Yes, Mariel, take care," Eli said, his voice carrying a gentle tone as he ended the call and then turned towards the entrance of the royal restaurant, accompanied by Evelina.
"What were you discussing?" Evelina inquired with a hint of curiosity, her eyes glinting with intrigue as they navigated through the elegant surroundings.
Eli smiled mysteriously, a playful glimmer in his eyes as he replied, "Just some personal affairs, nothing much" Eli simply shrugged. Evelina clicked her tongue with annoyance.
As they ascended to the 90th floor, Eli's keen gaze caught sight of a figure seated elegantly on a chair, a man with locks of light pink hair.
Upon Eli and Evelina's entrance, the pink-haired man rose gracefully from his chair, a respectful bow directed towards Evelina preceding his introduction, "Good evening, Ms. Evelina Veilstrike. How are you faring today?"
Evelina acknowledged his greeting with a nod, "I'm quite well, thank you, Mr. Cambion" and waved her hand casually.
The pink-haired man or Cambion didn't take it to heart and then turned his attention to Eli with a warm smile, "It's a great honour to meet the Elven god himself. I am Cambion."
Eli reciprocated the greeting with a handshake, his eyes briefly studying Cambion's distinctive pink eyes, 'Yup, Prisania truly inherited his unique traits,' he noted inwardly. Curious about the reference to "Elven god," Eli inquired, "Could you elaborate on that title?"
Cambion nodded, his expression respectful, "Of course, sir. Your remarkable feat of reviving the World Tree has earned you the reverence and title of the Elven god among Elven people."
"Hmmm..." Eli just nodded though he might not understand why they considered him a god but as long as his reputation was good he would be fine with anything.
To be more precise, ever since Eli's arrival in Nex, he had noticed a distinct shift in how he was treated. Every elf he encountered bowed their heads in deference as if he were their king; some even went as far as to prioritize Eli over Alysia, which amused him to no end.
'Talk about my acting skills... heh,' Eli couldn't help but inwardly chuckle at the thought of his elegant acting.
"Anyway..." Eli took a seat and turned his attention back to Cambion, inviting him to join them. Stay tuned for updates on empire
"I heard that you possess the ability to enter Prisania's dreams and help her get out of the recurring nightmares," Eli inquired, his tone gentle yet inquisitive.
At the mention of Prisania, Cambion's face lit up with genuine happiness. "It would be my utmost pleasure to assist, sir."
"Hmm... You seem quite delighted," Eli remarked casually, feigning ignorance of Cambion's deeper emotions.
"Well..." Cambion scratched his head bashfully, stealing a glance at Evelina, who observed the interaction with a frown.
"Feel free to speak your mind," Evelina interjected, her tone carrying a hint of annoyance seeing him acting shy and all.
"Well... Actually, she... she is my daughter," Cambion revealed, his voice carrying a hint of vulnerability.
"!!!" Evelina's eyes widened as if she had just stumbled upon a hidden secret.
"I see..." Eli nodded thoughtfully, his gaze shifting between Cambion and Evelina as he silently pondered the implications of this 'Already known' information. He couldn't help but wonder why Cambion had chosen this moment to disclose such a significant detail, and he turned to Evelina, who still wore a shocked expression.
"Why are you acting so surprised?" Eli asked gently, reaching out to pat her head affectionately, "Isn't it obvious? Look at him. She almost resembles him."
"Tsk," Evelina swatted his hand away, retrieving a few photos of succubi from her bag.
"Oh...." Eli's eyes widened in surprise as he examined the images, noting the striking resemblance between Prisania and the other succubi with pink hair. "It seems there are quite a lot of succubi who share similar features."
"We succubi and incubi often bear striking resemblances to one another, making it difficult to identify parentage," Evelina explained with a solemn expression.
"I guess that means no child support then..." Eli remarked with a wry smile, Hearing that both Evelina and Cambion looked at him deadpan expression.
"Ahem, anyway, If you are her father then where were you when Prisania was taken by the assassination group?" Eli's tone shifted to one of seriousness as he turned his attention back to Cambion.
"W-Well... It happened years ago, so... I don't remember exactly," Cambion replied hesitantly, his gaze flickering with discomfort.
'That's what I'm talking about... No child support!' Eli couldn't help but think to himself, but before he could voice his thoughts, Evelina whispered, "That's just how our kind operates..... While we may not prioritize our kin, we still have a sense of responsibility."
Hearing Evelina's words, Eli couldn't suppress his curiosity. "So, you guys don't even care if your child is taken away from you?"
"Sigh... It's complicated, Eli," Evelina sighed, struggling to find the right words to articulate the complexities of succubus and incubus parenting dynamics.
Turning his attention back to Cambion, Eli's expression softened as he asked, "So, once you've helped MY Prisania, you'll leave her alone, right?"
Cambion flinched, sensing a certain possessiveness from Eli, but then he calmed his nerves and said, "If MY daughter wants, I will leave her and never enter her life again." Even though he said it, he was still nervous as hell; he knew that he needed to see his daughter at any cost, otherwise, there would be a bloodbath in his territory.
And once he reunites with his daughter, he plans to utilize his charm and manipulation abilities to influence her emotions. Thus, it's crucial for him to have that face-to-face encounter with her.
"I see..." Eli nodded slowly, a thoughtful expression on his face as he considered Cambion's response. Then, he turned to Evelina with a curious look. "Do you happen to have another person who could enter dreams and provide assistance?"
"Well..." Evelina hesitated for a moment, exchanging a glance with Cambion, who seemed increasingly anxious.
"W-Wait a moment!" Cambion hurriedly interrupted, his voice tinged with urgency. "Why are you doing this to me? I haven't seen my daughter in ages, and yet you're not allowing me to spend time with her!"
"Hmm? You claim you didn't abandon her, yet you're here pleading to meet her," Eli remarked, his tone now tinged with a mix of suspicion and curiosity.
"No, no, I didn't abandon her; she was taken from me!" Cambion's voice carried a note of desperation.
"Hmm? Earlier, you mentioned not remembering anything," Eli pointed out, a faint smirk playing on his lips.
"!!" Cambion flinched, realizing the inconsistency, before nervously explaining, "Y-Yes, I did say that, but I do recall that someone took her from me."
"...." Both Eli and Evelina shared a sceptical glance, silently questioning the reliability of Cambion's words. Eli decided to delve deeper, his gaze focused on Cambion. "So, who exactly took her from you?"
"I don't know," Cambion admitted, his expression filled with regret and sorrow.
"Hmm... Regardless, I can't risk any harm coming to my Prisania, so I will be leaving now" Eli stated firmly as he rose from his seat, signalling the end of the conversation.
"W-Wait! I didn't mean to—"
But Eli didn't wait for Cambion to finish his plea; he simply walked out of the room, leaving Evelina to follow behind.
"What's your game here?" Evelina's frown deepened as she caught up with Eli, clearly perplexed by his sudden decision.
Even though Prisania had awakened, Eli continued to act as though he needed Cambion's assistance.
"You should have informed me of your intentions. I can't keep up with your pretence," Evelina voiced her frustration, her tone tinged with disappointment.
"I am testing something..." Eli said cryptically, his tone hinting at a deeper motive.
"Testing?" Evelina's frown deepened with confusion.
"Yes, if I am correct, he would be panicking right about now and..." Eli's explanation was cut short....
"Wait!!"
...as Cambion suddenly rushed toward them with an anxious expression.
Evelina exchanged a glance with Eli, noticing his knowing expression before turning her attention to Cambion, who appeared visibly distressed.
"What is it?" Evelina asked, her tone a mixture of annoyance and intrigue.
"I am sorry, Mr. Asher Eli, but please, at least let me catch a glimpse of my daughter from afar... I won't interfere, I beg of you," Cambion pleaded, dropping to his knees in a display of desperation.
Evelina's surprise was evident as she observed Cambion's genuine plea. 'Does he truly love his daughter this much?' she wondered, taken aback by the raw emotion on display.
And others might also think the same but...
Meanwhile, 'Damn, his performance is convincing,' he thought to himself, Eli couldn't help but appreciate Cambion's acting skills a slight smirk playing on his lips as he listened to Cambion's heartfelt appeal.
"Sigh, I understand your sentiment... However, I cannot—" Eli began to respond empathetically.
"Please, my lord!! I beg you!" Cambion's voice cracked with emotion, tears welling up in his eyes.
The commotion caught the attention of onlookers from neighbouring floors, including maids and soldiers who approached to inquire if there was a problem.
Eli maintained his composed demeanour, addressing the concerned individuals with a reassuring smile, "There's no issue, just a private matter we're discussing."
"Alright, I will arrange a time. Evelina will pick you up," Eli finally relented, prompting a grateful smile from Cambion as he stood up and bowed repeatedly in gratitude.
"Thank you, sir!"
"You are truly generous!"
"It's no wonder the Elven people consider you a god!"
Cambion showered Eli with effusive gratitude and compliments, his emotions appearing genuine to those around him.
As Cambion left with a newfound sense of hope and happiness, Evelina turned to Eli with a puzzled expression. "Are you certain he's merely acting?"
"What do your instincts tell you?" Eli countered with a knowing smile.
"Well... he seems genuinely elated at the prospect of seeing his daughter," Evelina admitted after observing Cambion's reaction.
"Yes, he truly is happy," Eli affirmed, his smile hinting at a deeper understanding. Evelina's expression shifted as she mulled over the implications.
"Haha..." Eli chuckled softly before saying, "You will understand tomorrow..." as he winked at her.
"Tsk" Evelina clicked her tongue. Seeing her annoyed face Eli couldn't help but give her a peck!!
"~hmm~"
"Excuse me, Sir... Our Manager wants to meet you" A Maid suddenly chimed in.