Page 29 of Dark Elf's Good Girl

And today, we are having breakfast in the dining room together.

He has been telling me more about what his family does. He, and his family, belong to the merchant class.

They trade spices and herbs, and I am fascinated by the concept of trade.

He tells me about his trade partners and explains how the goods are traded across different continents.

“How do you manage all that? Does – does Calix help?” I am almost afraid to say Calix’s name.

I don’t miss the way Aiken stiffens when I say his brother’s name, but he answers me nonetheless.

“Calix does the basics, I suppose. But he is more focused on his social life than anything else.”

I give a dry, mirthless laugh.

“So basically, what you’re saying is that you do everything on your own? The important stuff anyway.”

He laughs and it is a nice laugh, infectious and bright.

“Yes, that is what I am saying.”

“Well,” I say as I push my chair away from the table. “I need to get to my chores.”

“What do you need to do today?” He asks me and stands up from the table as well.

“I need to clean the main bedrooms.” I answer as I gather the plates from the table. Aiken helps me, which I do not understand.

I do not understand him at all.

It has been three days since I started getting to know Aiken.

And I do not understand the dark elf at all. He does not look down on me, does not abuse me, and is, in fact, kind to me.

He even helps me with my chores, and I don’t know why he does that.

After we take the plates to the kitchen, Aiken lingers while I pull on an apron and get the cleaning supplies from the closet in the kitchen.

“I have some meetings today,” he tells me. His hands are in his pants pockets, and he looks slightly awkward. “So, I cannot help you today. But I’ll try to bring you dinner tonight.”

Why does he want to help me?

“You don’t have to do that,” I tell him firmly. “I am perfectly fine. I can do this on my own. And I’ll eat dinner with the rest of the servants. That is what I am after all.”

“You’re not a servant.” Aiken says almost angrily. Then he takes a deep breath. “You are not a servant. You’ll be fine.”

Then he stalks away from me without another word.

Is he angry with me?

One.

There is only one way this can end.

I have learned more about Calix from the servants. They knew he bought me, and at first, they were reluctant to open up to me.

But I needed to know my fate, and if anyone knows it will be the servants.

I look at the wall in front of me, before I get up from the bed.