Seven Devils and a Rose

I moistened my lips and said, "I see. Then I will thank Aria when I see her next."

Felix nodded his head as he brought one sock and started putting it on my foot.

Trying to pull back from his firm grasp, I said logically, "It won't fit."

He said, "It's fine."

I wondered how it could be fine when the darned sock was twice my size. Surely, it'd slip off the moment I put my feet down on the ground and started walking.

I was about to make him stop when something magical happened. The moment the sock was on my foot, it glowed and then shrank until it fit me perfectly.

"Oh…" I was awed.

Felix was about to put the other one on for me when I said, "It's fine. I can do it myself."

I hastily grabbed the sock from his hand and inserted my small foot into it. Again, it glowed and shrank in size to fit me.

I turned my attention to the boot in Felix's hands, which he was currently untying.

I said, "I suppose the boots are magical, too?"

He chuckled. "Indeed they are, little elf."

Before I could tell him that I could put on the boots myself, the man firmly grabbed my ankle again, his action demanding no argument. Then he guided my foot into the boot. The fact that his action made me feel like I was being cherished and that I blushed intensely for it didn't dampen my view that Felix was a very persistent man. He wanted to put the damned boots on for me, and he'd get it done apparently.

Once both boots were on my feet and fit perfectly after they magically shrank to my size, I said, "Thank you."

Felix lifted his head and gave me a grin. He said, "Now, how about some breakfast?" He even held out his hand as if welcoming me or something.

Before I made any move, I asked, "So I just want to be clear on where I stand. I'm cleared from all suspicions and charges, right? And you're not going to torture and kill me, right?"

Felix suddenly burst out laughing. The loud mirth roared from deep within his chest. When he stopped, I noted that he had a smile on his face.

He moved in until our noses were nearly touching, which only served to make my heart skip a few times. Up close, I realized that Felix had a unique eye color. They were mauve with a hint of gray in them, which fascinated me, and I found that I couldn't stop staring, which was unusual for me. I mean, I usually avoided looking people directly in the eye because it felt too raw, intimidating, and intimate. But with Felix and his exceptional eyes, I found myself drawn in and just didn't want to stop staring.

He said, looking deeply into my eyes as well, "We don't torture or kill adorable beings, little elf. We take them, tame them, and make them ours." He smiled at me, which made my heart skip again. "Rest assured that we're not going to hurt you, not even a single strand of your lovely dark hair. If anyone even dares…"

His smile turned wide and his mauve eyes darkened and glinted sinfully, which didn't leave any doubt in my mind as to the meaning of his unfinished sentence.

Of course, I wasn't sure what the tame them and make them ours part of his speech meant, but I nodded my head nonetheless and pretended that I understood him. After all, I'd already heard and understood the most important part, which was that he and his comrades weren't going to hurt me. Not even a single strand of my hair, which was very reassuring.

I said, "I'm glad, then." I even gave him a sweet smile, which, oddly enough, made Felix's eyes darken wickedly even more, and I wondered why.

Brushing his odd reaction out of my mind, I relaxed and took his offered hand.

Felix guided me off the bed as he said, "Now, time for some breakfast. We have to make sure you strengthen up." He looked at me with a grin on his face. "After all, we don't want you to collapse when we…" He chuckled. "But of course, that comes later."

He didn't want me to collapse? But of course, I vowed never to collapse or crack under the pressure, no matter how hard the situation was when bringing down those bandits.

I said, "I won't collapse. I promise. I'll work hard."

"It's good that you're enthusiastic about it, darling," he said. "I'm looking forward to us performing well together."

Darling? I was a little confused as to his choice of word but thought no more of it. This was another realm, after all, so the occupants here were bound to talk and behave differently, what with their different culture and upbringing. Thus, with unsteady legs and the thought of food, I trailed after Felix as he led me outside.