Free Web Novel“I can’t forget it.”
Vieya shook her head with a faint smile, deciding not to tease her any further with that particular three-word phrase.
“As I thought... whether human or otherwise, only the young ones are truly adorable.”
Aislin sighed softly.
She remembered when Vieya had been just a small, drunken little thing—calling her “Sister Aislin” in that sweet, childish voice.
Who could have imagined that tiny human girl had turned out to be a mother, a young monster-girl mother at that?
Wait—do monster girls all start families this early?
The aura Vieya gave off was still clearly that of someone in her juvenile stage, yet she already had a child.
Meanwhile, many of the elves in Aislin’s homeland were several thousand years old and still single—spending their days holed up in tree hollows, reading books, researching magic, or simply sleeping.
As for finding a mate and raising children? Impossible.
While pondering that, her gaze fell upon the little girl who kept hiding behind her mother, and she asked curiously,
“Vieya, while I was unconscious, the nuns who cared for me said you’re actually a monster girl... is that true?”
“It’s true.”
Vieya smiled, pulling the timid Jasmine from behind her and sitting down with her at the edge of the bed. freewebnovёl.ƈom
“What’s wrong? Now that you know I’m a monster girl, you don’t want to be my friend anymore?”
“No.”
Aislin shook her head. To her, it didn’t matter whether Vieya was monster or human—she would always be her friend.
If Vieya hadn’t intervened and saved her at the last moment, she probably would have gone to meet her people’s god in the heavens by now.
“By the way,” Aislin said, glancing at the mother and daughter before pausing, “you’ve already found your family, haven’t you? Or... are you still missing a father?”
“No,” Vieya said, shaking her head. “The other one went to the Hawaiian Islands to pedal a sewing machine. He’s not around.”
Jasmine blinked wide-eyed twice, her expression clearly saying: Really?
“Ah... is that so?”
Aislin brushed her hair back, feeling for the first time that her monster-girl friend’s family situation was rather complicated.
But everyone had things they didn’t wish to talk about, so she didn’t press further.
“When you’ve completely recovered, come stay at my place for a few days,” Vieya suddenly offered. “No need to find an inn. You can leave whenever you decide to return home—it’ll be easier that way.”
“That... might not be proper.”
Aislin hesitated, rubbing the tips of her pointed ears, and an uncharacteristic shyness crept into her expression.
The usually lively elf suddenly turned hesitant and awkward.
“I don’t want to bother you two...”
“You won’t be bothering us. Your sword and your harp were both damaged—you can’t exactly sing in taverns to earn travel money right now. Why not stay with us for a few days and plan after that?” Vieya said warmly, her invitation open and direct.
She had already thought this through. With Aislin’s personality, once she recovered she would definitely refuse to freeload at the convent any longer.
But once she left and tried to make a living singing in taverns again, she’d soon realize all her instruments were gone—and she’d end up wandering the streets, starving, maybe even getting arrested by knights for “disrupting the city’s order.”
“You’re so kind...” Aislin murmured, her ear tips trembling slightly.
“Then it’s settled,” Vieya said with a smile. “I’ll come pick you up when you’re ready.”
She patted Jasmine on the shoulder. “Be a good girl and say goodbye to your elf sister.”
“G-goodbye!”
Jasmine waved, then, as if remembering something, added sweetly,
“Elf Sister, don’t forget to eat the oranges, okay? They’ll help °• N 𝑜 v 𝑒 l i g h t •° you recover faster.”
“Eh... you’re leaving already?”
Aislin sounded reluctant but still raised her hand to wave.
Being stuck in bed healing was pure torment for an energetic, athletic elf like her.
And the nuns were always busy—apart from changing her bandages and bringing food, they rarely had time to stay and chat.
Worse yet, her room carried a large sign reading, ‘Therapeutic Area — No Smoking or Loud Noises.’
She couldn’t sing. She didn’t have her accordion.
So having someone to talk to, even for a short while, had meant a lot.
Under the silver-haired elf’s wistful gaze, Vieya took her daughter’s hand and left. The ward door closed softly behind them.
Click.
After leaving the infirmary, Vieya had nothing else planned for the day, so she decided to stop by the market and buy ingredients for dinner.
Maybe fish and pumpkin—balanced nutrition, and the cat could eat some too.
Once she decided, she led Jasmine toward the market.
The market was a distance away from the convent, located between the residential and commercial districts. The streets teemed with people, voices merging into a lively roar.
The air was thick with the mingled smells of earth, blood, food, and alcohol.
“Mommy, there are so many people...”
“It’s fine, hold my hand. Don’t get lost... actually, never mind, I’ll just carry you.”
“I can walk, Mommy...”
Ignoring her protest, Vieya scooped her up anyway.
The girl was smaller and thinner than others her age, so light it was as if she weighed nothing at all.
Hmm... lighter than that black cat, even.
No, this wouldn’t do. She’d have to put that fat cat on a diet—
otherwise, anyone who didn’t know better might think she was raising a pig.
Having settled that matter in her mind, Vieya continued through the crowd, scanning the stalls for fresh ingredients.
Jasmine’s cheeks were slightly flushed; she rested her chin against her mother’s arm.
Mmm... Mommy smelled so nice—like a ripe, mellow fruit, faint but pleasant.
And yet Mommy never even used perfume...
Lost in thought, Jasmine hugged her mother tighter.
“Make way! Make way!”
“Move aside, quickly!” ƒгeewebnovёl.com
The crowd ahead suddenly erupted in commotion. Vieya frowned, tightening her hold on Jasmine and slowly retreating a few steps.
“Mommy... what’s happening up there?” Jasmine asked nervously, startled by the noise.
But her mother’s voice came low and firm:
“Don’t look. We’re not buying groceries today.” Vieya paused, then said, “Let’s go have some snacks at the tearoom instead.”
Holding her daughter close, she turned and left the market.
At the same time, a squad of armored knights rushed past carrying stretchers. The crowd instinctively parted to make way.
Out of the corner of her eye, Jasmine glimpsed one of the stretchers—
a strange-looking human lay upon it, pale and still.
Eh... was that person sick?
So scary...
Once Vieya and her daughter were gone, the market crowd quickly closed in again, returning to their business as if nothing had happened.
They were clearly used to such scenes.
A few vendors huddled together, muttering under their breath:
“Someone died again at Lord Beckham’s castle. The batch of new servants hadn’t even been there a month, right?”
“I heard Lord Beckham’s daughter has a nasty temper—loves torturing servants. If the pay weren’t so high, who’d take that job?”
“The girl from the house next door went to apply as a maid there yesterday. Still hasn’t come back.”
“Poor thing. Probably won’t.”
“What are you gossiping about!?”
A group of private guards in armor shoved their way through the crowd, shouting as they pointed at the murmuring vendors.
“Mind your own business! Lord Beckham is a renowned philanthropist! You think he’s like you filthy street peddlers?”
“Spreading rumors behind someone’s back—aren’t you afraid your whole family will end up in the Tongue-Pulling Hell after you die?”
“Move along! Move along! Don’t let us catch you slandering again!”
Clatter, clatter—
The private guards’ polished iron boots struck the cobblestones as they marched through the marketplace,
and silence quickly fell over the crowd.
