Entering a Split Personality — Chapter 8

That was the face that would cause any language to pale beside it; those were the features that would be impossible to imagine if you hadn’t seen them.

Xiao He had seen Fan Shen before, and he had seen Ayr’s statue, but the shock he felt now was a hundred times what he had felt then.

A living person who had vitality and was this dazzling, was a man who made it impossible for anyone to easily look away.

Frozen there, Xiao He didn’t know what he was thinking of. Maybe he didn’t think anything at all. Just looking at him like this was enough. 

At that moment, the gorgeous hall was so silent you could hear a pin drop. The only ones standing were the elven king Ayr by the door, the war minister Lance in the middle, and Xiao He, who couldn't get enough use out of his brain and eyes.

Ayr walked slowly forward, his slim-fit robes fluttering. In an instant, stars blossomed, flowing like the Milky Way. Millions of stars gathered, sinking and floating at will.

His stance was light and easy, but anyone watching knew that his pace was magnificent. It wasn’t only his nobility; it was his inborn elegance. He seemed as if he was treading on stars, crossing a flowing river, coming from ancient times, cloaked in moonlight. A single, slight glance down was enough to make everyone bow their heads.

Xiao He finally came back to himself. It wasn’t because he suddenly developed immunity to Ayr, but because of  his voice.

“Everyone rise. Today is Lance’s birthday, I’ve come to celebrate.” 

His low, unhurried, graceful tone was just like the rest of him. Just looking at him and listening to him was like bathing in dazzling radiance. You could wash your eyes and ears clean at the same time. He immersed your five senses in an experience perfect beyond imagination. 

Xiao He inexplicably felt that this unexpected vacation might not be that annoying.

He was glad, at least, that he was able to see someone like this in his life. He really had no regrets left.

Lance half-knelt on the ground. His pure golden hair mingled with his azure clothes, like bright sunlight against the clear sky. Even if Ayr was looking down at him, he carried a sense of dignity worthy of pride. 

“My king, you honor me!” 

Ayr leaned over and helped him up very naturally. “There’s no need for you to act like this with me.” 

Lance rose with his help, but he didn’t look up, his eyes still lowered. His posture and voice were respectful. “Your Majesty, thank you for thinking of me. I’ll follow you all my life.” 

Ayr didn’t say anything more, and only turned his head slightly, looking at the young elf next to Lance.

Suddenly met with his gaze, Xiao He clenched his fists tight.

Ayr looked at him, eyes clear as the blue sky on a spring day landing on him. As if his gaze had substance, it made Xiao He inexplicably think of the magic bath from before, cool, gentle and refreshing him all over.

It was a strange, hard-to-describe feeling, but Xiao He felt that he hadn’t described it wrong at all. What’s more, he liked Ayr watching him, though it was very shameless of him.

Just as Xiao He was spacing out, Ayr smiled softly and said in a low voice, “What a charming hair color.” 

It was the same sentence. The last time he had heard it, he could still complain on the inside with an expressionless face, but now...he could only...listen. 

Lance’s eyes dimmed slightly, but Ayr had already walked up to Xiao He. He looked down and said softly, “Be my dance partner, okay?”

Xiao He: To be honest, I feel like this proposal of yours isn’t that great. If I look at you, I’m liable to forget a lot of things. Even I feel like this stupid look of mine is pretty shameless, so you’d better not...chotto matte (Japanese for “wait a moment”), he’s Fan Shen, a patient. I have to cure him to go home, so…

“Okay.” The young elf said with an almost incomprehensible voice.

But there was no one in the hall who would question this. This was completely normal. They would only be shocked if he refused him.

What really surprised them was that the elven king, who hadn’t attended the Brilliance Ball for a whole three thousand years, had finally found a dance partner he was interested in.

Why was it him?! Why was it such an unremarkable little seventh-rank elf!

Countless dagger-like glares hit him with a whoosh. It was a good thing Xiao He was currently lost in Ayr’s beauty, or he’d be scared enough to break into a run.

If Lance took an interest in him, the little elves below the fourth rank at most would admire, envy and hate him. But if Ayr took an interest in him, hah...that was enough to make all elves into his enemies!

The first to regain his senses was Lance. He was startled at first, then smiled brightly. His dazzling golden hair set off his smile, making him even more willfully radiant. “I knew before that you like black. I should’ve gone to dye my hair. I let this little fellow get a chance for no reason.” 

Ayr smiled lightly and said, “Your golden hair is the most beautiful sight in Yanar.” 

Yanar was the capital city of the elves, and it was the most developed place in the entire elven kingdom. His words almost implied that Lance was the most beautiful elf.

But everyone knew that it was Ayr who bestowed Lance with golden hair.

Xiao He wasn’t too clear about how the banquet ended. In any case, when he came back to himself, he was already in a different location.

He had left Starmist Castle and followed Ayr to the highest building in Yanar, the summit of the elven kingdom—Ayr’s palace.

 Lance’s carriage had blinded Xiao He before, but he didn’t expect that after not even a full day of work, he’d be sitting in the royal elven carriage, which was countless times more gorgeous and dazzling than the one before. 

A total of eight four-winged pegasi pulled a carriage that seemed as wide as a gemstone palace. Under the sunlight, it turned into a beautiful display of light and shadow.

This wasn’t only a question of splendor, but of the status it symbolized.

Xiao He felt a little nervous. Sitting upright in there, he didn’t dare to say a word.

But Ayr was a lot more easy-going than he imagined.

“Do you want to eat something?”

Xiao He shook his head furiously.

Ayr asked again, “Are you thirsty?”

Xiao He shook his head again, but shortly after, he felt his throat was dry, so he nodded.

Ayr didn’t mind at all. He only lifted his hand, a hint of a smile on his lips, and an elf brought over delicate cups and poured Xiao He a glass. 

Xiao He didn’t know whether he should reach out with his left hand or his right. He remembered that Cowen had taught him etiquette, but he’d only learned a little bit, and now that he was nervous, he completely forgot it. 

But it would be too impolite to ask for water and then not drink it. Xiao He hesitated for a while, then decided to just let go. Fuck it, let’s go ahead and drink it!

So he reached out and grabbed the glass, then drained it in one gulp.

After finishing his drink, he froze a little. Had he been too abrupt? 

Fuck, as a man, he finally found he wasn’t suited for the lifestyle of the elves!

“There’s no need to be nervous, it’s fine to act naturally.” Ayr saw through his thoughts at a glance, and comforted him warmly.

Xiao He was grateful for his warmth and consideration. He was just going to say something when he saw Ayr rise and suddenly approach him.

Xiao He blinked, finding it a little hard to breathe. It was already a bit difficult for him to take it when he saw this face from a distance, and now that he was so close, he simply felt his little heart wailing, completely overwhelmed!

What’s more...what did he want to do, suddenly coming this close?!

Xiao He understood at the next moment.

Ayr stared at his lips, lifted his left hand, and brushed by his lips with fair fingers. “You got some on your lips.”

So...so it was like this. Xiao He’s pulse calmed down a little. He even felt a little embarrassed. Truth be told, Ayr was a pretty good guy, he was very gentle!

This thought had just flashed through his mind when his eyes widened again.

The incomparably beautiful elven king lightly licked the fingers he had just brushed across his lips, and said ambiguously, “Very sweet.” 

***

2 hours and 39 minutes for 1,511 words, or 10.5 minutes for every 100 words. A decrease in rate by 1.9 minutes—right back to where we were before. That despite all the flowery description dedicated to Ayr alone 😅

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