Chapter 3: Special Services at the Elf Tavern

“Don’t panic so much, Lady Tina. I didn’t see anything, really.”
Althea’s words came as an attempt to salvage Tina’s crumbling dignity.

She understood Tina’s actions were born of necessity, not malice.
But Tina, oblivious to Althea’s empathy, was already mortified, mentally clawing out a three-bedroom apartment with her toes.

“By the way, didn’t a soldier toss a note in here earlier? Could it be one of our allies?”
Tina coughed lightly, pretending to be unfazed as she walked to the door and picked up the crumpled paper.

It read: [Tomorrow evening, meet at the Elf Tavern. Urgent matters to discuss.]

“What do you think, Your Highness?”

“It’s worth checking out. Whoever left this knew I was in this room but didn’t report it to their captain. That suggests they mean us no harm.”

“Alright, then rest well, Your Highness. I’ll prepare the itinerary.”

Tina left the room, confirming the first-floor guards had cleared out before reporting the incident to Earl Everson.

The earl frowned, still uneasy.
“Should I arrange a few guards? Just the two of you doesn’t seem safe.”

In his mind, his daughter had never wielded magic. Without wealth and status, she’d have been eaten alive out there.

But Tina knew her witch’s powers could handle any ambush.
“Besides, in that kind of place… guards wouldn’t be much help, would they?”

The Elf Tavern’s reputation was no secret to those in the know.
You couldn’t just walk in without ordering something, and if you did, you’d get dragged off to a room—hardly conducive to protection duties.

“Fine. I’ll station a few men outside the tavern. If anything goes wrong, get out immediately.”

With the conversation over, Tina returned to her room.

A dressing mirror sat by her bed, reflecting a face as refined as the one she’d worn as a witch.
Her silky black hair cascaded over her shoulders, stretching down to her feet.

“…”
She’d hoped transforming into an elf might make her… taller. But no such luck.

Tina gritted her teeth.
Why was Althea so… gifted? Elves were just unfair!

No, wait. When did she start caring about this? Helping Althea reclaim her kingdom was the priority—oh, and boosting her favorability for that regret index later.

The next day arrived, time to set out.

Tina prepared two masks to reduce the chance of being recognized.
“Let’s go, Your Highness.”

Following the planned route, their carriage covered a few miles, soon reaching the heart of the border city-state.

The Elf Tavern’s facade dripped with unique charm—ornate decorations and an unmistakable vibe that even foreigners could spot instantly, sparking curiosity.
Elf big sisters… they had to be amazing, right?

“Lady Tina, you seem awfully excited,” Althea remarked, catching Tina’s goofy grin.

“Huh? I’m just curious about what clue that guy’s got, that’s all.”

“Is that so? I thought you were interested in… other women.”

Althea, raised with royal etiquette, didn’t quite grasp same-sex attraction but respected it.
Still, she’d never go for it herself—her heart belonged to the storybook prince on a white horse.

“Let’s hurry. He might’ve been waiting for a while.”

Althea stepped into the tavern first. The moment she crossed the threshold, a wave of potent alcohol, sweat, and some indescribable stench hit her, making her gag.
‘This is why I hate places like this.’

As her eyes adjusted, her body slowly acclimated to the environment.
The tavern’s first floor buzzed with scantily clad elves, each holding wooden mugs, flashing warm smiles as they greeted guests.

Some wore maid outfits, others… succubus costumes? A few were down to barely their undergarments.
“This is way too much,” Althea muttered, unimpressed by their shameless pandering. Special services? Not her thing.

Speaking of, where did that Everson girl go?
She’d lost track of Tina the moment they walked in.

“Boss, got any special services?” A familiar voice rang out from the counter.

Althea turned to see Tina’s black-haired figure, practically vibrating with excitement.

“Of course, miss! We’ve got the basics—mingling with the girls you see here on the first floor. For a bit extra, you can pick a few exclusive maids to head upstairs for… enhanced fun.
But if that’s not enough, we’ve got something you’ll love—the Elf Dreamweave!
In the dream, you can do whatever you want with whoever you want, perfectly lifelike, and they’ll obey your every command. Sounds good, right? Wanna try?”

The counter elf’s voice was syrupy sweet, almost impossible to resist.

Tina felt an angel and a devil warring in her mind.
The devil whispered, “You’re here already. At least try the basic service! Elf big sisters from another world—something you could only dream of in your past life.”
The angel countered, “No! Go for the premium service! That way, the girls earn more and can escape this life sooner!”

“?”
Wait, was that right?

Yes, absolutely right.

Tina swore to be a good person. Ordering the premium service wasn’t for selfish reasons—it was to help these poor elves forced to serve!

“So, what’ll it be, miss?”

“Alright, I’ll—”

Before she could finish, a strong grip yanked her away from the counter.
She turned to see Althea, her face a mask of exasperation.

“I’ve found him. Come on, let’s go upstairs.”

‘My premium service—!’

Upstairs, at the end of a dim corridor, a half-open door revealed the soldier who’d left the note.
He stood and bowed respectfully as they entered.
“Your Highness, I’ve been waiting for you.”

“Yes, it’s me. What’s so urgent that you’d risk coming here?”

The man pulled a black dagger from his pocket and placed it on the table.
“I found this during the palace chaos two years ago. Your Highness, you know what this means.
I had it appraised in secret. It’s a weapon exclusive to the Mistmoon Cult.”

“You’re saying my father’s death is tied to this cult?”
Althea toyed with the dagger, its ominous aura still potent after two years.

“Exactly. I’ve always believed in your innocence. The real culprit’s out there, and they colluded with heretics to infiltrate the palace, likely to ensure the assassination succeeded.”
The man spoke with conviction.

“What do you know about this Mistmoon Cult?”
Althea had never heard of such a group.

“Not much, I’m afraid. They’re a new sect, from what I’ve gathered.
But the underground black market might have answers. It’s a messy place, full of rumors and intel. You could try your luck there.”

“Thank you for your efforts. If I reclaim my kingdom, I’ll ensure you’re rewarded handsomely.”
Althea stood and bowed deeply to the soldier who’d risked so much.

“I must go, Your Highness. Good luck.”
The man left quickly, leaving Tina and Althea alone.

“The Mistmoon Cult… Lady Tina, will you come with me to the black market tomorrow?”

“Of course, Your Highness. Since we’re done here, I’ll just… head off for a bit.”

Althea blinked. “?”
‘This girl listened to all that and is still thinking about that?’