'Virtue 80.'
Current Virtue: 2624.
Today's gains in Virtue were substantial, but Winnie wasn't feeling happy at all.
"Alright, alright! Calm down, stop crying. You won't turn into an elf crystal, I promise!" Winnie said helplessly to Milian.
He couldn't stand seeing girls crying.
"Whaa...really?" Milian stopped her sobbing montarily, her large, teary eyes gazing pleadingly at Winnie, desperate enough to cling to any hope, regardless of whether the person offering it actually knew anything about elves.
"Really. More real than a pearl. I'm telling you, you won't crystallize. My word on it, no one else's matters." Winnie pursed his lips and reached out his hand. "Co on, get up. Crouching here crying endlessly makes it look like I bullied so poor girl."
"But my elder sister told , if I fall in love with a human, I'll turn into a lump of elven crystal." Milian whimpered.
"Hold on. Your statent has too many plot holes. Let sort this out." Winnie frowned.
"First off, I don't actually know whether elves really turn into crystals when they fall in love with humans. I'm human, okay? I don't understand elves or their biology. Second, fall in love? With who? With ? Co on now! You just drank a special festival beverage and looked at once. That's it. And suddenly you think you're in love? Is love that shallow to you?!"
"So... you're already looking for an excuse to abandon ?" Milian bit her lip, her eyes red from crying, looking utterly pitiful.
'Virtue 60.'
Current Virtue: 2684.
"Milian, judging by how good you are at overthinking, maybe you should just co back to my village and help dig wells. You'd finally have a purpose." Winnie gave Milian a side-eye. "Are you addicted now or what? Is today the day you absolutely have to fall for this young master? Sure, I admit I'm incredibly charming, but there are already so many girls who like they couldn't all fit on a single sports field. This young master has already stopped accepting secret admirers."
"Narcissist," Upon hearing Milian said softly after a brief silence.
"Exactly. I'm a Narcissist jerk. And you're a proud golden elf, surely you wouldn't fall for a re human narcissist?" Winnie crouched down slightly. "Co on, get up. It's not a big deal. This young master says you're fine, so you're fine." He reached his hand out to her.
"Mm..." Soothingly reassured by Winnie, Milian felt much better inside. She looked up at him again, strangely, for so reason, he seed a lot more likable now.
'Virtue 60.'
'Current Virtue: 2744.'
As Milian reached out and touched Winnie's hand, she didn't know what ca over her, her body tingled as if she'd been struck by lightning.
'Virtue 80.'
Current Virtue: 2824.
"What now? Why the sudden jolt? Are you okay?" Winnie noted the change in his Virtue but had no idea what had just happened to Milian.
"N-nothing," Milian shook her head, cautiously glancing at Winnie before falling silent.
The two sat down on a park bench. Milian kept her head lowered, her hands resting on her knees, saying nothing.
Hmm? Sothing feels off.
Winnie sensed sothing was missed. Sitting beside Milian like this, with her acting all flustered and shy, it feels like they were so awkward, love-struck couple in the early stages of a romance.
What the heck is going on? If so nosy busybody sees us, they'll start spreading rumors for sure.
But what else could he do? Just leave her here?
Winnie glanced at the golden elf girl who had just been crying. Her eyes were still slightly red, looking so pitiful that he sobbed deeply inside.
Fine, fine, he'd just have to suffer bad luck, okay?
"By the way, who told you that elves turn into crystals when they fall in love with humans? Your sister?" Winnie changed the subject.
Milian's sister was naturally the current Elven Empress, Seliphrene Celfen, the fated heroine of the ga "Carillian Citrus."
"Mm-hmm."
"I don't understand elves, but seriously, do you actually believe that sounds like a children's bedti story?" Winnie asked skeptically.
"You don't know anything about elves, yet you boldly promise I won't turn into a crystal," Milian murmured, biting her lip.
"Alright, fine, I admit I don't know elves. But you're fine. Look, you're still here, right? Not crystallized?" Seeing Milian about to cry again, Winnie grimaced. "What does that tell you? It ans you haven't fallen in love with . It's all in your head."
"If you really had fallen in love, according to your sister's story, wouldn't you have turned into crystal by now? Yet here you are, still able to talk to . Am I talking to a ball of crystal right now?!" Winnie gave her a deadpan look.
"But... What if I really have fallen in love with you? What then?" Milian looked lost and rejected. "I... I wasn't ready to fall for a human?!"
"Why are you even asking such a weird fairy question? You poor kid, stop believing everything people tell you, okay? When your sister told you this, were you still little? She was probably just telling you a tale. And I'm not saying your sister was lying, but why do you so easily believe this potion actually causes love?!" Winnie was at a loss for how to respond.
"No, you don't understand. The effects of this potion must be real, because it was developed and brewed by the [Noble Golden Witch] Christine." Milian lowered her head, shaking it slowly.
"What? Noble Golden Witch? Never heard of her," Winnie raised an eyebrow. "Wait, the owner of 'The Cauldron Furnace' is nad Christine? Is that old lady famous or sothing?"
"You've never heard of her?"
"I've heard of her shop. Seems to have a decent reputation. That's all," Winnie recalled.
"The [Noble Golden Witch] Christine·lorin is one of the most influential alchemists alive, currently the undisputed master and leading figure in the entire alchemical world," Milian said slowly. "The effects of her potions are absolutely genuine, no exceptions."
"Huh?!" Winnie stared in disbelief. "Wait, are you sure you've got the right person? That lonely old lady who can't find a boyfriend and breaks down crying when asked about it. Is she really the top alchemist in the world? Are you sure you're not mistaken?!"
"There's no mistake. She is Christine·lorin herself." Milian, however, remained certain. "My sister knows her. She told about her, and said she's now semi-retired and running an alchemy shop called 'The Cauldron Furnace' inside Carillian Academy."
"Are you sure you didn't mix her up with soone else? 'The Cauldron Furnace' sounds like a common na. Maybe soone else used it? Famous nas always attract copycats, right?" Winnie insisted.
"No. In Carillian Academy, hers is the only alchemy shop with that na," Milian shook her head. "I asked around. Only one. And her potions are known for their exceptional quality. Nearly all wealthy nobles only bought from her."
"Even though her fa isn't what it once was, and fewer students in the academy recognize her na, she truly is the Christine·lorin." Milian affird.
"So that's how it is..."
"Then... I'm dood." Milian buried her head like an ostrich. "I'm certain, absolutely certain, I've already... fallen for you!"
"Can you stop jumping to conclusions like that?!" Winnie felt numb from hearing this over and over. "How many tis do I have to tell you? There's no such thing as a love potion! It's all fake!"
"But... I really do feel... um!" As if the next words were too embarrassing to say, Milian choked up.
"Feel what?"
"I feel... seeing you is... different from before." Milian stamred softly.
"Delusion. All delusions!" Winnie crossed his arms, firm in his belief.
"No, it's not. It's not a delusion. It's just like how my sister described it. It can't be fake." Milian whimpered, sounding like she was about to burst into tears again.
"Milian, with how good you are at arguing, why don't you co work on a construction site with tomorrow? At least you'll get a al!" Winnie said irritably. "I've said it countless tis, it's fake! Why do you keep clinging to this? How do you want to explain it? How can I make it any clearer?!"
"That potion is pure scam, only an idiot would believe its effects are real! That drink won't make you fall in love with anyone! No, no, no! Fake, fake, fake! I'm saying it three tis because it's important! Do you get it?!" If there had been a table nearby, Winnie might've kicked it.
"You're an idiot! Idiot, idiot, idiot! I hate you!" Startled by Winnie's tone, Milian shrank back, her eyes reddening further.
Winnie rubbed his face with his hand.
"Alright, Milian... I'm sorry. My tone was too harsh just now. But I just want you to understand, the potion's effect is fake. Don't believe it, okay?" Seeing her like this, he couldn't bring himself to say anything harsher. Even though he didn't particularly like this golden-haired little brat, he softened his voice to calm her down.
"Mm... but the feeling I had just now... it really was just like what my sister described." Milian still couldn't let go.
"What exactly did your sister describe to you? Love?" Winnie frowned.
In Winnie's mory, Seliphrene from the original story had zero romantic experience. Her teaching her sister about love was like one Virgin single teaching another Virgin single how to date, one daring to teach, the other daring to believe.
"Yes..." Milian seed even more embarrassed and nervous now. "That feeling... the racing heartbeat, the fluttering in the chest... it's exactly the sa."
"Sa how? Don't believe everything your sister says! Has she even been in love?!" Winnie tilted his head.
"Of course she has!"
"Then have you ever heard her talk about how exactly she fell in love? With whom? Did it co out of thin air?" Winnie pressed on.
"Uh…" Milian was stumped by the question.
Now that she thought about it... she couldn't recall anything like that, could she?
"Gotcha. Your sister probably hasn't even tasted love herself, yet she's giving you firsthand advice." Winnie smirked amusedly.
"Anyway, forget about it. It's just your imagination playing tricks on you." Winnie stated confidently.
"Then... what should I do?" Milian still looked deeply confused.
"What do you an 'what should I do'? Just live normally. Act how you always do. Pretend today never happened." Winnie said nonchalantly, then stood up, preparing to leave. "Alright, if you've got nothing else, head back. I won't ntion this to Dale. I'm off."
"W-wait! Wait a minute, You Little Princess!" For so reason, Milian suddenly didn't want Winnie to leave. She stepped forward and, like a chick clinging to its mother, grabbed the hem of Winnie's clothes.
"Milian, can you not do this?" Winnie said helplessly. "What is it now?"
I... I..." Although she had grabbed him, Milian she didn't know why. She didn't know what she wanted to do.
Right now, she felt like a rootless tumbleweed. If she didn't hold onto sothing, she'd be blown away by the wind.
This feeling made her deeply embarrassed and helpless. She wanted to stop, but couldn't.
"So? What is it?"
"You... just... don't leave yet." Milian's voice grew softer, as if she didn't understand what she was doing or saying.
Winnie crossed his arms, watching Milian with a scrutinizing gaze.
"W-what are you staring at like that for?" Milian twisted uncomfortably.
"Ugh, fine, Milian. Here's what I'll do, I'll walk you ho." After a mont of thought, Winnie finally said.
Sothing about it, seeing a child with red eyes standing helplessly on the street, clinging to his clothes, looking so lost and confused, is becoming harder and harder for him to ignore.
Milian wasn't actually a child, but she looked like one, acted like one, and in Winnie's eyes, that's exactly what she was.
"You... um..."
"Alright, are you coming or not?" Winnie took a step forward. Milian, still clutching his clothes, followed quietly behind him like a chick trailing a hen.
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