Ash was having a conundrum ordeal after witnessing what he did to the Elven King's daughter.
"What... How... How did this happened? What am I going to do now!? They're going to kill me, right!?"
[Ash, calm down. You're prohibiting yourself from thinking properly.]
Hearing the system's advice, Ash took a deep breath and tried to think for a better way to get out of his current situation.
"I'm really gonna get sued because of this. Sigh!"
[Ash, your world and this world isn't the same, it is world apart. And your laws there doesn't apply here. I advise you to just face it with all willingness and conviction.]
"Sigh. You're right, I should have the balls to face the consequence of my actions."
After fixing his thoughts, Ash finally decided to sit beside Aurora and starts their conversation.
"Aurora, I am very sorry. I had no idea, about what really happened and it wasn't on purpose, and you know that, right? However, to tell you the truth, as much as your father - the Elven King wanted me to marry you. My conscience wouldn't let me marry a child who is cleary much younger than me. I am very sorry for everything."
Ash slowly turn to look at Aurora.
[…]
"What? Did I do something wrong again?"
Noticing the system's reaction, Ash couldn't help but ask it what's the problem.
[Ash, you really had no idea, do you? I feel so sorry for you.]
"As an Elf, everyone around here including the Elven King, grew up to serve the Elves and protect the world, and our ultimate goal as an elf is to be one with Nature. We live solely for that purpose, which is why marriage should never come across our minds at a very young age. However, if the elves arrived at the right age for marriage, it must be with the same race as ours in order to maintain the pure elven bloodline. That was the pact that we have had with the Mother Nature and those who disobeyed the pact shall be outcasted from the kingdom."
Cowering in her knees, Aurora began to sob again.
"What do I do now? Wait... Isn't it just a simple and accidental kiss? It wasn't on purpose, so why is it so big of a deal with them?"
[Go on, Ash. Ask it to the girl, hehe.]
The system teasingly replied.
"You like what you see, huh? Stupid system."
Ash thought angrily.
"Isn't it just a simple and accidental kiss? Why are you guys so serious about it?"
Hearing his words, the system couldn't help but laugh and forehead slap himself.
[Ash! I couldn't believe you were really going to ask her. Lol!]
"What? Why?"
Hearing his question, Aurora slaps Ash and began to snap.
"How dare you! You are not in the right position to say that! You did not only molested and insulted me, you insulted the entire elven race as well! If it wasn't for your great friend and the fact that you saved me, I wouldn't think twice to tell the King to just kill you!"
Aurora yelled to Ash, angrily.
"I am really sorry, I am dumb and doesn't know the Elven culture. Please excuse my rudeness and accept my deepest apology, Aurora."
Bowing his head, Ash offered an apology.
Seeing Ash's actions, Aurora began to clam down a little.
"I'm sorry, I got carried away by my emotions. But Ash, in my race, even if it's an accident, a kiss is a kiss, and it only means marriage no matter what anyone thinks. And on top of that, I am still a child, and I have never been in this kind of situation and I don't know what to do. I don't want to be outcasted and banished from my home. So, if you have a plan in order to prevent that from happening, please do tell me."
Aurora was having a panic attack, when suddenly Ash said his plan.
"What if we'll get married?"
Ash had no choice but to offer the best option he could think of at the moment.
"What!? Have you lost your mind!? What part of our conversation haven't you undertood at all? I said, if I broke the pact, they will banish me from the elven kingdom."
Aurora snapped again.
"No, I understand your pact completely. It's between my death or you marry me. Either way, you will still be banished because you broke the pact. As far as I understand the situation, you have no other choice but to accept my proposal because I don't want to die yet."
Hearing Ash's point, Aurora began to cry again.
"Hey, what is it this time? Don't cry Aurora, it is also my first time being in this kind of situation, and I don't know what to do as well. Although, my conscience is prohibiting me from marrying a kid, I didn't want to go to the after life either. So, don't be sad, and let's just face it together."
"Ash, are you okay with having a wife that was way older than you? I mean, I am just a kid in your eyes but if you compare our ages, you'll know that's not the case at all."
"Huh? I don't understand. Could you please tell me in a more understandable way."
"I am actually 29 years old, we elves age in a very different way than humans."
Ash was speechless after learning Aurora's age.
"Is this why you feel so sorry about?"
[Yes.]
"How am I going to deal with this information?"
[Just be yourself.]
"Yeah, that helps a lot. Thanks!"
[…]
"Aurora, I really had no idea about all of these, but I want to save the both of us from the path we deemed hard to take, and I have a plan for that. So, please let me talk to the King once again."
Ash said grabbing Aurora's hand.
Aurora's face brightens after hearing Ash's words.
"Ash, as much as I appreciate your words, I still have no idea what your plan is. But if it really helps us, then let me help you on your plan as well. Just tell me what your plan is."
Aurora replied looking at Ash.
"No. For now, I need you to just play along with me. When the right time comes for you to help, you'll know it."
Ash left Aurora in the lake to go to his companion, Demittry.
On his way to the palace, Ash met Aurora's elder brother who's so hostile towards Ash.
"Hey kid, how's my sister? Are you happy now that you soiled her pureness?"
With a menacing look, the brother glared towards Ash.
"I know what happened was wrong, but it definitely an accident. I didn't mean to do it, nor planned stole a harmless kiss from her. Why are you so guys so mad about it? Shouldn't you be happier that I saved her from danger instead of persecuting me?"
Pleading his case once more, Ash began to be annoyed by the kissing topic.
"You don't know how we live, and you don't know how our society works but you dare question our law!? How can a scum like you have the balls to question us!?"
Aurora's elder brother snaps at Ash.
"I am not a scum!"
Ash yelled back angrily after hearing Aurora's words.
"Really? You're telling me that you're not a scum even with that many human blood in your hands? You humans always want to act clean when in fact your hands are covered with blood of your own race! You are not only a scum, but a liar who has no dignity as well. You do not deserve my sister! What you deserve was death!"
"You said that I didn't know how you live? Yes, I didn't know, but I never judge others based on how they live, and even though I am not clean, I will never treat someone who saved my family the way you're treating me right now! I may be a scum, a liar who has no dignity, but I never act high and mighty even though I'm weak!"
Ash glared back towards the Elven Prince.
"Are you telling me that I, an elf, is weaker than you!? A human!? Ha! Don't make me laugh!"
Aurora's elder brother readied himself to jump at Ash.
"Don't get me wrong here "your highness", I am not the one who said that, you were!"
With a menacing aura and an eeriely cold voice, Ash said as he walked passed Aurora's elder brother.
The elf couldn't figure out why he couldn't move his body at all.
"What did he do to me!?"
Ash was about to enter the Elven Palace when suddenly another elf from the side yelled towards him.
"Hey you pig! How dare you talk back to a prince like that!?"
The elf looks to have the same age as Aurora's.
"I don…"
Ash was about to reply to the taunt, when the elf suddenly continues to talk.
"I challenge you to a duel!"
-End of Chapter-