Chapter 73: He did not denied it

At the art and craft club, with our usual members, but today the others join us, because they finished their clubs early. They just wanted to have a look at the club where Marianne, Tio and I are having fun. Of course they are all allowed to see, the more the merrier.

At the moment we are all drawing Neloufa as our model. She looks at us shyly, obviously telling us to stop. Well, it's no fun to let her escape so easily. Her tomato cheeks are getting even more red. Kara, Mara, Marianne feel bad for her, while Tio actually shares my feeling. Adnan, on the other hand, started to take the drawing even more seriously after Neloufa became a model. Liya has been grinning ever since, maybe she suspects something's going on between Adnan and Neloufa?

"Done" [Liya]

"That's great!" [Kara]

"It looks perfect!" [Mara]

"Let me see, let me see" [Diana]

And it really looks great. The other member couldn't help but be astonished when they took a look. Of course, even Neloufa is surprised. She looks like she wanted the painting for herself, so I asked Liya if she could give it to Neloufa.

"It's for her. Don't worry, I won't charge you" [Liya].

"Thank you very much!" [Neloufa]

Neloufa looks very happy. She even dances around a bit happily as she carefully handles the painting. It's a rare sight, she's usually a cheerful girl, and now she becomes even more dazzling when she's happy, so much so that Tio started teasing Adnan about it.

"Just so you know, if you make her cry, I will hunt you to the ends of the earth" [Diana].

"That's serious news, but what makes you say that?" [Adnan]

(Ohh... He doesn't know...) [Kara]

(Kara enters her fantasy world again) [Mara]

(But I don't blame her, love between a knight and a dancer, surely a spicy one) [Marianne]

(They're children, aren't they? I wonder if I'm the weird one, since I didn't really talk about romance back then) [Liya]

That was the end of the club. The eight of us took our things and went to the cafeteria to eat first. There's some free food and some that you have to pay for. Even though I get an allowance, the free food is delicious, so I take it more often than not. Today's is a spicy spaghetti, so spicy it makes you want to cry. Of course, there's a milder version, but I'm not a child, so I take the spicy one.

Our discussion for today is, as expected, about the final exam, which is boring, so I quickly make them change the subject. Anything, anything but the exam.

"So that's why you went to the blacksmith the other day? Why am I not surprised?" [Liya]

"Sas said it was beyond him, and Master Merlin said it might be more fruitful to ask for the Master Smith than to ask her, so that's why I barged in the other day" [Diana].

"The Master Smith didn't get angry?" [Tio]

"Hahaha, he did, but I get what I want. He's not that scary, in fact, he even allowed me to play around in his workshop" [Diana].

"You're brave as always" [Kara].

"Like with Cardinal Davis the other day" [Mara]

"Or with that captain the other day" [Adnan]

"Is there anyone you're not afraid of?" [Tio]

Since our discussion is about what I get from the sea diamond snake, I described the snake to them. I even did an illusion magic to show them this majestic creature. It's big, but pretty at the same time. Its appearance together with the full moon is mesmerizing. Neloufa gets an idea for her next performance out of it, while Liya tries to burn the illusion into her memory so she can draw it next time. Kara also takes a note, probably for her self made novel

As I continue to describe what is happening

"This is the elusive and legendary sea diamond snake you're portraying, so it really does live in the dam" [Marianne's brother].

Marianne's older brother appears. He couldn't help but praise the Sea Diamond Snake. Who wouldn't, as I'm sure it's a rare sight to see one at all. Not only is it a sight to behold, but it's shy to begin with, and it's also a strong creature.

"Well, you look like you know it lives there" [Diana]

"Of course, someone like me who loves exotic creatures would make a note of it" [Marianne Brother].

"Even down to its favorite food?" [Diana]

"That's a given, alas, if only I could feed it myself" [Marianne Brother]

"Too bad, maybe next time" [Diana]

"Next time will come at a price though... Thanks to a certain someone" [Marianne's brother].

"Whatever you mean, surely it wasn't me who killed that thing" [Diana]

"That's right, of course it wasn't you" [Marianne's brother].

(What are they talking about?) [Kara]

(Something fishy) [Mara]

(Brother? Diana?) [Marianne]

As suspected, the emblem belongs to him. I can push it further, but I think I better tell Nar and Sas about it first. My plan was to play at Marianne's house today and ask her brother about the warehouse, but it looks like I managed it already today.

While we are eating, Marianne asks me about my conversation with her brother after he left, so I tell her what happened. I didn't tell her about the emblem or that the special knight suspects him, but I'm sure someone like her can already figure it out. No, I thought everyone here would have figured it out by now, but I wonder.

"Is he... No... Nothing" [Marianne].

Did I make the right decision to tell her?

Chapter end