NPC Code: Red Riding Hood

Chapter 22 - La Finta Nonna

We trundled inside the astronomical palace filled with copious plants and verdant yet transparent glasses. As I looked at the sides, I noticed an atypical species of birds pecking the bark of a tree. Laid on the centre was the settee, as gigantic as a mattress, enough to cater for everyone.

All of us stood in the middle of the palace, gawking at everything surrounding our view. We noticed the series of steps leading to the next floor inviting us over for a visit. It had two hallways from both sides, with a gigantic wooden gate found in front. They shut tight the ingress upstairs, hiding something from us, their guests of the castle.

My nostrils whiffed the insides and perceived the faint smell of fragrant flowers in the air, making me feel giddy to my feet. I almost felt like we were inside a forest once again filled with greenery and shrubs. A miniature waterfall alerted my ears as I glanced at the east. It continued to cascade the stream and supplied the pond near the statue.

"It must have come from the garden outside?" I asked myself, and continued exploring the mansion.

Match also had her eyes glued on the elegant fountain.

There were no guards stationed inside. The rangers who escorted us here all went outside and guarded the gates, except for the two wardens headed for the stairs. With a light tap on the surface, the wooden door opened as the two elves called for someone I did not know.

"They called for the ruler of the Elven Kingdom." Guinevere murmured, and motioned me to kneel.

I reached for Match and told her to bow and fall to her knees. We sank our heads, nearly kissing the ground, and waited for the figure to arrive. The two rangers took their leave.

"Welcome, humans. I am pleased to see you all," a feminine voice greeted our presence.

We locked our eyes at the figure approaching our way. A woven viridescent tunic made from the finest silk and leaves welcomed us as the shape of an old yet wise-looking woman descended from the stairs. She had extensive ears, pointing backwards in two different directions. As I looked closely, I recognised an emerald necklace shining on her body.

My eyes fixated on this peculiar crest illuminating her chest. I recognised this gem before, but it might prove me wrong. The last time I saw it, it on the mainland, but I did not know where.

"It elated us to see you again, Grandmother," Guinevere addressed the woman, and hung her head, with her daughter doing the same.

"It had been years since your last visit, Guinevere." The girl whom Guinevere called Grandmother replied.

I knew nothing about her, and the Grandmother probably did not know me either. But judging from her clothes, she must have royal blood surging through her veins.

The Grandmother beckoned her hands and spoke, "Please, raise your heads. I do not want Queen Guinevere and her daughter, Eve, bowing down to me."

I saw the elf smiling at us and instructed her servants to fetch us an exceptional tea. The maids and butlers hurried towards the kitchen and prepared the beverages inside. The Grandmother looked at us and offered us a seat on the couch, and let us loosen our bodies for the time being. Queen and Eve lifted their heads and returned the smile.

I noticed the Grandmother tilting her head and gazing in our direction. She flashed me warm glee as she looked at my eyes, continued staring at me and my crimson cloak. The old elf averted her gaze and spared a glimpse of the little girl beside me. Match was too busy playing with the dangling leaves from the vases, so she was not aware.

"I can see you brought in two stray cats." The Grandmother said, "And the other one is a kitten."

The Grandmother approached us and caressed my hair. Her hands fluttered through my blonde strands, which made her eyes widened in surprise.

I jolted away, uncertain what to reply to the old woman. I moved forward and bowed my head, paying my respect to the Grandmother, and spoke evenly.

"I am sorry for our intrusions. We can leave if you wish, Grandmother," I suggested, with my head still looking at the ground.

The ancient elf shook her head and maintained her delighted smile on her face. I saw no hidden emotions or a snicker from her lips as the elf gave us complete hospitality. She must be sincere to us, strangers, visiting such a place.

"If you are a friend of Guinevere, you become my comrade as well," The Grandmother explained. "Please, raise your head, too. Let us remove our formalities just this once."

I hesitated for a bit, but eventually followed her words. My muscle eased out for the first time as Match and I saw on the comfortable mattress.

"These villagers were the ones who saved me from the battlefield." Guinevere interrupted as she glanced at the two of us. "We cannot thank them enough for being there and controlling the wagon."

My face blushed and turned pinkish-red, as my name implied. The Grandmother looked at us with awe while listening to the conversation.

I shook my head and retorted, "No, your majesty. We were just passing by when we heard a blaring sound coming from the cliffs."

"Do not feel reserved. You saved the queen and her daughter, the two royalties of humankind!" The Grandmother exclaimed, "That is not a feat that anyone could accomplish."

With her words, I finally realised what the Grandmother said. Her vibrant smile and carefree attitude told me she was a person who I can lean on.

However, what she uttered was far from the truth that they knew. I was the one who killed the King, yet nobody knows about it, not even Match. And I planned on continuing my killing spree once a war begins.

"May I know the people who saved Guinevere and Eve?" The Grandmother appended.

I gave her a nod and introduced ourselves. "My name is Red Rose, but you can call me Red."

"Ah, Red. From the legends, Red Riding Hood." The Grandmother's grin became broader than before.

I shook my head up and down and concurred with her claim. The game developers added me as a famous non-player character in the game. They wanted me to play a part inside the village, my system told me.

But they destroyed that same town I grew up in for eighteen years. Those bastards did these to us.

I stretched my hand and presented the little girl beside me to the elf. She ran around with the leaf perched in his hands and waved her fingers.

"My name is Match!" the girl announced while waving the plucked plant in front of her face.

"It is a bit late, but I am La Finta Nonna, the Grandmother and ruler of the Elven Kingdom. You can call me Nonna when we are alone without the elders hearing us." Nonna pronounced.

Coincidentally, the servants arrived just in time to serve a tray of beverages and snacks.

It was the Elven's dishes for a late-afternoon meal.

"Help yourselves with these foods." The Grandmother offered, "We do not know what you want, so I have prepared the things that I know."

"No. These dishes are plenty for us four," Guinevere remarked, thanking Nonna for the meal.

She urged us to get whatever we wanted since Match and I were hungry wolves that had not eaten for hours. Guinevere and the Grandmother knew, so they smiled as they watched us devour the piece of vegetables in our mouth.

It tasted like heaven. The mixture of sweet and sour cream covering the salad became a superb combination in the bowl. I never munched over something delicious before, not until now.

We filled the room with silence, unsure of what to say during this time. But I knew everything.

I knew the elves were the only ones who would help the mainland amidst the situation. The kingdom of humans had lost their valuable representative right next to the crown. He was King Arthur Pendragon, another notable man coming from the legends.

"I have heard the news." The Grandmother shattered the silence and went straightforward for the topic on hand.

Everyone's face became concerned and grave as we stretched our ears to hear. Match and Even were playing with each other at a plant, conversing about a different topic. However, I could still see Match stealing a glance in our direction, listening to our talk.

She was just as sly as me.

"King Arthur died, and a player killed him," Nonna said.

She met Guinevere's eyes, staring back at her while fighting back the tears bursting from her lids. Guinevere clasped her shaking hands, concealing them from us.

"A queen must show strength and wisdom," Guinevere whispered.

I heard her murmuring to herself while clenching both of her hands.

If she broke down now, she felt her kingdom would deem her as an incompetent crowned head.

Guinevere was still the queen of the mainland, right next to King Arthur.