Just as Nadula had said, Merika was now in serious trouble.
"Merika..."
Lumya had completely succumbed to fear. She hid beside Merika, her body trembling as though she might burst into tears at any moment.
"I-It's okay, Lumya. Don't be afraid."
Merika held Lumya's hand and tried to comfort her, but her face was filled with tension. She bit her lip tightly, and even the hand holding Lumya's was clenched hard, making it clear that she was far from calm.
Standing before Merika and Lumya, Edel had Aiji and Red block the girls' path while he brazenly looked them over. The smile on his face appeared courteous, but it was far too deliberate, giving off an artificial impression.
Rather, Edel's eyes were filled with intense excitement.
It was the look of someone whose sadistic urges had been stirred.
Clearly, Merika's nervousness and Lumya's fear had aroused this duke's son.
So, not only did Edel refrain from holding back, he became even more excessive.
"Why be so nervous?" Edel said with a smile. "I merely wish to invite the two young ladies to have a meal with me. That isn't too much to ask, is it?"
Lumya could not say a word. Merika was frightened as well, but she still gathered her courage and spoke.
"I-I'm really troubled by this. Could you please stop?"
Merika did her best to express how she felt.
However, Merika did not know that this appearance of hers not only lacked any persuasive power to those with ill intentions, but further reinforced the image that she was easy to bully.
At least, that was what Edel thought.
Therefore—
"You're being rather ungrateful, Miss Elf," Edel said with a brazen grin. "Let me tell you the truth. I am the son of a duke. My father is