It was the next day. The morning sky was a bright, whitish blue. Around this hour, the elven village in the colony would begin to come to life. Elves from all around the village, young and old, light skin and dark skin, could be seen walking around, minding their own businesses as usual.
In the morning, the local village marketplace was open. Local farmers sold their various fruits and vegetables, grown locally, for a fair price. Hiro walked this marketplace, eyeing the food items for sale. Accompanying Hiro was Relda, the Slime Queen.
"The food at the local market always looks so good this time of morning.", Hiro said to Relda, "Too bad we don't have much money right now. I could get a fruit for breakfast. Oh well, it doesn't cost anything to look, right?".
Relda was busy looking around at all the elves attending the village market. "Light elves and dark elves in the same village?", she wondered aloud, "I thought your kinds hated each other.".
"That may have been true 100 years ago.", said Hiro, "But times have changed since then. In these colonies, we're not worried about what type of elf you are. We're all elves, and we're all struggling against nature on this planet together.".
"I see..."
It was then that a particular someone caught Hiro's attention. There was a female dark elf, with red hair, dressed in nobles' clothing, over at one of the booths. She paid for a fruit and began to eat it where she stood.
Hiro's eyes became those of love. "She's beautiful, isn't she?".
As Hiro continued to eye the dark elf woman in the noble clothing, Relda became curious.
"Who is she?", the Slime Queen asked.
"She is Lady Tiffany.", explained Hiro, "She's the daughter of the local Duchess, ruler of the colonies. And she's also a good friend of mine!".
"A Duchess' daughter is your friend?", asked Relda.
"In these colonies...", said Hiro, "it's not just the races of elves that intermingle, but the classes as well. Commoners can be friends with nobles, and vice versa. Seeing Lady Tiffany come to a local fruit market is an everyday occurrence.".
"Would you care to introduce me to your friend?", asked Relda.
Hiro nodded. The elf boy and the Slime Queen approached the dark elf girl as she enjoyed her fruit.
"Good morning!", waved Hiro to get her attention.
Tiffany looked to his direction and smiled. "Good morning, Hiro!" She then noticed the white Slime in a crown following the elf boy. "Who's your friend? She looks unusual."
"I am Queen Relda III.", Relda introduced, "I am the Slime Queen, and the last surviving Slime. I have emerged from my cocoon after 99 years of slumber.".
"How nice to meet you, your majesty.", Tiffany said, slightly unsure of the situation. She then turned to Hiro. "How about you, Hiro. Have you found a job yet?"
"No. Not yet.", Hiro said, blushing from embarrassment.
"I know you'll find one, son of a soldier. Just don't give up."
Hiro's blushing became brighter and redder. "I'll keep looking. Not just for my sake, but yours too. So you don't have to worry about me."
Just then, everyone heard a set of loud footsteps approaching. They looked to see who was coming.
Approaching was a much taller elf, with dark hair and a greasy mustache. He was dressed in black armor, with large, spiked shoulder pads. The armored elf was rather out-of-place in the middle of the market, looking more appropriate on the battlefield of some distant war. "Hello, little lady!", he greeted smugly.
"Darius!", Lady Tiffany greeted with contempt, "What are you doing here? Didn't I tell you I never wanted to see you again?".
"Now, now! I KNOW you didn't mean that!", the armored elf, Darius, said, "Nobody can resist a strong man in a suit of armor! Much better than that pipsqueak Hiro drooling all over you!".
"Hey!", Hiro yelled, "There's a reason she talks to me and not you! Be nice!".
Relda, observing the scene, glared at Darius. But the elves didn't notice.
"Anyway...", said Darius, "I'm not just here to flirt. I came because I have a gift for Lady Tiffany over here!". He produced a strange, blush-green crystal from his armor. It fit perfectly into te palm of his armored hand. "Check it out! It's an Energy Crystal! I was finally able to get my hands on one of these!"
"An Energy Crystal?", Hiro said with disbelief.
Darius then got on one knee for Lady Tiffany, holding out the crystal to her. "Lady Tiffany, will you marry me? Let this crystal be your wedding ring!"
Hiro, in the heat of jealousy, got down on one knee as well. With nothing to offer, he simply put a hand over his heart. "Lady Tiffany, please, marry ME instead! I don't have anything to give you, but surely I'm better than that louse in armor over there!"
The noble elf woman stood there in silence for a bit. She was surprised to be receiving two marriage proposals at once like this. Then, she held out her arms, blocking both men with each of her hands.
"No! Please, stop! I will not marry either of you!" She looked at Darius. "I want you to get away from me, creep!" She looked at Hiro. "And Hiro, I think it's best if we just stay friends."
Both of the men felt crushed, both rejected at once.
Darius got up from his knee. He turned away. "You'll change your mind one day! If one Energy Crystal isn't enough to prove my manhood, and win your hand in marriage, then I'll come back tomorrow with TWO! You'll see!" He then walked off, leaving the market behind.
Hiro then got up. He twiddled his pointer fingers together with embarrassment. "Oh, sure. Friends. We'll just be friends. Got it." He chuckled nervously.
***
Moments later, Hiro and Relda were returning to the house from the market. As they did, they decided to engage in a little conversation.
"I don't like that guy.", Relda said, "He's very creepy, and obviously doesn't value Tiffany's opinion, if he can't take 'no' for an answer. Just who is he anyway?".
"That's Darius.", explained Hiro, "He's the captain of the Colonial Guard. He works directly for the Duchess of the colonies, Tiffany's mother. He and I have always been fighting for the affection of Tiffany, since I've known him. But this is the first time either of us have tried to propose marriage to her.".
Relda then assured him, "Well, I don't think he's worth worrying about. Lady Tiffany seems to hate him, and values you as a friend.".
But this made Hiro sigh. "I wish we could be more than friends, though. But I'm no heroic captain of the guard. I'm just some unemployed commoner. Mother wouldn't even let me have a violent job like that, ever since my father died in combat."
"Oh well, let's just return home for now. It's not like things could get any worse today."
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