"Well, er, you see, the thing is," (Patreon)
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I floundered, my mind racing. The look of betrayal on both of their faces cut much deeper than I thought it would. I had every right to be outraged! They were mere lowfolk, and they basically asked me, the rightful Emperor of Faerie, point blank if I was an elf here to take their adopted daughter - MY daughter - away. What nerve! I could still sidestep most of what they were asking, and walk or pook out of here in high dudgeon, but… When I looked into their faces I couldn’t help but see Vernier looking back at me. This was Vernier’s family and they raised my daughter well, even better than I could have hoped. So even though it went against every elfly principle to deal openly with them, it felt even more wrong not to do so. I was going to have to be honest. (Within reason, of course.) I finally stopped waffling and spoke up.
“The essence of Mary’s supposition is true. I am not a blood relative to either of you, and I have been here solely to check in on Kelly’s well-being. However, I represent no one but myself. It was I who left Kelly on your doorstep. I am the rightful king of the elves."
"Rightful?" Seamus asked suspiciously.
"There have been a great many complications recently with the royal succession," I explained. "But elves do not lie. I am the legitimate heir to the throne."
"The fair folk are tricky," Mary stated to her husband, "but sure, they won't tell a baldfaced lie. If he says he's the king, it must be true."
"I pray that you can forgive me for the deception," I continued, "but I swear to you that my evasiveness was for Kelly’s protection as well as yours. Kelly, your adopted daughter, is the Princess of Faerie. The empire is currently in shambles and it is my responsibility to rebuild it. It's not an ideal environment for bringing up a little girl. There is a great deal I am trying to accomplish and there are many who would resort to less than honorable methods to stop me. Even if I had all of the resources I wish I had, Kelly couldn’t remain with me, for her own safety - and her mother is… let's just say, an extremely dangerous femme."
"Sounds loike she could have kept her wee one safe," Mary pointed out darkly.
"Are you familiar with the term Unseelie?" I asked. The O'Dors both gasped and stepped back. "I've been inaccurately accused by my critics of being Unseelie, but Kelly's mother is the real thing. Letting her raise the child would have ensured that she became a monster. Now, I don’t know fully what role Kelly has to play in Fuma’s plan, but your husband is right that Fuma will find a way for her to do it. It is best that she strengthen her abilities in preparation for when that time comes. I understand the importance of family, and I would never seek to rob you or Kelly of that. I am not planning on taking her away from you forever. I'm not even planning to take her with me. The haunted city in the story I told the children? That's the current state of the imperial capital. I wouldn't bring Kelly there. She will be going to a school situated just inside the old summer palace."
"It's actually in Faerie?" Seamus asked.
"Accessible through a Gate in the town of Percysthorpe," I stated. "Although the school itself is in Faerie, almost all of the faculty and student body are lowf- I mean, mortals from your world. Your ancestor, Vernier, was a very close confidant of mine. She was kind, practical, and wise. It would be an insult to her memory to treat my daughter’s adopted family like a resource to be left behind. If you despise me for my conduct in your lives, that’s fair enough, but I promise that I never intended any heartache for you or your family. This is Kelly's home. Here's where she will return on holidays. I am not stealing her away to live in Faerie, because to be honest, most of Faerie is uninhabitable right now.”
"We mustn't tell the lass that she's a fairy princess," Seamus muttered. "Sure, twill go straight to her head."
"We'll be tellin her nothin," Mary declared, "an she'll not be goin anywhere."
"But macushla," Seamus protested gently, "surely the King o' the Elves knows best."
"Oi appreciate yer honesty, Adler," Mary continued, "but everything ye've said just further convinces me that here's the best place for Kelly."