"Master!" Herta emerged from the bush she from where she spied on you from. "We don't need to worry about paying for her stuff. But even if you did insist, it wouldn't be a problem since Master will be rich soon."

"Hmm?" Aila said. "I suppose I could convince my father to give a dowry for my... Master... my Master and owner, John Doe." She smiled as she tested out the phrase on her tongue.

"Honestly you don't really have to worry about money." You dismissed. "If everything goes right then I'll be rolling in cash before winter's end."

"I don't doubt the ingenuity of Savants." Aila respected those with Lunacy Savantae. Maybe not as much as Cattleya did, but still enough to be noted in her personality. "And you've already proven to be a very intelligent and resourceful Master." She complimented.

Even after that, you once again offered to help her with the expenses. And Aila once more reassured you that it was unnecessary, though she did say that you could repay her "W-with some more ear rubs..."

She didn't have to coax that out of you, since you were more than happy to indulge in that yourself.

Still you wanted to make sure things were alright in that front.

You returned to Oak & Iron Lodging with one woman less and an elf now clinging to you.

"Mornin' again." The dwarven receptionist said, her eyes glancing between you and the blushing elf girl that clinged onto your side. "So, ya decided to get hitched with a knife-eared lady, huh?" There was an amused tilt to her words, and you felt that even if you weren't able to see the gregarious smile on her face you'd of still discerned it to be there.

"Pretty much." You gave Aila a pat on the head.

"Heh, I gotta take back my offer of bein' yer slave." The dwarvish woman bellowed. "No offense to a man like ya, but I can't see myself sharing a roof with a knife-eared klutz. Sorry, stud!" Her hearty laughter echoed through the entrance room.

You wondered how deep the hatred between elves and dwarves went in this world.

"Are you sure?" Herta pressed on. "Master still has a few free spots open for his main wives, and-"

"Anyway," You changed the topic "I came here to ask about something else."

"Yeah, my Master was wondering about what Aila broke." Herta added.

"Aila?" The dwarf said. Your elf stirs beside you.

"She means 'Alia'." You clarified, giving your elf a side-hug as you used her alias. "Same elf from this morning that broke a bunch of stuff."

"580g" The dwarf lady didn't miss a beat.

"Master..." Aila, with a small whine, peeled herself off of you, took out a small pouch from under her cloak, and then poured out a comically large pile of gold.

"Here. This should be enough to pay for the damages." Aila said.

"Thank you, 'Alia'" You smile.

"It's just the inverse of my name." Aila mumbled. Her face threatened to become a bashful pout, but her smiled seemed impossible to tear down. "I thought it was cute."

"Yeah, that just about covers it." The dwarf grunted as she scooped up the coins.