Chapter 1078: The Struggling Elves and the Lecture

Night fell, and the Everqueen and her entourage settled into the large noble estate "Cheong Wa Dae" arranged by Ryan outside the city.

Their guide was the High Elf Talleyrand, a limping, hobbling figure who earned a look of disdain from the proud Dragon Prince Torondil. The High Elves all wondered why they were being led by a cripple.

Hadn’t the Knight Kingdom just appointed ten marshals? Why not send one or two of them? The Old World was unsafe at night, and having a marshal guard the Everqueen would be an honor for these monkeys.

Well, maybe not that demigod. He was a bit too dangerous and could pose a threat to the Everqueen’s safety.

But why send this crippled, ugly, weak, magic-ignorant, rural-born bumpkin from Chrace to receive us?

Except for the White Tower Archmage Alarielle, none of the entourage treated Talleyrand with any respect, speaking to him with the deep-seated contempt typical of High Elves.

Talleyrand felt the sting deeply, but the High Elf cripple, the Sun King’s foreign minister, knew very well.

This was the High Elves for you!

Meanwhile, the High Elf ambassador to the Old World, Teclis, seized the opportunity to remind the Everqueen: "Your Highness, this crippled bumpkin is reportedly a trusted courtier of the Sun King. He handles many affairs and has direct access to King Ryan. If we wish to negotiate with the dwarves of Eight Peaks to reclaim some artifacts, he could be useful."

Alarielle nodded. The Everqueen addressed Talleyrand: "The arrangements here are quite lovely, Mr. Talleyrand. You must have put a lot of thought into it, right?"

"?" Talleyrand turned his head sharply, his face momentarily stunned. The cripple never expected the Everqueen to speak to him so kindly.

In Ulthuan, this would have been an unparalleled honor!

But Talleyrand was no novice. The cunning cripple had met many powerful figures since following Ryan, even demigods. He had even exchanged a few words with Ryan’s legendary, sun-like, and mighty true god father. The Everqueen’s attempt to move him wasn’t so easy.

He smiled and replied in his Chrace bumpkin accent: "These arrangements are not mine. They were made by that lord."

"That lord? Mr. Talleyrand, please don’t speak in riddles. I know almost nothing about this place." The Everqueen’s voice was as refreshing as the dew on the Isle of Rebirth.

Talleyrand smiled humbly: "Forgive me, Your Highness. I cannot say. Everything has been prepared. If you need anything, just ring the bell or ask the servants."

"Leaving your distant homeland to serve humans in the Old World must be hard, Mr. Talleyrand." Alarielle noticed the anger in the eyes of those around her, furious that someone dared to refuse the Everqueen’s inquiry. She continued: "Do you ever feel lonely in this former colony?"

"It’s alright." Talleyrand felt a pang of sadness at the question. He controlled his expression and shook his head: "This is my choice. Loneliness is inevitable, but here I can realize my ideals and use my talents. I serve King Ryan, and he values me. I understand what you all mean."

"In Ulthuan, the Asur could treat me well, but in the Old World, humans allow me to use all my abilities. For me, the latter is more important."

The Everqueen hesitated but finally nodded: "I hope your choice is the right one, Mr. Talleyrand."

"Thank you!"

Talleyrand took his leave, and the High Elves began arranging their accommodations.

Humans often envy the High Elves for their freedom, democracy, luxurious living conditions, superior welfare systems, and short working hours. But few understand that the High Elves might be even more hierarchical and snobbish than humans. Even around the Everqueen, accommodations were arranged strictly according to status.

It must be said that Ryan’s arrangements for the Everqueen and her entourage were quite thorough. Though not particularly luxurious, everything needed was provided. The space was large, with magic chandeliers casting a warm glow. The high-quality leather sofas were imported from the Wood Elves, and the floors were covered with Tilea carpets. There were complete shower and hot spring systems, marble floors, glass ceilings, a unique bar stocked with wines from around the world, and a restaurant offering all cuisines, including the most distant Cathayan dishes.

The High Elves habitually picked a few faults, summoned the servants to berate them, and then gathered in the second-floor hall of the estate to discuss matters.

"That Talleyrand is a dog!" The first to speak was Dragon Prince Torondil, who said impatiently: "I don’t understand. Even a bumpkin from Chrace is a hundred times better than being a servant to monkeys! So many estates in the countryside are abandoned! Any one of them could provide a comfortable life. Why mingle in a monkey mountain? Traitor! He has forgotten his race, his bloodline! Banana elf!"

"Torondil! Don’t be so absolute!" White Tower Archmage Alarielle immediately shook his head: "We respect freedom. This is his choice. Don’t forget, it was Ryan Malcador who brought the Silverine Dragonhorn to Caledor!"

"Hah! What does that have to do with him?" The Dragon Prince stood up as if insulted: "If we knew where the Dragonhorn was, would it have fallen to these monkeys? We didn’t blame them for not sending it to us immediately, and they should be grateful for that in their short lives!"

"No need to be angry. The glory of Caledor is always decided by yourselves." The Everqueen Alarielle adjusted her skirt slightly. Her slender legs, clad in lace-patterned semi-transparent white stockings, were pressed together. Her voice was soft but carried an undeniable tone: "We have several key issues to address now. This is not the time for emotional decisions."

"Yes." The Everqueen was a cultural and spiritual symbol for the High Elves. The proud dragons of Caledor could ignore Phoenix King Finubar or War Lord Tyrion but rarely defied the Everqueen’s orders, especially when the Dragon Prince was being stubborn.

Everyone quieted down. The Everqueen thought for a few seconds and said first: "Something feels off."

"This territory feels off." Alarielle analyzed calmly: "Do you think it’s normal for a demigod to sell beef offal on the street?"

No one could answer, and silence fell. Only the Everqueen’s handmaiden Yspharil Daltryen spoke: "According to intelligence, that demigod named Angron seems to be the brother of King Ryan and the Purple Phoenix of the New World. I thought he would be more... polite and dignified. But now it seems Fulgrim and Ryan are undoubtedly brothers, while this Angron is likely their half-brother."

"No wonder Lord Teclis always emphasized building good relations with this Sun King. Just his Grail Knights, Old Guard, and these two demigod brothers are incredibly valuable." Alarielle nodded calmly. The Everqueen thought for a moment and sighed: "But I still don’t like them much. King Ryan has proven to be an excellent ruler, but he is too harsh on his people. Though prosperous, his laws are strict and lack tolerance. Though there is welfare, the control is too tight, lacking freedom. People need freedom, need democracy. What I see is an autocratic state that forces so-called chivalry and Grail spirit on everyone."

"This is humanity. They are as numerous as ants, but their short lives leave little time for independent thought." The Dragon Prince continued to express disdain: "This Ryan and his two armies are somewhat capable, and that Imperial Baroness and the Nuln Ironclad are passable. Other humans, except for a few Imperial knightly orders, aren’t worth engaging with."

"Phoenix King Finubar once looked down on humans like you, until he discovered that the fishing village he imagined was actually a towering castle, the wilderness he imagined was actually hundreds of scattered villages, and the human armies he thought weak had defended the Old World for three millennia." The White Tower Archmage said seriously: "The human population is conservatively estimated to be a hundred times ours. Did you see the Grail Knights and Old Guard who welcomed us today? Do you think you could wipe them out in one charge? Swear by the name of Caledor?"

"Tch." The Dragon Prince shrugged and fell silent.

"We must find a way to ally with these armies, and that demigod is very strong." Alarielle’s face, as pure as a lotus emerging from water, showed a hint of helplessness: "In Athel Loren, Queen Ariel and King Orion only engaged in ceremonial exchanges with us. They refused to offer help, form an alliance, trade, or rejoin the maritime empire. The ancient treemen... let’s not talk about them."

Everyone nodded. Of the three ancient treemen, Durthu had gone mad (though not completely, his temperament had drastically changed), Adanhu had died (sacrificing himself to heal and save the maddened Ariel), and Coeddil had fled (initially refusing the elves’ settlement, later corrupted by Chaos). There was little to discuss with the treemen.

Queen Ariel of the Wood Elves had personally emerged from the forest to meet Alarielle upon her arrival. As an incarnation of Isha, Ariel was very friendly to Alarielle, showing a rare maternal side, asking about Ulthuan, and gifting the Everqueen a barn owl as a token of friendship.

The round, brown eyes, gray and white feathers, and endearing expression made Alarielle adore it.

So cute.

But in terms of diplomacy, the Wood Elves’ absolute isolationist policy under Ariel reached its peak. The Wood Elf Queen instinctively rejected all of Alarielle’s diplomatic requests, even refusing to exchange ambassadors. Ariel emphasized that the Wood Elves only had an ambassador in Bretonnia and that any important matters should be communicated directly to Isha through the Everqueen Alarielle’s prayers.

In fact, Ariel’s emergence from the forest was not just to meet the Everqueen but also to discuss with King Belegar of Eight Peaks—the Wood Elves needed more exquisite dwarf runic equipment. One Starforge could not meet the needs of all Athel Loren.

The Wood Elves and dwarves had no deep-seated grudges. Previously, Araloth had cooperated with King Belegar of Eight Peaks and King Ungrim Ironfist in the Eight Peaks Crusade and the Battle of Baka Fen, easing tensions. With Ryan’s mediation, they decided to sit down and negotiate, eventually agreeing on a large order.

"The Asrai’s ability to negotiate with King Belegar of Eight Peaks and King Ungrim Ironfist is a good thing. King Belegar and King Ungrim are arguably the most influential dwarf kings after the High King." Archmage Alarielle said: "How can we leverage this?"

"The key is King Ryan. If he is willing to back us, his influence will make negotiations with the High King much easier." Alarielle analyzed calmly: "But what interests me more are the five ‘Sons of Bretonnia’ who appeared at today’s banquet. They possess a completely pure cleansing energy, even purer and stronger than the cleansing power Mother received from Isha. I’m almost certain it’s not the work of the Moon Goddess, the Lady of the Lake Lilith. She couldn’t achieve that level. Instead, it feels closer to the power of King Ryan and his two sons."

"Your Highness, how do you plan to uncover the secrets of the Sons of Bretonnia?" The Everqueen’s handmaiden Yspharil Daltryen took the initiative to ask.

"Perhaps this matter will fall on King Ryan’s two sons. I’ll try tomorrow to see if they’re willing to take me into the Old Guard barracks and the depths of the Lily Island in the Forest of Chalons." Alarielle nodded slightly.

"Then let’s proceed."

---

Meanwhile, in the private reception room on the third floor of Guisoreux Castle.

Ryan was lecturing his sons. He had spanked both Frederick and Devonshire, scolding them. The Sun King’s face was dark: "That Everqueen is the daughter of the Everqueen Alarielle, destined to marry the next Phoenix King, and she’s unlikely to return to the Old World!"

"Wuwuwu!" Frederick rubbed his reddened bottom. The eldest son looked at his mother, who was laughing so hard she was leaning on Aunt Sulia’s shoulder. He remained defiant: "But Dad, the Everqueen is really beautiful, cute, and has such great presence and strength. As your son, shouldn’t I pursue someone I like?"

"Hahahaha!" Emilia watched Frederick being scolded by Ryan with glee. The Imperial Baroness laughed so hard she leaned on her sister Sulia, though her heart couldn’t help but feel a wave of warmth.

"Yeah, Alarielle is so cute. Frederick likes her, and I like her too. Dad, don’t you think she’s like Mom—elegant, noble, and full of charm?" Devonshire had also been spanked, but the younger son persisted: "I want to be like you, Dad, and find a wife as gentle, wise, and dignified as Mom!"

Sulia’s eyes lit up. This son really knew how to talk. The Knight Queen immediately spoke up: "Ryan, it’s human nature to pursue beauty. It’s a longing for the good. Don’t be so harsh."

"What’s going on? Why are you two so interested in pointy-ears?" Ryan was clearly annoyed. The Knight King wondered where his sons had picked this up. If he found out, he’d definitely teach the instigator a lesson.

"Dad!" Frederick said aggrievedly: "You say the Everqueen’s bloodline is noble, but I think my bloodline isn’t bad either. I’m the son of you and Mom. My godfather is Emperor Karl Franz. My magic mentor is Uncle Gelt. My engineering mentor is Chief Engineer Maybach. My military instructor is Marshal Ehrlichstein. I’ve always excelled in every subject. Am I not worthy of the Everqueen?"

"Yeah, yeah!" Devonshire also chimed in: "My parents and Mom Lilith are the best parents in the world! Frederick is right. The Everqueen is so cute. Why can’t we pursue her?"

"And Dad, don’t you have Aunt Olica too?" Devonshire muttered softly: "You have so many beauties yourself, yet you’re so strict with Frederick and me!"

Rebellion! Rebellion! The two brats were turning against their father!

And from the looks of it, they were determined to pursue the Everqueen.

"Good! Go for it, son! Go for it! Your Mom Lilith supports you!" The Lady of the Lake was still stirring the pot. The goddess waved her little fist at Devonshire, her emerald eyes sparkling with new ideas: "Pursue what you love, whether they’re pointy-ears or not. True love knows no race!"

You’re just making things worse! Ryan’s face darkened further.

In truth, Ryan could understand. His sons were born into privilege, with noble bloodlines, and their mother was one of the most beautiful women in humanity. Naturally, they wouldn’t be interested in most noble daughters. Seeing someone like the Everqueen—powerful, polite, elegant, and beautiful—it was only natural they’d be interested.

Ahhh! Headache!

Why did they have to like pointy-ears, and the High Elves’ most precious Everqueen at that?!

I must find out where these two brats learned to be interested in pointy-ears!