“That’s it…” Liora mumbled under her breath, her voice barely audible as the weight of the situation settled in.
“W-We cannot allow that!” one of the Elders shouted, his voice trembling with a mix of fear and outrage.
“Yes, we have been following this tradition for thousands of years!” another Elder chimed in, his tone resolute and unyielding.
“We cannot change our ancestors’ written law!” a third Elder added, his voice filled with conviction and an air of finality.
Alaric sat back, a satisfied smile spreading across his face as he listened to the Elders’ fervent resistance, “Then what about the women currently protesting?” he asked, his voice calm yet menacing. “Should we hang them?”
The room fell into an uneasy silence, the Elders flinching at the brutality of the suggestion. They understood the delicate nature of the situation and the potential consequences of their decisions.
Alaric glanced at a specific Elder, his tribe’s Elder, who nodded in understanding. The Elder spoke up, “Why don’t we hang a few women to make an example? Then, His Majesty can use his pardoning power to void the death sentences of the rest.”
“Hmm, that sounds right.”
“Yeah, that could work.”
“They’ll see how lenient we males are.”
Before the Elders could fully agree on this harsh plan, Liora and Maelona stepped forward. “So, you gentlemen don’t care about the future of these women?” Liora’s voice was sharp, cutting through the air like a knife.
“Snort! What do you mean?” one Elder retorted, dismissively waving his hand.
“Yes, we men are their future!” another added, his voice filled with arrogance.
Liora and Maelona shook their heads in unison, turning to address Alaric directly. “Your Majesty, this is not a wise decision. Women are awakening to their need for equality. If we try to silence them again, it will only lead to more unrest,” Maelona said, her voice steady and unwavering.
Alaric wore a thoughtful expression, though, in truth, he cared little for death or equality at this moment; he only sought to secure what was rightfully his. After that, he couldn’t care less whether they desired equality or not.
“So what?!!”
“We’ve never seen chaos in our history!!”
“I believe it’s wise to uphold our traditional rules,”
Aria frowned incredulously, unable to believe these elder council members were still trying to justify outdated norms.
As Queen, she asserted her authority in the meeting, “Yes, you’re correct. There was no chaos because we, the women, were conditioned to obediently accept whatever the men decreed. I refuse to subject my future daughters or granddaughters to that same fate!”
“Forget about your wives… What about your daughters and grand daughters? Do you want them to grovel before men?!!”
“….”
Silence descended upon the hall. Aria’s words had struck a nerve with the elders, who had previously only considered the implications for their wives. Some started to protest but were silenced by the weight of her speech.
Maelona’s lips curled with pride at her daughter’s eloquence, ‘Looks like she’s truly come into her own’
“The world is evolving, and clinging to antiquated traditions will only hinder our empire’s progress!!” Aria’s voice reverberated with determination and resolve.
Alaric’s lips twitched slightly. He recognized Aria’s strategic play, yet he couldn’t help but smile. Even if she managed to sway their emotions, these elders were deeply entrenched in their ways.
“Now, those in favour of revising our traditions, raise your hands,” Alaric requested, surveying the council.
Only Liora and Maelona raised their hands, the sole female voices in the Elder Council. Alaric’s smile widened, expecting at least a few male supporters after Aria’s compelling speech, but it seemed the elders remained steadfast in tradition.
Aria clenched her teeth, bracing herself for Alaric’s impending verdict, when suddenly…
The bodyguard standing behind Maelona quietly placed something in her hand. Maelona frowned as she read the note, then glanced at the armed guard before sighing and addressing Alaric, “Your Majesty?”
Alaric frowned at the interruption, his expression darkening, “What is it, Maelona Zephyr?”
“Yesterday, during our extensive investigation, we found something of significance.”
Hearing this, Alaric’s frown deepened even further. “Go on…” He had already dispatched a full investigation team to search for the culprit, yet they had only uncovered a few scant details: the suspect had white hair and a strikingly handsome face, and that was all.
Maelona turned to her guard and commanded, “Go on, tell His Majesty what happened.”
The guard bowed respectfully to Maelona before addressing Alaric. “It happened after the chaos had settled down. I saw the man who was responsible for the mayhem. When I first saw him, I was determined to capture him alive, not just for my own sake, but for the empire that has supported and fed me—”
“Get to the point,” Liora interjected with a sneer. No one wanted to hear some long-winded tale of heroism.
“Understood… but he defeated me without breaking a sweat. He is incredibly strong and… remarkably handsome.”
His voice took on a tone that almost sounded like that of a fangirl.
“Looks like everyone in the High Elf tribe has peculiar tastes,” Liora sneered at Maelona, whose eyes twitched in response.
“H-He, instead of killing me, showed mercy with his gentle heart and let me go. What a handsome, charming man…”
Alaric’s patience was wearing thin, his expression growing more exasperated by the moment.
“He healed me and even gave me food… Did I mention how handsome he is?”
“Bastard! You’re only saying that!” Liora shouted in anger, almost grabbing her husband’s arm like a club, ready to lash out at him.
“Get to the point!” Alaric demanded, his voice echoing through the throne room.
“Forgive me! He said… he will bring down our Empire” the guard’s voice echoed with fear, trembling slightly.
“….” freewebnσvel.cѳm
Now everyone in the room frowned, their gazes fixed intently on the guard.
“And he told me to give this to you personally…” The guard gulped, his throat dry, as he pulled out a folded piece of paper. Alaric frowned even more deeply before instructing him to read it.
“B-But he said to give you personally and should only you know, not others!”
Everyone frowned upon hearing that, Alaric lips twitched before ordering him to continue,
“Y-Yo! Motherfucker…”
Veins bulged on Alaric’s forehead as he glared daggers at the guard.
“F-Forgive me, Your Majesty, but that’s exactly what was written here!” The guard immediately raised his hands defensively.
Alaric controlled his rising anger, taking a deep breath before telling him to continue.
“Yo… Motherfuckers~… I mean, Elders….”
Crack, Crack
“Go ahead…”
“Yo~ Motherfucke—”
“Just read the remaining part.”
“Understood, Your Majesty…” The guard nodded before continuing to read, “Anyhow, Emperor, How are you? I hope you are doing fine. I am very glad to inform you that I am your biggest fan!!”
Everyone blinked in astonishment for a second.
“Shocked?”
Everyone looked at the guard, and he immediately said, “T-That’s what’s written here.”
“Looks like we have a quite interesting enemy…” Liora smirked, her eyes gleaming with intrigue.
[+1 Affection]
The guard continued, “Shocked? Please don’t be! You know how much I am a big fan of yours… Getting cuckolded… Pfffttt!!!”
“….”
“Oh, our pitiful Emperor! Don’t worry, in order to wipe away that disgusting title, I, as your sole big fan, shall embark on this lonely journey to cuckold everyone! … ‘sob’ with my own body… I am sacrificing myself for you… ‘Sob’…
Please don’t forget me…. I will save sister Aria!! It’s just for you…. MY LOVE!… Please give me the strength….
“Anyhow, I am now going to other tribes to teach those old fools, especially the Elders’ wives and married daughters and granddaughters….. Now I wonder what kind of decision they will make… Will they really… I mean ‘really’ kill their daughters to uphold this archaic, oppressive tradition, or will they choose to save their daughters? I hope I get a good answer for my dear Emperor… Kekeke~”
“…” The Throne Hall fell dead silent, the tension palpable.
As much as they thought, they knew they were threatened by some bastard but…
The Elders frowned at the words, casting glances at the Emperor. In their minds, they considered, ‘It all began when the Emperor was in court for divorce…’
Considering the chaos that erupted at just the right time, the Elders knew it was either the Queen or the Emperor. However, the more they pondered, the more they suspected the Emperor, because of his unyielding love for the Queen even after her adultery.
It was as if the Emperor manipulated everyone so that the Queen wouldn’t die!
‘What a wonderful love!!’
‘This was done by some fanatic or… Did the Emperor want us to revise the rule without directly asking?’
‘I cannot believe he pulling our daughter’s happy life just for his selfish actions..!!’
‘I-I cannot sacrifice my tribe for his cunning plan!!’
‘If he loves her just say so, We will agree!! Why bother creating chaos in our family!’
Those thoughts, as the moment when the Emperor’s name came into view, lingered in their minds.
With various possibilities running through the Elders’ minds… slowly but surely raised their hands as if they were answering the Emperor’s previous question.
Most of them almost connected the dots and realized it was all along the Emperor’s plan to keep her safe Queen so that she wouldn’t hanged to death…
Aria’s face turned to surprise meanwhile Maelona looked at the guard with mixed expressions.
“I see….” Alaric nodded when he saw the amount of number increasing, he clenched his teeth, and his anger was palpable!
He couldn’t believe his actions to keep Aria from turning against him from just a random bastard, he looked at Maelona, ‘This bitch!!…’ he knew she was planning something and was just about to ignore the guard’s fake letters when,
“Y-You majesty…” Another guard bowed down deeply, everyone and turned their face turned big shit.
Alaric barely controlling his anger asked, “What now?”
“Men from Wood tribe crying down shouting their wife cheated on them!”
Hearing that, Alaric’s eyes widened and even more Wood tribe’s Elder had a mental breakdown.
Even the remaining Elders who were hesitating to raise now immediately raised their hands.
‘Hehe…’