Free Web NovelChapter 411: Chapter 34: Then Let’s Begin
In truth, the Charm Attribute was a double-edged sword. On one hand, it gave Westheid an overwhelming advantage against the Elves, allowing him to charm and entice them with unfailing success. In a short time, he had nearly turned the entire Central Royal Court into his personal harem. On the other hand, it also made Westheid susceptible to the attraction of those with high Charm.
Generally, Duke Qinghui wouldn’t call it lechery, but rather a powerful lust. A *powerful* lust, mind you.
The first signs had appeared when he was with Ailorus. However, the Wind Law Queen was still too naive. The gap in Tier between her and Westheid allowed him to resist her easily, but Anise was another matter entirely.
As a Celestial God’s Shadow with the Enchanter Bloodline, this Miss Demon’s Tier was clearly a cut above Westheid’s. She was completely different from Demons like the Master of Decay, who were mere pretenders that had only touched Divinity through an Ascension Ceremony. A Demigod who inherited the true bloodline of a Celestial God... ’She’s probably truly stronger than I am.’
Westheid was always cautious when facing a powerhouse, so he threw his full concentration into their dance.
’If a possessor of the Qinghui Bloodline gets counter-charmed... I refuse to become an absolute sucker for a pretty face like my ancestor was, completely losing my mind.’
Anise, in contrast, clasped her hand tightly with the man’s, her expression relaxed and joyful as she danced. Her slightly lowered eyelids concealed some of the pinkish glimmer in her eyes, which greatly reduced the pressure on Westheid.
"There’s no fundamental conflict between us that requires a fight to the death."
Westheid took the lead in seeking common ground, saying, "There’s definitely room for cooperation. After all, you don’t necessarily have to take control of the Thousand Laws Ceremony, do you?"
The main reason for his confidence in winning Anise over was his knowledge of this Celestial God’s Shadow’s personality. The desires and needs of Emperor Qianlu’s daughter were quite simple.
All she wanted was to live a life of idle luxury!
As long as she could hold endless banquets and indulge in pleasure to her heart’s content, Anise didn’t care about anything else. Power, strength—in the eyes of an Enchanter, these were utterly boring pursuits.
Other Demons would frantically fight over Emperor Qianlu’s legacy, even starting endless wars for it. But after the Master of Greedy Banquet escaped her confinement, she had remained on her own little turf. Even as one of the most powerful Demons, she never took the initiative to attack.
Upon hearing this, Anise lifted an eyelid and said:
"How strange. Since you’re the reinforcement summoned by the Royal Court, shouldn’t you be an enemy to all Demons?"
Westheid answered frankly, "I’m not one to blindly follow the Royal Court’s lead. Besides, you know I’m already coveting the Thousand Laws Ceremony. There’s no way I can be loyal to the Royal Court anymore. That’s their bottom line."
"Hm? Are you planning to attack the Royal Court?"
"Resorting to open warfare would be so unrefined. Can’t I just become one of the masters of the Royal Court? As long as the King of Wind Law doesn’t object, that is."
As for the Grand Law Officer, Westheid didn’t even mention him. There was no need to.
"Ha, the Elves?"
Anise chuckled softly. After studying Westheid’s face for a moment, she said meaningfully,
"They received my father’s grace—the proud, beauty-loving Elf Race. I can guess what happens when they’re ’blessed’ by an Enchanter. You really are capable of stirring up a storm in the Elf Royal Court."
"But even so, why should I help you? And what is this offer I supposedly can’t refuse?"
"Endless banquets."
Westheid answered without a moment’s hesitation:
"If you’re willing to be my friend and help me take control of the Thousand Laws Ceremony, then I will promise you everything you desire. You can have banquets of any scale you wish, for as long as you wish."
Anise pursed her lips and smiled. "Oh? And am I not doing that already? The wealth and subjects I currently possess are more than enough to satisfy all my needs. Why should I seek more?"
"But you can’t guarantee you’ll be able to maintain your current pleasures forever. I’m not wrong about that, am I?"
Westheid was, of course, aware of Anise’s tendency to be content with her lot, but for a Demon, contentment was a laughable concept.
"Even if you have no intention of fighting others, no one will leave you alone. The Celestial God’s Shadows covet each other’s authority, and they are constantly at each other’s throats. What’s more, your own Serralis is besieged by other Demons. You know this better than anyone. You must be getting flustered and annoyed trying to deal with it all, right?"
"..."
’She couldn’t refute it. Ever since the many Demons had broken free from their seals, their first instinct was to convert their prisons—the nodes of the Grand Ensemble—into their own territory, instantly carving out their own domains.’
’Then came the endless fighting. Just because they were all shadows of Emperor Qianlu didn’t make them brothers and sisters. Their only connection was that they had all been refined by the Celestial God, which was hardly a fond memory of shared hardship. Are we really that close?’
’If anything, they were all bona fide rivals when it came to seizing Emperor Qianlu’s legacy. If anyone saw a chance to kick another while they were down, they would absolutely take it.’
’To repel the invading Demons on her borders, Anise spent most of her time patrolling and fighting. Only in her few moments of leisure could she return to the City in the Lake to drink and feast.’
’It really was infuriating.’
Seeing Anise’s expression change slightly, Westheid fanned the flames:
"Even if you defeat all the other Demons and free yourself from the threat of being besieged, the Thousand Laws Royal Court will never let the matter rest. They will stop at nothing to purge all Demons from within the Royal Court’s domain and cleanse the stain of the Divine Ancestor."
