Free Web NovelChapter 423: Chapter 40: Selling His Ass Again, Teacher West
"Ah, that’s right. We’re fiancés now."
Ailorus added, "Although Lord Eilvette says it’s a political marriage, I don’t think it’s that simple! It’s more about our compatibility than a simple alliance of interests!"
For a political figure to harbor such unrealistic fantasies about a political marriage, Ailorus didn’t seem very bright in this regard. However, this was precisely the perception Westheid had deliberately cultivated.
"Of course."
Westheid knelt slightly and opened his arms. The Elf Lolita leaped lightly and sat on his forearm, allowing the man to lift her petite body. This way, Ailorus could interact with the man intimately and on equal footing.
As for the Little Queen immersed in her first love, Westheid naturally racked his brains to cater to her. She was the nominal supreme ruler of the Royal Court, and whether it was to obtain the Thousand Laws Ceremony or to freely acquire Ten Thousand Wind Melodies, she was the absolute key. No amount of attention paid to her could be considered excessive.
’Does he like her?’ ’He certainly does.’ After all, Ailorus was truly adorable. As the King of Wind Law, her Charm had reached the pinnacle of the Mortal World, an existence on the same level as himself.
But Westheid’s affection had a clear hierarchy. Duke Qinghui was fond of anyone who was valuable to him, from a maid he spent a single night of passion with, to his loyal Qinghui Guards, to important Mage leaders and Knight captains, and finally to his absolute confidantes like Yolanda and Mephit... His level of fondness increased in that order.
If Ailorus could share her Tier T0 Talent, Ten Thousand Wind Melodies, with him, Westheid would absolutely return the favor, granting the Elf Lolita the greatest happiness and affection. This was beyond doubt.
However, when it came to true love, Westheid couldn’t compare her to Reiya and Mivana.
Because Ailorus wasn’t strong enough. She didn’t possess the qualities that Westheid admired. In other words... she was not a Powerhouse!
’If you can’t become a Powerhouse I admire and respect, then you can only be kept like a canary in a gilded cage.’
"Mmm, let’s hold our engagement ceremony at the Water City Grand Theater. The open-air seating there can hold two hundred thousand people. After that, Brother West, you can move into the palace with me! Many of the Royal Court’s most beautiful sights can only be seen from deep within the palace. In the future, whether we go hunting or on vacation..."
Ailorus reached out a small hand and gently caressed Westheid’s cheek as if touching some priceless treasure.
Her holy-cyan eyes were slightly infatuated, yet also proud. She seemed unable to believe that this man, who looked like he had walked straight out of a fairy tale, was now her fiancé. The Elf Lolita couldn’t help but start fantasizing about her "married life" with Westheid.
Seeing that Ailorus was about to go on and on, Westheid had to interrupt, "Ailorus, before the engagement, how about we put the matter of reinforcements on the agenda?"
"You know, there are people waiting in the Yuanshi Territory. I hope to reunite with them soon."
"Are you referring to Her Imperial Highness, the Imperial Princess, and your Chief Knight?"
Ailorus nodded lightly, then gave a magnanimous smile and crossed her arms.
"I’ve heard about them. They’re both quite formidable, you know. But that’s alright. I’m very tolerant. I can certainly make room for them."
’Hmm...’ This subtle attitude... Westheid found it a bit hard to comment on.
’But who cares. First things first: get my companions in here and secure our position in the Thousand Laws Royal Court. As for the rest, I don’t need to worry about it. It can all be dealt with slowly later.’
And so, at Westheid’s prompting, the Wind Law Queen immediately signed the order, formally permitting the border to be opened.
...
「In the Yuanshi Territory」
Ever since Luyetan had taken a large portion of the Yuanxi Legion to the Thousand Laws Royal Court, the original home of the Branch of Prosperity had been garrisoned by a foreign force far exceeding safe levels. Even though they were all part of the Southeast Mutual Protection alliance, this concentration of military power was a bit too intimidating. If Qinghui Territory wanted to, it could annex the Yuanshi Territory in an instant.
However, such worries were unnecessary. The army commanded by the Imperial Princess and the Chief Knight had been unbelievably disciplined. Aside from training within their garrison, the legions never even stepped out of the gates, making one doubt whether such a massive allied army even existed within the territory. They were merely waiting, quietly waiting.
The waiting finally ended when an emissary from the Thousand Laws Royal Court arrived in the Yuanshi Territory, inviting the Qinghui Legion to travel once more to the Land of Rhythm. The legions, which had been lying dormant and recuperating for a very long time, mobilized, eager and ready to head to a new battlefield.
The elites Westheid had taken with him were a portion of the Yonglan Knights and Qinghui Guard, as well as Reiya’s Royal Forbidden Army and the other large Knight Army commanded by Mivana. The latter contingent was not superior to the former in number or scale.
Of course, the troops were just a bonus. In terms of conventional combat strength, the Thousand Laws Royal Court was already sufficient. The crucial factor was the addition of two world-shaking Powerhouses.
On a palace balcony in the Yuanshi Territory, Reiya stood before the railing, gazing at the legions boarding the ships and setting sail one after another. She said, "West has already smoothed things over. We can now head to the Central Royal Court and reunite with him."
Dressed in a moon-white windbreaker and black inner shirt, the Imperial Princess’s beautiful face, tilted slightly upward, couldn’t conceal her inner joy, even as she tried to maintain a cool and indifferent expression.
Although their separation this time wasn’t particularly long—they had been apart for a year or two at a time before—every parting and reunion brought the Silver-haired Princess the same level of joy. She didn’t even mind these occasional separations and waits; they allowed her feelings to settle and grow richer.
"Those timid and xenophobic Elves are letting us in just like that? They were on guard against us day and night before, refusing to budge an inch."
Mivana brushed aside the strands of purplish-black hair from her forehead and asked in confusion:
"What great deed did West perform to make the Elves finally relent? Once we get there, it’ll be hard to say who the Thousand Laws Royal Court truly belongs to anymore."
Arrogant, Mivana, so arrogant.
But she had the capital to be arrogant. Just as Westheid had always said, Duke Qinghui’s own combat power was already world-shaking and enough to stun the Royal Court, but his two companions were by no means weaker than him. The three of them together could produce even more surprising results.
As long as they didn’t run into some cheater who had received a complete Celestial Blessing, they could probably be considered invincible in the Mortal World.
It wasn’t without reason that Eilvette had been guarding against them so strictly. If all three of them were really in the Central Royal Court at the same time, a Sword of Damocles would be hanging over the heads of the Elf Royal Family at all times.
If the Demons’ counterattack hadn’t been so ferocious, and if Westheid hadn’t acted so diligently and earnestly, the Grand Law Officer would never have relented.
"...Merely relying on merit probably wouldn’t have been enough to win their trust. The reason the Royal Court Elves were willing to let us pass is that they want to win West over to their side and form a much closer bond."
Reiya’s eyes lowered slightly as she said, "West gained the Royal Court’s trust by getting engaged to the Wind Law Queen. Under such a contract, Qinghui Territory and the Thousand Laws Royal Court can indeed establish a closer relationship than even the one with the Imperial family."
After all, no one from the Imperial family had married Westheid.
Reiya didn’t have much of a reaction to the news of Westheid’s engagement. It had been part of Westheid’s plan all along, and he had already told her. Besides, this kind of action fit her stereotype of him perfectly.
’Hmph, political marriages, exchanges of benefits... such impure things!’
Hearing this, one of Mivana’s fluffy beast ears drooped, and she grumbled:
"Teacher West is selling his ass again..."
The ardent Westheid supporter immediately knitted her elegant brows and solemnly corrected the Wolf-eared Maiden’s statement: "Shut up! West is making a sacrifice for our future, for our grandest ideal!"
’You’re being a little disrespectful to Westheid!’
Mivana immediately hugged her drooping beast ears, looking slightly wronged as she said, "I’m not the one who said it..."
The "ass-selling" literature about Westheid had long been popular. It was foreseeable that after this incident, the legends of Teacher Da Wei selling his ass would likely become even more widespread throughout the Mortal World.
"...In any case, things being what they are, let’s set off."
