Free Web NovelChapter 428: Chapter 43: You Are Courting Death
To be fair, even after receiving the Wind Law Queen’s sternly worded order, Eilvette remained completely unfazed. He simply ignored it.
In his view, Ailorus should be just like the previous Kings of Wind Law: remain secluded deep within the palace, serve as a human vessel for the [Ten Thousand Wind Melodies], and act as the Royal Court’s mascot. That would be enough. Especially in this disastrous era where gods and mortals were separated, the current queen was so young and naive that he never expected her to be of any use from the very beginning.
The current King of Wind Law had only one job: to protect herself and slowly mature. That was it.
’Just hold on. I’ll carry.’
The Grand Law Officer was filled with such a sense of mission and responsibility. He disregarded the opinions of others and shouldered every affair, ignoring any and all gossip. In any case, Eilvette considered himself a paragon of loyalty and righteousness.
’Loyalty. I am just too loyal! My entire life is dedicated to the Thousand Laws Royal Court! Dedicated to the Divine Ancestor and Your Majesty!’
Thus, Eilvette tossed aside all of Ailorus’s willful commands.
’This is a preposterous order! I, your humble servant, cannot obey!’
However, as the Demons’ counterattack on the front lines gradually subsided, they seemed to forget the pain and humiliation Westheid had inflicted. Or perhaps, their minds and dispositions simply didn’t support such sustained cooperation.
So, in the middle of the fight, they reverted to their usual free-for-all. After all, compared to the Thousand Laws Royal Court, their fellow Demons were much easier to kill. As Celestial God’s Shadows born from the same source, a battle to the death between them allowed the victor to directly devour the loser with no side effects.
Compared to the thankless task of fighting Elven mortals, feasting on other Demons was far more appealing.
Although the battles continued unabated and with considerable intensity, the Celestial God’s Shadows no longer appeared on the battlefield themselves. The vassal armies of the Demon Realm and the regular forces of the Thousand Laws Royal Court began a war of attrition along the vast border, using the City in the Lake for its strongholds and fortresses.
Essentially, it had entered garbage time.
Finally able to breathe a sigh of relief from the constant firefighting of defensive duties, the Grand Law Officer could at last turn his attention back to the Central Royal Court.
Ever since Westheid and the other reinforcements had arrived at the Thousand Laws Royal Court to officially begin the campaign to reclaim lost territory, Eilvette had barely rested for a moment. He was either preparing supplies and correcting nodes in the rear or resisting assaults and reinforcing the front lines.
Meanwhile, Westheid, who was supposed to be the main force, had conveniently vanished. Of course, the official story given to Eilvette was that he was accumulating strength for the next campaign, but Westheid’s failure to lead his troops in support for so long left the Grand Law Officer quite perplexed.
’What’s going on? Given the hatred and fighting spirit Duke Qinghui has shown toward the Demons, he should have come to help right after a short rest.’
’Or... now that the marriage alliance has been decided, are you two so impatient to get engaged and married? Are you already in the throes of preparation?’
’Th-this... this is against proper etiquette!’
The weddings of the Elf Royal Family were exceedingly complex. The entire process, from the decision to get engaged, to the engagement itself, and finally to the official marriage, could normally take thirty or forty years, involving countless complicated ceremonies and procedures.
As a traditionalist, Eilvette felt that given the urgent circumstances, it would be understandable to shorten the process. But a flash wedding? How improper!
So, with the pressure on the front lines relieved, Eilvette decisively returned to the Central Royal Court.
Ancient and beautiful white towers and palaces were built into the mountains and nestled by the water. The graceful notes of an aria drifted over, accompanied by the sight of flying birds and lotus flowers.
No matter how many times he saw it, the sight was always refreshing to the soul. Dressed in a white robe, Eilvette took a deep breath of his homeland’s fragrant air and stepped onto the spotless streets of the Royal Court. A few Tuners were there to greet him.
"Lord Grand Law Officer!"
"Good day, everyone. Where is Her Majesty?"
Eilvette looked left and right, noticing the welcoming party was quite small. Although he had traveled light and didn’t care for fanfare, he had at least expected to see the important figures of the Royal Court right away.
The few Tuners exchanged glances before answering:
"Her Majesty is at the Eternal Spring Well in the Wind Law Palace, training her Tuning Ability."
The moment they finished speaking, the Grand Law Officer frowned.
"That node... I recall it wasn’t opened. Who took Her Majesty there?"
"No one led her there. It was... Her Majesty broke through it by force."
"Absurd! Forcibly Tuning a node of the Grand Ensemble, that’s simply... Wait. Does this mean Her Majesty has more or less mastered the [Ten Thousand Wind Melodies]?"
Eilvette’s eyes instinctively widened. He then realized the implications of this. After exchanging a look with the Tuner subordinate, he slowly nodded.
"If that’s the case... No, that’s not right. It’s too dangerous. I must have an audience with Her Majesty at once. Now!"
The tall, stern Elf flicked his sleeves and strode toward the Wind Law Palace with decisive haste.
But as he neared the core area of the Central Royal Court, the Tuners following him stopped.
"Apologies, Lord Eilvette. We can only go this far. According to the new rule set by Her Majesty, those without an official position in the palace may not enter the Wind Law Palace."
Eilvette turned his head, stunned.
"When was this rule established?"
"Just a short while ago, while you were still on the front lines overseeing the defense."
As the Grand Law Officer of the Pure Blood Faction, Eilvette’s power was said to blot out the sky, but he had few truly loyal confidants he could mobilize. They were almost all Tuners and a few Execution Officers.
Of course, the Tuners were already the most central group in the Thousand Laws Royal Court. They were the most outstanding individuals walking the Divine Ancestor Path, in charge of many important departments. They should have had a firm grip on the Royal Court’s power.
