Free Web Novel“Are you threatening me?”
The moment those words left her mouth, the Elf Queen’s cold, aloof expression changed instantly.
She believed that even after experiencing betrayal, her daughter would be able to pull herself together—just like she herself had. But she also knew very clearly that if this evil slime truly carried out what she had just implied, her daughter would definitely miss this round of the Queen’s election.
The position of Elf Queen usually carried an extremely long term. Once a successor took the throne, unless she committed a grave mistake rejected by the entire race, only death or voluntary abdication could trigger the next round of elections.
Aislin was the hope of their “Moon” clan. She had been raised as an heir since childhood, and she was also the only elf in recent years who could resonate with the Moon Goddess—someone capable of changing the current situation of the ★ 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 ★ elven race.
If not for that incident more than twenty years ago, when she had imprisoned her own younger sister in the death cell and created a rift between herself and her daughter, causing her daughter to leave the tribe and wander outside for over ten years...
Otherwise, the next Queen would have been decided long ago. Why would there even be a need for an election competition? fɾeewebnoveℓ.co๓
But now it seemed...
Her daughter hadn’t wasted those ten-plus years outside after all.
She was far more mature than before, knowing how to shoulder responsibility instead of running away.
And the friend she brought back...
Heh. Interesting.
It seems I underestimated humans and monster girls.
“...Go on,” the Elf Queen finally spoke after a moment. “State your conditions. What do you want from our Elf Court, and what can you offer in return?”
“I want all the information about the World Tree that your elven race guards,” Vieya said bluntly. “I want to see the World Tree with my own eyes, to approach it, and to touch and use it.”
“...Oh?”
As soon as she said this, the Elf Queen’s expression visibly shifted. She looked at Vieya with amused interest. “So my daughter already knew your purpose. Hehe... You’ve set your sights on the World Tree—on its revival function?”
Vieya smiled. “Correct.”
Talking to intelligent elves was truly easy. There was no need to explain things word by word—the other party could naturally grasp your meaning.
Of course, this also carried risks. For example, the Elf Queen might agree on the surface while deliberately concealing critical information, then stab her when she least expected it.
Better safe than sorry. She had to be cautious.
In the side hall, as Vieya confirmed her answer, the Elf Queen stared deeply at this audacious and crafty junior before her. In an instant, many thoughts passed through her mind.
She thought of the promise her daughter had made last night, and of the methods and actions Vieya had displayed so far.
Is she showing me her strength and capital?
An interesting junior. That evil expression just now was really convincing.
At this thought, the Elf Queen suddenly chuckled. “You’re quite impressive. Are you interested in marrying into our Elf Court?”
“?” Vieya froze, then asked warily, “What do you mean by that?”
“Clever junior, don’t play dumb with me,” the Elf Queen said calmly. “The World Tree is not something outsiders of our race may behold. If you want the approval of the entire elven race to approach the World Tree, becoming my daughter’s spouse is the best method.”
“......”
Vieya fell silent for a moment, then slowly exhaled and asked calmly, “Have you considered her wishes and her reputation when saying something like this?”
“As long as the next throne of the elven race belongs to my daughter, that’s enough. As for what methods are used, or what other elves think, I don’t care.”
The Elf Queen spoke indifferently. “After all, aren’t you just planning to use my foolish daughter? As long as you help her ascend the throne and become her spouse, I can assist you in using the World Tree to revive the ‘person’ you want to revive, you know?”
“The World Tree’s revival method is the one with the smallest price on this land,” the Elf Queen’s voice was filled with temptation. “...And it is also a ‘true’ revival. But the ritual is known only to successive Elf Queens, and I haven’t had the chance to pass it on to my daughter yet.”
“That doesn’t sound very appropriate,” Vieya said, spreading her hands and proposing again. “I already have a daughter and a family, and I’m a monster girl. I’m not suitable for your daughter. We can change the method. I’ll help Aislin ascend the throne, and you help me conceal it from the other elves. Let... let this revival ritual be known only to the two of us.”
The Elf Queen sneered. “Do you think the disturbance caused by activating the World Tree can be hidden from other elves? When the time comes, everyone on the western continent will be alerted. And without obtaining the royal blood of the four great elven clans’ direct line, you won’t even be able to open the World Tree’s ‘refusal’ thorns. With that, you still dream of using the revival ritual?”
“......”
After a long silence, Vieya couldn’t say a single word. The Elf Queen stood motionless, while the quartz pendulum clock hanging on the wall swayed back and forth, ticking. fгee𝑤ebɳoveɭ.cøm
“To revive one person, you’re unwilling to pay even this much?” the Elf Queen said lightly. “As for the fact that you’ve had a spouse before, I don’t mind either. Hmm... Your body, for a monster girl, is still in the juvenile stage—your reproductive capability hasn’t matured yet. That means your daughter wasn’t born by you, right? In that case, your other half must be a woman.”
“Don’t worry. After the revival succeeds, you can leave that previous partner here as a lesser one if you like. I don’t mind, as long as you can persuade my daughter.”
The Elf Queen appeared very generous, and deep in her eyes lurked an unusual smile.
“Is there really no other way?” Vieya asked blankly.
“There is,” the Elf Queen nodded. “But you’ll have to lift the immobilization on me.”
Vieya paused, then once again raised her hand and touched the Elf Queen’s skin.
Freed from the immobilization, the Elf Queen smiled. “You could slaughter the entire elven race, take the direct bloodlines of the four great elven clans, and you’d also be able to remove the thorns and enter the World Tree to search for a method of revival.”
“Hehe, don’t worry. Two women becoming partners isn’t rare among our elven race. And my daughter’s conditions, capital, and personality are all quite good. She wouldn’t be wronging you. There’s no need for any bride price from the human side either. As long as you’re here, that’s enough.”
Vieya realized she had been toyed with. She stared blankly at the Elf Queen. “Are you sure that if you do this, your daughter will be happy? I can feel it—you love her very much too, don’t you?”
“Ah, that really is a difficult question.” The Elf Queen pondered, then suddenly chuckled. “Then how about this! She’s still waiting outside anyway. I’ll call her in and let you confront her face to face.”
Vieya’s eyes widened, her lips trembling. “Don’t do this...”
“Lin, I’ve finished talking with your friend. Come in.”
As soon as the Elf Queen’s words fell, the tightly shut doors swung open. Aislin, who had been waiting at a distance, hesitated for a moment before stepping inside.
“Mom, didn’t I tell you not to make things difficult for my friend?”
The moment she entered the hall, Aislin saw the pale-faced slime girl and her mother, who looked as usual. She froze.
“Mom, what did you do to her? You scared her this badly...”
“You... forget it.” The Elf Queen sighed inwardly. Outwardly calm, she casually recounted the entire conversation and its background to Aislin.
As the retelling went on, Aislin’s slightly angry face gradually turned puzzled, then shocked, until finally it flushed crimson, steam practically rising from her head as she completely crashed on the spot.
The Elf Queen smiled in satisfaction.
Then she turned back to look at the utterly given-up Vieya and said, “See? My daughter is so happy she can’t even speak.”
