Free Web NovelElf Court, Vilanors.
Unlike other parts of the Elven Forest, as the core of the entire elven nation, this place gathered the four great clans with the most solid and powerful strength among all elves.
They were: Forest, Salt, Flower, and Ba.
Among the four great clans, the one behind Aislin—the Forest Clan—stood at the head.
The current Elf Queen was not only the ruler of the entire elven race, but also the chieftain of the Forest Clan. The previous one was the same. And the one before that as well...
Originally, the next one would have been the same.
However, Aislin—the originally designated next Queen—left the forest after completing her coming-of-age ceremony, traveling across the four continents as a bard for more than ten years.
Although more than ten years was but the blink of an eye to elves, after losing all trace of Aislin and hearing nothing of her for many years, the originally fixed succession was canceled, and the system reverted back to open election.
“This election doesn’t just include me,” Sul said with a smile, lifting her wooden cup and taking a sip.
“Not only Aislin’s own clan, but also the other three clans, as well as rising elven talents who’ve emerged in recent years, all qualify to participate.”
As she spoke, she sighed at Vieya on her own initiative. “Do you know? Back then, among our elven race, Aislin was a complete cut above the rest of her generation. Not just in strength, but talent, background, appearance—even personality and wisdom. Almost the entire elven race supported her becoming the next Queen. Sigh... a perfect inheritance, sigh... completely legitimate...”
“But unfortunately, on the very day she completed her coming-of-age ceremony and received the Moon Goddess’s response—the day her prestige peaked—she chose to leave the Elf Court and the Elven Forest. And once she left, it was for over ten years, until she suddenly returned three years ago...” Sul said with a toothache-like expression. “Honestly, I really didn’t want her to come back.”
“Heh.” Vieya remained expressionless.
“Hey, don’t laugh.” Sul set down her wooden cup and looked straight into Vieya’s eyes, speaking seriously. “When we were young, I was also one of Aislin’s playmates. Back then, I really admired her. No—actually, most of our generation admired her.”
“Gentle, kind, powerful... mm, and she reached the sixth tier before even holding her coming-of-age ceremony. She was almost like the perfect protagonist in a story—so perfect it felt unreal.” Sul recalled quietly. “But then one day, Aislin’s aunt took her to the Heavenly Pool at the outskirts of the Elven Forest to practice breathing techniques and kill monsters to level up—and they saved a married couple.”
“That incident became the turning point of the entire elven race’s fate,” Sul’s voice cooled. “The World Tree that the elven race had guarded for generations was used by that couple through deception, in the most crude and direct way possible—used on their child. Everything was premeditated. If Her Majesty hadn’t stopped it in time, the entire western lands might have turned into a paradise for monsters.”
“From that day on, the Elf Court refused entry to all other races. Back then, Aislin and her aunt were the guarantors for that foreign couple. They were very close—just like she is with you now.”
Sul looked deeply at Vieya and continued, “After that, Aislin’s aunt was thrown into the death prison. Aislin herself developed a heart demon, and after her coming-of-age ceremony ended, she left the Elf Court.”
After finishing, Sul slowly stood up and quietly walked to Vieya’s side as she digested the words. Bending down, she leaned close to Vieya’s ear and breathed softly as she whispered,
“After that incident, Her Majesty suffered hidden injuries. Her lifespan was drastically reduced, but she’s kept it hidden from Aislin. Only a few elven elders and the heads of our other three clans know.”
“...Why are you telling me all this?” Vieya turned her head, pale green eyes cold as she looked at Sul.
“Hehe.” Sul puffed out her chest and laughed softly. “Because I’m very curious. After what happened back then, what kind of person could possibly make Aislin put down her past and once again bring an outsider to our Elf Court of her own will.”
“Tsk. You’re underestimating her far too much,” Vieya said calmly, looking at Sul. “Those past shadows—Aislin moved past them long ago. There’s no such thing as a heart demon. As for proof, it’s right here: she returned, and she decided to reclaim the throne that belongs to her.”
“Is that so?” Sul’s competitive spirit flared immediately. She glared, her momentum rising. “Since you have so much confidence in her, then let’s wait and see.”
Vieya looked at the yellow-haired elf and commented flatly, “Judging by you, you’ve probably never left the Elven Forest. Even if you received the most perfect training within the clan, that doesn’t mean you have enough experience or insight to judge and analyze everything about others.”
Sul’s expression changed. “How do you know I’ve never left the Elven Forest?”
The moment the words left her mouth, she realized she’d misspoken. She reflexively made a move to cover her mouth, but stopped herself just in time.
Just as Vieya had guessed, this girl had become a clan head at only a few hundred years old. That was why she deliberately liked to put on a formidable front—like a flamboyant peacock eager to prove something to others. In truth, inside she wasn’t much different from a human who had just come of age. fгeewebnovёl.com
Sul fell silent for quite a while. The “I see through everything, I’m a big shot” aura she’d been maintaining visibly wilted, yet her mouth remained stubborn.
“So what if I’ve never left the clan? When it comes to elven affairs, I still understand them better than you!”
Vieya nodded. A classic know-it-all. In the Elf Court, you could understand nothing—but you had to act like you understood everything. Otherwise, other elves would think you were unworthy of your position.
Sul’s strengths lay in the fact that she had inherited the position of clan head at a very young age, and °• N 𝑜 v 𝑒 l i g h t •° deep down she genuinely yearned to become a qualified clan head—or even to brush against the dreamlike Elven throne.
Vieya asked patiently, “You’re saying you possess the same level of information resources as the other clan heads?”
Sul lifted her chin again, her neck line graceful like a swan’s. “I told you. In Vilanors, no elf understands elves better than I do. My mother trained me from childhood. My father has always been proud of me. My most loyal servant once told me:
On the day I was born, the entire Elven Forest called out my name. The era of the princess has already passed. I am the one who—”
“Stop.”
Vieya smiled faintly. For some reason, she felt like a tolerant elder in front of Miss Sul. Strange. Why did Aislin say this yellow, blockheaded elf was a ‘sea-king’ elf?
Was that a misunderstanding?
“I’ve suddenly become interested in that servant of yours,” Vieya said.
“Ahem. As long as you join my side and assist me in successfully ascending the Elven throne, you’ll be able to meet her!” Sul seized the chance shamelessly. “And I can even grant you rank and title within my clan! A hundred times better than staying under Aislin. Let me tell you something interesting—when Aislin was little, she once ate poisonous mushrooms and hallucinated...”
Sul went on and on. Vieya didn’t interrupt her, treating the elven anecdotes spilling from her mouth as seasoning for her drink.
The tavern entrance was very quiet.
Aislin stood to the side of the doorway, wearing an elegant light-green embroidered cloak-dress. White four-petaled flowers adorned the lace at the hem, and a slender sword hung sheathed at her waist. Her gentle aura concealed lethal intent.
Her gaze was fixed unblinkingly in the direction of the yellow-haired elf.
Her pale, slender wrist slowly rose, resting on the hilt of her elven blade.
