Chapter 283 Chapter 281 Something Big Happened
So conversely, it means that Frostleaf has not held back in expressing wild claims to her father, going so far as to say such things.
Jima could imagine the scene at that time.
Eve Frostleaf, kidnapped by the dragon mage, was eager to return to the battlefield. She must have said first that she has a deep friendship with George, that she is not someone who would flee in battle.
No one paid her any mind.
Thus, in Eve Frostleaf’s words, her relationship with George escalated from a friendship forged in battle to a romantic secret affair, to that of spouses, and finally to the status of the father of her children.
It might even be worse; based on Jima’s understanding of Eve Frostleaf, she had been oppressed for too long by the politics and nobility of the high elves. Adding to that, being an extraordinary being, her emotions after intense battle would be difficult to control…
She couldn’t care less about her dignity and respect, saying anything that came to mind.
The worst part was that the things she said should have been voiced publicly, creating a big uproar where everyone would know, even the arrogant elven noble in front of them. It’s no wonder he was so angry.
In the eyes of the high elves, this was a serious loss of face, akin to the emperor of the empire going mad and insisting on marrying a troll.
Just think about how furious the Osuan Guard would be.
Jima muttered, “Inept in success but proficient in causing trouble, the princess is a nightmare.”
At the same time, she secretly delighted in looking at the expressionless George.
Hey, even you have a woman you can’t win over.
George currently looked quite disheveled; his armor had been battered by the War Hydra, dented and missing a piece of his skirt armor, his body a mix of black and green with only his face showing a hint of white.
From a distance, he looked like a war refugee.
And like this, he was going to meet his father-in-law publicly, facing the disdainful gazes of the high elves while meeting his beloved woman.
Just imagining that scene was enough to stir anxiety.
Jima covered her face and peeked at George through her fingers.
The carefree Demon King Jima couldn’t help but start to look forward to how George would embarrass himself.
George said, “I don’t have time now, can we do it tomorrow?”
“No.” The panda-eyed high elf noble said, “The Osuan Guard has ordered you to hurry over.”
“But he’s not my superior.”
“We will bomb the coastline with the eagle claw crossbows.”
“I deeply regret such internal strife,” George replied, “and inform the knights to leave the coastline. I recall the range of the eagle claw crossbow is less than a kilometer.”
“And tonight, Lord Eve Frostleaf will sail back to her homeland on a dragon boat to receive mental treatment.” The high elf noble lifted his chin, yet his puffy face made him appear rather comical.
“Fine, I’ll go.”
“George.” Jima grasped George’s arm and said, “Don’t be impulsive; there’s much more valuable than love, like dignity.”
“Jima…”
“Just honestly heed my advice,” Jima urged, “after all, you didn’t put Eve Frostleaf in a family way, having never even shared a bed. This is just a misunderstanding; let the messenger clarify it, won’t that solve everything?”
The high elf noble’s eyes flickered with hope: “Really?”
George replied, “Yes.”
The high elf noble’s eyes brightened through his swollen lids, and he clapped his hands, saying:
“Aha! I knew it. This must be because the kind-hearted Lady Frostleaf lost control and said those things in a fit. War causes emotional instability, it must be, ha ha, I will report this to the Osuan Guard, declaring everything is just a kind-hearted lie.”
George said, “Wait a minute.”
“Young man, as a two-century-old elder, let me share some life experience with you.” The high elf noble, whose head had suffered violence, seemed a bit off: “Don’t mistake spending too long together as love; is there really such a good thing in this world? A beggar eloping with a princess is far more reasonable than your situation.”
“He means to negotiate with this succubus, after all, we two are…” Jima stopped George, struggling to say, “…legally unmarried spouses.”
It was truly shameful to say such things after regaining her memory.
A “Serene Hidden Barrier” opened, flooding the two in a faint veil.
“Jima, I have to go.”
“What for?” Jima asked. “It was Eve Frostleaf who messed everything up. She has lived for so long, most of her life as a dog, her emotional intelligence is barely that of a sixteen-year-old human girl!”
The more Jima berated, the more invigorated she felt. Although she took pleasure in George’s plight, the thought that the long-legged silver-haired one might never be hers to caress made Jima feel quite resentful.
She continued to scold:
“She herself blocked the path of being with you. They initially agreed to be secret lovers; even if her parents found out, they would have turned a blind eye. There’s no shortage of high elves seeking thrills and dating humans. But she went and said it out loud.”
George asked, “Is there any difference?”
“That’s just how high elf politics works,” Jima said. “I dare say everyone in the high elf court knows Eve Frostleaf is the daughter of the elf queen and her champion knight, even the elven king himself knows.”
“There’s a joke about how one day the elven king toured the high elf fleet, and a sea guard on the deck suddenly said: ‘Do you know? Her Majesty the Queen is pregnant.’
‘Is this a joke?’
‘Yes.’
‘What’s the punchline?’
‘It’s that it has nothing to do with you.’”
Jima continued, “But regardless, Eve Frostleaf cannot even call the elf queen ‘mother’; the high elves value that superficial display.”
“But how can I back down?” George said. “I must take responsibility; it was agreed upon. Should I shrink back when it matters?”
“Are you not afraid of being killed by the Osuan guard?” Jima said. “Well, that’s unlikely because he’s not that foolish. But he will definitely humiliate you, even if you radiate charm and capture the hearts of the Osuan guard upon your appearance, for the sake of others’ opinions, he will still make things difficult for you.”
“I’m not afraid.”
Jima put her hands on her hips. “Young people just have heads of stone.”
George replied, “You’re only two years old.”
“Length of time does not determine wisdom,” Jima said. “Look at Frostleaf; her age might be double yours, yet she’s as foolish as they come.”
Jima felt quite irritated that George wouldn’t accept her teaching; she pointed at the tattered armor on George:
“Besides, what grounds do you have to take responsibility? Look at you; your armor is almost worse than a beggar’s, and you’re filthy all over. If you go like this, it’s handing your face over as a gift. I say this, and you probably won’t get it, let’s use an example.”
“If I were the Osuan guard, I’d have countless ways to humiliate you. For instance, as soon as you board the ship, you’ll be surrounded by selected elven handsome men, all in pristine silver armor, making you look like a beggar who’s slept in a garbage heap for ten days and nights.”
“Then, I’d send a soldier along carrying a mop, following behind you. Every step you take, he drags a swipe on the floor, as if you’re dirty even if you’ve cleaned your shoes.”
“If you’re unhappy and voice your opposition, then the civilized elves will try to reason with you. The Osuan guard will wave his hand, bringing forth a mirror for you to see how dirty you really are.”
“Additionally, even the soldier with the mop is dressed better than you.”
“What will you do then? Endure it? Or start a fight?”
George said, “A strong-minded person will not care about such humiliation.”
“Alright,” Jima said. “What is that different from self-deception? It’s like a wife being toyed with by others in front of her husband, and the husband saying he is strong-hearted and will not care about such things. That’s just people comforting themselves about their powerlessness.”
“I’m determined,” George said. “Jima, can you let me cleanse myself in the Dream Palace?”
“Sure, but you must listen to me say some ugly things first.” Jima said, somewhat irritated, “What I have to say is quite unpleasant; are you willing to hear it?”
“Go ahead.”
“Yes, I still have men’s clothing in my Dream Palace,” Jima said. “So, are you willing to wear a piece of men’s clothing you found from your fiancée, just to be humiliated like a monkey for a long-eared woman?”
George fell silent; he suddenly realized Jima seemed to be jealous.
Jima’s emotions started to heat up as she continued:
“Have you read some urban novels written for men? The lowly-born male protagonists, upon gaining power, often go on to marry a princess. Of course, this male protagonist is usually mocked by the characters in the book, but he usually manages to resolve it.”
“Oftentimes, those outside the book will also mock this male protagonist, mocking readers of such books, saying they are daydreamers thinking of marrying a princess.”
“What does that indicate? Everyone subconsciously feels this male protagonist is unworthy of a princess.”
“But I think, if I were the male protagonist, since I possess extraordinary power, why should I lower myself and shamelessly pursue a princess? A princess is just a vase, mere decoration in the dragon’s cave, just a pretty trophy.”
“If I marry her, I’d be doing her a favor.”
“Wealthy women who are more attractive than her are plentiful; as for status? With extraordinary power, is there a need for that?”
“So why should one sacrifice their dignity for a princess? Self-confidence is something you only recognize the value of when you lack it, but sadly once you let it go, it’s hard to pick it back up.”
George said, “Incredible, I think the same way.”
Jima said, “But?”
“But Eve Frostleaf is not a vase, nor is she a trophy.” George said, “I love her.”
“But she is a princess; love holds no worth against dignity.”
George shook his head, looking at the increasingly impatient high elf noble waiting outside the barrier, saying, “Give me some sleeping pills; I can’t keep him waiting too long.”
Jima said, “I just want to mention one more thing. Perhaps you don’t know how esteemed Eve Frostleaf’s status is, as no one recognizes it.”
“Yes, there are many princesses among the high elves, each principality has a multitude.”
“But Eve Frostleaf is not an ordinary princess. Uh, how to say… do you know the history of the empire?”
George said, “I know most of it.”
“The emperor of the empire held a title known as the Pious One, do you know?”
“The Pious Magnus, one of the greatest emperors of the empire.” George recalled. “A follower of Sigma, during the time the demon army burned most of the empire’s territory, they approached the province of Nuen, right under Adolf’s jurisdiction, separated only by the Gray Mountains from the Knight Bartok’s realm. That was at the time when it was still the capital of the empire.”
“He stood up and led the chaotic crowd to counterattack the demon army.”
This was a tale so distant for George, as far away as the legend of Sigma.
Jima continued, “Yes, there’s no need to elaborate on what happened afterward; he was the one who shattered the Eternal Chosen Hammer at the time. Do you know he acknowledged magic to deal with the demon army, establishing the ancient Mage Academy?”
“Of course I know,” George said. “A high elf archmage realized the benefits of humans and high elves were one and the same, and actively approached him to offer magical knowledge to humans. Before that, anyone who showed magical talent would be executed by witch hunters due to the high danger.”
“Mm, that’s correct, George Encyclopedic, you continue to elaborate.”
George recalled:
“That high elf mage, said to be the most powerful mage among high elves, and his students traveled around looking for humans with magical talent, and those who could not control their own magic would be executed on the spot. He taught disciples who would become the first dean of the empire’s Mage Academy.”
“Quite legendary, right?”
“Legendary.”
How can it not be legendary?
Jima calculated with her fingers that this was almost a thousand years ago. It was rapidly becoming a myth.
“Now I’ll tell you.” Jima said: “He is Eve Frostleaf’s uncle, the brother of the Osuan Guard.”
George froze for a moment.
This “princess” had a truly immense background.
“Eve Frostleaf didn’t tell you, huh?” After Jima finished her grand speech, she patted his shoulder sympathetically, saying, “I know this is hard for you, but it’s okay; fortunately, you have an open-minded and liberal succubus wife. The best way to heal emotional wounds is to seek a new love.”
“So let’s go chase some girls; I know a place with many beautiful women.” Jima swayed her tail as she spoke: “Over at Jenna’s, I’ll handle it; she’ll definitely sympathize with you too.”
George came back to his senses and slowly uttered a word: “No, I don’t know those women, I’m not interested.”
“Oh.” Jima felt a bit disappointed. “So what do you plan to do next?”
George was exhausted; he had faced successive blows today, his body weary and wounded. He hung his head like a proud rooster, letting his colorful tail feathers droop.
“Thank you, Jima.” George said, “I’ve decided to resolve this misunderstanding; I will personally write a letter to Eve Frostleaf, wishing her happiness in the future.”
“It’s fine; I’m here for you.” Jima tiptoed and gently kissed his cheek, comforting him: “Sometimes regrets are also a form of beauty.”
George waved his hand, took a deep breath, and stood tall, saying, “Remove the barrier.”
“Alright.”
The barrier was lifted.
George walked towards the anxious elven noble, who complained, “Did you two have a private party in there? It took so long.”
George opened his mouth, just about to speak.
Suddenly, the Lionheart King rode a griffon flying from the sky, shouting: “Then you’ll have to wait a little longer.”
Saying that, he jumped down from the griffon, personally carrying a large package that made clanking metal sounds.
The Lionheart King approached George and said:
“To commend your courageous battle, I just so happen to have a spare set of armor to gift you; it fits us almost the same height. Though you’re a bit slimmer than me, it doesn’t matter; an extraordinary craftsman can adjust the armor anytime. May the goddess be with you; the beastmen didn’t eat him.”
George noticed that one of the Lionheart King’s hands was still injured.
“What are you dawdling for?” the Lionheart King said. “It’s a royal gift; you should accept it.”
George knelt slightly, solemnly accepting the heavy package of armor and laying it out on the ground. In an instant, golden light fell upon George’s face.
It was a set of exquisite full plate armor, polished to a mirror shine and adorned with gilded craftsmanship. The craftsman mixed gold with mercury, applying it to the armor, and then used high temperatures to evaporate the mercury, leaving a layer of gold.
Typically, artisans who mastered this technique passed away young.
George held his breath, examining it carefully. The gilding was remarkably smooth, crafted by a master’s hand.
The nearby panda-eyed high elf noble said:
“There’s no time for you monkeys to put on the hard-earned armor I collected.”
The Lionheart King snorted coldly:
“When I fought against the Witch King, I personally witnessed the Osuan Guard get scorched black by the black dragon; he must’ve gone to change armor, so let him wait. Our champion knight is not a target for you long-eared folk to humiliate.”
The panda-eyed high elf noble closed his mouth and said nothing.
Jima sighed; the rumors about the Lionheart King were indeed not false. But what good was a set of armor? It was still a past humiliation.
Yet she knew that saying more would be futile.
So she helped George clean himself, change into the armor, and watched him depart toward the giant dragon boat under the setting sun.
At that moment, a Cupbearer girl rode a unicorn, dashing over to whisper to King Richard.
Jima immediately drank a potion to enhance her hearing; unnoticed by others, her pointed ears twitched, faintly catching a few phrases:
“Maternal essence of all beasts… recovery successful…”
“The demon lord’s corpse… did not yield any extraordinary materials…”
King Richard’s face turned ashen.
Jima quickly sneaked away, and no one noticed her disappearance.
—————
Sorry for the wait.
I was in the mood to write, intending to stop at three thousand words, but then I thought since I lost the chance at full attendance, I might as well finish it.
