Chapter 361 - 8: Wherever Duke Qinghui’s Great Hand Reaches, Chaos Runs Rampant
Chapter 361 - 8: Wherever Duke Qinghui’s Great Hand Reaches, Chaos Runs Rampant
They knew full well how domineering the Grand Law Officer could be.
Among the generally more delicate Elves, Eilvette, though handsome, possessed a tall frame and a solemn air that made him seem quite severe—like an unmoving iceberg, he rarely betrayed any emotion.
Compared to his fellow Elves, who were fond of romance and the arts, Eilvette seemed rather dull. It was as if his life consisted of nothing but work, and he never partook in any social gatherings. In the past, he had been a diligent Grand Law Officer. Despite overseeing the Royal Court’s military and political affairs, he had never commanded much of a presence.
But after the Divine-Mortal Severance, Eilvette’s methods changed. He became exceptionally ruthless and aggressive, desperately trying to stabilize the situation in the Royal Court.
To that end, he did not hesitate to use his authority to conduct purges within the Royal Court. The court, once rife with countless political struggles and conspiracies, was smashed into submission by his iron fist, leaving everyone too terrified to speak.
The price of this political stability was that Eilvette’s reputation in the Royal Court grew complicated. When others looked at the Grand Law Officer, their reverence was now tinged with a hint of suspicion.
Arriving at the residence deep within the Royal Court, Eilvette stepped onto the lawn and spoke to the guards at the gate:
"I wish to see Her Majesty. Please announce me."
"Y-yes! Lord Grand Law Officer!"
But the guards didn’t go to announce him. Instead, one said directly:
"Her Majesty is in the courtyard. As the Grand Law Officer, you have the right to an audience at any time. Please, go right in."
"My thanks."
Eilvette strode into the palace, rounding a corner into a corridor filled with priceless artifacts, its floor gleaming like gemstone and crystal.
At the end of the corridor was a courtyard encircled by a clear lake. The verdant, purple-tinged branches of precious Extraordinary plants swayed in the wind, brushing against the water’s surface and sending ripples across it.
Inside a pavilion carved from white jade, the most revered figure in the entire Royal Court, the Wind Law Queen, was relaxing.
Or to be more precise, she was engrossed in a story someone was telling her.
Eilvette stopped. Despite the many rumors in the Royal Court that painted him as a man of ambition, the Grand Law Officer himself was not nearly so arrogant. At the very least, he would quietly wait for Her Majesty the Queen to finish her leisure time.
However, the subject of their conversation was enough to make Eilvette slightly displeased.
"Faticia, please tell me more stories about Duke Qinghui! Last time, didn’t we stop at the part where he reclaimed his fallen homeland?"
The sweet voice belonged to the current Wind Law Queen of the Royal Court—Aelorus Jade.
Her brilliant golden hair cascaded down her back like a waterfall, smooth and straight, with a single, slender braid trailing beside her cheek.
Her magnificent dress, primarily white and gold, clung to her form, revealing a figure that was just beginning to blossom. The bodice, adorned with pale gold embroidery and lace, was faintly pushed up.
Beneath a deep blue waist-cincher was a matching pleated miniskirt. Her plump thighs were pressed together, their soft, creamy skin touching intimately. Only a cunning sliver of her upper thighs was exposed, as most of her well-proportioned calves were enveloped in pure white stockings, creating an image of pure, gentle beauty.
As one of the most distinguished of the Elf Royal Family, Ailorus was, of course, exceptionally beautiful. Though still young, she possessed a Charm that transcended the limits of mortals.
Her lovely, pretty face was tilted slightly upward, her delicate features looking as if they were carved from jade. Her eyes shone with adoration and yearning.
"Yes, Your Majesty. What I have learned is merely second-hand information, but I have vetted it to ensure it should be reasonably accurate."
The Elven beauty sitting across from the Wind Law Queen wore a romantic, court-style, long silk gown with ribbon-like straps. The gown’s straps wrapped around her snow-white, swan-like neck before crossing over her chest. Her miraculous bust pushed the silk fabric high, showcasing her perfect figure and alluring curves.
The silk then crossed again over her flat stomach, where the dress became a solid panel before falling straight down, interrupted only by high slits on either side.
A stunning, high ponytail the color of violets cascaded like a waterfall to her waist. A sheer black veil covered her eyes, but it was so thin it hid almost nothing. Her gentle face was still visible, as were her eyes, which exuded a deep, melancholic air.
She was like a fairy tale bound in thorns, or a sorrowful love poem, waiting for someone to slowly peruse and savor her contents.
The light red of her lips was a perfect touch, matching her eye color beautifully. A ruby cross pendant hung from her long, swan-like neck, yet her shoulders and a wide expanse of snowy skin below them were bare. Her white, blue-trimmed gown was majestic, yet it also emanated a charm that was at once deeply forbidden and sacrosanct.
The thin silk was stretched taut, revealing both softness and volume. The custom-tailored gown clung to her body, flawlessly accentuating her stunning waistline.
A girdle inlaid with white jade wrapped around her slender waist, fastening over her abdomen with a mysterious, emerald-green sigil. A long, blue sash hung from beneath the sigil, inscribed with characters of untraceable origin, its fabric draping all the way to the floor.
Two pendants hung from either side of her girdle. The high slits exposed alluring stretches of snow-white skin, which seemed to shimmer in the light.
Her lovely, silk-clad feet were bound by ribbons into a pair of golden, block-heeled sandals. The lines of her long, slender toes were visible through the white silk near the shoe’s opening, their delicate shape shimmering faintly within the stockings. The silk on her ankles and calves was adorned with a mysterious purple jacquard pattern.
In short, the final verdict was a desperate urge to dive right in.
Faticia switched on a projector, and the image that appeared was one of the propaganda pieces that the Qinghui Territory was tirelessly circulating to the outside world.
There were heroic battles, rousing speeches, and biographical documentaries, among other things.
Eilvette couldn’t help but frown at the sight. ’The Wind Law Queen and her confidante are discussing Duke Qinghui?’
’Well, that in itself isn’t a huge issue. After all, the man is a prominent figure, and the Royal Court has already considered bringing him in as outside help. The matter is basically settled; I myself have agreed to it.’
’But agreeing is one thing. I certainly don’t think Westheid is anyone to be trusted.’
Eilvette waited silently to the side for a long time before the Wind Law Queen, lost in the projection, finally noticed him.
"Ah, Lord Eilvette."
Ailorus rose to her feet, placing her white-gloved hands elegantly before her stomach and offering a faint smile.
Despite her youth, her posture was already impeccable.
"Your Majesty."
Since Ailorus had greeted him, Eilvette walked over. After a slight bow, he asked:
"Are you listening to stories about Duke Qinghui?"
"Yes. Aren’t we supposed to be asking Duke Qinghui for aid? I’m very curious to see what kind of human can help the Royal Court solve its problems."
Ailorus patted her flushed little cheeks and said:
"Duke Qinghui is truly a Legend. He’s such a young human, so how can he accomplish such incredible things?"
Eilvette interrupted coolly, "There is no issue with learning about him, but it is best not to do so through their propaganda."
The Grand Law Officer’s gaze shifted to Faticia, his displeasure with the Queen’s confidante obvious. She immediately lowered her gaze, not daring to meet his eyes.
"Is there a problem? Are these images fabricated?"
Ailorus said, tilting her head.
"Not fabricated, no... But telling the truth selectively can be enough to pass a lie off as truth. Furthermore, I do not believe Duke Qinghui is trustworthy. Inviting him as an ally was merely a decision born of desperation."
The Wind Law Queen smiled at the Grand Law Officer, her voice still gentle as she asked:
"And what makes you say that?"
Eilvette shook his head.
"Wherever Duke Qinghui extends his reach, Chaos runs rampant. Don’t you find that a little too coincidental?"
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