Chapter 400: Chapter 28: Ten Thousand Wind Melodies
The moment Yolanda finished speaking, her words doused the burning passion of the Elf Noble Ladies. Some stared wide-eyed, others covered their mouths, exclaiming in surprise:
"Your Majesty?!"
"Why would Her Majesty come here?!"
"Is she here to reprimand us?"
"..."
It was no wonder they were confused and panicked. The Wind Law Queen rarely made appearances in the Royal Court. Since ascending the throne, Ailorus had mostly remained in her chambers. The King of Wind Law was never seen patrolling the vast Royal Court, emerging only for special events.
To encounter the ruler of the Royal Court was truly unexpected, and it was hard not to suspect that the frequent, debauched orgies happening with Westheid had finally become too much for the Wind Law Queen to ignore.
Although the Thousand Laws Royal Court didn’t forbid pleasure, and the entire Mortal World—aside from the Celestial Vault Kingdom—was quite open-minded, for a powerful male Monarch like Westheid to be willing to selflessly ’drive piles’ was a juicy bit of romantic gossip everyone loved to talk about.
But there’s a limit to everything. For Royal Court Elves to be consorting with a human outsider day in and day out... if one had to be frank, it could be seen as corrupting the customs and decency of the Wind Law.
"Ladies, it seems our ’cultural exchange’ will have to wait for next time."
Westheid looked from side to side and said:
"But don’t worry. Her Majesty Ailorus probably isn’t here to hold anyone accountable. Just relax as you normally would. This is a place for rest and recreation, isn’t it? Is there a problem with that?"
"Leave it to me."
With Westheid’s confident assurance, everyone in the bathhouse finally calmed down, especially since Duke Qinghui had already tied his bathrobe and taken the lead in stepping outside.
The entrance to the healing hot spring was a small path through a bamboo grove. It led to the first pool, where Ailorus and her attendants were already waiting.
"Westheid! Westheid!"
Ailorus wore an exquisite, double-breasted, gold-trimmed top with a red pleated skirt. Her dazzling golden hair cascaded down her back, and her silver tiara was inlaid with small gemstones. She looked both full of youthful energy and elegantly poised.
The petite and adorable Elf Lolita still possessed that same brilliant and pure aura. Her mere presence was a powerful testament to pure beauty, making the surrounding scenery pale in comparison.
Behind her stood Faticia and the queen’s other attendants. What made Westheid give them a second glance was that they were all voluptuous, mature women.
However, this special quality only earned them a passing glance. Westheid approached the Wind Law Queen and said,
"Ailorus, what a rare sight."
"Because Lord Eilvette isn’t in the Royal Court. Before, if I ran around all over the place, he would lecture me endlessly, telling me to properly study the [Ten Thousand Wind Melodies]. So, I just stopped going out altogether."
Ailorus rose up on her tiptoes, hands clasped behind her back, and broke into an exceptionally sweet smile.
"But now... Lord Eilvette will be away from the Royal Court for a long time, so I can finally get out and about. I was always the one inviting you over before, but as the ruler of the Royal Court, I should have been the one to visit you, seeing as you’ve been here for so long."
’What a textbook case of an arrogant, overreaching minister deceiving his own monarch.’
Westheid almost couldn’t keep a straight face just hearing the Wind Law Queen speak. ’So the Grand Law Officer is even restricting the Queen’s personal freedom?’
"Sounds like you’ve had it rough."
"It’s fine, really. I don’t think it’s that excessive. Desperate times call for desperate measures, after all."
Ailorus puffed out her chest and lifted her head, her words displaying a magnanimity that her petite frame lacked.
She didn’t seem angered by this level of insubordination and restriction. In fact, the Wind Law Queen was more interested in something else entirely.
The Elf Lolita stared intently at Westheid with her crystal-clear eyes, tilting her head.
"Westheid... you seem a little different."
Westheid, knowing full well what she meant, smiled and asked, "Different how?"
At his question, Ailorus broke into a sweet smile and answered with disarming frankness:
"You’re even more handsome! Hmm, how do I say this... I already thought you were very good-looking and was quite fond of you, but seeing you again today, I like you even more! I want to kiss your cheeks right now!"
"Your Majesty! Please be more reserved!"
Faticia couldn’t resist reminding her, but the moment the words left her mouth, she faltered under Westheid’s gaze. The melancholy beauty’s pretty face flushed red as she lowered her head.
’Heh, the effects are immediate. Truly immediate!’
Westheid absolutely intended to ’conquer’ the Wind Law Queen. After all, he had used Divine Power to manifest the [Divine Face] trait. If that didn’t prove how desperate Duke Qinghui was, what would?
The conquest of the Royal Court, the sharing of her Talent—it all depended on the Wind Law Queen. Westheid didn’t mind putting in the effort.
Ailorus remarked, "This hot spring... I remember it was just a document pending my approval not long ago. I just approved it, and it was built in only a few days. That’s so fast."
"My friends in the Royal Court built it to help me heal," Westheid replied. "Their kindness was too great to refuse."
Ailorus shuffled a step closer, looking up at Westheid from under lowered lashes and drawing out her words:
"Oh... is that so? Then, may I go inside and have a look?"
Westheid stepped aside and gestured. "Of course. Please, go ahead. You could consider this a public recreational facility."
Duke Qinghui was presenting himself as a man of integrity, upright and principled, with nothing to hide. So what if it was the Wind Law Queen? So what if she was an Elf Lolita? He would welcome her right in.
And so, the group entered the hot spring area. The Elf Noble Ladies, who had been trying every conceivable method to seduce Duke Qinghui, now fell as silent as winter cicadas in the presence of the King of Wind Law’s entourage. They all sank deep into the pools, leaving only their heads above the water.
