Chapter 404: Chapter 30: Master of Greedy Banquet’s Invitation (Part 2)
"Huh? So the one with the weird fetish isn’t my brother, but the Wind Law Queen?"
Yolanda’s eyes lit up. She felt there was hope for Westheid yet.
Westheid: "Weird? I don’t think so. Just a bit peculiar. I think I can understand it."
Through his astounding intellect and preliminary probing, Westheid figured he had a good grasp of Ailorus’s psyche.
To put it bluntly, the little Wind Law Queen’s "XP" was a bit special.
She adored heroic, father-like figures, worshiping them with romantic love. At the same time, she also wanted to act as an elder or big sister, doting on and protecting her partner.
’A maternal lolita?’
’Alright, alright. So that’s how we’re playing this, huh?’
Westheid didn’t find it all that embarrassing. After all, in terms of actual age, Ailorus was much older than him. She was only a little girl from an Elf’s perspective.
Originally, this "XP" was something Ailorus had buried deep in her heart, as it was simply too niche and demanding. A Hero worthy of the Wind Law Queen’s attention would undoubtedly be a favored child of the Mortal World. Which of them wouldn’t have a bit of pride? Who would be willing to engage in some kind of shameful roleplay? Unthinkable!
Not to mention the ascendant Duke Qinghui. To outsiders, Westheid was a true heavyweight. In the turbulent Mortal World, he and the forces he represented had already brought two Realms of Order under their sway. Whether it was the Radiant Holy Tree Empire or the Country of Yonglan, Westheid held immense influence. How could such an astonishing Powerhouse, an absolute prodigy, show even a hint of dependence on a childlike Elf?
Therefore, in their previous interactions, Ailorus had always been surreptitiously revealing her little desires in subtle ways.
But who would have thought that the great Duke Qinghui, Imperial Guardian, and King of Knights, Westheid himself, would have so few reservations? Compared to saving face, as long as the prize was good enough—like sharing the [Ten Thousand Wind Melodies]—then anything was negotiable. ’I can be a lolicon. I can be into lolita moms.’
That’s why Westheid was a terrifying person. As long as he could get a desirable Talent or Specialty for free, there was nothing he wouldn’t do. In Ailorus’s eyes, this was an undeniable case of mutual affection!
So what if he was just pretending? So what if he was just catering to her? To be extremely dependent on the person she liked, and to be depended upon by that same person—for Ailorus, this was a dreamlike bliss.
"Never mind. That said, Her Majesty the Queen... seems to be completely smitten with you."
Even without deliberately trying to read her expression, Yolanda could feel the palpable joy and delight radiating from the Elf lolita just now. She couldn’t help but sigh.
"But Her Majesty the Queen should be completely on our side now, right?"
"We’re not there yet."
Westheid shook his head. "It’s just affection and adoration. That’s not enough to make her give away the foundation of her country. Ailorus may look small, but her mind is as clear as a mirror. She understands everything."
"But that might change later. I’ll spend more time on it. Having my way with the entire Royal Court shouldn’t be a big problem."
Now that he’d found the right pressure point, Westheid had no doubt he could win her over. Such was the confidence of the Qinghui Enchantress!
"Brother, you truly are a sinful man."
Yolanda sighed at his words. Though her tone was accusatory, the smile on her face said otherwise. The platinum-blonde girl knew full well how her brother had gotten this far. His own efforts were one part of it, but mooching off powerful women was another.
By relying on these powerful women, Duke Qinghui had truly soared. In Yolanda’s opinion, this was a good thing, and he should do it more often.
’Compared to the ideal of a Bright Radiance Manifested in the World, the Patriarch’s personal honor is not worth mentioning. Not at all.’
..............
For a while after that, Westheid met with Ailorus almost every day. They would have afternoon tea together, watch theater performances, or stroll through the Royal Court’s gardens.
There was no shortage of intimate interactions during this time. Sometimes, Ailorus would ask Westheid to hold her, and the Elf lolita would act spoiled to her heart’s content. Other times, she would have the man rest his head on her lap while she sang a lullaby. There were also times the Elf lolita would sit on Westheid’s lap and ask him to feed her. Furthermore, the Wind Law Queen would also personally teach Westheid how to weave Melodies...
The feeling it gave Westheid was quite strange. It was as if he had gained a cute daughter or little sister, but also as if he were with a gentle mother or older sister. The two completely different modes switched seamlessly within Ailorus, as if they were one and the same.
But one thing was certain: the Little Queen’s happiness level during their interactions was extremely high. She was always full of excitement, never tiring of it. And that was more than enough.
In the vacuum left by the absent Grand Law Officer, he had to aggressively raise his favorability with the Wind Law Queen and establish a united front. After all, Westheid’s main goal was to get Ailorus to stand with him against Eilvette.
Even though the Wind Law Queen didn’t particularly like the Grand Law Officer, getting her to actively oppose a loyal minister of the Royal Court would require an incentive greater than mere political gain. Westheid didn’t plan on using slander or deception; there was no need. A relationship built on lies would never be strong.
However, this wasn’t the only thing Westheid was doing during this time. He was also waiting for his troops to rest and train, and for the research results from the Ring of Clear Skies Witches.
Because after the [Master of Decay], the next Celestial God’s Shadow the Thousand Laws Royal Court had to face was an old acquaintance of the [Ring of Clear Skies].
And Duke Qinghui’s wait was not long. A few weeks later, he received some surprising news from Irena, Hecate, and the others.
"You’ve contacted the [Master of Greedy Banquet]?"
Westheid rubbed his chin and asked, "The Celestial God’s Shadow who has close ties to the Ring of Clear Skies?"
"Yes. We didn’t expect to be able to re-establish contact with the [Master of Greedy Banquet]. It was quite a surprise."
Elaine crossed her arms, her fine brows knitting slightly as she said:
"After a brief conversation, He invited us to a banquet, saying it was to commemorate our long-standing friendship and cooperation."
Speaking of which, even the Witch Speaker found it a little incredible. A Demon reminiscing about the good old days? They couldn’t be that friendly, could they?
But thinking of the [Master of Greedy Banquet], the Witches weren’t so sure. Their contracts with this Celestial God’s Shadow had always been very pleasant. In a way, this Demon was extremely friendly.
"That does sound in character for the [Master of Greedy Banquet]."
Westheid mused for a moment, then said:
"Since the [Master of Greedy Banquet] has extended an invitation, what reason is there not to attend?"
"Yolanda, go and ask Yuanxi Palace to come here. We must include her in this."
Yuanxi Palace’s living quarters were not far from Westheid’s. To be precise, they were neighbors.
And so, not long after the platinum-blonde girl left, the graceful, charming, and dignified Yuanxi Lord arrived as requested. Her very first words upon sitting down made Westheid clench his fists.
"Oh, my. To think Duke Qinghui still remembers me. I thought you’d become lost in the paradise of Elven beauties, never to return. As for our agreement... sigh... I suppose it’s just a worthless piece of paper now, isn’t it? After all, there’s nothing I can do if you go back on your word."
Seeing Luyetan’s passive-aggressive act, Westheid said flatly:
"That’s enough. Anyone who didn’t know better would think the Enchanter who sneaks into my dreams every night was someone else."
At his words, Yuanxi Palace’s smile vanished. She placed her hands on her knees, sat up straight, and said with a strained smile:
"You can’t just slander a lady’s reputation out of thin air... Even if it were true, you should still leave her some face."
When the topic of her identity as an Enchanter came up, Luyetan couldn’t quite take a joke.
"Alright, I asked you here to discuss something important."
Westheid shook his head, bringing the topic back on track. The Duke Qinghui rested his chin on his steepled fingers and said with a serious expression:
"Luyetan, I’m about to attend an amazing party. You’re coming with me."
