Chapter 1409
Tale of Two Princesses
"Ariselle, this is Stoneheart. We are not in Blood Elf territory anymore."
Delphine's voice was sharp, cutting through the carriage's interior. "Here, you represent the dignity of our entire race. You cannot simply say whatever cos to your mind."
She paused, smoothing the fabric of her robes, her expression stern. "We must weigh every word. That comnt you just made? It could have caused a diplomatic disaster. Do not let it happen again."
Ariselle was young, barely of age, and naive to the ways of court politics. It wasn't entirely her fault. But Prince Delphine bore the weight of this mission. It was her duty to brief them, to guide the two young royals through the viper's nest of foreign diplomacy.
"We will head to the Blood Elf embassy first," Delphine instructed, her tone softening slightly. "You will wash up and make yourselves presentable. Then, you will accompany
to the citadel to pay your respects to His Majesty, Orion."
She looked at them aningfully. "After that, you will have plenty of ti to tour Stoneheart City."
Delphine knew the protocol. Upon arriving in Stoneheart, the first order of business was to seek an audience with Orion. Whether the Demigod actually granted them an audience was another matter entirely, but the gesture had to be made.
Lilith, however, would certainly see them. This involved a marriage alliance between their two peoples—a matter of state security. Whether Ariselle and the Giant Prince could actually forge a connection remained to be seen, but there would be a definitive answer, one way or another.
"Oh... yes, Auntie. Whatever you say."
Inside the carriage, Ariselle and her brother, Elyndar, gave a perfunctory nod. Their attention had long since drifted to the windows, captivated by the chaotic, vibrant bustle of the city streets outside.
Delphine sighed, a heavy, weary sound. She could only pray her innocent niece had a future worth salvaging.
As Delphine's carriage rolled toward the Blood Elf embassy, another convoy—this one arriving from Marina City—passed through the massive gates of Stoneheart.
Unlike the anxious Blood Elf Prince, Maroth, First Prince of the Sea Drakes, was beaming. His joy was infectious, spreading to the young girl sitting beside him, the Twelfth Princess, Lola.
"Brother, we're finally here! Stoneheart!" Lola chirped. "It's just as lively as I rember."
She bounced in her seat. "Once we settle in, you have to take
to get candy. This ti, I want the biggest lollipop they have! And you have to take
to the Coliseum to watch the duels. Oh! And... right, you have to take
to see my friend!"
They were both young princesses, both yearning for the excitent of the capital. But their circumstances were worlds apart.
While Ariselle was being lectured on caution and decorum, Lola had her head stuck out of the carriage window the mont they passed the walls, her veil fluttering as she greedily took in the sights of every food stall and street perforr.
"Yes, yes, of course," Maroth nodded vigorously, agreeing to every whim. "Whatever you want, Lola. I'll make it happen."
His indulgence only made Lola happier, and her peals of laughter rang out like silver bells all the way to their quarters.
Lola's situation was different from Ariselle's. Lilith had proactively reached out to the Sea Drakes, suggesting the eting to finalize a union. Lola and Kronos were already friends; the foundation for their bond was solid. Maroth's grinning face was the result of the Horde's active courtship of their alliance.
Ariselle, on the other hand, was being offered by the Blood Elves. Whether she and Pallas would even tolerate each other was a mystery.
One was an invited guest, the other a hopeful petitioner. One relationship was stable, the other unknown. The mood in their respective carriages reflected that reality perfectly.
As for the prospective grooms, Kronos was still on the road, racing back to the city. Pallas, however, was currently in the citadel's training grounds, suffering under Lilith's personal supervision.
Ever since Lilith learned of Orion's plans for Pallas, she had carved out ti every day to oversee his combat training. At this very mont, Pallas was surrounded by a dozen succubus assassins, howling in pain as they pumled him from every shadow.
High above the city, in the solitude of the palace, Orion opened his eyes.
He turned his head to see Elara perched on his shoulder. Just like when she was a toddler, the girl loved to climb up and sit there. Orion chuckled, reaching up to gently lift her down and placing her on the throne beside him.
"Elara," he rumbled warmly. "Do you need sothing?"
Elara was a clever child; she rarely ca to him without a purpose. Unless, of course, she hadn't seen him in a long ti and simply missed him.
"Little brother is so pitiful," she said, blinking her large, innocent eyes. "Mother has been watching him train for three days straight."
She was talking about Pallas, but her gaze was locked on Orion, unblinking. The ssage in her eyes was loud and clear: Why does he get all the attention? What about ?
Orion understood the look imdiately. He reached out, ruffling her hair with a large hand. "Pallas is going out on his first true trial soon," he explained seriously. "Your mother is worried about his safety, so she's tightening the screws. It's necessary."
Though Elara was adopted, years of raising her had forged a bond as deep as blood. Orion kept nothing from her. In fact, he had plans for her as well.
"Elara, you've grown up," Orion said, his tone shifting from fatherly to martial. "Are you willing to share my burden? Are you ready to expand the Horde's dominion?"
Elara's eyes lit up. She nodded furiously.
"I am planning an invasion of an alien plane," Orion continued. "We are going to crush all resistance in that world. Are you willing to contribute to the glory of the Horde?"
"I am!"
This ti, she didn't just nod. Her answer was crisp, decisive.
"Since we are invading a new world, you will need to apply yourself," Orion warned. "Get your personal guard drilling. The battlefield isn't a ga of house. People bleed. Heads roll."
In that mont, Orion finalized his decision. Elara would lead the vanguard into the world of Eldoria. She was already an Archlord; her strength and mind were ready. Making her the supre commander of the invasion force would temper her steel—and test her limits.
"I promise you this," Orion added, casting the lure. "One-third of all territory we conquer in that world will be granted to you as your personal fiefdom. Elara, this is the capital you need to beco a Queen. How large your kingdom becos... that depends entirely on your performance."
Orion smiled. It wasn't a trap for an enemy, but a guiding light for his child.
Elara's eyes shone with a terrifying brilliance.
Smack!
"Don't worry, Papa! I won't let you down!"
She planted a loud kiss on Orion's cheek, then vanished in a blur of teleportation magic.
"Anubis! Get to the training grounds! Now!"
Orion shook his head, a wry smile on his face as the echoes of Elara barking orders to her subordinates drifted through the castle halls.
Far to the North, in Blackstone City.
Deep within the military encampnt of Moonshadow Valley, Dirtclaw and Gustalon stood in the center of the plaza, waiting.
"Man," Dirtclaw grunted, kicking at the dust. "The Insectoids up north have gone soft. They fold before I can even finish a single round."
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