Alone With The Queen

Yiren's cheeks colored, her slender fingers curling into shaking fists. "Moooom… what are you saying?" she sputtered, trying—unsuccessfully—to muster an outraged expression. It came across more flustered than furious. She had wanted time to get to know Xuefeng herself before he learned why he was brought here, and now her mother had shattered that hope in a single sentence.

The Queen merely tilted her head, softening her gaze. "Yiren, I understand your feelings, but he needs to know the truth—why we've kept this custom alive for thousands of years. As a future Queen, you mustn't think only of yourself. You carry the fate of our entire race." Gently, she reached out to pat her daughter's head.

Yiren slapped her mother's hand away, tears threatening to pool in her golden eyes. "Oh, so I'm just supposed to do this for the good of the clan," she flung back, her voice trembling. "Then I'll be filled with the same sadness you've had for all these years? Is that it?"

The Queen flinched, pain flashing through her expression. Clearly, Yiren had struck a deep chord. "Don't—don't bring that up," she pleaded, cheeks taut with old hurt. "You know how much I miss your father…"

Yiren let out a ragged sigh, forcing herself not to cry. She looked up, voice smaller now. "Couldn't you have kept him here somehow? If it brought you so much pain—"

The Queen shook her head, the burden of regret etched into her features. "Humans can't remain in our realm indefinitely. To stay here for a lifetime would destroy them. Unless I had left with him," she said, voice lowering to a whisper, "there was no other way."

Welling tears brimmed in Yiren's eyes at that. "Then… why not leave with him?" she asked, hugging her mother's waist in a sudden burst of emotion. "Why keep living in loneliness?"

The Queen pulled her close, neither able to speak for a moment. "Because not every human is kindhearted," she said at last. "Out there, our people would be hunted… enslaved… tortured. We can't risk that, Yiren."

They fell quiet, locked in an embrace, wholly forgetting the other two people in the throne room. Tangwei, standing nearby, exhaled in amused satisfaction at the drama unfolding. She reached into a small pouch at her hip and popped a few glossy berries into her mouth.

"You want some?" she offered to Xuefeng, voice pitched low to avoid intruding on the mother-daughter moment.

He accepted a handful, noticing with mild curiosity they were blackberries with a sweet, tart flavor that melted on his tongue. "They always argue like this?"

Tangwei shrugged, eyes twinkling. "They can be quite passionate when it comes to these matters. I enjoy a bit of drama now and then."

Xuefeng nodded absently. In truth, he was relieved. Their argument revealed key details: first, that this entire realm was sealed, meaning humans couldn't stay for extended periods. Second, that the elves needed a human male to ensure the royal bloodline continued—a cycle repeating every twenty-five years. Finally, it was the fact that they could leave this place if they wanted to, but never truly risked it.

Ling, Xuefeng called in his mind, what do you think I should do?

The fastest way out? Ling's voice curled through Xuefeng's mind like smoke, calm yet pressing. It's simple—agree to their request, play along, and once they've helped you leave, you're free. And honestly? You could come out of this with more than just an escape route. These elves cultivate using Elemental Qi rather than Spirit Qi. It's similar to your Lightning Qi, meaning if you gain an affinity here, you could directly absorb Elemental Qi from the air. I highly recommend this option.

Xuefeng rubbed his temple. And the slower, riskier version?

Ling exhaled, her presence flickering. Finding the exit ourselves. But my Spirit Awareness is severely restricted here—one meter at best. Unless we stumble right on top of the portal, I won't be able to detect it. I know next to nothing about this realm, so your options are limited. The logical choice is clear, isn't it?

Xuefeng sighed, feeling the weight of the decision settle like a stone in his chest. Logical, yeah. But something about this doesn't sit right.

Before he could dwell further, the Queen's voice broke his concentration. "Boy," she called, her tone laced with regal authority. "I'll leave my daughter in your hands. If you can fulfill your mission—give us an heir—then you'll be free to go. Of course," she added with a faintly tired smile, "you can take all the time you need."

In response, Xuefeng raised both palms. "What if I don't agree? Don't get me wrong—" his gaze flicked to Yiren, who was dabbing at her reddened eyes, "—she's absolutely stunning, but I literally just met her. Doesn't this seem… I don't know, rushed?"

The Queen's eyes turned cold, then pensive, as though a new idea had just occurred to her. "I understand your feelings, but if you two spend more time together, she might grow too attached. I… would prefer she not experience what I did," she murmured, voice trembling with old wounds. Then she glanced at Yiren and Tangwei. "You two, leave us. I wish to speak with him privately."

Yiren's shoulders tensed. "But—Mother—"

A single nod from the Queen ended Yiren's protest, and she reluctantly guided Tangwei out. Tangwei, stealing a mischievous glance over her shoulder, blew Xuefeng a tiny kiss before slipping from the chamber. Yiren offered him a small, wavering smile of encouragement before letting the doors close, leaving Xuefeng alone with the Queen.

"You know," the Queen mused, stepping toward him with slow, measured grace, "most men would kill for an opportunity like this. To bed a royal elf? To take part in something sacred?" She stopped just within arm's reach, tilting her head as if inspecting him. "And yet, here you stand. Resisting."

Xuefeng steadied himself, trying not to show discomfort. "I'm… sure many men would be honored," he said. "But I'm not like other men." 

"Is that so?" The Queen asked in amusement and cupped her palm. A small, radiant flower bloomed upon it, petals of delicate lavender. Her eyes locked onto Xuefeng's. "I want you to tell me the truth," she said, her voice seductive. "If you truly have no desires for my daughter, what stops you from ravishing me instead?"

An alarm bell rang in Xuefeng's mind. "What do you mean by—"

He didn't get to finish. The flower's petals quivered, releasing a spray of crimson mist at stunning speed. He jerked his head aside, but it was already too late. The vapor clung to his skin, seemingly seeping through every pore. Immediately, he felt a strange warmth radiate through his veins, as if his blood were humming an unfamiliar tune.

"What are you doing?" Xuefeng demanded, panic rising. A flicker of fear ignited within him, but also a surge of annoyance at the invasive sensation.

The Queen's face remained unreadable. "This is a defensive mechanism of the Dream Bloom. Anyone who inhales its essence speaks only truth. So I ask again—" She reached out, hooking a finger under his chin. "Why are you resisting your desires? What stops you, boy?"