Chapter 589: Lordaeron's Challenges
On this fateful day, Terenas Menethil II, a progressively aging and portly king, made a decision that stunned even himself after much contemplation...
Such was the gravity of this decision that he even overlooked the news of Duke's high-profile appearance.
More accurately, he instinctively avoided all news of Duke. Every time Duke made an entrance, he overshadowed Lordaeron's grandeur. Confident in his unshakeable position, Terenas chose to ignore Duke.
For the past three days, Duke lived comfortably. Legolas and his companions arrived in Lordaeron and promptly vanished into the royal guesthouse. They would not return until the morning of the 25th.
The Windrunner sisters were off gallivanting in the Alterac Mountains.
Meanwhile, Duke spent his time either bragging with Kael'thas Sunstrider, discussing high-mobility combat strategies over drinks with Magni Bronzebeard, or discussing the intricacies of aerial maneuvers with Kurdran Wildhammer.
Day after day, Duke reveled until dawn, then slept soundly until the afternoon when feasts, dances, or wine parties awaited him.
Unbeknownst to him, a young maiden bound by fate gazed longingly in his direction from within Lordaeron City, her heart filled with sorrow.
Three nights passed without incident. On the night of the 24th, as the maiden gazed once more at Duke's whereabouts, Duke, perhaps inebriated, stepped onto the balcony.
He should have been content.
Yet, she yearned for more.
She wished for Duke to hear her silent pleas.
A miracle occurred.
Duke conjured a beautiful rose—a rose made of pure magical frost.
Its crystalline glow stood out in the night. Due to the angle of the bushes, only the maiden could see it.
Doubting her eyes, she rushed inside to grab her telescope.
Indeed, the unique rose remained.
Aware of her gaze, Duke's smile never waned.
She was trapped and closely monitored. Unable to send a single message or magical communication, how could he possibly know?
Nothing else mattered.
Through her telescope, she read Duke's lips, and he uttered just two words...
Tears streamed down her beautiful face.
"He remembers! He still remembers!"
That night, their secret interaction went unnoticed.
Time swiftly moved to December 25th!
A day the Alliance would eternally remember.
However, as the celebrations grew grander, complications arose.
"Why was our victory parade position canceled? We could accept any position, but why deny our right to join the victory ceremony?" Outside the city in a temporary camp, General Hass from Alterac raised his voice at a Lordaeron official, Count Franky.
Behind him stood a 300-strong Royal Guard. Count Franky, unfazed, responded, "Your King, Aiden Perenolde, betrayed the Alliance. Alterac is now the Alliance's disgrace. Your participation in the war was merely to redeem yourselves. This ceremony honors our heroes. How dare traitors like you stand beside them?"
"We accept Perenolde's betrayal! But our Skyhawk Knights fought from the beginning to the end, losing 80% of our men! We believe our sacrifices have washed away our disgrace! Why the sudden change in plans now?" Hass's voice quivered, tears staining his weathered cheeks.
The dispute garnered attention.
"What's happening?"
"Lordaeron suddenly banned Alterac from the parade."
The soldiers whispered among themselves, though none dared intervene.
Suddenly, two prominent figures appeared—Alliance Commander Anduin Lothar and Vice Commander Duke Marcus.
"What's going on?" Lothar's booming voice demanded order.
Duke Marcus spoke up, "General Hass, did you bring the armor you wore during the war, not just the ceremonial ones?"
Hass nodded, understanding Duke's intention, "Yes, they bear our true honors."
Duke responded, "Wear them. Our Stormwind knights will do the same."
Count Franky exclaimed, holding a royal decree, "Duke Marcus! What are you doing? This order comes directly from the great King Terenas Menethil II! Not only as the king of Lordaeron but also as the leader of the Lordaeron Alliance!"
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