Chapter 42: Messages from the king

As someone affiliated with royal faction, the pride and arrogance inside his bone revealed in his action suffocated everyone around. He was also a mid-level, level 5 mage. Most of the mages always presumed themselves as nobles and frown upon other professions. They considered especially the rangers as civilian jobs. Their interpretations were somehow not wrong, because most rangers were in fact civilians. Now, being blocked in front of the entrance of Windrunner manor irritated him. His majesty ordered him personally to deliver the message, but the Windrunner guards never gave him face. This was the provocation. Even though Windrunner house was one of the eight great noble houses, other seven houses never confronted in public, due to their prestige and reputations loved by many people and strength of Lireesa.

They never accepted their entry to the upper class in their heart. Likewise, the entourage personal opinion coincided with them, albeit his faction was actually against them in the Silvermoon Council and his majesty supported Windrunner to overwhelm his political opponent. The entourage felt the king used Windrunner wrongly and should instead draw in other arcane magister house. He wasn't aware, it was the Windrunner who contributed the current king's consolidated his rule in the beginning of the reign. He didn't realize he should never condescend Windrunner house prior to genuine interaction with them.

Before he arrived at the gate, he flew in from Silvermoon and discovered large movement of Windrunner guards especially the group numbering more than a thousand leading toward the troll's area in the distance. Based on the news of current Windrunner Lord's husband death, it was extremely likely in his view, Lireesa's rage fell on the direct perpetrator—trolls. However, the king ordered him to prevent the escalation of force between Windrunner and trolls. Peace was hardly existent between the two races, but the king wanted to retain it as much as possible and disallowed one of his vassals to ignite the war.

This was one of the reasons for his impatience and ugly face. Naturally, the king sent him as a way to persuade the widow from overacting, not to force Lireesa. If the king indeed coerced his vassal from retaliating and avenging her loved ones—not to mention Lireesa was his old ally and her husband was his personal advisor, other nobles would immediately throw dirt at royal family image and blame the monarch as ungrateful forgetting his real helper when he was in dire situation. Until half an hour later, the maid came forward and led the way.

Inside the manor, in contrary to his imagination, no one was depressed. Their expressions showed calmness and trust in their lord. In fact, it appeared the entire manor was lively at least in his opinion. Everyone was keen on their own duty and no one paid attention except for some glances because he was the only male inside. The maid fulfilled her own roles without any dilemma and didn't converse throughout the road. Just when he had an idea to delve some information from her, the maid quickly turned around and moved backward, her arms in the direction of his destination. "We've arrived, Sir. Our Lady is waiting inside."

Two guards stood in front of the door, their menacing eyes goggled at him. Should he cause any mishaps; he would be taken down without any hesitation. Their attitudes upset him. He didn't know, his conceited expression disgusted them too. What's with his manner when facing two high level professions? They sniggered at his ignorance and believed Lady Lireesa would teach him a lesson soon. Even if it weren't Lireesa, someone would indeed discipline his provocative demeanor sooner or later. He fiddled his clothes and patted them to bring out the most of his appearance. Brightening his smile and correcting any faults, he entered confidently.

The scenery inside the room shocked him speechless. What he saw was the elegant woman sitting on the main seat, giving off sadness vibe. Her eyes were silent as night, unknown and unreadable. She was beautiful but her disheveled hair told the tale of her grievance and distress. In the sea of bitterness, she possessed the power of wrath inside, which rattled him. Before the conversation began, he already dreaded this woman. As rumors had told, she was Lireesa, ranger-general of Quel'Thalas. Her existence disrupted all his preparations and now his momentum was like a moth under fire. Although he had the backing of royal family, he never dared to be presumptuous in the face of such legend. Her aura even diminished the legendary powerhouse he had met. If he wasn't told Lireesa hadn't become legend rank, he would instantly believe she was one.

This was the scene when the entourage was dumbfounded in front of Lireesa. She thought it was her embarrassment which affected the entourage's inner mind and flabbergasted his speech. In fact, she didn't realize, her superior momentum exuded unconsciously, scared the young man in front.

Silence across the hall, and Lireesa had to start. She was not interested in the powerplay game between the two. "Greeting your excellency, I'm grateful for your visit and apologize for any inconvenience. I hope my poor appearance didn't make you laugh and bring discomfort."

Lireesa stood out from her seat and saluted with her hand as noble greeting. The entourage hurriedly bowed and return the salute. He said, "Greetings Lady Lireesa, I'm honored to receive your gift. Forgive my awkwardness before. Your appearance still awestruck my young heart and I lost my concentration at the moment."

"Your excellency flattered me."

"Milady is humble."

After flattery went back and forth, Lireesa gestured the seats, "Please have a seat."

"Thank you, milady." The entourage replied gratefully. After the two sat down, the real game began. "I express deep regret for the loss of your loved one and also brought the message your majesty had sent. His majesty is regretful and deeply saddened by the news. He sent condolences."

"Tell the majesty I'm immensely grateful for his regards," Lireesa said. While she hated this way of communication, as a noble, she must abide by its rules. Her etiquette mustn't leave a flaw, especially as the great house noble, where others wanted to bring you down. "I'm also not feeling well. My entire chest is congested from pain and anger. Last time I woke up and went into coma again. I only recovered and move on last night. I don't have time to take care of myself."

While Lireesa sold her miserable portraits, her subordinates were all laughing inside. They never once saw her depressed. She was always elated and happily moved on from her husband death. They understood, Lireesa lived to shelter her daughters and guide them toward blissful life. Their lord's cheerfulness also raised their confidence in being part of Windrunner House. They attached their lives and futures to this family and never hoped to see Windrunner fell. Her followers were amazed at their lady's opera operation. If they hadn't seen Lireesa messing up her hair, Lireesa's own words must have by now convinced them.

"Condolences milady. Although I can't be of any help regards to your emotions, I hope milady remember her lovely daughter. Your spouse was a great man admired by others and love you deeply as much as milady love him." The entourage politely comforted Lireesa. "He'll hope to see you thriving without him being by your side, Lady Lireesa.

Lireesa's eyelid twitched after noticing from the corner of her eyes, her maids and guards were restraining their expressions from laughing out. She could only pray they didn't destroy her stage. But when she heard the entourage mentioned her husband, she cursed at him inwardly, I never love him. If Verath is alive, he'll be the first to strangle her and asked where his wife has gone. He'll be cussing every word he had known in his life.

"Thank you for your comfort," Lireesa could only change the uncomfortable subject. His consoling was a provocation to Lireesa. "Your excellency, may I know your name."

The entourage signed and joked at himself. Only now, the lady in front focused on him. If not for being a widow, he would actually swear silently at Lireesa for not asking him early. He smiled and replied, "My name is Neron Sunstriker"

"So, your excellency surname is Sunstriker. Your reputation proceeds across the whole Quel'Thalas for their loyalty and competence in every profession." Lireesa thought, these Sunstrikers were like grass. They were literally everywhere and anywhere. In the game in previous life, players could reach out to any elf; eight out of ten, you'll meet Sunstrikers.

"Overpraised, Overpraised, milady. Compared to milady's our family is a speck of dust." Neron was praised high."

Lireesa knew now was the time for the main theme and the initiative was still in her hand. The male elf who chatted with her never noticed he lost what his king asked him to show.

"I believe his majesty has more messages than condolence to deliver to me, your excellency." Lireesa reminded kindly.

"Ah! Now that milady reminds me, it's indeed my fault. His majesty in addition explicitly stated he wants stability and peace." It wasn't he being forgetful. Neron was confused how to deliver this message in a way that never offended Lireesa. "He also hopes, your ladyship to stay calm and pay attention to overall situation. Our king is also investigating the root cause which will satisfy your grace."

The hint shown from the entourage's speech in front amused Lireesa, because the male elf in front seemed to be afraid of provoking her. She wasn't angry the slightest bit from the king's message because she already expected one. She guessed the king had already entered his twilight and during the last moment what he would pursue was stability internally and externally, before he passed on to the next heir. Having only 300 years of time, the king conceived to attempt clearing obstacles for his prince. Elven physical characters only aged during the last year of their life expectancy, which was 50 years before death. So, even if Lireesa was currently over 2500 years old, her face remained beautiful and youthful. She wasn't the slightest bit worried.

As the old saying went, country rose and fell with the status of a leader. Now the kingdom of Quel'Thalas was decaying from the inside, due to fights between factions in the Silvermoon council and each group desired more rights and power. Her predecessor's husband death was highly likely to be the result. Although Lireesa knew conspiracy of her fellow elves unfortunately murdered Verath (her husband), she was unwilling to let go of such opportunities to exterminate trolls. They were in fact the real hidden dangers. Many elves disregarded this growing threat and never try to solve the roots. The king hinted he hated war from occurring and asked Lireesa to restrain herself. That was the underlying meaning and Lireesa chose to disobey the monarch's will even at the cost of his wrath.

"No investigation is required; trolls assassinated my husband, and this is an obvious fact!" Lireesa snarled at the young man. The aura of quasi-legend overwhelmed him, and it wasn't weak. If it weren't Lireesa's deliberate control, the young man would be embarrassed to sweats. But he didn't feel well either as if the woman in front him became a horrific beast. "If I didn't react to this provocation, where do I put my face in front of the ancestor!"

The young man couldn't argue any more. The whole scenario developed into convolution and Lireesa's decision showed no rights nor wrongs. Perspectives changed the way people thought and Neron was even persuaded by Lireesa and felt the king's method had some deficiencies. He threw away this thought quickly and kept looking at Lireesa as if to display his dissatisfaction. He couldn't overstress again and risked annoying Lireesa when especially he wasn't even sure if the lady who spoke with him was mentally sound.