Chapter 36: A Tranquil Future and the Little Empress Who Destroys It

After ascending in the rustic elevator of the Sky Garden—a relic bestowed by the Bayerzost Empire, as explained by the elves—Yang Hao and his group truly entered the aerial paradise.

They weren’t immediately welcomed into the elves’ grand palace, the Green Courtyard, but were instead taken to a nearby residential area within the garden’s inner ring to rest for a while.

“Fen has arranged this dwelling for you and your followers,” Kenna said, gesturing towards the house in front. “Given the differences in dietary preferences, we haven’t prepared any cooked meals. Instead, the house is stocked with various ingredients and meats for your convenience.”

She mentioned that a change of clothes was also available, though there might be slight differences in fit, but nothing major.

“Fen hopes you would rest a few days before meeting her. After all, from a human perspective, you must be exhausted from your journey,” Kenna added.

Yang Hao was about to insist that he wasn’t tired and preferred to deal with pressing matters first. However, seeing the excitement in Teresa’s eyes at the prospect of a relaxing bath and rest, he opted to agree.

“Just one thing, if I may,” Kenna said. “After a short rest, I would like to accompany you to the Green Courtyard for registration. It’s a formality of the capital, and I hope for your understanding.”

“I understand. Let me settle my people first, then I’ll join you. For now, please excuse me.”

“Of course,” Kenna replied, handing Yang Hao the keys before she and her entourage patiently waited on the street outside.

Yang Hao led his group into what could only be described as a manor. According to elven tradition, aside from Fen and the court staff, no others were permitted to reside within the Green Courtyard. Esteemed families and high-ranking officials typically lived in this exclusive estate zone near the Courtyard, dwelling as neighbors in this prestigious area. The manor they entered was constructed to the elite standards of these noble estates. In essence, they were now living among the elite members of the Elven Court.

Reflecting on this, Yang Hao couldn’t help but appreciate the profound significance of such hospitality. After assigning rooms to his companions, he suggested they take some time to rest. Shortly thereafter, he found himself unexpectedly whisked into the main bedroom by Teresa, leaving the rest behind.

Joseph watched the scene before him, and after a moment, he shook his head and said to his wife, “This takes me back to our early days. But it’s curious, isn’t it? Lady Priscilla never seemed to share such closeness with His Majesty.”

“Ah, forget her. She’s just a scaredy-cat, ungrateful too. Let’s not disturb His Majesty and his lady any longer. We should rest as well, especially since we need to find an elven healer later to tend to the wounds of our Ling tribe.”

“What about the expenses, though?”

“That’s something only His Majesty can address.”

***

Teresa immediately disappeared into the bathroom for a shower, leaving Yang Hao alone in the bedroom. He sat on the sofa, absently flipping through an elven newspaper.

The social life of the elves was far from the monotonous existence often imagined by humans.

Their newspapers, some running for hundreds of years, covered a diverse range of topics–from juicy gossip and state affairs to intimate couple dialogues and tips on child feeding. There were even detailed guides on nurturing Treants, showcasing a rich tapestry of content catering to virtually every aspect of elven life.

Elves were known not just for eating meat but for their culinary sophistication that surpassed human techniques.

In the present-day Roman Empire, cooking styles like hot pot were still unfamiliar, and the method of steaming was an advanced concept beyond the usual frying, roasting, boiling, and stewing.

Yet, Yang Hao found his interest piqued more by Fen, the current ruler of the elves.

“She’s relatively young by elven standards, around 300 years old,” he murmured, browsing through the newspaper. “Blonde hair, blue eyes, and notably, short hair. Do all elves have these features? Aside from hair and physique, they seem quite indistinguishable to an outsider. But, then again, Fen at 300 years old would roughly equate to just over 20 in human terms, wouldn’t she?”

Elves’ concept of maturity vastly differed from human society.

While elves reached sexual maturity around the same age as humans, their criteria for adulthood went beyond the Roman Empire’s modest standards of simply being able to speak, appear tall, and work. Elves underwent a rigorous evaluation to determine if an individual was truly an adult.

To Yang Hao, this resembled the elves’ equivalent of a ‘college entrance exam.’ 

A mature elf was expected not only to delve deeply into literature and poetry over many years but also to build physical prowess. They must be capable of striking the bullseye on a target the size of a human head from 100 meters away with a longbow, achieving this feat five times in a row.

For elves, this skill was as fundamental as the basic human activities of eating and sleeping. But this was just the baseline.

For an elf to gain respect post-adulthood, beyond these foundational tests, they were also expected to cultivate their individual talents.

For example, mastering artisanal skills, advancing further in archery, achieving mastery in magic, or perhaps…

“A Ranger?”

Becoming a ranger who ventured on journeys outside the Elven Kingdom, weaving tales of their adventures back home through magic.

Yang Hao sharply realized this implied that the Elven Kingdom, in reality, had numerous scouts collecting intelligence far and wide.

Whether they were elves who had just come of age or those who had set out as adventurers wandering the world, in elven society, they were considered ordinary citizens, not part of the official military.

Yet, by human standards, each one was an elite warrior. 

It was truly fearsome. A society where not only everyone was a soldier but also an elite.

Their actual strength might be even more formidable than he had surmised. Lost in such thoughts, Yang Hao was suddenly interrupted by the door opening behind him.

The air, now carrying a moist, sweet fragrance, enveloped him. He didn’t need to turn around, as he already felt the weight of two soft masses pressing down on his head.

“Teresa?”

“Yeah! A hot bath is amazing! And the elves are so thoughtful. They even prepared a new nun’s habit for me, and it fits perfectly.”

“Huh? Not traditional elven attire?”

Yang Hao paused for a moment. 

When the pressure lifted from his head, he turned to carefully appraise the delightfully fragrant nun before him.

She was still in her habitual nun’s attire, albeit looking fresher–likely a newly made habit, identifiable by the elaborate and flawless elven decorations. But to think they had such detailed knowledge of her measurements. How extensively have these elves been observing us?

Yang Hao’s gaze leisurely explored Teresa’s figure, focusing on her chest, waist, and thighs. The elf-tailored outfit indeed fitted her perfectly, managing to be neither too snug nor too loose.

“Absolutely perfect,” Yang Hao thought, but Teresa seemed somewhat displeased, pouting and tapping his forehead lightly.

“It’s great that you like my dress, but shouldn’t you be looking at my face now?”

“How about a hug?”

“No! I just realized you smell awful after my bath. Get in there and shower right now. And by the way, it looks like your change of clothes was also tailored to your preferences?”

“I can’t shake off the feeling that they know everything about me, even down to my underwear. Anyway.”

Yang Hao, gently nudged by Teresa, made his way to the bathroom. Reluctantly agreeing to her eager offer to help him scrub his back, he was momentarily stunned by the sight of the clothes laid out for him.

Indeed, the elves had prepared a change of attire in line with his tastes.

Laid out for him was the same style he wore as regent, with the support of his sworn brother, a black coat, white inner shirt, black trousers, and a matching black cloak. The difference was the absence of any emblems from the human empire or the elven kingdom. He had a rough idea of what the elves were hinting at.

Was he to become a regent once again?

Yang Hao sighed inwardly.

Then, in the blink of an eye, he was playfully stripped of his clothes by the slightly fuming nun behind him.

After freshening up and mindful of their appointment at the Green Courtyard for registration, Yang Hao and Teresa intended to quickly hydrate before setting out, not wishing to delay Kenna and her team.

In their brief moment of respite, with Teresa drying her hair and Yang Hao redressed in his regent attire, he shared his thoughts about the elves’ ulterior motives with his beloved, as well as his worries about their future life.

“What’s your take on this?” he asked Teresa. 

She casually shrugged, continuing to towel Yang Hao’s tousled hair, while pondering how to dress up to make her man look even better.

“You realize that settling in the elven capital is going to be costly, right? Property prices in the Roman Empire’s capital are sky-high, and here in the Elven Kingdom, especially in the Sky Garden, they’re likely to be even steeper.”

“You know that’s not really what I’m getting at, don’t you?”

“But I am seriously asking about your plans. Ultimately, whether it’s being a regent or a chef, it’s all about having a job. We need a stable occupation to live with our heads held high in a foreign land, not just bowing down and gratefully accepting others’ charity and pity. While I personally don’t mind, I wonder, Yang Hao, can your pride handle living like that? Do you think that’s a sustainable way for our future home?”

Her probing question sent Yang Hao into a deep contemplation. As he pointed out, living in a foreign country hinged on having a consistent and stable job. Without it, they would be dependent on others for the most basic aspects of life. A job would grant them the dignity and joy of living, not just the bare necessity of surviving.

But did he really have to become the Regent again? 

Yang Hao was deeply conflicted. He believed he could serve as an advisor or a strategist for development, but… a Regent?

Back when he was alone, facing betrayals and abandonment as the Regent, he could have simply chosen death or exile and been done with it.

But now, his situation changed. He was no longer alone. Yang Hao had to factor in Teresa’s circumstances.

He didn’t want her to suffer the consequences of his potential return to regency, especially given her constant efforts and patience in tolerating his whims and moods.

But what if Teresa yearned for a life of grandeur and high status? In that case, it wasn’t just money but also status that they would need. Would that mean he had no other option but to become the Regent again?

Why was he trying to figure this out alone, instead of asking for her opinion?

He hunched his neck and looked in the mirror at Teresa’s reflection standing behind him, exuding a saint-like gentleness.

“Teresa, what kind of life do you imagine for yourself?”

“Me? Well… I guess a peaceful and stable life?” Teresa slightly pouted her lips, aware of the deeper intention behind her man’s question.

“I’m not one of those vain girls, you know. I don’t fantasize about having a wizard’s tower like a little witch or urging you to convert to my faith like a little saintess. Actually, my desires for life are quite simple.”

“Simple?”

“A man who enjoys shopping with me, a little puppy who won’t make me worry about whether he’ll return home each night, a household budget that concerns itself with what dishes to prepare for the next meal rather than if there will be a next meal, and a home with a fireplace for warmth during winter.”

“This lifestyle would be something only a landlord could afford in the current Roman Empire, wouldn’t it?”

“Do you believe you can give me such a life?”

“I do.”

He turned and hugged the nun tightly, affectionately rubbing his stubble against her stomach.

“I’m confident I can provide for us, even without being the Regent.”

“Then it’s a deal. Let’s aim for a peaceful life.”

The nun smiled, clearly content with her man’s assurance.

Before departing, Yang Hao and Teresa made a point of telling the Ling tribe and Joseph’s family to restrict their activities to the manor for the time being. They were advised not to venture into the streets until their return and further notice.

Then they met up with Kenna and the others who had been waiting outside. They proceeded towards the Green Courtyard, planning to return by 10 o’clock that evening, barring any unforeseen events.

“All you need to do is to verify your identity and complete the registration in Caparia’s population records. Given your distinguished past, this is necessary.”

“I understand.”

Yang Hao nodded in agreement. As the group crossed through Fingel’s central square, admiring the vibrant street life across the Friendship River and the elves engaged in lively discussions over newspapers on the white bridge, he felt increasingly certain this was an ideal place to settle down.

‘Perhaps I’ll find a modest official position here and start a peaceful life with Teresa,’ he thought.

Lost in these reflections, Yang Hao overheard a conversation among passersby that caught his attention.

“Have you seen the latest news? There are reports that those barbarians in Roman, right when their Regent was heading to the border for negotiations with us, cut out the tongue of their young Empress!”

“That’s truly barbaric. How old is the young Empress in human terms? She’s not even 10 years old, is she?”

“I’ve heard that the one who did it was actually the Empress’s uncle. Poor Regent, already overwhelmed with work and can’t spend much time with his student, and now it turns out that her own uncle is the one who harmed her.”

“Not even the barbarians of the North would do something like this.”

Yang Hao’s step abruptly froze. He turned back, his eyes filled with bloodshot veins, glaring intensely at the backs of those elves.

What… did they just say?