Elven Legacy (Part 2)

Chapter 397: What Type Of Punishment?

"... So you see, how could I, as the Crown Prince of our Empire, idly sit by when a person in desperate need of my help, and a beautiful woman no less, sit by and idly do nothing while she faces a heart demon?" Stated Elif righteously as he placed his hand on his heart while slowly walking around the two thrones, causing Lynda to stare blankly at him.

"What I had done is stupid, yes I wholly admit that, but if intelligence is what I must sacrifice to save a dear friend, then so be it! This Prince shall do it without hesitation; our friendship is just that important to me." Added Elif firmly with a righteous expression as he placed his hands behind his back while staring at Marcus and Maria, proudly raising his hand.

"Ugh, s-so beautiful." "Our Prince is such a righteous soul; I've never been happier to serve the Royal Lineage." "To have such a beautiful soul and body... The heavens have surely blessed him." Stated the royal guards lining the throne room's walls, gazing at Elif in both awe and while sniffling, having been brought to tears from his speech.

Hearing the praise from the royal guards, I smirked to myself as I further raised my head in pride while internally hoping my lies weren't seen through by Mother and Father.

'They shouldn't be, right? It's not like I was actually lying; I was just stretching and bending the truth a little; the main points of my speech were all truthful.' Thought Elif with a curious expression as he peeked at Maria and Marcus, both silently sitting with their eyes closed.

"Elif..." Said Marcus lightly as he opened his eyes, staring at Elif, only for Maria to slam her hand onto her throne.

"Silence!" Ordered Maria sternly as she narrowed her eyes at numerous royal guards, causing the throne room to quickly fall into silence, with only the sound of faint breathing.

"Go ahead, Darling." Said Maria softly as she leaned back into the throne and gestured to Marcus, who lightly nodded while clearing your throat.

"Lynda, is there anything you'd like to say?" Asked Marcus as he shifted his focus to Lynda, who was calmly standing in the distance with an unamused expression.

"I'd just like to add that Illumia assisted His Highness throughout the whole ordeal, your Majesties. As for His Highness's speech, while very flamboyant, he didn't hold any lies; oh, but he did attempt to bribe me with a kiss." Replied Lynda softly as she reached down and tossed Illumia towards Elif while also freeing her movement and unsealing her Qi, only to glance at Elif before shifting he focus to Marcus.

"I had ordered Illumia to help me, and since she's my personal attendant, it's only a given she'd be forced to follow my orders; secondly, you had stolen a kiss from me when I couldn't move." Remarked Elif with a faint frown as he caught Illumia with his arms while looking at Maria and Marcus, only to eye Lynda, who simply denied such claims.

"I do not know what you're referring to." Said Lynda firmly, her words causing Elif's expression to twitch while Illumia remained silent.

"Enough! I do not care who kissed who; you should discuss that with Elaine. I'm more interested in learning why my firstborn, and apparently someone who I trusted enough to place his life in her hands, would do something so idiotically stupid like purposefully acquiring a heart demon?" Declared Maria as she tapped her fingers on her armrest while glaring at Elif and Illumia, the latter averting her eyes in shame.

"Mother, you're getting aggravated over a minor incident; this 'heart demon' was merely artificial since it was created from long exposure to a Diabolical's Madness Qi. To call it a 'heart demon' is us being generous; also, no harm, no foul. In the end, there were no serious or long-lasting repercussions; I helped Sarah, I easily dealt with my heart demon, and I even got to experience an epiphany afterward; overall, it was actually a rather fruitful event." Stated Elif firmly as he glanced at Maria, who widened her eyes before shifting his focus to Marcus.