At this moment, in the humans' military camp.

"A messenger from the Elves, is it? Hasn't your Elven hero already departed? That little Lucia is indeed a rather dull Elf."

Queen Sissi was lounging on her bed, propping her head up with her left arm. She was looking at the Elven messenger in front with an eerie grin. She was only dressed in a thin bath towel, making the Elf in the long, white cloak look somewhat uncomfortable in her presence. In normal circumstances, it was quite disrespectful to see a queen in such a state. Then again, was it disrespect on the queen's part to the Elven messenger, or was it discourteous for the Elf to see the queen like that at this time?

Regardless, since he was already here, the Elven messenger could only watch the queen before him. He lowered his head, showing respect as he spoke, "I have a letter from the Elves here. I hope you could read it right now and then give me a response that I can bring back."

Handing over the letter with both hands, Queen Sissi smiled slightly, waved her hand, and her attendant quickly took the letter, opened it, made sure there was nothing wrong, and then handed it to Queen Sissi. Queen Sissi looked at the letter, then she stared at the Elf with a thoughtful grin. Waving the letter in the air, she asked, "So, I have a question. Who exactly is the sender of this letter? Is it your queen, or is it someone else?"

As the Elven messenger looked at the queen, his lips twitched slightly before he replied, "This is... naturally... "

"Naturally not a letter from your Elven queen, right? It must be from some strange people among you Elves, it must be the same for you too. Even though you’re all Elves, standing as an Elf is still very important. You’re not at the side of the Elven queen, are you?"

"This matter is very complex, it’s after all our internal affairs among the Elves, we hope not to involve humans..."

"HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!"

Before the messenger could finish, Queen Sissi erupted into a bout of hearty laughter. She lay back on her bed, clutching her stomach, and laughing boisterously. The Elven messenger watched the queen awkwardly as Queen Sissi flopped around on the bed unrestrainedly. Her long, exquisite legs kicked in the air and her thin bath towel barely covered the prideful curves of her chest and legs.

The Elf averted his gaze, not knowing where to look. Meanwhile, Queen Sissi didn't seem to care at all. As her laughter ended in gasps for breath, she once again propped up her head, looked at the Elf nearing tears, wiped her eyes and said with laughter, "What are you saying, Elf? Are you trying to amuse me with a joke? This is the first time I've heard such a funny joke. There's nothing funnier than a wounded clown still trying to act tough. You Elves are already in this state, yet you still put on airs. You clearly need my help, but you insist that you don't want humans to interfere. Your pathetic sense of pride contrasts hilariously with your pitiful condition. Why not be open, Elf? When will you be able to abandon your senseless pride and humbly ask for help like those truly in need?"

The messenger gritted his teeth and lowered his head without a word. This was indeed an insult to the Elves. Normally, Elves wouldn't tolerate such disrespect. But just like Queen Sissi said, they were now seeking her favor. For now, they had to swallow this insult.

"Come on, you need a response to take back, don't you?"

Queen Sissi chuckled, sat up, and elegantly stretched her leg towards the Elf. The Elf was puzzled and looked at Queen Sissi cluelessly. Queen Sissi sneered, "Don't you understand? Haven't I already told you? You Elves need to put aside your pitiful pride and airs. Since you are the ones seeking help, you need to be self-aware. Now, kneel and kiss my foot. Let me teach you a thing or two about etiquette. If you make me feel comfortable, I'll grant your request.""What sort of request is this! Your request is simply disrespectful! It's an insult to me! I will protest!" The elf's messenger stepped back in shock, watching as Queen Sissi in front of him ranted incoherently. His characteristic elfin grace and composure vanished momentarily with this audacious request. He unluckily gazed upon the immaculate ankles and milky feet at the end of Queen Sissi's long legs and toes, as fascinating as pearls, enticing him subtly. His pupils ventured towards the end of her legs, towards the enticing shadows beyond that left him spellbound. His face turned beet red, even his protest cracking with hesitation.

"Why, do you refuse?" Queen Sissi rested her chin on her hand, asking with a soft chuckle. "If you all can't exhibit sincerity, then, why do you believe we will assist in your cause? You, the elves, require assistance from us, humans, but can't dignify yourselves to bow. I am unsure who leads your faction, but, she won't come to me personally, just a mere letter to ask for our support, are you all not too confident? Come here, let me tell you how to properly beg for help. If you worship well and satisfy me, I shall offer you money, weapons, and potions. What’s your opinion?"

"This...this..."

"Come here. Do you not require all these? I am offering them right now, right here. Tell me what holds more importance to you – is it your pride or the greater goal? Decide now, decide what is more important to you."

Queen Sissi watched as the elf slowly sank to his knees, a cruel smile curling around her lips. Elves had always been the proudest race. She was seeing an elf kneel to her for the first time, even holding her foot. The elf trembled as he observed Queen Sissi's dainty foot in his shakey hands. He gently cradled her, as if he was holding the most precious treasure in the world.

The elf looked despairingly at the ruthless queen. However, her expression remained impenetrable, even encouraging as she extended her foot towards him. The elf extended his tongue in a mix of anticipation and resistance, tempting to touch her pearl-like toes.

Queen Sissi watched the elf, her cruel smile deepened. She suddenly lashed out her foot, stepping across the Elf's face and rubbed her shoe sole across his reddened face. Chuckling, she said, "Tell me, elf, do you know how many people are eager to worship my feet? Then, explain to me the difference between you and them? If people request something as ridiculous as worshipping my feet, should I cave into their requests, wouldn't that make me seem frivolous?"

"But... but..."

"Stand up, elf. It’s unfortunate that I do not hold any interest in you, hence, I do not wish to agree to your requests. As you said, as humans, we do not intend to involve ourselves with the elves' affairs. So, your requests will be denied by me as well."

She paused, “Wait! Did you not say, as long as I... as long as I worship…”

"That is the case, joining those willing to worship my feet has never been my aim."

The queen turned her back to him, leaving only her voice echoing in the room. She continued, "If I needed someone to worship my foot, I would never choose an elf. My goal was to get you elves to let go of your absurd pride and pathetic dignity. Now, you can let go of that, can't you? After all, even an elf has worshipped my feet. What does this symbolize for elven dignity? That is my goal. Now, you should understand the right way of asking for a favor, and you should know that refusal is a part of any request. Since you have realized your mistake, you may leave now. I need to rest now."

The elf watched Queen Sissi's retreating figure. Overwhelmed with regret and embarrassment, he could only wish to end his own life. His dignity and integrity, as an elf, was mercilessly toyed with by the cold hearted queen. Queen Sissi had not spared him any face, she deftly trampled over his values, crushing it into pieces with her delicate, beautiful feet. He wondered why, why his values, the things he treasured so deeply, collapsed so spectacularly in front of her.That night, an elf messenger was found hanged by a tree near the camp. No one knew why. The North...

"Daddy!!!"

As I had just arrived at the entrance of the village, a tiny figure fiercely threw herself into my arms, the sound of Lia's crying and her small fists hit my chest. She hugged me and cried, "Why, why does Daddy always do this, leaving Lia alone and go to such a dangerous place? What if something happens to Daddy, what is Lia going to do? Daddy, do you not care about Lia's feelings at all!! I'm so scared, Lia is so worried about Daddy!! And Daddy, you even left me alone with that woman, that's too much!!"

"Sorry, Lia."

I rubbed her head with a smile, and at that moment, Armor made a sound. I looked up and saw Vilvy coming over with a slightly frowning brow, apparently, the private interaction between the two wasn't pleasant. Vilvy spoke in a reproachful tone, "So, what have you done? If it weren't for your participation, this would have been taken care of by now."

"Actually, it is sorted out now."

I turned around, and without surprise, all the deserters came out, their faces did not show any expressions of failure, panic or distress. Instead, each of them seemed relaxed and pleased. Vilvy pulled out her sword while looking at them, and I promptly held her arm and said, "They are here to surrender."

"Surrender?"

Vilvy seemed confused by the meaning of this word. After mulling over it for a moment, she glanced at the deserters.

They had no other choice.

Or rather, I already knew by the end of the negotiation that their only bargaining chip was these civilians.

Yet, I told them explicitly that Vilvy didn't care about these people.

These soldiers were nothing more than deserters, neither possessed power nor honor. All they wanted was to get home alive, and they indeed had no particular desire to kill innocent villagers. So, I had given them the simplest way out: Vilvy would let them leave, but they would gain nothing.

Their bottom line was merely survival.

And their bottom line was being satisfied.

Therefore, they would follow my proposition.

They would plea Vilvy guilty.

And I understood Vilvy.

Vilvy was a knight.

A knight who would not kill captives.

Therefore, although she could behead these people without the slightest hesitation, she wouldn’t lay a finger on anyone who surrendered.

Just like now.

"Miss Vilvy...... please...... let us go...... We are just longing to go home...... We are genuinely longing to go home, my wife is still waiting for me, I have a newborn child, I beg you, let us go home......"

Deserters knelt and cried, one of them loudly wailing about his misfortune and family, while Vilvy watched them in a daze. She glanced at the spectators who came over to watch. Then looked at me, and finally, raised her sword.

"What are you doing!!!!"

I quickly stretched my hand to hold her arm, Vilvy looked at me coldly, and said word by word, "Deserters must die!"

"But I promised them! You don't have to do anything! Just let them leave on their own!!! Just let them go, they didn't hurt the villagers, there's no need for them to die!!"

Vilvy didn't seem to care about what I said. She shoved me away, and with her blade lifted high, she targeted the deserters. On their knees and seeing the blade falling, the deserters screamed in despair. With no place to escape, these people would definitely be slaughtered now that Vilvy had seen them all.

"Don't! Stop!!! We don't need anything, just let them live!!"

I forcefully shoved Lia aside and stood in front of Vilvy. I didn't necessarily care about these people, their lives were not supposed to concern me. But now things were different. Now that I promised these people to live, since we had reached a negotiation, both parties should respect the agreement. Credit is crucial. The villagers watched as these men confessed their guilt only to be sentenced to death. If Vilvy, as a town leader, didn't pardon those who confessed their wrongdoings, any pacification measures by the government in the future would never succeed, and public credibility would also decline. This was a situation that no leader would like to see. Although it would be okay to settle scores afterwards, it wasn’t acceptable at the current moment!"Move aside!!"

Once again, Vilvy's blade was against my neck. For the first time, her gaze was embroiled with emotions. For the first time I'd seen anger, regret swirling in her icy blue eyes. I didn't know about her past, nor could I understand what was burning within those eyes now. But one thing was apparent—if I remained where I was, Vilvy, scarred by her past, wouldn't hesitate to decapitate me.

She was serious.

I had to dissuade her.

I was faced with the daunting task of calming a Vilvy riled up by her past without knowing anything about it.

Was I cornered into such a situation again? My life was hanging by the words I chose. Now, if my words failed to make Vilvy hesitate, I might have to face the same destiny as those others. I'd never seen Vilvy so fired up before. If the usually composed Vilvy could murder, a passionate Vilvy might be even more capable of such acts.

"Deserters deserve death!"

"Do you want Lia to witness this horror again?!!"

I stared at Vilvy, bellowing, "You killed her parents right in front of her, you killed two people in front of a child, making her witness the gruesome sight of their mangled bodies. Don't you get it?! The scene is what Lia fears the most! You said you'd establish a good relationship with Lia, but do you plan to repeat the act that will upset her again? Consider how Lia would feel!"

Vilvy's blade on my neck froze for a split second. As I saw a stunned Vilvy before me, I exhaled slightly but remained on high alert, continuing to persuade her softly, "There's no need to kill. Don't murder in front of a child. The war is over, they're no longer deserters, but merely a group of destitute refugees now, Vilvy. The war has ended, it truly has ended. You're no longer a knight nor a hero, you're the lord of this territory."

"..."

Vilvy stared at me quietly, her blade still against my neck, but the blaze of anger and regret in her eyes gradually ebbed. Lia clutched her chest tightly in horror, damning words failing her, as large teardrops unconsciously streamed down her cheeks. I watched Vilvy unmoving in front of me.

"A moment..."

Then, Vilvy's blade slid off my neck. I felt the cold blade graze my skin, leaving a slight wound, but she withdrew her sword.

For the first time, she looked exceedingly feeble, reaching out to lightly grab my shoulder. The deserters behind me were too terrified to utter a sound. I turned my head back at them and gave a wave. They scurried away, using their hands and feet to crawl from the area.

"I'm sorry..."

As I saw Vilvy, who seemed to collapse onto me, I whispered softly.

I wasn't sure why I was apologizing...

However, I always felt that Vilvy's current weakness was in part my responsibility...