Chapter 163 - The High Elf Prince

  Adrihna Akonium:

  I sighed and leaned ba my chair.

  I’ll be in quite the predit when Nathan learns the truth about his royal lineage. I just hope he doesn’t hold any grudges, thinking I deceived him...

  I g Victoria, my friend and former mentor, as she walked over to a shelf to grab a bottle of liquor. Watg her do this, I raised an eyebrow, amused.

  “Drinking on the job?” I teased as she poured the drink into two gsses.

  “Who’s going to se? I’m the highest authority here,” she replied with a grin, handing me one of the gsses.

  “Well, if the boss approves, who am I to disagree?” I said, accepting the drink with a nod.

  She ughed. “You know, we’d need something much stroo actually affect us, but this will do for now. After all, it’s not every day I’ve got the bdes of three kingdoms poi my neck.”

  “It’s only two bdes,” I corrected her with a slight smile. “The elf kingdom is on your side.”

  She took a sip, and I followed suit.

  “It’s strong,” I ented, feeling the warmth spread.

  She nodded in agreement, a in silence for a moment, both refleg on the versation we’d just had with Nathan.

  “For our own sake, it’s best the boy’s existence isn’t revealed prematurely,” she said, breaking the silence before taking another sip.

  “Indeed. We’ll leave it to their majesties. This matter is so sensitive that sending a representative would be insulting. They’ll have to hahis personally,” I noted.

  She burst out ughing. “That brat Haiten is finally going to have to put in some work.”

  I had to hide a smile.

  I looked at her, weighing my thoughts. If Victoria was willing to risk so much for us, it was only fair that she khe whole truth. I took a deep breath before speaking, respeg the fidentiality of the situation.

  “Every member of the elven royal family is treated as a prince or princess, whicludes Nathan, Katherine, and Kinue,” I began. “But Nathan’s situation is even more unique.”

  Victoria fshed a ing smile. “Of course it’s unique. You wouldn’t be tangled in such a diplomatic mess if it were simple.” She gave me a look, probing for more information. “So, what exactly is it about this High Elf Prihat makes things so delicate?”

  I knew I’d have to reveal more. “As we discussed, his situation is unique because he holds noble positions in both the human and elven kingdoms. And not only that… he has actually ied a political title in the elven kingdom.”

  And he has that sacred hair...

  Victoria’s eyes narrowed thoughtfully. “Is that official? What’s his position in the elven kingdom?”

  I nodded. “He ointed heir to the Archduke and chosen as the Archduke years ago. When the Elven cil learns about his silver hair, they’ll likely want to expedite the process. Currently, he holds the seost iial position in the kingdom, just below the king, who is seen as his uncle due to their age difference, and the princess, his cousin.”

  Victoria was momentarily stuhen burst into ughter, taking a big gulp from her gss. “Hahaha, you’re serious? They’ve already named him Archduke? I thought it’d take years before they made it official!”

  “He… was chosen as soon as they discovered he and his mother existed. He’s a human, so he tihe High Elf royal lineage if he marries another elf. Naturally, we wouldn’t pce that responsibility on Lady Katherine. She’s already had a child and lost her husband, so the political role has fallen to him.”

  Victoria pced her hand on her forehead, rubbing her face.

  "What will happen when everyone in your kingdom finds out he has silver hair? I know you value that more than anything," she asked, looking at me.

  I don’t even know how everyone else will react. I see Nathan as my apprentice, which is why I separate my role as his mentor from that of his guardian. I’m used to handling him without being blinded by idolization, but the other elves… they’ll see him as a sacred symbol the moment they discover his white-silver hair.

  “Nathan’s silver hair is actually white-silver, a urait of the royal family of High Elves. It’s the lightest shade pared to h Elves, who have silver-gray. Because of this, his hair is a sacred symbol. If they discover he ied it… they’ll want to take him immediately, as he’s the st of the sacred lineage of the inal family,” I said.

  Victoria chuckled. "Poor kid. But I'm holy surprised. Are you saying that this boy here could start a war with a single word, and you'd all follow?"

  "Of course! He's a direct desdant of the royal family and a High Elf of the sacred lineage. If the Archduke decided to ao one would question it."

  "Holy shit..." She took another sip. "So his silver hair gives him an even more sacred position. Could he even have more influehan Haiten?"

  I thought for a moment. "The king still has the final word, but Nathan's hair... makes him a sacred symbol in our culture. We'd protect him even if the king didn’t authorize it. Still, the king, the people, ahe guardians, are on his side. After all, Nathan embodies the sacred lineage. Our culture is our priority."

  Victoria poured me another drink. "Now I see why you were so nervous about dyeing his hair."

  I shivered at the thought of that crime. "His hair isn't fully silver... yet," I added, more to ease my guilt.

  Nathan ied the lightest silver hair possible from the High Elves. He represents the pinnacle of what all elves hold dear. He’s a desdant of the Great Elf Mother—the inal High Elf family who founded our culture—which makes him the st of the sacred line. Kinue’s demi-human nature makes her inpatible with the elves, and Katherine is cataloged as human. Due to his characteristiathan is more High Elf than human.

  Prihan is the ultimate symbol of our traditions, and his silver hair makes him an exceptionally sacred heritage. I just hope no one finds out we dyed it, as I don't want to be ned... or imprisoned...

  "The kid is like your boss, then? I know your kingdom has a different hierarchy than human nobility," Victoria pointed out.

  "Teically, yes, he is. But I’ve taken on the role of his tutor for years now, and it's up to me to gradually teach him the elven culture. You’re familiar with how our kingdom works. Unlike in the human realm, where dukes are essentially kings of their territories, in the elven realm, we’re one united people. Dukes oversee their regions, but their primary role is to serve as guardians of the royal family. So, I hold the guardian position for Nathan, Katherine, and Kinue. I’m thankful he’s an Evenhart, from a family that respects harmony with nature. I would hate for our prio be some spoiled noble or, even worse, one who despises other species."

  She nodded in agreement.

  "His mother and aunt didn’t want him to know about the ‘diplomatic crimes’ surrounding his existence or his royal heritage. We finally vihem yesterday, but just about the part where he's a diplomatic risk. We’re still keeping his royal lineage and political influence a secret," I said.

  My friend stroked her thoughtfully.

  “We’d be in a tough spot if that boy were a noble who opposed demi-humans, with the power of your kingdom and the support of the human kingdom behind him,” Victoria remarked.

  “Rest assured, he holds no prejudice against other races. The Evenhart family doesn’t discriminate and raised Kinue as if she were an heir. They even accepted a True Human as one of their own. I’ve known him for muy life; the monk lives there as an equal, even holding a military position in the duchy,” I replied.

  My friend stood up from her chair and stretched.

  “Hearing that eases my mind. I sehat the boy is good-hearted, and I hope he help us iure. Nathan could be the bridge we need between our peoples. Our enemy doesn’t care if our ears are round, pointed, or furry. They will e for us all the same.”

  So, it’s true. If she knows something, it means the rumors are credible.

  “You’ve also heard the rumors about the Human Empire?” I asked.

  Victoria walked to the window and drew the curtain closed. “Something is happening there,” she replied. “Things have ged withiheocracy, and the Song Dynasty grows more uable with their new cellor.”

  Their as have beeioely. The current administration leaves much to doubt.

  “The border flicts tinue, but we hold round. Do you think they’ll unch a full-scale attack again?” I questioned.

  “I don’t know, but Queen Agnes is ag more and more strangely… I suspect she’ll use the chaos to her advantage and won’t offer support if kingdoms he border call for help,” Victoria replied.

  “That’s not good.”

  We don’t have as much teology as the human kingdom; we heir help and the aerial support of their sky knights.

  "That woman is pying a different game, and she’s uable. The royal family’s obsession with trol has only intensified in this geion, and she’s the reason. The boy has that Special Eye, and for now, he’s uhat kingdom’s rule. We ’t risk letting him fall into the wrong hands or having aempt to take those eyes from him. We’re going to need all the help we get... And then there’s the Teocrad their strange maneuvers—I worry this might throw off all our previous redis." Victoria tinued, returning to her seat.

  "When do you think a war might break out? In fifty years... or maybe a little sooner?"

  She ughed softly.

  “I think we’re already in it. The only difference is that the enemy is still lurking in the shadows. The Human Empire... they’re preparing for something big.”