"Grand Elder?!"
The high-ranking elves scattered like mice spotting a cat. Even the blustering Chishi and son hung their heads and slunk aside, clearing a path for the grand elder and Serbei.
"Great Lord Sorola, thank you for showing mercy. Please accept my highest salute."
To the stunned generals, the grand elder bowed slightly in full elven honor. The old fox knew everything already—this performance dissolved the crisis while polishing his wise-leader image.
I returned the bow, playing along.
"No questions needed. This concerns Commander Xue Yan's privacy. I guarantee it has nothing to do with Lord Sorola."
The officers brimmed with doubt, but the grand elder's word was law. Zhan Ying, ever perceptive, stepped forward first to apologize.
Chishi and son followed under Serbei's cold glare, mumbling regrets.
"We were rude earlier. Please forgive us, Lord Sorola."
"Hahaha… no worries. Great men don't stoop to remember small slights."
Koman 's face twisted like he'd swallowed shit. He swallowed it anyway.
After they left, the grand elder led me to Xue Yan's room and firmly shut the door—giving every impression of a private threesome setup.
Xue Yan slept peacefully—azure hair splayed, snow-white skin glowing, innocent as a girl in her teens. Nothing like the rabid killer from before.
"This child is truly pitiful…"
"Skip the theatrics. Get to the point."
"Hmph. I'm only civil because you kept her secret. Don't push it. Xue Yan was once a candidate for saintess—her talent rivaled Jenna's. Her greatest dream was to become an archmage. But one mistake of mine… ruined her life."
"Even smart people screw up. Especially you—I get it."
"… …"
"… …"
"Shortly after the last great war with dark elves, while Martial Rost and Diyari clashed, I was still archer commander. Patrolling the forest, I found a wounded human officer. Moved by compassion, I brought him back…"
"Spare me. I can guess the rest."
"Shut up, brat. I've carried this three hundred years—let me finish. The man recovered and returned to his country. Poor Xue Yan waited faithfully for him to come back for her. He never did. Heartbreak crushed her. Forget saintess—her magic regressed massively. For three centuries, she advanced no further. I pulled strings to get her a minor post in mage-archers; she clawed her way to commander through sheer effort."
He paused, voice softening.
"Sorola… do you know why she tried to kill you?"
"Because the guy was handsome and roguish—like me?"
The old fox threw his head back and howled with laughter, dancing like a lunatic.
"HAHAHA! I thought you were some genius! Wrong—completely wrong. Simple reason: the man shared your surname. Rubia."
Everything clicked. I closed my eyes, silently reciting three centuries of Rubia family names from memory.
Got it. No wonder her breakdown. She hated Rubia men—yet burned with jealousy seeing Jenna as saintess at my side. Rage and envy reopened a 300-year wound, driving her to madness.
Laughter spent, the grand elder's face shifted to grandfatherly warmth. He sat beside Xue Yan, gently stroking her hair—Oscar-worthy transformation.
"Sorola, if possible… comfort this girl. Whatever reward you want, I'll do my best."
I gave a wry smile. Doing good deeds wasn't my style; responsibility toward women even less. Yet watching sleeping Xue Yan, I couldn't help feeling moved by a girl faithful for three centuries.
"Don't paint me greedy. I'll handle it. But after all this time dealing with you—I still don't know your name?"
For some reason, his face turned green. He rose silently, heading for the door.
"Sour…"
"What??"
"Sour Fox…"
He really was named Sour Fox? I burst out laughing as the door slammed.
"Awake?"
"Head… hurts…"
I crouched by the bed, watching Xue Yan stir. Elves healed fast—back to adorable, long ears twitching cutely.
"You… Sorola?"
"Forgotten already? Some things are better forgotten."
Her face blanked, then shifted—she remembered. Three centuries of damage plus torment had left her mentally fragile. Performing basic magic in that state was already miraculous; her original potential must have rivaled Jenna's.
I smiled, slipped under the covers, and lay beside her.
"Ah?! What are you—don't come closer!"
"Quiet."
Ignoring protests, I pinned her gently and pulled the blanket over us. She struggled, but I held firm.
"Relax. I'm lustful, not a rapist. Look up."
"Up?"
She glanced at the massive hole in the ceiling—stars glittering through.
"Good. Now answer: how long since you had sweet dreams?"
"… I… forgot."
"Same here."
I crossed hands behind my head, stargazing. I hadn't watched stars in over four years.
"Kimis Rubia?"
"The grand elder told you everything?"
"Heh heh… that old fox only gave half. Made me guess the rest."
"Heh heh heh… the grand elder never jokes. You two must get along well."
"Bullshit. How could I get along with that stinky old fox? Think I'm centuries old?"
"Stinky… fox?"
Xue Yan fell silent, then burst into unladylike laughter. Relief washed over me. She laughed long, then quieted, stargazing again.
"Kimis Rubia—direct Rubia heir three hundred years ago. Two sons: Xuelet and Xuejet. Two daughters: Shayan and Yanmini."
"… …"
"When I first arrived at Gaia, I wondered if I should take Jenna to the Empire with me. Elves are pure-hearted—nature suits them better than human society."
Ten minutes of silence. We drowned in separate memories. Xue Yan's case reminded me of someone—Cecilis.
Xue Yan broke it first.
"Fuck me."
"Scared of you?"
Compared to humans, elves felt fragile—yet deep contact revealed inner strength. Xue Yan differed from Jenna: both inexperienced, but Xue Yan followed raw feeling.
"Take me… hurry…"
Under relentless finger work, she begged easily. But after her assassination attempt? No way I'd let her off lightly. A man who didn't make her beg for life and death had no face left.
"Want it bad?"
"Give it… stop teasing…"
I pinned her, whispering in her ear:
"Heh heh… sorry. I'm used to women begging me to fuck them."
"No… how could I…"
"Don't want it? Fine. I'll go find Jenna."
"Don't leave me! Please… don't abandon me again!"
Xue Yan thrashed—not resisting me, but old pain resurfacing. She couldn't bear solitude again.
This was the moment. I held her gently, blowing softly on her pointed ear.
"I won't leave you. Swear yourself my slave—I'll stay with you forever."
"Really?"
"Cross my heart."
"I… beg… noble Master… to use… this filthy slave's body…"
She finished—I claimed her mouth in a fierce kiss. My impatient cock plunged into her long-neglected paradise.
Her body and mind remained teenage-frozen—she felt exactly like deflowering a young maiden.
"Master… don't leave me… don't abandon me…"
Amid thrusts, Xue Yan met me eagerly, legs wrapping my waist—more obedient than Jenna.
A woman faithful three centuries despite heartbreak? Xue Yan was worth cherishing.
"Master… oh… what is… ahhh!!"
Climax hit—eyes confused, body convulsing violently. Her first orgasm ever.