Chapter 405: A Crying Heart

This was a grand victory banquet, with no less than a thousand guests in attendance.

However, not many were gathered around Duke.

The terrifying feat of a single flag causing an army to retreat was intentionally downplayed and weakened by the officials. Many local nobles who were unaware of the internal reasons didn't know that the unexpected victory of the elves was due to Duke. Moreover, Duke's status was too high - the Deputy Commander of the Alliance, commanding kings under his banner. Theoretically, after Quel'Thalas joined, the Mage Corps would also be provided for Duke's use.

As a result, those who dared to show up in front of Duke were at least landowners or councilors.

Duke, with a formulaic smile, dealt with them.

However, Duke could instinctively sense the contempt emanating from their bones. At first, one or two could be considered misunderstandings, but later, even Kael'thas, who was by Duke's side, looked unhappy. This was because more than one councilor couldn't resist trying to probe Duke with their arcane powers, seemingly wanting to know how Duke, with his weak Morningstar Mage strength, managed to rise to the position of Deputy Commander of the Alliance.

You should know, unless an elf Morningstar Mage is of noble birth and has enough seniority, they can't even secure a councilor position in the Silvermoon Council.

Every one of these individuals who made a move had their claws chopped off by Duke.

Just like rock-paper-scissors, no matter what form of arcane power you have, Duke could find a countermeasure in less than a tenth of a second.

From then on, they began to take Duke seriously, who was excessively young from both human and elf perspectives.

However, Duke's focus was on Alleria.

With the help of the system elf's voice filtering and amplification, Duke heard what the elves surrounding Alleria were saying.

"Alleria, my niece! I heard you're going to serve that human lord. Are you going to gain a title? Have you decided where your fief is?"

"Alleria, are you going to marry that young Deputy Commander of the Alliance? I'm so envious of you..."

After listening for a while, Duke finally understood. These were middle and lower-class elf nobles who had some familial ties with the Windrunner family.

Unlike those high and mighty nobles who put on airs, the ones who suffered the most from this disaster were these nobles whose territories were in the southern part of Eversong Woods.

The forest, unchanged for thousands of years, was destroyed, a large number of their subjects were killed, and it seemed that the royal family and council members, who also suffered heavy losses, had no plans to support these unfortunate nobles. Hard times in the future were foreseeable.

Quel'Thalas was also in an awkward geographical position, occupying the northernmost part of the continent, bordering the most powerful human kingdom, Lordaeron, to the south.

There was no room for territorial expansion.

Unable to survive, the people naturally thought of change. They came to Alleria with a hopeful attitude to test the waters.

Alleria was embarrassed. In fact, her decision to follow Duke was only made in the past few days. As for what position she would hold after the so-called service, whether there would be a title, she had no idea. Of course, she understood that Duke wouldn't neglect her and her sisters, but she had been so busy these days, and then that incident happened...

Seeing Alleria stunned, the expressions of these relatives varied: curiosity, expectation, fake smiles, perfunctory, meaningful... but most of them were skeptical.

There was no precedent

in the human world for granting titles to other races.

Perhaps, she was just being used to risk her life for the humans?

At this moment, Duke approached. He was still ten steps away when he began to speak with a smile, "Ah, my Lady Countess, you're here!"

Lady Countess?

This noble title, was it for Alleria?

No matter the country, anyone who could rise to the rank of count could definitely not be considered a minor noble.

At this point, a female elf asked half-jokingly and half-seriously, "Your Grace, Duke Marcus, Alleria is the most beautiful and formidable Ranger General of our Windrunner family. You must not slight her. Don't tell us that Alleria won't even get a piece of land."

"Impossible! Alleria is my most important person." Duke was not vague, and in front of these long-eared folks, he pulled out a land deed with King Llane's signature and the royal seal.

Seeing the theoretically vast territory that Duke had, all the elves around were taken aback.

"Alright, as you wished, let me tell you, the territory of my Lady Countess of East Elwynn Forest is here." Duke gently took Alleria's hand with his left hand, and with his right hand, he circled a spot on the map.

This circle nearly scared the elves to death.

According to the map's markings, this was already a forest of over a thousand square kilometers. This wasn't a count's territory, even calling it a duke's territory would be an understatement.

Had Alleria become a landowning duchess in the human kingdom?

This news was like a stone causing a thousand ripples. If it weren't for the fact that the old territory of Stormwind was still in a state of decline, the elves would probably be in an uproar.

However, this was hope!

Duke came lightly, left lightly, leaving behind a strong impression, and a group of even more eager Windrunner relatives.

Late into the night, after the banquet ended, Duke returned to the state guesthouse, only to find that Gavinrad had awkwardly left the vicinity of his room.

This could only mean one thing: Alleria had arrived.

From inside the room came the melodious sound of a harp. The combination of a ranger and a harp was the best, as the heavens had gifted them the most flexible fingers. The advanced finger techniques required to pluck the strings were as easy as eating and drinking.

However, unlike any other piece Duke had listened to before, the harp sound under the night sky was indeed melodious and delicate, but it seemed to be telling an endless sad story.

"Alleria, what happened?"

Putting down the harp and gently walking to Duke, Alleria directly embraced Duke. Duke could clearly feel the rapidly spreading wetness on his shoulder.

"My parents died in battle."

A soft sentence, like a bolt from the blue to Duke. According to Duke's memory of Alleria's history, it should have been her youngest brother, Lirath, who died in battle. Now Lirath was fine, Duke had confirmed this before the banquet, who would have thought that it was her parents who had sacrificed themselves?

"Haven't I repeatedly urged you to evacuate your relatives?" Duke's body trembled with Alleria.

"Yes, they actually arrived in Silvermoon City early, but they went back without our knowledge. As Ranger Lords..." Alleria choked, "I know, it's their responsibility, it's their honor, but I... I just can't control myself... Tonight, I was so upset I was about to go crazy, but I had to put on the most dignified and noble demeanor, put on a smiling face to greet the guests, and deal with those distant relatives who can't make ends meet..."