Chapter 668: Valentine's Day in Azeroth

Meanwhile, across Lordaeron, there were widespread incidents of people freezing to death.

Apart from the Tirisfal Glades region and the holy city of Stratholme, most of Lordaeron's map had suffered the scourge of the orcs. The Silverpine Forest was scorched to ashes by flame tactics, and the Eastern Regions (later known as the Eastern and Western Plaguelands) were almost without a single intact town due to the havoc wreaked by an orcish detachment before the attack on Quel'Thalas.

The populace could only huddle together in dilapidated houses, shivering in their scant clothing.

The latest count put the number of civilians who died this winter at the ten-thousand level.

Upon hearing this news, King Thoras of Stromgarde was suddenly immensely grateful. He had also heard of Duke's modular housing method, but alas, the ill-prepared people of Stromgarde couldn't make use of it.

Duke gave him a tip — prohibit the people from returning to the Arathi Highlands before spring. A large number of civilians were accommodated in the refugee camp of the Hillsbrad Foothills, once part of the kingdom of Stormwind.

Here, at least, there were nearly perfect living conditions and the stored grain that the kingdom of Stormwind couldn't take with them.

Speaking of storage, it was actually the emergency provisions hidden away by the Barov family over the years. Pressured by Terenas to leave their lands, the Barovs couldn't take much with them. Since the Barov family was determined to side with Duke, the disposal rights of these provisions naturally fell to Duke.

Duke did a favor for the Stromgarde people with the flow.

In Southshore, looking southwards, King Thoras's cloak flapped in the cold wind. He suddenly declared loudly, "Duke — this kindness, we people of Stromgarde will keep in our hearts forever! From generation to generation!"

Behind him, hundreds of Stromgarde warriors shouted in unison:

"Kept in heart — from generation to generation —"

On February 15th, standing atop a peak of the Redridge Mountains, Llane suddenly asked, "By the way, what is Duke doing now?"

"He's teaching students. Heard he made the little princess of Kul Tiras throw up," shrugged Anduin.

"That quick?" It wasn't just Llane; the gossip-hungry souls of the surrounding ministers were also set ablaze.

"No, it's because she saw blood for the first time," Anduin corrected.

"Of course, there would be blood the first time," Llane commented with a knowing look.

Only the young Prince Varian was confused, looking left and right, not understanding what these mysteriously whispering adults were talking about.

"It's not what you think," Anduin realized he had inadvertently made things worse and couldn't help but roar in frustration, "Go find out for yourselves, I'm done with this mess."

This left Llane and the ministers stunned.

Duke, what in the world are you up to?

February 14th, Year 3 after the Dark Portal.

Once a year, a certain Duke, who had never even touched a girl's hand and had a dark psyche, vowed to use his power to name every February 14th as "Lovers Go to Hell Day".

Later, because the man successfully courted the Windrunner sisters, he shamelessly used his power to persuade King Llane in January, "Llane! I always feel that the population loss in the kingdom of Stormwind is too severe. To cultivate a qualified soldier, you first need a qualified young male. From infant to adult warrior, it takes at least 16 years."

"Are you suggesting we encourage childbirth? The ministers have discussed this with me, but didn't you say the state can't provide more money as a reward to encourage reproduction?"

"No, we don't need money. We can make February 14th Valentine's Day. That day, except for the soldiers on duty, all soldiers can take a day off."

"Why 'Valentine's Day'?" Llane was curious.

"Ah! To fight against the evil orc invaders, countless brave men have not yet sired offspring before courageously heading to the battlefield. How many men have spilled their blood on foreign soil, never to return home to reunite with their beloved girls. Don't you think this is a great tragedy?"

Seeing Duke place one hand over his chest and stretch out the other, assuming the posture of a minstrel reciting poetry, the corner of Llane's eyes twitched violently.

"It's an unavoidable thing in the fight against the Horde."

"Right! But now that the war is over, don't you think we should properly compensate our warriors? We still have at least thirty percent of soldiers who must stay in barracks or go out on patrols all winter. You know, for a long time to come, we must maintain at least a hundred thousand standing troops. Just imagine, tens of thousands of soldiers have been pent up all winter, and then suddenly it's announced they can take a holiday to reunite with their loved ones. What do you think will happen?" Duke smirked wickedly.

Alright, that image is too beautiful, oh, too blinding, and even the normally serious Llane couldn't help but hold his forehead.

However, in this era, there were no 'Deathly Hallows' of Earth—Durex, Okamoto, and Trojan. These three reapers prevented billions of humans from being born.

On Earth, statistics had already shown that starting in February, ten months later, the highest number of babies were born in December...

Llane turned his head with a bitter smile towards Anduin, who was also massaging his temples: "What do you think?"

Losar could only respond with a bitter smile, "From a military discipline standpoint, this is terrible, but in the long run, it's beneficial for the country, I can only agree. Anyway, those youngsters below will definitely cheer."

Thus, on January 25th, the kingdom of Stormwind officially declared February 14th of each year to be Valentine's Day, allowing soldiers to take a three-day leave, or to take turns taking leave before or after. The aim was to allow the brave soldiers to reunite with their loved ones after enduring tough training and battles.

You must understand, in this age, professional soldiers had very few rest days and no fixed holidays. The term of service was also generally over 15 years.

In ancient Rome on Earth, professional soldiers had to serve for 25 years before they could retire. For the sake of war, the kingdom of Stormwind had sent more than a third of its men to the army. Although the war was essentially over, most of these soldiers had signed military oaths with the kingdom.

Now, with the sudden release of this announcement, the nation erupted in cheers.

Jaina arrived in the kingdom of Stormwind by boat on February 1st, ostensibly to study, but in reality, Daelin sent her over with the air of marrying off a daughter.

The belongings and servants that accompanied her filled three large ships, plus a two-hundred-strong elite guard, and yes, a few ceremonial officers, just in case something happened and the wedding could be held on the spot.

Duke protested sternly, saying this wasn't apprenticeship, this was selling a daughter.

Daelin and Llane, the two old foxes, paid little heed, tacitly understanding each other.

On February 12th, a convoy of a whopping eighty carriages traveled along the newly constructed cement road to Karazhan. And the third day just happened to be the official Valentine's Day announced by the kingdom of Stormwind.

On February 14th, Valentine's Day, sitting in the newly renovated reception hall of Karazhan, Jaina, clad in a perfectly tailored mage's robe, felt something special was bound to happen today.

Because in the official notice given to her by Kadgar today, it just so happened to be the first lesson Duke would teach her...