Chapter 584: The Scales of Love

Lady Illucia had departed, with utmost discretion.

Neither her arrival nor her departure had alerted the Windrunner sisters.

Duke Marcus, as if nothing had transpired, continued to frolic around with Alleria and Vereesa.

It was only mid-December, by Lake Windrunner, that Duke Marcus, upon discovering a hot spring and spotting Alleria wrapped in a bath towel, had let his guard down momentarily, only to be caught by Sylvanas.

Once Duke Marcus had diverted the Windrunner sisters' attention using the World Tree, the conversation naturally shifted to Lord Daval Prestor.

"Wait, why would a human lord, owe a favor to Alexstrasza?" The mood was light until Sylvanas suddenly shifted her tone, "I heard even the innkeepers gossiping that Lord Daval Prestor might inherit the throne of Alterac and marry Jandice. Duke Marcus, would you really let Jandice marry this upstart who might become the next king of Alterac?"

Upon hearing this, Alleria's face darkened, emanating an aura that was reminiscent of a formidable warlord. She walked over and sat in front of Duke Marcus, her stance clearly demanding an explanation.

Duke Marcus, still nonchalant, chuckled, "You know, Alleria, you're pretty cute when you're angry."

"Don't sidetrack. You know what I'm asking," Alleria retorted, clearly irritated.

Vereesa interjected, "Sister, maybe Duke Marcus has his reasons."

"Hmph! Vereesa, stop being so accommodating. Your indulgence will only spoil him," Alleria scolded, turning her ire even on Vereesa, "Tell me, are you really not helping Jandice?"

Duke Marcus, raising his hands in a placating gesture, replied, "Wasn't our focus on the World Tree? How did we end up discussing Jandice?"

Alleria's anger intensified.

Resigning from his playful demeanor, Duke Marcus confessed, "Truth be told, Lady Illucia, Jandice's mother, approached me recently. The Barov family wishes for Jandice to be the Queen of Alterac and for me to be her consort, leveraging my influence as the Alliance's Lieutenant General against Terenas."

Alleria was taken aback. The idea of marriage being used as a political tool saddened her, and the audacity of the Alterac nobles infuriated her. Moreover, the proposition of Duke Marcus marrying Jandice? What does that mean for her and Vereesa?

As much as Alleria was torn, she also acknowledged the help Jandice had provided to Duke Marcus.

"Duke Marcus, are you… truly going to wed Miss Jandice?" Vereesa's voice quivered with emotion.

"How could I forsake you and Alleria for a mere kingdom?" With that, Duke Marcus pulled Vereesa close and shared a tender moment.

For the first time, Sylvanas didn't find Duke Marcus's affectionate gesture with her sister distasteful.

A mere kingdom?

The grand kingdom of Alterac, one of the Seven Kingdoms of Humanity, was dismissed as 'a mere kingdom' by Duke Marcus?

Any other man saying this would be dismissed as mere bravado.

But Duke Marcus was different. He truly had the credentials to be that king.

Yet, he declined.

Effortlessly declined.

How many could resist such temptation?

How many could remain rational in the face of immense power and prestige?

The casual manner in which Duke Marcus spoke conveyed an aura of a gallant hero, leaving the Windrunner sisters in awe.

Alleria, being the most mature of the sisters, realized the precarious nature of their relationship with Duke Marcus. Even if he were to declare marriage to the sisters, it might not be widely accepted or blessed by society at large.

She finally spoke, "So, our worth surpasses that of a king. What's your price then, Duke Marcus?"

Taken aback, Duke Marcus recognized Alleria's underlying sentiment. He took a moment, channeling his inner thespian.

Holding Vereesa's hand with his left and Alleria's with his right, he passionately declared, "Two genuine loves stand before me now, and I vow to cherish them. For if I were to lose them, the regret would be unbearable. If the fates demanded I weigh these loves, I'd counterbalance them with... the entirety of Azeroth. And if I must put a timeline on this love, let it be... ten thousand years!"

In this world, devoid of cinematic icons, no one had heard such a heartfelt proclamation. It was an original sentiment that resonated deeply.

Alleria, Vereesa, and even Sylvanas were stunned.

Time seemed to stop.

Tears welled up in Alleria's eyes.

Vereesa cried.

And Sylvanas, to everyone's surprise, followed suit.

Both the eldest and the youngest Windrunner sister found solace in Duke Marcus's embrace, while the middle sister rested her head on Alleria's back.