Exhaustion

The royal family in the north was in decline; their descendants were becoming less skilled in combat and magic, which was concerning because their hold on power meant control over all things.

At this moment, their power and weakness were noticeable, putting the King's thoughts at risk, as he currently believed someone wanted to dethrone him, which was true.

Damian, first and foremost, wanted to remove a king who didn't understand the changing war situation at all and could only listen to his servants' opinions.

The palace bureaucracy was full of various interest groups supporting different princes, leading to countless daily struggles.

When a dispute required the King to make a decision, he often based it on his likes and dislikes. This only served to please, avoiding any obvious solutions to prevent future problems.

Damian, who was not a politician at all, could see the deterioration of this place just by living here. There was no future with such an incompetent King; he didn't need a leader like him directing this place.

"Hey, Frieren, I'm going to need your help." Damian thought of something while they were meditating, recovering their exhausted mana.

"What do you need?"

"I'm going to become the Mage King of the North, so I'll need a queen. Have you read the story of Romeo and Juliet? We'll have to be the protagonists of that story." Damian didn't even think much about what he was saying.

Frieren was confused when she heard this. Did Damian want to experience a romantic drama and ask her to be the other half of the apple? "I don't understand what you mean."

"I need a queen."

"Then find one." Frieren returned to her point of meditation.

Damian opened his eyes and certainly, at times, believed that Frieren didn't process hints very well. "I need you to be my queen."

"Elves don't have romantic feelings," Frieren said, now understanding what Damian had been saying a moment ago.

"I don't need you to love me; I simply want you to be my queen, symbolically. If you want nothing more in a thousand years, then that's fine. I don't want a human wife because she would die soon; there's no better choice than you, and believe me, I've considered not bothering you."

Frieren remained silent; her question now was: Is there any problem with being a queen? If Damian said he wouldn't bother her, then it didn't seem like a bad idea. She had never thought of something like union, but it was interesting to try it once in her life.

"All great figures in history have a companion. I believe in my story; you are my companion." Damian knew he would need a woman by his side because soon there would be pressure for him to have descendants.

Many women had approached him in the city; he didn't want that, and to avoid it, he needed Frieren's help.

"What will I gain in return?" Frieren looked at Damian with a discreet gaze, but she was telling him to give her his magic books.

Damian understood, so he said, "When two people marry, their belongings are shared, so I don't think there's any problem with you using my magic books."

Frieren's ears perked up upon hearing this. She stood up and asked, "When do we get married?"

"We'll have to organize our city; all that will be much later." Damian hadn't expected Frieren to accept this, but he was glad she did.