Chapter 583: A King? I'm Not Interested

Illucia was a bit taken aback.

It seemed Duke was not as disinterested in the Alliance's internal affairs as the rumors suggested.

According to the Alliance decree signed at the time, from the moment the Dark Portal was destroyed and the Horde defeated, both Anduin and Duke lost the authority to command their respective troops. All Alliance military ranks were temporarily frozen, only to be reactivated when a new threat arose, necessitating the activation of the Alliance military pact.

This was merely in the military realm. In the eyes of the various kings, there were only two supreme commanders of the Alliance: Anduin Lothar and Duke Marcus. Magni Bronzebeard was competent, but he was merely 'competent' and not a true supreme commander.

However, after Duke led his armies to rescue numerous kingdoms, almost every nation within the Alliance of Eleven Nations owed him a favor. This was the primary reason why the Barov family was eager to bring Duke into the Alterac fold.

After the grain purchasing incident, Illucia had not paid particular attention to Duke. It felt as if, in a mere blink, the young man who once seemed so naive -- the lad whom King Llane had hastily conscripted and dubbed a duke -- had grown into a giant, a figure that both the Barov lineage and Alterac had to look up to.

Now, when Duke boldly uttered the name that the entire Barov family and the remnants of Alterac feared, Illucia understood that Duke was not content being just the Duke of Stormwind.

Lady Illucia felt a complex surge of emotions.

Duke's almost prophetic foresight, which had been proven time and again, also made the entire Barov family anxious. Even her husband, Alexei, had personally said that even if they successfully married Duke into the Barov family, they couldn't determine if it would be a blessing or a curse.

Regrettably, the current threat from Lordaeron was the most pressing. Considering Duke's gracious aid to Quel'Thalas despite past grievances, Illucia could only bet on Duke being a truly noble individual.

Lady Illucia sighed, "Since you already know, I ask you, as the mother of Jandice, to tell me personally: What should Alterac do? Lord Prestor has impeccable identification documents. Unless we plunge into civil war, Alterac can only watch as an unknown becomes the King of Alterac with Lordaeron's backing, subsequently selling out Alterac's interests. Perhaps in ten years, or twenty, Alterac will become a mere province of Lordaeron."

Duke tapped his right index finger lightly on the armrest of the sofa. Lady Illucia proved more astute than he had expected. Had she inquired in the name of the 'Barov family', he would've sidestepped the question using his 'Duke of Stormwind' title.

However, she played the emotional card of Jandice right from the start. Although this slightly irked Duke, he couldn't ignore it, especially considering Jandice's dedicated service to him for so long, working tirelessly despite her noble heritage.

Duke sighed and counter-questioned, "Before I answer your query, I'd like to ask you as Jandice's semi-mentor and friend: What kind of king do you think Terenas Menethil II is?"

Illucia paused for a moment before replying, "A third-rate military leader, a first-rate politician. As long as Lordaeron's core interests aren't challenged, he is a compassionate elder."

Illucia's response was clever, revealing her views without overly disparaging a major kingdom's monarch.

Duke leaned back on the sofa, his left hand supporting his chin, hinting at something, "Since we both regard him as a top-tier politician, do you think Terenas would allow his endorsed candidate to waste ample time clashing with the Barovs? Remember, the nobility of Alterac has been almost entirely wiped out, leaving only the Barov family."

"So what? Be it General Haas or the Barov family, we have cleansed the shame brought by King Aiden's betrayal with our actions," Lady Illucia argued.

Duke remained silent.

Out of desperation, Illucia played what she thought was her trump card, "For the sake of the Barov family aiding you and Stormwind back in the day, for Jandice's sake, can't you assist Alterac just once? If we strategize well, we can make Jandice the queen, and you, the king of Alterac."

His serene gaze, eyes that seemed to penetrate every secret, made Illucia's heart race. She suddenly realized that Duke might be someone who wouldn't be swayed by the mere interests of Alterac.

With a gentle flip of Duke's right hand, a map showcasing the entire southern continent appeared. Moments later, regions including East Elwynn, East Duskwood, Redridge Mountains, and Deadwind Pass were marked with his Stormwind flag. Both the Swamp of Sorrows and the Blasted Lands were highlighted in light blue.

He then uttered a statement that left Illucia nearly shattered, "If I wished, with just a word, both Varian and Lothar would support me in establishing a nation with these regions."

Jandice gasped in astonishment.

She couldn't help her shock; this territory was at least twice the size of Alterac.

Would King Llane truly trust Duke to this extent?

With a wave of his hand, the map vanished. Duke interlocked his fingers, resting them against his chin, staring intently at Lady Illucia.

"But I've never had such intentions. Given the inevitable approach of the Third Dark Portal War, the idea of establishing a nation is superficial. You don't comprehend what Azeroth faces. If you saw what I've seen, you'd know Lordaeron's covetousness for Alterac is merely a minor, unspoken matter."

Duke wasn't trying to intimidate Lady Illucia. In this world, not even the Bronze Dragonflight's Nozdormu could surpass Duke. Duke was intimately familiar with Azeroth's historical progression, while Nozdormu's glimpses into the future came at a cost.

Illucia bit her lip, seemingly still unsatisfied, "Are you truly unwilling to assist the Barovs?"

Duke remained silent for a long while, with only the soft crackling of the fireplace breaking the silence.

After what felt like an eternity, Duke finally spoke, "I promise that, in the end, I will assist the Barov family."

Illucia's expression changed drastically. She didn't know what 'in the end' meant, but at face value, it at least guaranteed the safety of herself, her husband, and Jandice.

But if the Barovs lost the fertile lands of Hillsbrad Foothills, lost Caer Darrow, lost Dalaran, would they still be the Barovs they once were?

Illucia stood abruptly, "If you, Lord Marcus, have no sincerity, then please excuse my departure."