Lego gently stroked his daughter's hair, his heart aching as he gazed at her fair, delicate face, fragrant and streaked with tears.
"Lord Lian has changed his mind today. He's likely leaving soon, so we can't stay with you any longer."
"It's alright..."
Celia nestled in her father's embrace, his caring words warming her heart.
Just as she closed her eyes, she suddenly felt her father fiddling with something. Curious, she looked down.
In his open palm lay a green crystal orb and a ring.
"This is a treasure passed down to the clan leader. You must take this and give it to him."
Celia took it with both hands, her fingers brushing the smooth surface of the orb.
It felt impeccably polished, as if crafted by a master artisan with precision tools—or perhaps even smoother.
"And this is the ring," her father said with a smile, picking up the other item. "Remember to put it on your husband when you meet him."
"My... husband..."
"Can we not call him that? It feels a bit strange..."
Having never had a girlfriend in her two lifetimes, she suddenly had a husband...
"Haha, I know you still feel like a boy inside, but you'll get used to it. I've had the fortune to speak with Lord Lian a few times. Though his attitude isn't the best, I can sense he bears no ill will toward our elven clan."
"Just spend some time together, and it'll be fine."
"Alright, time is running short. Hurry up and go. They've been urging us." Lego patted her shoulder and stood up.
"Should I take you there, or should your brother go with you?"
At the mention of leaving, Celia's eyes instantly filled with panic.
"Can't you all come with me?"
Her brother chimed in, "Celia, Lord Lian dislikes noise. He doesn't want too many people around. How about I take you there?"
"Alright... thank you, brother. I'll go with you..."
After a long talk with her parents and receiving some instructions from the elven clan leader, her mother hugged her tearfully before she left.
Once everything was settled, she finally stepped out of the house.
Walking along the path through the sea of flowers, the fragrance filled the air.
Selya's heart pounded with nervousness, her petite frame pressed closely against her brother, yearning to soak up as much familial warmth as she could in these final moments.
A few days ago, she had witnessed the man's sudden attack on the elven clan firsthand, and his aura had been nothing short of terrifying.
Her uncle, who had always been far stronger than her with his second-tier magical abilities, had stood before Rian. With just a flick of his sleeve, Rian had sent her uncle collapsing to the ground.
That level of terror.
As a fellow elf, how would she be treated in Rian's presence?
Would she truly be able to live peacefully as his wife, as her parents had said?
Or would she be slaughtered the moment her brother left?
At the thought, her legs grew weak as she gazed at the path ahead, leading closer and closer to the forest cabin. She tried to cling to her brother's arm, burying her face in it.
"What's wrong, my dear sister?" Her brother paused his steps.
His tone was gentler than usual, perhaps because Selya had become a girl.
Come to think of it, her brother had always wanted a sister.
It was just a shame that elves had such poor fertility.
"Brother... to be honest, I'm a little scared..."
"He's Rian, a fifth-tier demon."
"If I don't serve well, will he torture me…"
She had already asked the clan leader this question, yet Celia remained unsettled. In her family, she had always been the pampered one. Even after twenty years, in the eyes of long-lived elves, she was still just a child. Suddenly leaving such a sheltered environment filled her with a strong sense of withdrawal.
Her brother said calmly, "He wouldn't dare. I'll come visit you often."
"Better not… Brother…" she refused. Celia wanted her brother by her side now, yet she was also afraid—afraid that her loving brother might clash with that man. If that happened, her brother would surely suffer badly.
After complaining to her brother for a while, she continued walking onward. Bathed in warm sunlight, the two soon passed through a sea of flowers and crossed a field of withered, golden grain. At the edge where the forest met the fields, a large house came vaguely into view.
It was originally a small, rundown wooden cabin, but after being renovated by the clan a few days ago, it had taken on its current appearance—almost like a villa. It was far more luxurious than the clan leader's own house. The elves didn't live in such houses because building and maintaining them consumed too much natural magic. They had to remain vigilant against human invasions and couldn't afford such extravagance. But now, with Lian stationed here, their concerns had lessened.
"Um… Brother, maybe you should just see me off here." Even though she was deeply reluctant, Celia let go of her brother's arm. Holding his arm—if she were still a boy, she would never have dared to act so boldly. But now that she had become a female elf, perhaps she could allow herself a little willfulness. She truly adored her brother; he had always been so gentle, regardless of her gender.
"How could I rest easy like this? Let's keep going. I'll take you inside."
"No need, Brother. Didn't you say he prefers quiet? If I go alone, he might be in a better mood." Celia fabricated a reason on the spot to brush him off. She had to face this alone; she absolutely didn't want to drag her brother into it.
"Is that so?" Her brother suddenly understood and, surprisingly, agreed straight away. "Then go on your own. I won't hold you back."
"Remember to obey him. Just go along with whatever he says normally. Once the baby is born, you won't have to stay with him anymore. It won't be long—just a few years at most."
A few years...
Hearing this, she bit her lower lip, feeling very unhappy about those words. Hmm… come to think of it, for an elf, that really isn't long at all…
Wait!
Once she becomes his wife, how can she possibly return?!
After all, becoming a wife was just to strengthen the bond between the elves and Lian, right? Did she really have to act like a wife?
...
...
...
Celia arrived at a wooden door nestled beside the shade of a tree. When she looked back, her brother was already out of sight. A sense of helplessness washed over her, her eyes stung, but she held back her tears. She rarely cried before.
Placing a hand over her wildly beating heart, she took a deep breath, raised her hand, and gently knocked on the door, calling out softly:
"Li… LianSir… Lord Lian, are you there?"
"Tap, tap, tap…"
"Lord Lian…!"
After calling for a while, she finally heard slow footsteps approaching. Nervously, she took a step back.
"Creak…"
The next moment, the door before her swung open.
The man's tall figure completely blocked the girl's view. Celia held her breath and timidly looked up. His face was pale as paper, devoid of any expression, his eyes cold and impatient. With just one glance, she was completely overwhelmed by his intimidating presence. Flustered, she lowered her head, her voice trembling:
"Um… L-Lord Lian… I… I am your wife."
"Where is it?" Lian's tone was icy. He ignored her words and instead held out a hand, gesturing impatiently.
"Th-the thing…"
Celia was stunned for a moment before she understood. She reached into her pocket, pulled out a crystal ball, tightly closed her eyes, and held it out to him.
A cold touch brushed her palm, and the weight vanished—the crystal ball had been taken.
"Good."
"Alright, come in. I'll impregnate you today."