--- CHAPTER 3: The Perks of Being a Nephew ---
My little display of divine power had the intended effect. No one asked about the sudden burst of holy light. In their minds, I was the Crown Prince, and this was simply me coming into my power. That's all. Lordaeron is the strongest kingdom, and I am its heir. If the prince suddenly manifests the power of a demigod, you don't question it—you just try to get on his good side.
And just like that, the "termites" were back to scurrying, but their focus had shifted. I was no longer just the puppet prince; I was a prize commodity. Many great lords were suddenly looking at their daughters, then at me, then back at their daughters, their minds humming with calculations. At the age of nineteen, I was well past the age to be betrothed. At this age, many commoners were already fathers of several children. This was the moment to forge an alliance, and I had just announced I was the best one on the market.
"Arthas, congratulations."
A gentle voice broke me from my father-son political maneuvering. I turned, and there she was. Jaina Proudmoore, all of eighteen years old, looking at me with those wide, intelligent almond eyes. In the game, she was a simple (if pretty) pixelated model. In reality? Damn. She was still a very simple and intelligent girl, but she was also a knockout. Her father controlled the most powerful naval fleet of mankind, plus she was beautiful and had excellent magical talent. These were all her proud capital.
"Jaina," I said, my voice softer. "Congratulations, I have never forgotten our vows."
And to prove it, right there in front of God, my father, and a thousand gossiping nobles, I pulled her into a hug. It wasn't a chaste, childhood-friends pat on the back. I wrapped my arms around her, pulling her flush against my chest, and inhaled the scent of sea salt and parchment from her hair.
The nobles around us all exclaimed. Is this considered a commitment? You bet your ass it is. A noble has only one wife, who is legitimate, and the child born is also the heir. As for the lover? That is just an inferior status.
Jaina blushed a deep crimson and leaned on my shoulder. She was smart, but she didn't know that this was just part of my plan. After all, marrying a white, rich and beautiful woman who can also get help from her family is a no-brainer. I am not the Arthas in the game. That guy let a prize like this slip through his fingers. Even if it is a sugar-coated bullet, I will peel off the sugar coating, eat it, and then shoot the bullet back!
"Arthas," she whispered, clearly flustered.
"When I'm done with this period of time, I will go to Dalaran to find you," I murmured back, just for her. I will not let Jaina go. I will train her to be my most loyal woman, so there is no need to worry about the so-called betrayal. The Jaina in the plot was not pursued by Arthas; leaving a beautiful girl alone like that? Well, there is something wrong with it.
"Well, I'll listen to you," she said, her voice muffled by my tunic. I could feel the jealous eyes of many women on her back, which made her a little flustered and a little proud. Her boyfriend is the prince of Lordaeron, the prince of the strongest kingdom of mankind!
I gave her one last squeeze before releasing her. On the high dais, my father, Terenas, was beginning to introduce the night's other guests of honor.
"Friends, allies! Tonight, we welcome the honored Queen Taria of Stormwind Kingdom and the crown prince, Varian!"
We were "welcoming" them, but in reality, we were using their arrival to discuss alliance matters. After all, Stormwind Kingdom has been destroyed, and these people can be regarded as refugees, forced to rely on us for support. If it weren't for Lothar and his bloodline—which originated from the first emperor of mankind, Thoradin—they might have been annexed already.
I stood quietly and listened, turning my head to look at Varian. He was also looking at me. We were friends, more or less. But my eyes soon fell on the Storm Queen, who had always maintained her wisdom and elegance.
And I felt my shameless, reincarnated brain short-circuit.
Gurgle. I literally swallowed my own saliva.
Queen Taria was... wow. She was as elegant as my own mother, but where Lianne was soft and regal, Taria was all mature, beautiful aura. She was a beautiful, generous mature woman who had a fatal attraction for a man of my age. She had a plump and voluptuous body, a faint elegant smile at the corners of her mouth, and faint crow's feet at the corners of her eyes that only made her fair and beautiful face more attractive and sexy against the gorgeous jewelry.
I mean... damn. That is a Queen. The elegance, the power... the curves. It's almost not fair. She makes my own mother look... well, equally stunning, but in a different, less "I-will-step-on-you-and-you-will-like-it" way.
I had never had a desire like this before. This was the ambition that came with the increase in strength! A capable man should have more women, more females! At this moment, I knew clearly what I wanted: power, wealth, and women!
As I was greeting various nobles, lost in my new, ambitious haze, a sudden, powerful scent of sea breeze and expensive rum cut through the hall's stuffy air.
"Oh, little prince!"
A booming, cheerful voice echoed through the room. Before I could even turn around, a voluptuous, commanding woman burst in and enveloped me in her arms. In an instant, she pulled me close, pressing my face firmly against her ample bosom with unbridled enthusiasm, while she nuzzled her stunning face into my hair.
My senses were overwhelmed by a plush, warm, intoxicating haze—soft, fragrant, and just a touch suffocating. Her form-fitting jacket accentuated her curvaceous figure, making her look irresistibly seductive, especially those full, heaving breasts. The deep cleavage between them was a tempting abyss, drawing the eye and stirring forbidden thoughts.
Gulp... So incredibly soft. Stay composed, Arthas. Remember: public decorum.
"I just heard about your promotion," she murmured into my hair, her voice muffled yet thrilled. "That's incredible! What reward would you like? A grand ship, or perhaps a lavish pearl necklace?"
I finally managed to extract my head, gasping slightly. "Ahem, auntie," I said, straightening my tunic. "I was planning to look for you. Come, sit down. It must be very tiring to travel. I've saved your favorite rum!"
"So good!" Priscilla didn't mind the eyes of the crowd and gave me a sweet kiss. A kiss from mouth to mouth.
Whoa. Okay.
The other nobles were a little used to it. No one dared to say anything to Lady Ashvane. This was my mother's sister. She controlled 90% of the maritime trade in the human kingdom. She was a real rich woman. She was also my aunt, and she was so enthusiastic about me that no one dared to have any objections. The lady had no son, but a daughter, so she loved me, who had been sweet-mouthed and filial to her since childhood, spoils me more than her own child.
In my opinion, this aunt is really good to me. And in the game, she becomes a big villain. If I don't use such a powerful villain, I'll be sorry for myself!
Not to mention that I really miss the lady's cleavage, which is too big and too soft. It is estimated that it takes two hands to hold it! At least. Maybe a helper.
--- END OF CHAPTER 3 ---