CHAPTER 45 : Bonds of Trust and Pressure
"Oh my god, this is crazy, Arthas, how do you know dragons!"
Muradin thought he would be able to brag about this experience when he returned home. It was so magical. The adventure team consisted of dwarves, humans, high elves, and even a dragon. Each of them was a famous figure: the younger brother of the dwarf king, the prince of the human kingdom, the ranger general of Quel'Thalas, and the black dragon princess! Oh my god, it was amazing!
"Arthas, is everything you say true?"
Alleria was somewhat doubtful. She realized that she really didn't understand this human prince.
"I can guarantee that what I say to you is sincere. I will not lie to you, nor do I need to. This mission has been perfectly completed, and we have even gained the goodwill of the red dragon. Without the red dragon's help, the orcs' attack will not be so fierce. Unite all the forces that can be united, and we will surely defeat the orcs!"
Arthas avoided the main point. It was not that he was unwilling to talk, but there were many secrets that it was better for the other party not to know.
"Give me a moment and I'll explain it to you."
Alleria stared at Arthas, the little prince of the human race. A mist shrouded the man, and she wanted to dispel the mist and see what secrets this man had. The more she discovered, the more curious she became. Why did he know so much? Why? Curiosity made her nod her head, "Okay, I promise you."
Muradin, on the other hand, is a man of few words. He is interested in adventure, exploration, and fighting, but not in love. Moreover, only female dwarves with thick arms and thighs are his favorites. Such high elves are not suitable for his aesthetic taste.
Onyxia took a deep look at her father who was fighting the four Dragon Aspects in the distance, then turned to look at Arthas, "You knew it from the beginning, why didn't you expose me? Was it to humiliate me?"
Her expression was somewhat miserable. Why was she so miserable? People bullied her everywhere. The human nobles wanted her body, her father exploited her labor and used her as a tool, and her brother only used her as a tool to make money. Everyone bullied her!
"No, I understand your situation."
Arthas held Alleria in one hand and Onyxia's small hand in the other, facing the dragon battle in the distance.
"As the crown prince of Lordaeron, I am under great pressure. You can see that the alliance countries have different ideas. Some want to seize more land, some are wary of their allies, and some are greedy and afraid of death. Even in Lordaeron, each lord owns a large piece of land, and even the king has no time to interfere. My father has high hopes for me. He revived the Kingdom of Lordaeron, and I can't let it fall on my hands. But some lords with ill intentions have begun to unite. What do they want? Overthrow the king's rule? Or undermine the king?"
Listening to Arthas's narration, the two girls looked at their held hands, looked at each other again, and turned their heads to look the other way at the same time. Arthas had completely brought their minds into his situation. In Arthas's words, Lordaeron looked good, but undercurrents were surging secretly. Many times, the king's orders were only broadcast in the city and nearby places, and they would be invalid if they were more than three days away. With external and internal troubles, he was under great pressure.
"You can't go too far, because you're not a king yet. But if you do something that changes the power and system of the nobility, even if you are a prince, you will be deposed. No one can stand up to the nobility. The king is also a noble, and the interests of the nobility are fundamental."
Onyxia said calmly, "So what are you going to do?"
"Strength!"
Arthas held the two girls in his arms, "I have a feeling that the future will not be peaceful. The corruption of the nobility needs to be eradicated thoroughly, and the good noble lords will be forced to go along with it. They enjoy everything they get for free and are sucking the blood of the kingdom. If the lords' coordination was not required for this mobilization of troops, the orcs would have been defeated long ago. A group of scattered sands cannot accomplish great things. After this war is over, I want to leave here and develop in another continent. Build my own kingdom, a kingdom that I can control. In the future, even if you face any threat, I will be able to protect you. Now, I need your help, can you help me?"
"I, I am willing, but Silver Moon City needs you to solve it."
Alleria leaned in the man's arms. At this moment, she didn't care about another woman sharing the man's arms with her. She had already had skin-to-skin contact with Arthas. Faced with such an adventurous life and the faces of the nobles of Silvermoon City, she didn't want to stay for a moment, but the Windrunner family was one of the nobles of Quel'Thalas, and she couldn't just leave like this. She hated the fact that the council ordered her around when it needed rangers, and cut the budget with harsh words when it didn't need them, but no matter what, that was her hometown. She didn't want to be a traitor and hoped to marry off with honor.
"What should I do about my father?"
Onyxia asked quietly. She was actually quite miserable. She was trained to be a tool from the beginning. There was not much affection between father and daughter, brother and sister. She even hated her father. He killed other female dragons and drove her mother away. Whether her mother was alive or dead was an unsolved mystery!
"The sins he committed can be judged by other Dragon Aspects. If he is destined to die, it is his own fault. He can definitely do better. If he is unwilling, I can give him a guiding light. It depends on whether he is willing. Whether to live or die is his own choice."
Arthas didn't lie. He didn't have much aversion to Deathwing, nor did he have any favorable feelings towards him. They were just using each other, it was that simple.
"I need to think about it."
Onyxia did not agree immediately, but needed to consider it. If it was a lie, she would agree immediately. But she did not say so. The favorability was there, and she did not want to deceive Arthas.
[System UI]. Complete the mission and save Onyxia from danger. Onyxia's favorability towards you increases by 60 points, currently at 65, and your reputation with the Black Dragon Legion is now Revered.
The moment of revelation hung heavy in the air, as Muradin's excitement bubbled over the group's extraordinary composition. He imagined the tales he'd spin back in his homeland, tales of unlikely allies banding together against a common foe. The dwarf's mind raced with the prestige such stories would bring, his stout frame practically vibrating with anticipation.
Alleria's skepticism was palpable, her sharp elven eyes narrowing as she assessed Arthas. The prince's enigmatic aura only deepened her intrigue, pulling her further into his orbit. She had always prided herself on her perceptiveness, yet this human continued to elude her understanding, layer upon layer of mystery unfolding.
Arthas's response was measured, his words carefully chosen to inspire confidence without revealing too much. He knew the value of secrets, especially in a world rife with betrayal and shifting allegiances. His gaze shifted to the distant clash of dragons, a reminder of the larger stakes at play.
Muradin remained detached from the emotional undercurrents, his focus squarely on the thrill of battle and discovery. Romance held no appeal for him; his heart belonged to the rugged beauty of his own kind.
Onyxia's vulnerability surfaced in her question, her voice laced with pain from years of manipulation. Arthas's empathy struck a chord, his grasp on her hand a silent promise of understanding. As he shared his burdens as crown prince, the weight of expectations and internal strife painted a vivid picture of his world. The girls' reactions were synchronized in their awkwardness, yet they couldn't deny the pull of his narrative.
Onyxia's insight into noble politics resonated with Arthas's ambitions, her calm demeanor belying the turmoil within. His embrace symbolized a shared resolve, his vision of a new kingdom a beacon of hope amid chaos.
Alleria's consent came with conditions, her loyalty to her homeland clashing with her desire for freedom. The council's hypocrisy fueled her resentment, yet familial ties bound her.
Onyxia's hesitation stemmed from deep-seated wounds, her father's tyranny a shadow over her life. Arthas's neutrality offered a path forward, leaving the choice to fate.
The system's notification marked a turning point, quantifying the shift in alliances and setting the stage for future endeavors. The group stood united, their bonds forged in the fires of revelation and shared vulnerability, ready to face the challenges ahead.