Chapter 152: Why Elaria Become Luke Bride.
After standing there for a moment. She simply shook her head.
There was little point dwelling on it. Quietly, she turned around and returned to her duties.
Meanwhile...
Haldir continued walking through the palace corridors with an expressionless face.
However, inside the sleeve of his royal robe, his hand slowly crushed the newspaper.
The paper crumpled into a ball and the next instant.
A strand of emerald aether silently emerged. Without leaving behind even a single fragment. The newspaper turned to dust.
"Hmph." A cold snort escaped his lips.
"A mere low-born human. actually believes he is worthy of my sister."
"What a laughable dream." His emerald eyes narrowed with unconcealed disgust as he continued toward Elaria’s chamber.
To Haldir, none of that mattered.
It didn’t matter that Luke had awakened astonishing talent.
It didn’t matter that he had reached the Early Bronze Knight realm in such a short time.
Nor did it matter that he had crossed two major realms and effortlessly slain a Mid-Golden Knight.
In Haldir’s eyes, Luke was still nothing more than a human.
"Even the strongest Hero has bowed before the Elven Royal Family."
"And he actually believes he’s worthy of marrying my sister?"
Disgust filled his voice.
Ironically, his words weren’t entirely false.
Although every Hero was summoned from another world and blessed by Valtharion itself.
Not every Hero was equal. Regardless of gender.
Their personalities, determination, and achievements depended entirely upon themselves.
The blessing granted them extraordinary potential.
But, potential alone did not guarantee strength.
Throughout history, countless Heroes had risen. Some reached the pinnacle of the world. Others barely left their names behind.
Haldir himself had already crossed swords with several ancient Heroes.
Only a handful had possessed the qualifications to fight him on equal footing.
The rest, could not even withstand his full strength.
As for Heroes marrying into the Elven Royal Family, that had happened before.
However, whenever the elves turn arrived. The summoned Hero had always been female.
To the elves, it meant that an exceptionally talented Heroine entered their royal family.
Something they had long accepted.
Never before, had a male human Hero been chosen to marry an elven princess.
So when Luke appeared, and the Goddess herself decreed,
The entire kingdom was thrown into confusion.
According to ancient tradition. Only royal blood could marry a Hero.
Naturally, none of the royal families wished to sacrifice one of their own daughters.
Eventually, every gaze turned toward a single person. One of the strongest elves alive.
The legendary princess once kidnapped by the Human Emperor.
During her captivity, the emperor had repeatedly attempted to produce descendants carrying both human and royal elven blood.
Every attempt failed. Although she was rescued,
The ordeal left behind deep emotional scars.
From that day onward. She rejected every proposal and never married.
Nor did she allow any man to approach her.
Then, four hundred and ninety-nine years before Luke’s summoning.
Something impossible happened. Without warning, news spread among Royal Elves, that she had given birth to a child.
A half-elf.
The announcement stunned them. As no one understood how it had happened.
For tens of thousands of years. Nothing.
Then suddenly. One day her abdomen swelled.
And the very next day. Elaria was born.
Among elves, pregnancy normally lasted between two and four years.
This phenomenon defied every known knowledge.
Even today, tts true cause remained a mystery.
Despite everything, she accepted Elaria as her daughter.
And without hesitation. She publicly announced the birth of a royal child.
The Council of Elders was furious. In their eyes. A half-elf threatened the purity of the royal bloodline.
However. No one dared openly oppose her.
Because her strength alone was enough to silence every objection.
Thus the matter was quietly accepted.
When the outside world learned of Elaria’s birth. They were equally bewildered.
Had the legendary princess secretly married? Had she fallen in love?
Countless rumors emerged. Yet...
No answers ever came.
No one connected Elaria’s birth to the Human Emperor.
After all more than ten thousand years had passed since that tragedy. Such an idea seemed absurd.
Then came Luke.
When discussions began regarding which princess should marry the newly summoned Hero.
The council reached a unanimous decision.
*Elaria.*
On this her mother immediately opposed it. She despised humans more than anyone.
And now asking her daughter to marry one. Was simply unacceptable.
Unfortunately this time the Council refused to compromise.
Previously they had tolerated Elaria’s existence because of her mother’s overwhelming strength.
But allowing another generation of mixed royal blood. Especially through a human.
Was a matter they wished to control themselves.
After hundreds of arguments. The Council and the Elders made the final decision.
Even Elaria’s mother could not overturn it.
There was another reason as well. One known only to the royal family.
Although ordinary citizens respected Elaria as a princess. Many royal relatives quietly discriminated against her because she was only half-elven.
Which was why, the other princess would raise questions. That why would a mixed blood didn’t get married to another human, as she was already half human.
So Elaria’s mother reluctantly
Thus when news spread that she had accepted marriage to a human Hero.
And worse a Hero publicly labeled talentless.
The entire world become shocked.
Even so no one dared question her mother directly.
Not after witnessing her strength.
Haldir slowly emerged from his thoughts.
Although Elaria was merely his stepsister. He had watched her grow up.
To him, she was still family.
Which was why he had never accepted her marriage to Luke.
After staring silently toward her residence for a moment.
He quietly turned around. "...No need to disturb her."
With those words. He returned to his own chambers.
While Elaria remained Completely unaware, secluded inside her room.
So she didn’t hear a single word about her husband’s recent achievements.
Meanwhile...
Luke’s name spread across every corner of Valtharion.
Naturally the news reached the ears of the current generation of Heroes.
Most simply glanced at the report before tossing it aside. They didn’t care.
A few male Heroes, however couldn’t hide their jealousy.