The Collapse of Liana

"Eh?"

"Eh?!!!"

"I'm the next Elf Queen?!"

Liyana couldn't help but yell out, "Isn't there some sort of mistake?"

Liyana's involuntary exclamation was like a stone thrown into a quiet lake, instantly drawing the gaze of everyone around her.

"It's Lady Liyana!"

"She has already graced us with her presence."

"Congratulations, Lady Liyana! May you lead our race to new glory!"

Turning a deaf ear to the congratulations of the others, Liyana took quick strides and walked right up to the leading astrologer.

"Lady Liyana, the future Queen of our race, what doubts do you harbor?" The astrologer's voice was peaceful, carrying a profound sense of seeing through everything.

Stare—

Liyana stared intently at the astrologer. The shadow cast by the hood perfectly obscured her face, revealing only a sharp, delicate chin and the faint, almost imperceptible smile that constantly lingered upon it.

For some reason, Liyana was absolutely certain that the expression hidden beneath the shadows was an unfathomable one, complete with squinting eyes and pupils swirling with the cunning gleam of someone enjoying a good show.

Liyana raised a hand to her mouth, lowered her voice, and urgently asked the astrologer, "Is there a mistake somewhere? I don't want to be the Elf Queen."

"Of course not, how could there be, Lady Liyana? We are very professional. The results of our divination are never wrong. You are the next Elf Queen." The smile on the astrologer's lips seemed to deepen, the upward curve appearing even more mysterious under the shroud of shadows.

This girl is definitely squinting right now, and she is definitely gloating! Liyana was absolutely sure of it.

"But what if I don't want to do it? Can't you just pick someone else?" Liyana pressed on.

The astrologer, still smiling warmly, slowly shook her head. "Of course not... Lady Liyana, the Divine Tree's oracle is crystal clear. According to the divination, if you do not become the Queen of the Elven race, a truly terrifying disaster will befall us."

"Huh? Really?" Liyana's eyes widened into perfect circles from shock, disbelief written all over her face.

"Of course it's true. If such a thing were to happen, it would be entirely your fault... For the future of the Elven race, please do not shirk your responsibilities." The astrologer warned Liyana with a straight face, though her leisurely expression made it incredibly hard to believe that she was telling the truth. It was completely unconvincing.

Liyana was a bit flustered, having no idea how things had escalated to this point.

"Alright, Lady Liyana... come with us. Once you become Queen, you will have many affairs to handle. You won't have as much time to fool around outside... I mean, you won't have as much time for leisure and entertainment," the astrologer said with a light chuckle.

Liyana: ...

This person just said 'fool around', didn't she! She definitely heard it!

"I won't do it!" Liyana refused with a straight face.

"That is not up to you, Lady Liyana." The astrologer licked her lips. "If you refuse to become the Elf Queen... then the entire Elven race will find out that your claim of shooting through the Demon King's heart was actually just you bragging."

Liyana looked at the astrologer in sheer disbelief. "How do you know that?"

"Because I can divine," the astrologer said as a matter of course.

Liyana's face instantly turned a dark, flushed red, unable to squeeze out a single word.

If this matter were exposed, her reputation among the Elves would plummet, and she would undoubtedly become the biggest joke.

"Rest assured, Lady Liyana... besides you and me, no one else knows about this. Oh, right, except for the little girl named Mo Lini, whom you told personally." The astrologer placed a slender finger over her soft, pink lips.

"Are you spying on me?" Liyana felt a chill run down her spine, as if her every move was being watched by the other party. She deeply disliked this feeling. "You're invading my privacy!"

"I found out through divination." The astrologer brought out her all-purpose excuse again. "I haven't been spying on you; I just simply know this fact."

...

Aina stared at the astrologer for a while.

Because Aina was staring at her, Xia Lun assumed there was something special about the astrologer and started staring intently as well.

On the surface, nothing stood out, but there was a sense of familiarity... Yet Xia Lun couldn't quite articulate what that feeling was.

Xia Lun pondered whether or not to activate his Eye of Insight, but felt it might be somewhat inappropriate, leaving him hesitant.

"Hiss... Ow, ow, ow! Aina, stop!" Xia Lun hurriedly grabbed Aina's hand, which was pinching his abdomen. "I know I was wrong!"

"Staring unblinkingly at another woman right in front of your own wife... Xia Lun, you sure have a lot of nerve," Aina said fiercely. "Do you want me to ravage you so hard tonight that you won't be able to get out of bed tomorrow morning?"

Xia Lun didn't know how Aina had the face to say such things; he could only chalk it up to her truly being the Demon King.

Just then, the astrologer seemed to finish her conversation with Liyana. Noticing their gazes, she smiled and bowed to them, her face hidden beneath the hood looking enigmatic.

Aina did not react, and Xia Lun, whose hand was still being held by Aina, didn't dare to react either.

Liyana returned.

Liyana's two long ears drooped limply, making her look completely devoid of energy.

"Xia Lun... I might have to stay here for a while. I won't be able to continue adventuring with you," Liyana said with a long face.

"Oh." Xia Lun nodded.

"Hey, what kind of reaction is that? Isn't that a bit too mild?" Liyana said, heartbroken. "Without me in the party... there... there won't be anyone to cook!"

Although Liyana was an archer, she was very clear about her true role.

"Then what kind of reaction were you hoping for?" Xia Lun retorted.

"Uh... something like, 'Liyana! Our party can't go on without you!' or maybe 'Don't leave us, Liyana!'?" Liyana tilted her head as she answered.

"You're not Aina," Xia Lun said expressionlessly.

Aina stood to the side, equally expressionless; the two truly looked like a married couple.

"Tsk, what a cold and heartless man." Liyana turned her head away.

A moment later.

"Ah! Invincible Xia Lun! Almighty Aina! Is there any way you can save me... I don't want to be the Elf Queen, I want to go adventuring!" Liyana threw a tantrum, stopping just short of dropping to the ground to hug their thighs.

If there wasn't anyone around, Liyana definitely would have done exactly that.

Watching Liyana act like this, Xia Lun and Aina exchanged a glance.

They seemed to have already guessed something.