Commander of the Silent Watch Knight Order, serving Her Majesty the Queen of the Silvermoon Forest.
Each word of this lengthy title seemed carved from ice, radiating an aloof dignity and formidable power that deterred approach.
But Lin Qingyue's focus always gravitated toward the unconventional.
Her mind raced as she maintained a polite yet distant smile, probing with:
"'Silent Watch'... What a deeply meaningful name. Might I ask if your duty is to silently observe everything that transpires within this canyon, just as you did moments ago?"
The question was phrased courteously, but its underlying meaning was blunt: What are you staring at?
The Burly Captain, who had just retrieved his Mountain-Cleaving Axe, stumbled backward, nearly dropping the weapon again.
Big Sister! Has your mouth been blessed by the heavens? You always pick the most provocative topics to ask about!
Su Wan's carefully maintained composure nearly shattered. She found herself beginning to... admire Lin Qingyue's uncanny ability to pinpoint the most absurd details even in life-or-death situations.
Aeldara's crimson eyes fixed on Lin Qingyue, her millennia-frozen face betraying no flicker of emotion.
"My duty is to observe and record everything that transpires here."
"Before the Final Protocol is breached, I will not proactively intervene in any conflicts."
Her voice remained cold and devoid of emotion.
"Your eradication of this undead trash has spared me considerable trouble. For that, I should extend my gratitude."
"A mere trifle, Your Excellency. No need for such formality," Lin Qingyue replied with a slight nod, her bearing neither subservient nor arrogant.
Behind her, Lin Xiyue discreetly tugged at her sister's sleeve, her eyes frantically signaling: Sis! What 'mere trifle'? If you hadn't suddenly unleashed your power, we'd have been wiped out just now!
"However," Aeldara's tone shifted, the oppressive coldness returning with renewed force.
"Your presence here, and the power you've displayed, have already exceeded the appropriate intensity for this conflict."
"To prevent you from making misguided choices out of ignorance, I deemed it necessary to come and 'inform' you."
"'Inform' us?" Lin Qingyue's eyebrow twitched slightly, her voice growing more cautious. "We are merely passing through this place and have no intention of becoming entangled in any conflicts. What counsel do you have for us, Your Excellency?"
"Precisely to inform you that the roots of this so-called 'war' are not what you believe, and that you have absolutely no need to intervene."
Aeldara's tone carried a subtle hint of... helplessness?
Here it comes.
Lin Qingyue, Lin Xiyue, Su Wan, Xia Lian, and even the Burly Captain, who was still recovering from the "Beauty Bomb," all pricked up their ears.
After the "version updates" they'd endured—from the Tavern to the caravan to the city gate—their expectations for this "truth" had dwindled to, "Let's see how much more absurd it can get."
Aeldara, seemingly oblivious to the subtle skepticism in their eyes, continued in her characteristic, rhythmic tone:
"It wasn't sparked by territory, resources, or hatred," she said slowly. "At its core, this is a... a dispute stemming from a theft at the royal court."
"A theft?" Lin Qingyue and her companions exchanged puzzled glances.
A war caused by stealing something? What was it? What could be stolen that would make a kingdom risk bloodshed on such a scale?
"Yes, a theft," Aeldara confirmed.
She paused, as if the next words were difficult to utter, but her knightly loyalty compelled her to obey orders.
"Several months ago, Prince Alex and Princess Liliana of the Human Kingdom were formally invited by Her Majesty the Queen to conduct a diplomatic visit to Silvermoon Forest."
So far, so normal.
"During their stay, accompanied by elven scholars, the prince and princess toured the public areas of Silvermoon City Library."
"Ah, diplomatic etiquette, all in order."
"However, one afternoon, driven by... curiosity, the prince and princess mistakenly wandered into the deepest part of the Library, a restricted area protected by a powerful barrier and clearly marked as the 'Historical Archives Restricted Section'."
Upon hearing the words "Restricted Section," a knowing glint flashed in Lin Qingyue's eyes, as if to say, "Here we go, the plot's about to thicken."
Good grief, the classic trope: "Accidentally taking a wrong turn and stumbling upon a shocking secret." Are these royals genetically predisposed to getting lost?
Aeldara's tone remained steady, but Lin Qingyue couldn't shake the feeling that the corners of her lips had stiffened ever so slightly.
"...And from within, they secretly took several... Magic Image Albums."
"Magic Image Albums?" Lin Qingyue repeated unconsciously, alarm bells ringing in her mind.
She struggled to maintain a calm expression, but her thoughts had already drifted into unspeakable realms.
Could it be... that kind of thing?
"Those albums..." Aeldara's voice grew colder, as if she were desperately suppressing something, "...contain Magic Images documenting certain... 'exploratory behaviors' during the early stages of the long lives of some Elf nobles."
Exploratory behaviors?
Lin Qingyue froze for a moment, then realization dawned.
Oh, it's just a euphemism for "young, wild, and experimenting."
"One of the volumes," Aeldara's voice remained utterly flat, yet everyone could sense the suppressed frustration—the urge to pinch the bridge of her nose while maintaining knightly composure.
"Records Her Majesty the Queen's... experiences during a journey to the eastern human city-states approximately three centuries ago."
The canyon fell silent, save for the whistling wind.
Everyone's expressions froze.
The Burly Captain's jaw dropped open again, wide enough to fit two eggs this time.
In Su Wan's icy blue eyes, the painstakingly rebuilt "iceberg of common sense" crumbled into powder once more.
Xia Lian's face flushed crimson, her small hand instinctively covering her mouth, her eyes wide with shock and bashful embarrassment.
Lin Xiyue, however, wore an expression of gleeful vindication. "I knew it!" she murmured excitedly. "Here it comes! A forbidden romance spanning centuries! And this time, there's even a visual record!"
Aeldara, unfazed by the crowd's reactions, continued in her detached, business-like tone:
"In the Magic Images, the human male who briefly interacted with Her Majesty the Queen, then still quite young and inexperienced, was His Majesty the Current Human King's... ancestor."
"Pfft—!"
This time, it wasn't Lin Qingyue who sputtered, but a young guard beside her who had been secretly drinking water to calm his nerves.
He choked, his face flushing crimson, but clapped a hand over his mouth to stifle the noise. His eyes screamed: What did I just hear?! Am I going to die?!
Am I even allowed to hear such royal secrets?!
Lin Qingyue pressed a hand to her forehead.
[Version K: "About My Son's Son... Whose Grandson Saw a Magic Images Movie of Me Romancing Your Ancestor Centuries Ago."]
[Screenwriter, I surrender. I truly surrender. You're not just writing scripts from an ICU bed anymore—you've plugged your brainwaves into a Chaotic Evil God for creative inspiration, haven't you?!]
[Ding! Host detected experiencing extreme, absurd delight at the bizarre fusion of "multi-generational ethical drama" and "black history archaeology"! Elation Value +1666!]
She cleared her throat, adopting a meticulously academic tone as she cautiously sought clarification:
"Forgive my boldness... but do these 'Magic Images' contain... er, some rather private content that shouldn't be made public?"
"To the extent that the princes and princesses of the Human Kingdom might... misunderstand their purpose?"
The corner of Aeldara's eye seemed to twitch.
She didn't answer directly, but her icy silence served as tacit confirmation.
Lin Qingyue understood immediately: the bratty kids found the images stimulating and swiped them on a whim.