Chapter 73: Vierlia’s Request

Although one remained in a deep slumber while inside the Tripod Cauldron, they would quickly regain consciousness upon exiting. Vierlia swiftly surveyed her surroundings. There were no enemies. Alberta hadn’t emerged either. Within a radius of several hundred meters, there was only a smiling Shen Yun standing before her.

“Is it finally happening?” A helpless smile tugged at the corners of Vierlia’s lips. Her beautiful, lake-like eyes stared straight at Shen Yun. “We shouldn’t be enemies.”

“Of course not,” Shen Yun chuckled. “In private, I’d be more than happy to be your friend. But there are some things that simply cannot be avoided. Besides… I have already captured Ludwig.”

“You captured Ludwig?” Surprise was written all over Vierlia’s face.

Ludwig was a Black Mage that even several Great Saints joining forces couldn’t destroy!

“Indeed. I found his true body. There’s no point in lying to you about this,” Shen Yun nodded. “So, it’s time to resolve the matter between us.”

“…I don’t quite understand.” Vierlia rested a finger against her chin. The thoughtful posture looked like a picturesque painting on her. “In what capacity are you speaking with me? You are not the ruler of your country, yet everything you do is for the nation and its people.”

“Not entirely,” Shen Yun shook his head with a soft laugh. “If the nation and its people grow stronger, I also reap the corresponding benefits. That’s the first reason. Secondly, doing something for my compatriots within the limits of my abilities aligns with my values and moral compass. In other words, I gain a sense of ‘self-satisfaction’ from it.

“It’s just like how people donate money to help others. Even if it’s just donating ten or twenty dollars online, they still feel a warm sense of gratification in their hearts.

“The fragrance of the rose lingers on the hand that gives it—let alone personally driving the prosperity of an entire nation.”

“That is truly incredible.” Vierlia stared blankly at Shen Yun, a trace of self-deprecation suddenly surfacing on her breathtakingly beautiful face. “The identity of a queen has brought me nothing but pressure… I rarely find any satisfaction in this responsibility.”

“That’s to be expected.” Shen Yun’s voice was very gentle. “You’re a queen. Doing a good job is your fundamental duty, and doing poorly is a dereliction of duty. The two can’t be compared.”

Vierlia gently bit her lip, looking at Shen Yun. She suddenly felt her cheeks grow slightly hot. A hint of struggle flashed in her eyes before she finally took a deep breath and spoke in a trembling voice.

“I know what you all want. I can tell you the location of the entrance, and I can tell you the method to move it, but I have one condition.”

“And what is that?” Shen Yun’s eyes lit up slightly. Speaking with smart people was always a breeze.

Vierlia suddenly fell silent. She even lowered her gaze slightly, her eyelashes trembling. It was obvious that an intense internal struggle was waging within her heart. Shen Yun wasn’t in a hurry and waited silently.

Just then, a gentle morning breeze swept past, catching several green summer leaves and sending them dancing around the exquisitely beautiful girl. Strands of her blonde hair fluttered in the wind, shimmering brightly under the sunlight that filtered through the gaps.

Shen Yun couldn’t help but hold his breath. Even without any ulterior motives, Vierlia’s flawless, fairytale-like elegance and beauty was a visual feast.

At that moment, she seemed to have suddenly made a decision. She lifted her eyes, a cherry-pink flush appearing on her milky-white cheeks. Her ruby lips parted slightly as Shen Yun awaited her answer.

“A marriage alliance.”

“…What?”

Shen Yun’s expression instantly froze. Xiao Jiu, on the other hand, felt a bit dismayed; she knew it would turn out like this.

“Although I am young, I am very clear on one thing.” Having uttered the hardest words, Vierlia looked as if she had been freed, her entire demeanor relaxing considerably. “And that is, between nations, there are only eternal interests. All treaties and morals are merely temporary constraints. Given the disparity in strength between our two countries, it won’t be long before there is only one inevitable outcome—we will become a vassal state.”

Shen Yun remained silent, for this was the truth. Over this period of time, he had also gained a certain understanding of Vierlia’s country. It was just a small nation.

They only had two individuals in the Saint Realm: her and her great-great-great-great-grandfather. That was why they couldn’t refuse the stationing of the Holy Hall’s Paladins. For such a country, facing an increasingly powerful behemoth like Hua Xia, becoming a vassal was actually the approach that maximized their interests.

And a marriage alliance… was it an attempt to safeguard her country’s interests?

“You should already have some understanding of us,” Shen Yun couldn’t help but say. “We lean toward mutually beneficial cooperation and do not harbor much hegemonic ambition, so even as a vassal state…”

“That is true.” Vierlia suddenly interrupted him, raising her slender neck to look him in the eye. She spoke in a clear voice, “However, my people will feel uneasy. And once my country becomes prosperous, other nations—even the Holy Hall—will gaze upon us with greed. Furthermore, I do not mean to boast, but I am the youngest Saint Realm expert in my world. My strength, my beauty, my status… if you add wealth into the mix, do you have any idea how much covetousness that will attract?”

As she said this, her gaze was exceedingly calm. Even the trace of shyness from earlier had vanished. There was no indignation, no self-pity—she was merely stating the facts.

Why had she been so confident in escaping? Naturally, because she had been backed into a corner.

And a marriage alliance was the best way to bind Shen Yun—a profoundly powerful Great Saint—and Hua Xia, a prosperous and thriving behemoth of a nation, to her own country. From the day she became queen, she was no longer that girl who seemed to be endlessly pampered by the world.

“…Does it have to be this way?” Shen Yun let out a long sigh.

“Why are you hesitating?” Vierlia looked at Shen Yun in confusion, her brows furrowing slightly. “You are not a hypocritical person. I can tell from your eyes that you admire me as well… If you are worried about Xiao Jiu… I can see that you two have a true master-servant relationship. Xiao Jiu’s feelings for you are absolute devotion without the slightest hint of possessiveness.”

A genuine romantic relationship would never be so one-sided in its giving and receiving. To think she had seen right through that.

Shen Yun smiled helplessly. She was right; Xiao Jiu would only worry about falling out of favor, without a shred of anger or jealousy. But putting aside whether he could feel right about it in his heart, the most important issue remained.

He was not a true powerhouse.

His disguised strength was a major reason why Vierlia had brought up such a condition. If he just went along with it and agreed, it would essentially amount to marrying under false pretenses. Not to mention, during intimate contact—or even on their wedding night—the massive physical difference between the Divine Thought Stage and the Golden Core Stage could not possibly be hidden. He had already confirmed this point many times with Xiao Jiu.

“I cannot accept a marriage with no emotional foundation.” In the end, Shen Yun could only find a noble-sounding excuse.

“As for feelings… that takes time. At the very least… I do not feel any aversion toward you.” A faint blush colored Vierlia’s face once again. However, seeing Shen Yun’s helpless expression, she suddenly grew a bit annoyed and simply crossed her arms over her chest. “But we aren’t discussing relationship issues right now! The portal entrance is the biggest trump card in my hand. This is a negotiation of interests!”

This idea had already sprouted over the past week as she gradually came to understand this world and understand Shen Yun.

Shen Yun had a personality that valued responsibility. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have gone so far as to target Alberta, who hailed from the same world as her, in her words and actions.