Chapter Nineteen: It Turns Out to Be the Elven Royalty

After the banquet, Rain, Elrina, and Daya were assigned to rest together in the same room for the night.

This arrangement was only natural. After all, Rain and Elrina were “husband and wife,” and Daya was their personal maid.

It made no sense for a married couple to sleep separately while their maid shirked her duties by lounging lazily in the next room.

The goose down bed in the room was wide and soft, which silently relieved Daya’s initial worry that it might be too cramped.

Elrina might not truly be Rain’s wife, but she was indeed his maid. If the bed were too small to fit three people, Rain would definitely make her sleep on the floor.

After changing into their nightwear, the three lay side by side on the bed.

As usual, Rain held Daya close—this little true dragon maiden was soft and fragrant, hm...

Then he turned and embraced Elrina, carefully comparing the feel.

Sure enough, the tall, elegant elven princess felt more comfortable.

Decided. From now on, he would hold her when he slept.

Rain closed his eyes contentedly and began to drift into sleep.

Next to him, Elrina, used as a pillow, showed no expression, only staring at the deep red canopy above the bed.

Her soul was controlled like a caged bird; she could not resist the necromancer’s commands, though she did not care much about that.

On the other side, Daya, who had first been embraced then released, stared blankly at the towering figure of the elven sister and finally understood something, her face flushing with a mix of anger and embarrassment.

She had already decided that once Rain was asleep, she would sneak out of bed and use ink to draw a turtle on his face!

At the top of Seagull Castle, in the marquis’s study.

Marquis Faher quickly penned a letter and handed it to the butler waiting outside, instructing him to send a messenger raven immediately.

The next morning, he received a reply from the Gem Isles:

“... Vladisicar, I did not expect you to know this surname. Before explaining its origin, I must acquaint you with the history of the High Elven royal court.”

“In ancient times, we elves sailed from the outer seas and first settled in the Gem Isles. After the kingdom prospered for centuries, we began to send colonies to the mainland.”

“Due to inconvenient transportation, the elven language on both shores gradually developed different pronunciations. The royal family of the Gem Isles pronounced the surname as ‘Vladisica,’ while the branch that moved to the continent evolved the pronunciation into ‘Francisca.’”

“The same clan, diverging into two surnames through dialect variation, led to historical debates over ‘which is the legitimate surname.’”

“After countless disputes, debates, and communications among scholars on both sides, a consensus was reached. In spoken language, each side retains its own name, but in written form, the ancient elven pronunciation ‘Vladisicar’ is used to refer to the noble royal surname.”

“Of course, with the fall of the mainland elven empire, these two surnames have lost their practical significance. Today’s High Elven royal family uniformly uses ‘Vladisica’ in both speech and writing when dealing with outsiders.”

“As for the surname ‘Vladisicar,’ I believe it only appears in one case: High Elven royals traveling abroad who neither wish to reveal their royal name nor impersonate another family, thus playing an ancient linguistic game with you.”

“From your letter’s description—white hair, golden irises—it indeed matches our royal family’s traits. However, I have not heard of any royal member traveling abroad. ‘Elrina’ is likely an alias, falsely claiming to be the ancient ancestor and hero of the elven empire, Princess Elrina Francisca. Beyond this, I cannot discern more information.”

“If possible, please send a full portrait of her with the letter so I can verify; otherwise, I cannot provide more reliable answers.”

Marquis Faher hastily finished reading the reply, his hands trembling with excitement.

Royal family?

Ha! It turned out to be the High Elven royal family!

The respondent was a noble of the High Elven kingdom. Their fathers had, by sheer coincidence, established a secret and reliable friendship long ago, strengthened by years of smuggling trade ties. Marquis Faher fully trusted his ally’s words.

In other words, my son, Rain Faher, has married a secret traveling member of the High Elven royal family!

Though this son is unlike me in appearance or temperament, his taste in women certainly inherited my strengths... no, he’s even better than me in that regard!

Marquis Faher carefully stored the letter in a secret compartment of the bookshelf.

After a moment’s thought, he retrieved it again and burned it by the candle flame.

For now, this matter must remain secret; no one else must know.

After reducing the letter to ashes, Marquis Faher cleared the clutter on his desk, revealing a family territorial map beneath.

Why does he want the Salt Islands?

No matter! If he wants them, then so be it!

With a flourish, Marquis Faher granted Rain all fifty or so islands of the Salt Islands as his fief.

Economically, the Salt Islands relied heavily on Seastone City for supplies, and militarily, they required protection from the Faher family’s fleet. Choosing the Salt Islands as a fief meant submission to Seastone City’s control.

Such a sensible and well-behaved request—why not grant it?

Marquis Faher wrote three copies of the granting decree, signed it with his name, sealed it with the Faher family crest, then summoned the butler. One copy was given to Rain, one made public within the clan, and one sent to the lord of Riverbay Province, Duke Marlon.

When Duke Marlon received the letter, his newlywed youngest daughter and son-in-law happened to be visiting him.

“Rain Faher, who disappeared many years ago, has recently returned to the Faher family lands,” he casually mentioned to his daughter, Marsha.

“The Rain Faher from that family full of fish-faced men, but the only one who looks human?” Marsha covered her mouth, giggling. “I was quite curious if he really is as stunningly handsome as the legends say.”

Her husband immediately went on high alert. His wife’s fondness for handsome men was well-known in noble circles.

“Oh, dear,” Duke Marlon smiled, “beautiful men are everywhere, but what matters more is whether they remain loyal to you. I don’t mean to disparage a stranger, but the Faher family’s notorious reputation makes me...”

Father and daughter shared a knowing smile. The duke’s son-in-law chuckled awkwardly but silently noted the name Rain.

Within Seastone City, news of Rain’s official investiture of the Salt Islands had spread throughout the Faher clan.

Most brothers were delighted because there were simply too many Faher sons and only a few prime fiefs. More sons meant fewer lands to go around.

Rain’s voluntary choice of the Salt Islands, avoiding competition with his brothers, showed remarkable loyalty.

Only Faher’s most favored youngest son, Polo, was shocked by the news and rushed to the marquis to plead:

“The Salt Islands are too harsh an environment. Granting them to Rain as a fief is tantamount to insulting Elrina’s family. This is inappropriate.”

Marquis Faher thought, Don’t I know that?

Originally, he had planned to grant Rain the Seven Rivers City, located northwest of Seastone City, part of the coastal plain corridor, ideal for farming, fishing, and commerce.

Who knew Rain would choose the Salt Islands? What value could that desolate place possibly have... hm?

Faher’s gaze suddenly sharpened as he looked at Polo.

“Polo, I don’t know if you’re the type to care about your brothers. Eight years ago, Rain left the family without a word. I think you were only... nine? Did you really have any relationship with him?”

Polo knew his bold objection would raise suspicion, but he could not stand by and watch Rain seize the Salt Islands. So he braced himself and said:

“I’m not thinking of Rain but of the family. The clan’s main income now comes from legitimate trade with the High Elven kingdom. The Gem Isles have long been closed off, leaving few diplomatic avenues. We must not risk offending any High Elven nobles.”

His words made sense and reminded Marquis Faher of something.

Though married, Rain’s opinion did not necessarily represent Elrina’s.

High Elves are famously fastidious about quality of life. Imagine her moving to the Salt Islands with her husband, unable to endure a single night there, then divorcing and returning to the Gem Isles.

No, several daughters must be sent to test the true feelings of this daughter-in-law.