Chapter Twenty-Seven: The Amazon Memorial Society

"I was sent to the Temple of Light to serve as a vestal virgin when I was very young."

Bethalia sat in Ryan's lap, her arms wrapped around his neck as she whispered, "A vestal virgin is one who dedicates her soul to the Holy Spirit. 'Forsake all emotion, abandon all desire, until death do us part.' Even if I were to eventually become queen, I could never escape the constraints of this oath. I have lived my entire life without a husband, and I have never even kept a consort."

"But now that I have died once, neither the Temple of Light nor the Holy Spirit can bind my life any longer."

"As long as you help me take revenge on the Temple of Light and the Three Great Families, I am willing to be your mistress for the rest of my days, spending every night in your embrace."

Bethalia bit down on her pearly white teeth, uttering these seductive words. After she finished, she deliberately swept her tongue across the corner of her lip, letting Ryan witness the startling agility of it.

Ryan pondered for a moment and asked, "You've stated the price, but what is in it for me?"

"What do you mean, 'what's in it for me'?" Bethalia looked confused, frowning as she said, "I told you, I am willing to be your mistress."

"You think I don't understand?" Ryan sneered. "In the cultural customs of your dark elves, it is implicitly assumed that when a woman sleeps with a man, the woman is the one gaining the advantage."

Seeing her ruse exposed, Bethalia could only offer a sheepish smile and change her tune. "Fine, then what will it take for you to help me?"

"It depends on the situation," Ryan replied.

*Depends on the situation? What does that mean?*

Bethalia’s mind raced. In truth, given her current status as a "bird in a gilded cage," she had no standing to negotiate terms with Ryan. Anything he wanted her to do, he could simply command through their soul-bond.

Only genuine affection could not be forced.

Bethalia’s strategy was simple: become Ryan's mistress, curry his favor and delight, and if she could make him fall in love with her, all the better—all to trade for greater freedom and autonomy.

Now that Ryan had seen through her, she didn't dare push too hard, lest her favorability rating drop. It was better to be open and honest, testing whether he was willing to help her at all.

*Depends on the situation... it must mean that in his future plans, he might potentially make moves against the Red Soil Plateau, but because the timeline is too long, he cannot give me a definitive answer.*

If it were any other human noble, Bethalia wouldn't even consider this possibility: *Who are you to dare oppose the Dark Elf Royal Court?*

But given the level of necromancy Ryan had displayed—which was essentially on par with a world-class boss—Bethalia found it hard to believe he would stay quietly in the Empire's Riverbend Province as an obscure, law-abiding minor noble.

"I understand," Bethalia’s voice grew softer and more alluring, her body beginning to writhe restlessly like a water snake. "Then, regarding the matter of being your mistress, would you like to reconsider..."

Before her seductive words could finish, someone pushed the door open.

Eylina, her expression cold as frost, saw Bethalia practically glued to Ryan and her gaze grew even more disdainful.

"Your letter," she said, tossing the missive onto the table before turning to leave.

Bethalia gave an awkward smile, rose to chase after Eylina, but didn't forget to shoot a flirtatious wink at Ryan before she left.

Ryan couldn't be bothered with this thousand-year-old virgin's theatrics; he simply picked up the letter from the table.

It must have just arrived, as the envelope still carried the faint scent of raven droppings, and the wax seal was intact and undisturbed. He used a letter opener to break the seal and removed the parchment inside.

It was from Marsha Malone in Highrock City.

The letter stated that the 200 gold crowns he had donated to the Amazon Memorial Hall had been received.

To recognize Ryan Fahl's outstanding contribution to the Amazon Protection Movement, the Amazon Memorial Association was willing to make an exception and admit Ryan as an honorary member and founding elder.

One had to understand that although this organization was newly established and small in number, it consisted almost entirely of wives and daughters from noble families. Its single-gender nature brought a high degree of purity and exclusivity; most members would undoubtedly subconsciously oppose allowing a male noble like Ryan to join.

It could only be said that the power of two hundred gold crowns was simply too great; it had smashed right through the invisible wall between the genders.

Ryan tapped the open envelope against the table, and sure enough, a wooden badge rolled out.

The front of the badge was imprinted with a clenched fist, while the back bore a motto written in elegant script:

*Fight for equality, compassion, and justice!*

"Justice, justice," Ryan stared at the wooden badge, memories of the game's plot flashing through his mind. He couldn't help but sigh, "How many crimes are committed in thy name!"

If the fall of the entire Rainforest Peninsula was due to the initial lack of understanding regarding the Undead, then after Deia had led the Lizardman refugees into the border, the fact that the Human Empire was still engaging in utterly moronic infighting only proved that these nobles were truly rotten to the core.

"Deia!" Ryan called out to Deia, who was in the next room still practicing her essay writing. "Tell Bethalia to come here immediately!"

As for Bethalia, after leaving Ryan's room, she quickly caught up to Eylina and reached out to grab her wrist.

"Are you jealous?" she asked with a wicked grin.

Eylina stopped and said coldly, "A boring attempt at provocation, and I know you aren't the type to be consumed by insatiable lust."

*I know why you are seducing him; you don't need to explain your reasons to me.*

Bethalia understood the subtext and stopped trying to explain, merely whispering a reminder: "Both your soul and mine are under his absolute control; opposing him will not end well. With your temper, I doubt you could bring yourself to curry favor with him."

"Just leave that to me."

"I have no interest in cooperating with you," Eylina said, shaking off her hand. "What you do has nothing to do with me."

"How can you say that?" Bethalia smiled at Eylina's departing back. "Don't forget, we are prisoners locked in the same cell."

*Until we fully escape this prison, you and I have no other choice but to cooperate.*

The Rose Queen had no doubts about this.

Humming a little tune, she walked back to her room, only to be stopped by Deia who had hurried over.

"Ryan wants you to come over," Deia reminded her.

"Understood." Bethalia reached out a finger and gently stroked her cheek. "Thank you, little cutie~"

Deia felt an indescribable shyness, yet also a sense of oddity and vigilance.

*Could the sexual orientation of this ancient dark elf queen be... abnormal?*

Bethalia pulled her robe wider to reveal more of her beautiful skin and swept her hair behind her head, her demeanor becoming extremely alluring.

She pushed the door open lightly, only to see Ryan at the desk just finishing a letter, placing his quill back into the inkwell.

"Take this," he said, handing the letter to Bethalia. "Follow the content of what I have written and draft a passionate letter of self-recommendation. You must express a strong desire to join this association."

"What association?" Bethalia took the paper and read it carefully. "Tell me the specific details."

The content of the letter was Ryan politely declining the honorary member and founding elder titles bestowed upon him by the "Amazon Memorial Association," instead recommending another dark elf noblewoman to inherit those titles and the status that came with them.

In Ryan's words of recommendation: "Her compassion and mercy for the vulnerable are far greater than mine by a hundred, even a thousand times."

"You'll understand once you join," Ryan commanded. "Maintain your prestige and status within the association as much as possible."

"And then, report every movement within the association to me regularly, no matter how trivial."