I reincarnated as an elf .......and married the yandere villainess.-Chapter 9:What if..

Lord Helmer dragged his exhausted body into his room. He hesitated at the door after seeing that his beautiful wife had not fallen asleep.

He could already see the anger mixed with sadness in her eyes but he couldn’t do anything about it.

"Arthena, you have slept yet," he walked towards the bed and sat down next to her.

She was still as beautiful as always, with long flowing white hair and purple eyes. His youngest son had really gotten all her fine features except for the height.

He got that from him.

"Must you do this to him?" Arthena asked her husband, the worry in her eyes evident.

"I have to, as an advisor he has to be perfect. A small mistake could cost the kingdom and it’s our family’s duty."

Arthena leaned into her husband’s embrace.

"But you always put the king first, at least remember Atheline is still young, he’s only twenty," she said worriedly.

"But our family owes the crown, we are just paying our dues and doing what’s best for us. Little mistakes could add up," he said softly as he tried to coax his wife.

"I understand but....you have at least tried to put us first once in a while. The punishments are too cruel, it’s too much to watch," she said softly.

Lord Helmer was quiet for a moment before nodding.

"I can’t fully promise but I’ll try to reduce any sort of punishment, he’s a grown man after all."

Arthena nodded and hugged him tighter.

"You also have to promise one thing, it’s..."

.....

In a small private garden just under the world tree Atheline sat on the grass while looking up at the waterfall and the colossal world tree.

He still couldn’t believe just how big it was. The leaves shone with the morning dew that was filled with aether.

They would occasionally drop down on the ground next to him and release a refreshing scent.

His body would then automatically absorb the released Aether.

Beside him was a small table filled with different confectionery he had baked the night before after being unable to sleep.

He took a sip of the Aether tea, a delicacy made from the collected dew from the world tree, only available to nobles.

"How has your training been going, your highness," he asked the prince who was also sitting opposite him.

"Just as boring as always...Sir Knox has been unusually tense and it’s showing in his teachings, " he said.

Atheline nodded in pity. Sir Knox was the king’s personal guard.

"What about your teaching position at the academy, you were so excited to return there." He said with a mocking smile on his face.

Solaris rolled his eyes at his expression and chuckled softly.

"I didn’t even last a day, I really should have followed you to hunt that fool instead of going to play teacher."

"Isn’t it fun to teach those little things about magic... don’t tell me you got bored already?"

He chuckled softly. Solaris took a sip of his tea and placed it back on the table. He took a bite of a cookie and raised it up.

"You are really blessed in the matters of the kitchen Atheline... and no i didn’t leave voluntarily. Those children are just too much. Were we once also that obnoxious? Personally i never noticed."

Atheline rolled his eyes inwardly.

’I was the one who cleared your messes dumbass’

The academy was established in the capital, which allowed children at the age of ten to go and train in magic. It didn’t have a distinction between nobility and commoners as long as you were talented.

This was basically where nobles got to pick the most talented in the batch of commoners. The study lasted for four years then everyone would go to their assigned post or employment.

They fell into a comfortable silence as they enjoyed the view of the rising sun.

"So Atheline..."

Atheline turned to look at solaris who had a distant look in his eyes. He turned and met Atheline’s eyes and took a sip of the tea.

"What is it your highness?"

’Don’t tell me it’s one of those what-if questions?’

"Say if I told you to...uuhm.... marry the dark elf instead of the other fool would you do it?"

Atheline’s mind went blank for a second before a smile curved his face.

"Without question?"

Solaris nodded.

"No... I’ll ask when?"

Solaris burst into laughter and Atheline followed right after.

’That was not fucking funny!!’

"I was joking," Solaris said.

"You wouldn’t be able to find anyone as competent as me your highness, " Atheline said lightly.

Solaris nodded. They both knew it was the truth. The prince sighed heavily.

"The number of the corrupt has been increasing exponentially," Solaris said breaking the silence that had fallen over them.

"Yes, since the announcement of the alliance,ce it seems to have triggered some sort of mechanics that held them in the corruption zone."

The corrupt were beasts or people poisoned by Aether. While Aether could give power, most of the time if it’s not used well, it affects the brain and the core becomes overloaded.

It’s like sweet poison especially to those who don’t know how to utilize it.

Excessive consumption of Aether may lead to madness or explosion of the core, but the last one is the extreme.

There are species like the dark elf that wholly support corruption since it increases power in the corrupt user and their bodies are built to withstand it.

That was one of the reasons they are not liked by the other species especially high elves, who prefer restraint.

"I want us to visit the affected areas after the engagement. "

Atheline nodded.

"Thats..."

"Your highness, the king requires your presence," a maid appeared cutting Atheline mid-sentence.

The prince nodded and stood up while dusting off any grass.

"I’ll see you in the evening, " Solaris said to Atheline.

Atheline nodded and continued to drink his tea his eyes attracted by the sparkling water.

"Maybe I should go for a swim since I’m free.’

Whenever the king called Solaris, he rarely had anything to do since he was efficient enough to finish all his assignments by the end of the day.

That was basically one of the rare off days for him.