"Schubert was also one of the main advocators for the elven laws, and in the past few years, he has changed those laws as he saw fit. Those aren't laws; they're just rules invented to benefit him so he can control other elves more easily. Countless elves have struggled amid crushing despair and lost their lives in attempts to resist this oppressive system. If all lives are meant to be equal, then what gives the elves from the major families the right to kill other elves without any consequence? Should they not be killed for those crimes?" Irina looked at Helena with a sneer on her face as she continued, "What's the point of having a system of laws like this? Are you allowed to do whatever you want just because the weaker elves can't resist? Even the humans of Rodu aren't as filthy as all of you!
"That's why I killed him. He deprived countless elves of their freedom, and killed countless more innocent elves. For those crimes, he deserved to die." Irina raised her voice as a vehement look appeared in her eyes, and she said, "Helena, do you know how many elves left the Wind Forest after you forcibly implemented your new social system? Over 20% of our population was forced out of their homes! They are elves, and elves are meant to be free! You're constantly preaching about the despicable nature of humans, yet you're nothing but a human in elven skin!"
The Krol Family members hung their heads upon hearing that, while some of the enslaved elves began to sob. The sobs seemed to be contagious, and soon, all of the elven servants had broken down into tears.
"The elven race is becoming more powerful, so this is clearly a correct strategy. The elven race has never been this unified in its history, and in the future, we will continue to become more powerful. We will be able to defeat all enemies and guard our Wind Forest." Helena wasn't backing down in the slightest as she said, "This is a revolution that will take the elven race to greater heights. Collateral damage and sacrifices will be inevitable during this process, but it's all worth it for the greater good of the entire elven race."
"Revolution? What a load of bullsh*t!" Irina couldn't help but burst into laughter at the absurdity of what she was hearing. She pointed at the enslaved elves, and asked, "Have you asked them whether they were willing to be a part of your so-called revolution? Are they willing to become sacrifices for you? If scum like you can become more powerful just from enslaving others, then what's the point of hard work?"
"Thud!"
The elven servants all fell to their knees, and many more elves emerged from the castle before also kneeling on the ground.
"Your Majesty, please save your people from this never-ending torture! We believe in the God of Life and treat even flowers and plants as our equals, but we're being oppressed by our own brethren and even resistance is illegal. We would rather be banished from the Wind Forest than live in such humiliating conditions," the leader of the dancers spoke on behalf of all of the servants.
"Your Majesty, please banish us from the Wind Forest!"
All of the elves yelled amid broken sobs. All of them wore grief-stricken expressions, and many of them had visible wounds on their bodies.
"The God of Life will bless all of you. From this day forth, you are free once again to return to your homes. It is your choice whether you would like to stay in the Wind Forest or leave." The elven queen's eyes were filled with pity and sympathy. She waved a hand through the air, and spots of green light fell from the sky, instantly healing all of the elves' injuries.
"Thank you, Your Majesty! Thank you, Your Highness!"
All of the elves turned to the elven queen and Irina with excitement and gratitude on their faces.
Irina's expression also softened a little.
"Your Majesty," Helena still wanted to offer some objections.
However, the elven queen raised a hand to cut her off as she continued, "From this day forth, the hierarchical system proposed in the elven laws will be abolished. All elves that were forced into slavery must be freed and may choose where they would like to go. That's an order."
The Krol Family members and guests were all stunned to hear this.
"Yes!"
Meanwhile, all of the enslaved elves were overjoyed. With an order from the queen, they would be able to stay in the Wind Forest without any fear of being enslaved ever again.
"Your Majesty, that order absolutely cannot be passed down! If we implement this, the entire elven race will fall apart!" Helena said in an urgent voice.
"Irina's right. Without freedom, an elf is no longer an elf." The elven queen looked into Helena's eyes, and asked, "Helena, we want the entire race on our side, not just to keep a few powerful people happy. If our power and prosperity is forged on the basis of inflicting pain upon our brethren, then what's the point? In exchange for power to better our race, we're sacrificing the very things that we're trying to protect. Shouldn't our objective be to protect our brethren rather than to hurt them?"
Helena looked at the queen, and slowly lowered her head as she fell silent.
The elven queen turned to Irina, and said, "Princess Irina, you killed Schubert without conducting a trial or investigation first, so you'll be locked away in detention for a year, and you'll be stripped of the right to inherit the throne as your punishment."
"I accept that." Irina nodded in response. She took a glance at the freed elves, and a smile appeared on her face as she turned to depart.
"Thank you, Your Highness." The leader of the dancers stepped forward to express her gratitude.
"Thank you." All of the other elves also nodded as they looked at Irina with concern on their faces.
"Elves always look better when they're smiling rather than crying. All of you look really ugly right now." Irina turned to everyone with a gorgeous smile on her face.
Her smile seemed to be contagious, and smiles also appeared on the faces of all of the freed elves.
"Farewell." Irina turned as she waved farewell to everyone.
"Irina, you still haven't told me why you killed Schubert." The elven queen transmitted her voice to Irina.
Irina's footsteps faltered momentarily before she continued onward. She also transmitted her voice in response as she said, "If I were forcibly taken away from you as a newborn and someone planned to kill me, would you kill them?"
"I would." The elven queen's response was very quick and decisive.
"Three years ago, I didn't know who had done that, but now I do, so I killed him." A smile appeared on Irina's face, and she disappeared from view in the blink of an eye.
"You're all free now." The elven princess raised a hand to help all of the freed elven slaves to their feet before also disappearing amid a flash of golden light.
"We can go home now! We're finally free!"
The elves all yelled with elation.
The queen's order was soon heard by everyone in the Wind Forest, creating a massive stir in the process.
Irina returned to the cave, and she turned to Snarr as she instructed coldly, "Draft me a list of people from the Magus Tower and our elven race who were potentially involved in that incident three years ago. I'm going to make sure that those people live in constant fear until I decide to reap their lives."
"Yes." Snarr nodded before quickly getting to work.
Is Master Schubert really dead? Firis glanced in the direction of the Krol Family and stuck out her dainty little tongue before also entering the cave.
"How does a man take so long to get changed? It's been an hour, and he still hasn't come out." Yngwie sighed as he stood in front of the elven embassy. He took a glance at an extremely beautiful female elf who had appeared beside him before looking away. She was most likely here to run an errand in the elven embassy.
"Tsk, it's almost lunchtime, and he still hasn't come out. The line at the restaurant is really long." Ten minutes later, Yngwie took a glance at time, and in doing so, he discovered that the same female elf was still standing next to him and was looking directly at him.
Which family is she from? I haven't seen her before, so she most likely isn't from the Baibilly Family. Yngwie narrowed his eyes as he appraised the woman beside him. She had golden hair with green eyes and a set of extremely beautiful regal facial features. Her skin was fair and delicate, and her figure was extremely tall and slender, but her chest and backside were very voluptuous.
"This young master sure is unreliable." Another 10 minutes passed, and Yngwie sighed once again. The young master had most likely changed into his pajamas and fallen asleep again. With that in mind, Yngwie turned and prepared to knock on his door again.
"Are you blind? I've been standing here the entire time." A lazy voice suddenly sounded beside Yngwie, and he almost sh*t himself.