In the glittering starry sky of the Elven Empire, if one were to ask who had the deepest bond with him, it would undoubtedly be his second brother, Rodri Serales, and the High Priest, Solanmar.

  Especially his second brother, who was his best partner in childhood—climbing trees to steal bird eggs and sneaking out of the palace for adventures. The bond between them was like aged wine, becoming more fragrant and mellow with time.

  Now that his second brother had arrived, it felt like seeing a beam of light in the dark. Finally, there was someone who truly understood him and could listen to all his troubles.

  "Suomi, go greet my second brother!" Daniel urgently ordered, his voice full of uncontainable joy.

  But as soon as the words left his mouth, he felt it wasn’t quite right. "Forget it, I’ll go greet him myself." With that, he raised his feet and prepared to head to the door.

  “No need! I’m already here!” A thunderous voice rang out, shaking the intricately carved glass window, and the crystal pendants on the window frame chimed.

  Daniel couldn’t help but smile wryly. Every time his second brother appeared, it was like a small earthquake—completely lacking the elegance expected of an elf.

  Rodri Serales strode into the room, his scarlet cloak flying behind him. He was towering, even among elves, standing a full head taller than Daniel.

  His tanned skin glowed healthily under the candlelight, and his amber eyes shone brightly like those of a hawk. His high nose and tightly pressed lips exuded an innate, heroic spirit.

  But when he grinned, revealing a row of white teeth, his rugged and bold aura was as if a mighty dragon had entered the room, in stark contrast to the typical gentle elegance of elves.

  Daniel always felt that his second brother was an "oddity" among the elves. In a race that prized soft-spoken voices and graceful movements, his second brother had no sense of volume control.

  His whispering sounded like a normal human shouting, and when he laughed heartily, the sound could pierce through three halls, startling the nightingales perched on the glass domes above.

  If anyone were to whisper with him in class, it would be an absolute disaster, with the teacher’s ruler probably falling nonstop onto the desk.

  But it was exactly this straightforwardness that made Daniel feel so close to him. Compared to his older brother, who was deep and calculating, his second brother was like a bonfire in winter—warm and passionate.

  They were close in age and had grown up playing together in the palace gardens, sneaking sweets in the library, and sparring with swords in the training grounds. Those carefree times had tightly woven their bond together.

  Hearing his second brother’s hearty voice, Daniel’s heavy heart seemed to be infused with a warm current, and the dark clouds pressing on him seemed to lift a little.

  No matter whether his second brother could solve the problems at hand, just having someone like him nearby made Daniel feel a lot more at ease.

  Daniel quickly stepped forward, throwing open the carved wooden door. A long-lost smile spread across his face. "Second brother, you’ve finally come!"

  He warmly ushered Rodri into the room and then turned to the attendant, Suomi, who had been waiting by the side. “No one is allowed near this room without my command.”

  But that wasn’t enough. Daniel knew how powerful his second brother’s booming voice was. If he didn’t take precautions, their conversation would probably echo throughout the entire palace.

  So, he raised his hand and waved lightly. A soft blue light appeared at his fingertips. As he chanted a spell, a semi-transparent magical barrier slowly rose around the room, blocking the outside world’s sounds and firmly protecting the brothers' private conversation.

  Rodri casually looked around the room, his gaze sweeping over the piles of magical tomes in the corner and the scattered contract documents on the desk. He raised an eyebrow. "What’s bothering you, little brother?"

  Without waiting for an answer, he plopped down onto the carved cushion, pulled an old-fashioned wine flask from his waist, and said, "Try this! Rum, apparently pirates love it. It’s strong and gets you drunk quickly."

  Daniel looked at the flask, and the image of pirates drinking heartily in the midst of wild seas flashed in his mind.

  His second brother was indeed still the same. In this elven empire, where elegance and restraint were highly valued, he was clearly fond of things that were wild and untamed.

  This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

  The elves prized vegetarianism and light meals, but his second brother couldn’t live without roasted meat, often complaining that the elves' delicate dishes didn’t fill him up.

  Most elves abstained from alcohol, believing it would make one lose their elegance, but his second brother had a particular fondness for strong liquor, often getting drunk at banquets, making the ministers shake their heads.

  Daniel fetched two exquisite ceramic cups and filled them with amber-colored rum. The liquid gently swirled in the cups, releasing a strong fragrance with a hint of salty sea breeze and fiery heat. The two exchanged glances, raised their cups, and drank in one go.

  The spicy liquor burned down his throat, and Daniel felt as though a fire ignited in his stomach. He frowned, trying to suppress the discomfort.

  If it weren't for the fact that the alcohol was brought by his older brother, Daniel wouldn't have been so willing to try it. But at this moment, in this small world enveloped by the magic barrier, with his older brother by his side, the strong liquor seemed a little more bearable.

  Rodri wiped the wine from the corner of his mouth and leaned closer to Daniel, winking mysteriously: "I’ve heard that the girls of the Demon Tribe have quite the... flavor. You’re in for a treat."

  Daniel rolled his eyes in annoyance. "Brother, when you say 'flavor,' do you mean that infernal, damnable sulfur scent from hell?"

  Rodri burst into a deafening laugh, the sound echoing inside the magic barrier, making the glass windows hum and the crystal pendants on the window frame clink.

  After a while, he managed to calm down, lowering his voice. "My good brother, if you're still in the mood to joke, then it means there's no major problem. Have you already accepted the girls of the Demon Tribe, mentally?"

  Daniel smiled wryly and shook his head. "Even if I can't accept it, can Father change his mind?"

  "Sorry, no." Rodri and Daniel almost said it in unison: "He’s the king. He’s the iron-fisted ruler. His word is the truth."

  Afterward, the two exchanged a knowing look and smiled together. This phrase had been their motto since childhood. Whenever they were scolded by their father or dissatisfied with his decisions, they'd use this line to comfort each other—both as a small sarcastic remark about their father’s authoritarian ways and as a helpless form of teasing.

  However, this time, there was a hint of bitterness in their smiles. They both knew that the marriage with the Demon Tribe had already been decided, and no matter how much they resisted, they couldn't change their father's decision.

  Although Daniel was full of reluctance, as a royal son, he understood the responsibility he carried and would eventually accept his father's arrangements. But just thinking about his future wife being from the Demon Tribe was like having a thorn stuck in his heart, causing him a dull pain.

  "Brother, you’re well-informed. Can you do me a favor?" Daniel suddenly spoke seriously.

  "Say it," Rodri said, putting down his wine cup and looking at him with seriousness.

  "Can you help me learn more about this Frannie Agares, the princess?" Daniel's eyes showed a glimmer of hope, but also a touch of anxiety.

  Rodri was silent for a few seconds before slowly saying, "What good will it do to know more?"

  Daniel gave a self-deprecating smile. "At least I should have the right to know. Even if I'm sentenced, I should at least be told what crime I’ve committed."

  Rodri nodded in agreement, clinking his cup with Daniel's and downing his drink in one go. He said with determination, "Don’t worry, I’ve got this covered!"

  As more and more strong liquor was consumed, the two brothers started to feel the effects of drunkenness. Drinking on an empty stomach, combined with the troubles each of them kept hidden in their hearts, made the drunkenness come on fast and strong.

  Daniel's eyes grew slightly red, and his gaze became a bit unfocused. Suddenly, he stood up and shouted, "Among all the races, who is the most handsome?"

  Rodri shook his head, pointed to himself with his thumb, and then pointed to Daniel, muttering ambiguously, "Of course, it’s us elves!"

  Daniel nodded, his frustration pouring out like a dam breaking. "Since we are the most handsome race, what's wrong with wanting to find a beautiful wife? I’m a beauty lover, is that so wrong?"

  Rodri shook his head vigorously. "You’re not wrong. You like beautiful things, and so do I. But at least you still have some options. What about me? What kind of wife did Father pick for me? A dwarf! A short, fat, and stupid dwarf! A dwarf who drinks all the time! A dwarf who only knows how to hammer iron! A dwarf who’s scruffy and shouts loudly all day long!"

  Daniel, who had been filled with grievance, couldn’t help but burst out laughing when he imagined his older brother's description. In his mind, he saw his sister-in-law, the daughter of the dwarf chief—small, muscular, dark-skinned, flashing a broad smile that revealed a set of large white teeth, with a straightforward personality like a man.

  Looking at his older brother, who was handsome, imposing, and full of dignity, the contrast was so striking that Daniel couldn't help but laugh out loud.

  Seeing Daniel laugh, Rodri became even more energized. He grabbed Daniel by the collar and roared loudly face-to-face, "What’s wrong with the Demon Tribe girls? They have some beautiful ones too, and they're passionate and seductive to the core! If you don’t want one, I’ll go talk to Father and get you to marry second sister-in-law. I’ll go fulfill the marriage contract for you."

  Daniel swiftly dodged his older brother's spittle, swatted his hand away, and pretended to be serious, saying, "Enough of this. I’m Father’s son. His orders are my directions. Also, second sister-in-law may be... but she and you are very loving, so keep those ridiculous thoughts to yourself. May the merciful Moon Goddess forgive you for such a terrible idea."

  As the night deepened, the wine jug was finally emptied. Rodri stood up unsteadily and patted Daniel on the shoulder. "Third brother, don’t think too much about it. Maybe that Demon Tribe princess is a real beauty after all."

  Daniel mustered the strength to stand and escorted his older brother to the door. Watching Rodri’s tall figure gradually fade into the corridor’s shadows, he felt a slight lightness in his heart. Yes, no matter how miserable his own situation was, looking at his older brother made it seem a little easier to accept.

  Back in his room, Daniel collapsed onto his bed. The alcohol began to take its toll, and his consciousness became foggy, his eyelids heavy.

  In the half-dreaming state, he began to fantasize about his future wife. "I’m so handsome, my fiancée must be a delicate and serene, yet passionate and pure succubus, right?"

  He muttered to himself, a silly grin tugging at the corners of his lips. "Of course, who wouldn’t want someone like me?"