Rodri stepped out of Daniel's mansion, walking through the scattered shadows of the trees, his face still flushed with the lingering effects of the alcohol. He deliberately slouched his shoulders, draping his cloak carelessly over his arm, staggering along the stone-paved road, looking every bit the part of a drunken man.

  But as he turned the corner, far from the guards' sight, he suddenly straightened his back. His amber eyes, once hazy with drunkenness, cleared instantly, flashing with sharp brilliance, like two flickering flames lighting up the dark night.

  He wiped the remnants of alcohol from his lips, his fingers gently stroking his chin, gazing thoughtfully toward the brightly lit palace in the distance, a bitter smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.

  "How could such a little wine truly get me drunk?" Rodri murmured to himself, his voice low and hoarse, carrying an almost imperceptible trace of weariness.

  He knew his younger brother too well—the one who had always been different since childhood. His mind worked in ways that were unlike others, and his character was free-spirited and unruly, most resistant to being tied down. In this royal family, with its rigid hierarchy and multitude of rules, Daniel was like a bird longing to fly, yet trapped in a luxurious cage by invisible shackles.

  To strengthen his younger brother's resolve in the marriage alliance, Rodri had to lay aside his pride as a prince, almost degrading himself in an effort to bring Daniel some peace of mind.

  He recalled earlier that day in Daniel's room, where he had exaggeratedly mocked his short wife. Though his words had been laced with humor, they had also managed to ease Daniel's tense nerves.

  Rodri had just returned from the frontlines at the Fortress of Valencia, where the brutal scenes still haunted him. Beneath the walls of the Nochima defense line, the piled corpses nearly filled the moat.

  Every year, thousands of elven soldiers fell on this land, their blood staining the earth beneath their feet, soaking every inch of the defense line. Those youthful faces, those once vibrant lives, were forever left on the battlefield.

  This world had never known true peace—only those who silently endured the horrors of war, using their lives and blood to build a firm defense for others.

  As royalty, Rodri understood the weight of his responsibilities. In his view, compared to the suffering of the soldiers on the frontlines, what was a small sacrifice in marriage?

  If a slight compromise in his personal life could reduce the bloodshed and sacrifices on the battlefield, should he not do it? If he could not even do this, how could he ever deserve the honor of the royal family?

  As he thought of his short wife, Rodri couldn't help but smile softly, a hint of tenderness in his eyes. Though he belittled her in front of Daniel, in reality, he showered her with love.

  The passionate and uninhibited nature of a dwarf woman, the charm that radiated from within, was unmatched by the delicate, reserved, and demure elven women.

  Rodri had long tasted the gentle embrace of elven beauties, but now, he was in love with his dwarf wife, a strong "liquor" compared to the blandness of the others. He preferred this fiery love to the dullness of simple affection.

  As for her appearance, to Rodri, it mattered little. When the night fell and the lights dimmed, all external things lost their importance. What mattered was the sincere bond between them.

  Just as Rodri was about to return home, a familiar figure appeared ahead on the street. It was Orlanis, the girl who had once been engaged to Daniel.

  Rodri's heart tightened, and instinctively, he wanted to avoid her, but it was too late. Orlanis's gaze landed squarely on him.

  Her steps were light and graceful, her dress fluttering gently in the night breeze. In an instant, she was standing before him, her lips curling into a polite yet distant smile, and she spoke softly, "Your Highness Rodri, so late—where are you headed?"

  Rodri steadied himself, returning her smile, and replied calmly, "I just came from my younger brother's place and am heading home. By the way, you always seem to know everything. There's something I'd like your help with."

  Orlanis's eyes briefly flickered with an almost imperceptible gleam, and her smile became even sweeter. "Please, tell me."

  Rodri was about to speak when he suddenly remembered his booming voice. Discussing sensitive matters out in the open like this was ill-advised.

  He took a page from his robe, gathering magic at his fingertips, and wrote a small line on it: "Help me gather information on Princess Frannie Agares." The words quickly faded from the page.

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  After reading it, Orlanis gently shook her head, biting her lip with a look of hesitation. "I'm sorry. Since I was once engaged to His Highness Daniel, it would violate the principle of avoidance for me to investigate Princess Frannie. I suggest you ask Eirwyn; her agents are much more professional."

  Rodri pondered for a moment and realized her reasoning was sound. If Orlanis were to give information saying that Frannie was hideously ugly, how could he trust its authenticity? After all, she had once been involved with Daniel, and her personal feelings might color her judgment.

  So, after thanking Orlanis, Rodri headed toward Eirwyn's residence. As they passed each other, Orlanis's lips curled into a satisfied smile, one that carried both cunning and determination.

  No one knew that Eirwyn was her half-sister. On the surface, their relationship appeared indifferent, and they seldom interacted, but behind the scenes, the two were quite close. For Orlanis, asking her sister to fabricate information about Frannie was no challenge.

  She had already planned everything out. To defend the engagement she had once lost and to return to Daniel's side, a little manipulation was nothing to her.

  In her eyes, everything she had done was for love, all for the chance to spend her life with Daniel. Though her methods were far from straightforward, full of calculations, in her heart, she still believed she was the good girl who deeply loved Daniel.

  When the first ray of sunlight streamed through the intricately carved window, Daniel slowly woke up. He rubbed his drowsy eyes, fragments of last night's dream lingering in his mind.

  In the dream, he married a beautiful and captivating succubus woman. She had twin horns on her head, a heart-shaped tail, silver hair cascading like a waterfall, and fiery red eyes that seemed to burn with intense flames. The two of them were intertwined in passionate embrace, the strong emotions even making Daniel shed tears in the dream.

  Reflecting on the dream, Daniel felt a sudden surge of inexplicable anticipation. He resolutely decided to accept the arranged marriage his father had planned for him.

  Of course, he also secretly calculated that if the demon princess was truly unappealing or had serious character flaws, he would never agree to it.

  Like his second sister-in-law, although she was sturdy and not particularly striking in appearance, she was at least not ugly, with a straightforward and lovable personality. As long as the demon princess's looks and character were above average, Daniel was willing to make sacrifices for the Elven Empire, for the good of the race.

  With a hint of anxiety, Daniel began the long wait. Five days later, Rodri finally arrived. But this time, the usually cheerful and always smiling second brother had lost his usual spark, his face serious, his brows furrowed, as though bearing the weight of a heavy burden.

  Daniel's heart sank, an ominous premonition rising in his chest. If even his second brother couldn't smile, this situation was worse than he had imagined. The two brothers sat across from each other, the atmosphere so heavy it felt like it could drip with tension.

  Rodri took a deep breath, his gaze full of worry. "My good brother, the things I'm about to say, you must face them with optimism."

  Daniel forced a smile, trying to appear calm. "Is it some strange demon race? Tell me, I can handle it."

  Rodri took a scroll of images from his pocket and slowly placed it in front of Daniel, his voice low. "That Princess Frannie, she is indeed a little less beautiful. See for yourself."

  Daniel's hand trembled slightly as he took the image. He felt seven parts unease and three parts curiosity as he slowly unfurled the scroll. When the image was fully revealed, he froze. The woman in the painting was a succubus.

  Although her looks couldn't be called top-tier, in the world he had come from, she could be considered an eight out of ten beauty. Compared to Orlanis, there was a significant difference, but at least she wasn't as ugly as he had imagined.

  Daniel, who had originally had no hope, felt a flicker of joy in his heart. He feigned sadness and said, "She's a little less pretty, but for the empire and the race, I'll endure it."

  But in reality, his heart was already elated. This princess was at least more attractive than his second sister-in-law, and she was a succubus. His future life, whether in happiness or "pleasure," now seemed full of expectation.

  Just as Daniel was secretly rejoicing, Rodri lowered his voice again, his expression growing more serious. "The next thing I'm going to say, you must be prepared for."

  Seeing the serious look on his second brother's face, Daniel felt a tightening in his chest. His throat constricted, and he swallowed nervously, his voice slightly unsteady. "Brother, go ahead."

  "She's not a virgin." Rodri's voice hit Daniel like a heavy hammer, crushing his heart.

  Daniel frowned, a flicker of disappointment in his eyes. After a long pause, he helplessly shrugged and forced a smile. "She's a succubus, maybe her views on love are different from ours, and perhaps she has a lover. It's a bit regrettable, but I respect her. For the empire and the race, I'll endure it."

  Rodri sighed deeply, his eyes filled with pity. "My good brother, the next thing I'm going to say, you must be mentally prepared for."

  Daniel scoffed and tried to act nonchalant. "Second brother, just say it. Honestly, I'm fine, I can handle it. The demons are always unrestrained. I never expected the demon princess to be a pure and chaste woman."

  Rodri's eyes reddened slightly, his voice low and hoarse. "She likes to engage in BDSM with men."

  A vivid image instantly appeared in Daniel's mind: a succubus queen towering above, holding a whip, her cold gaze piercing, while he was bound, hot wax dripping on his body.

  At this moment, Daniel finally cracked. His face turned ashen, his voice trembling. "Second brother, is there more shocking news? Please, just tell me all at once. Honestly, I'm fine, I can handle it. At least the whip won't kill me, and the candle won't burn me to death."

  Rodri closed his eyes, seemingly unable to bear seeing Daniel in pain. His voice was full of helplessness. "The next thing I'm going to say, you need to be mentally prepared."

  Daniel stared blankly at his second brother, mechanically repeating, "Please go ahead, I'm fine…"

  When Rodri finally finished all the "bad news" and left the room, Daniel sat there, motionless. His eyes were vacant, as though his soul had left him.

  Suddenly, he leapt to his feet, grabbed the cup on the table, and slammed it on the floor. The cup shattered into pieces, flying everywhere, just like his broken heart.

  "I'm fine... bullshit! Whoever wants this marriage, let them have it! I'm done!" Daniel roared in fury, his voice echoing through the empty room, filled with despair and frustration.