A slightly younger mage, with a flattering look in his eyes, bent slightly and smiled with an expression full of sycophantic charm. In a tone laced with some flattery, he said:

  "The magic of love is like that mysterious and powerful ancient spell, something no one can resist. The romantic and legendary tales of your youth are the most beautiful ballads sung by bards, echoing in every corner of this continent."

  "Master, do we need to report this to the King?" The young mage asked cautiously, his gaze fixed intently on the older mage.

  The older mage stroked his long white beard, his eyes deep and meaningful, before slowly replying, "Of course, we must report it. But we only need to deliver the crystal ball that recorded the footage to the royal palace mages. Beyond that, we don't add any subjective judgment to the report."

  He paused for a moment, and a flicker of an elusive gleam flashed in his eyes before continuing, "As for the King's judgment and decisions, that's not for us to worry about. Remember one thing—speak less, make fewer mistakes. If you don't speak, you'll never make a mistake."

  The young mage listened carefully to his teacher's words, wisdom accumulated over many years, his expression growing serious and respectful. He straightened and said, "Master Sylvan, you are right. I'll take care of it right away."

  "Don't be hasty, be patient. The show isn't over yet. At the very least, we should also record what happens when His Highness climbs out of the lake," Master Sylvan said, the corners of his mouth curling up in a slight, mischievous smile.

  The two exchanged a glance, and their expressions were filled with expectation and Schadenfreude, as if they were already envisioning a spectacular farce about to unfold.

  Meanwhile, on the shores of Skyheart Lake, Daniel had clumsily fallen into the somewhat cold water. His fine clothes were soaked, and the icy sensation spread across his skin, making him shiver involuntarily.

  Yet, in his heart, a wave of uncontrollable joy surged within him, as if a blazing flame was burning. His eyes sparkled with excitement, and he was utterly certain of one thing—Orlanis definitely liked him!

  "Awesome! Running away with the beautiful girl—this will become a legendary tale passed down through the ages!" Daniel shouted excitedly in his heart.

  As he imagined the future, a hopeful smile spread across his face. In his fantasy, the future opera performance would surely feature their romantic story. He would elope with the beautiful elven maiden, riding in a gorgeously decorated carriage, singing cheerful songs while traveling through mountains and rivers—it would be so pleasant and carefree.

  The Comoros Islands are so vast, who could easily find them? After a few decades, when he returned home proudly, holding his son or even grandson, would his father still oppose him?

  This is the classic runaway marriage scenario, he thought. After all, he had seen plenty of runaway marriage films and considered himself an expert in such matters.

  His biggest worry had originally been whether Orlanis would be unwilling to abandon her family, since the weight of family responsibilities and constraints was so heavy. But now, it seemed that he had overestimated the situation.

  The girl in love was far more passionate and brave than he had imagined. Recalling Orlanis's slap just now, it had seemed harsh, but in the moment of contact, it had cleverly dissipated ninety-five percent of the force.

  Rather than saying she slapped him, it was more like a gentle push. The seemingly violent action was filled with tenderness and affection.

  Daniel leapt powerfully out of the lake, water dripping from his body as he clenched his fist, his eyes filled with excitement and thrill.

  "That slap was perfect! A slap that got me an elven wife—maybe I should ask for even more powerful slaps next time!" He cheered inwardly.

  Now, the plan to run away was firmly planted in his heart, and it was growing stronger by the minute. Not only did he have a runaway bride, but she was also extremely beautiful.

  However, new concerns began to cloud his mind like dark clouds. When should they leave? How would they escape? Where would they go? Three months seemed long, but in the tense situation, it was but a fleeting moment.

  He had to perform this act without giving anything away, carefully seeking an opportunity to escape from the continent of Lundberg. There was no margin for error—once exposed, there would be no turning back.

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  Thinking of Orlanis's lovely face, her moonlit silver-gray hair, and her ruby-like, dazzling crimson eyes, Daniel couldn't contain his excitement.

  In his eyes, aside from her somewhat prominent chest being slightly less than perfect, everything else about Orlanis was flawless. He suppressed his joy, not daring to show any signs of weakness, standing by the lake with his head down, looking very disappointed, occasionally sighing.

  After some time, he suddenly shouted in anger, facing the Skyheart Lake, and began casting a spell, waving his hands rapidly.

  The lake churned under the force of his magic, sending up massive splashes of water. Although he didn't know if anyone was watching, he was certain that this meticulously prepared performance would have an audience—and that the audience would take everything they witnessed back to his father.

  Such a marvelous performance would be rather dull without the intended audience. At this moment, Daniel appeared dejected on the outside, but inside, his heart was brimming with joy, as if he could already see the dawn of success.

  The relationship between Daniel and Orlanis had not yet evolved into true love, but they shared the same goal. He didn't want to bind this lively girl with a marriage contract; he simply wanted to embark on an unknown journey with her.

  In his eyes, they would get to know each other during the journey, gradually developing feelings. He believed that over time, love would blossom — this was his ideal vision of romance.

  Humming a familiar tune from his homeland, Daniel walked lightly but carefully back to his home. The warm atmosphere of his house greeted him, and he changed out of his damp clothes, still carrying the scent of the lake water. Sitting in a soft chair, he relished the sensation of the earlier affectionate slap, as his joy completely overtook his heart, causing his lips to curl into a slight smile.

  He approached his desk, gazing quietly out the window at the majestic and solemn temple at the horizon. The temple emanated an air of mystery and authority in the fading light of the setting sun.

  Daniel hesitated, his inner turmoil evident. Should he seek help from Solanmar? His fingers unconsciously tapped the surface of the desk, his eyes filled with indecision.

  After a moment of contemplation, he made a firm decision to reject the idea. Seeking Solanmar's assistance may not provide any clear benefit and could potentially expose him. The high priest had been kind to him, but when it came to matters of the empire, most of the leaders would stand united. Daniel was not fighting alone; he bore the expectations of Orlanis. He couldn't take risks.

  Since he didn't know what else to do, he decided to focus on his cultivation. Daniel had reached the pinnacle of eighth-tier magic, an impressive achievement, but breaking into the ninth-tier was no easy feat. It required time, accumulation, and countless days and nights of effort and perseverance.

  Becoming a Saint Domain expert seemed a distant goal, almost unattainable. But if he were to take Orlanis with him, he must bear the responsibility of protecting her — he could never allow her to be harmed. To achieve this, his own strength was the most important safeguard. Years down the line, if he became a master in the Saint Domain, returning with Orlanis and children, who would dare oppose him?

  With that thought, Daniel smiled faintly and sat in the magic circle to begin his meditation.

  This had become his daily routine in recent days. Whenever he had nothing to do, he would quiet his mind and begin meditating. For a magician, talent was important, but it was the daily meditation that was the only way to improve one's spiritual power. Without enhancing the mind, no matter how high one's magical talent was, it would ultimately be for nothing, like a tall building with no foundation — it would collapse sooner or later.

  As Daniel immersed himself in meditation, the night had fully fallen over the land. The moonlight, like water, spread over this mysterious continent.

  Taking advantage of the cover of night, Orlanis cautiously returned to her sister's residence. Inside, the soft glow of candlelight flickered, casting their shadows on the wall.

  Eirwyn elegantly sat opposite Orlanis, her expression calm and serene, her gaze focused on Orlanis as she listened intently to her recounting of her interactions with Daniel.

  After listening, Eirwyn was stunned, a look of surprise on her face. She couldn't help but ask, "You're saying he invited you to elope?"

  "Eloping? Don't say it so harshly. We're just going to pursue the freedom of love together," Orlanis said in a somewhat flustered tone, her cheeks slightly flushed, and a hint of shyness in her eyes.

  Eirwyn, with utmost seriousness, replied, "I see, a free elopement." Seeing her sister's almost furious expression, Eirwyn knew the joke had gone too far and quickly changed the topic, offering a sincere smile. "Congratulations, sister."

  Orlanis of course knew what Eirwyn was congratulating her for. In the journey of love, the most terrifying thing was unrequited love, or longing without response.

  If Orlanis had been there, full of expectations, calculating every step, and Daniel showed no response, it would have been a humiliating end. No matter how much she loved him, she could never accept such a fate. Daniel's response, his initiative, was like a beam of light in the dark — the source of her courage and the driving force for her pursuit of love.

  She glanced at Eirwyn, a fleeting look of disappointment in her eyes, and then, somewhat uncertainly, she said, "Do you think what we're doing is a bit too much? Maybe I should ask Father to insist on this marriage contract?"

  Eirwyn gently placed her fair hand on Orlanis's forehead, a puzzled expression on her face. "No fever, why are you saying such nonsense?"

  "Eirwyn!" Orlanis bit her lip, calling her sister's name with a tone of slight displeasure.

  A cold glint flashed in Eirwyn's eyes, and her expression grew serious. Her tone became neutral as she said, "Don't think too highly of a man's loyalty. If Daniel finds out the truth about Frannie, do you think he would still choose to elope with you? If you're truly confident, we could test it, couldn't we?"