Chapter Ninety-Eight: They Are All Goblins

On the Sea of Eternity, the Black Rose cut through the waves.
As the ship reserved for the Night Elves’ queen, Black Rose was so swift it could travel from Firenze to Twin-Moon City in only two days.
It was still only just past midnight when the sun rose from the horizon, tinting Black Rose’s sails a radiant red.

When Lin Lei awoke, Ire stood by his bed, sword in hand.
“Your Majesty, you are awake?”
Seeing him get up, Ire slipped the longsword back into its sheath.

“It’s morning,” Lin Lei said, squinting slightly as sunlight streamed through the window. “Are we nearing the harbor?”

“Yes.”

Ire nodded. He was escorting Lin Lei home himself, and their destination was to deliver the Twin Moon Wheel.
After the new order of the Night Elf kingdom had begun to stabilize, the accord between the two kingdoms had officially taken effect. Lin Lei had to carry the Twin Moon Wheel to Twin-Moon City; it was the most vital provision between the two realms.

Lin Lei had, for once, time to spare and had planned to teleport back directly, but this was a ceremony of great importance, and Ange had insisted he go as a formal sovereign.

His current title was High King of the Night Elves, and every guard on Black Rose belonged to the Night Elves.

“No danger appeared last night.”

He stood up, put on his white robe, and donned his crown.
“Those petty troublemakers didn’t dare make a move.” Ire looked tired. As soon as Black Rose had left Firenze, several outsiders had begun watching them, and Ire had stayed by Lin Lei’s side at all times out of concern.
Yet even now, after Black Rose had entered the controlled waters of Twin-Moon City, they still had not acted. They probably didn’t intend to.

“Anyone who wanted me dead can’t be identified; they won’t be reckless.”

Lin Lei straightened his clothes and stepped out of the cabin. “Let’s go. We have a lot to do today.”

At the harbor, ranks of guards lined the roads, and silk banners of the Forest Elves snapped sharply in the wind.
Thousands upon thousands of elves had gathered, pressed against the roadsides like a tide, flowers in hand, ready to greet what they called the most legendary prince in their history.
Black Rose came to rest at the quay, and Lin Lei disembarked amid the Night Elves.

“Prince!”

“Ahhh! Prince!”

“Our hero!”

A chorus of shrill cheers surged through the harbor.

Lin Lei was momentarily taken aback. What was this, to have this many people so early?

“Lin Lei.”

It was Winnie who came to receive him. She came over with a broad smile and gave him a big hug.
“You’ve caused quite a scene this time.” she whispered near his ear.
Lin Lei replied softly, “Mother Empress, don’t make trouble for me.”
“I’m not an idiot,” she said with a little laugh. “Don’t you worry.”

She let go of him and sighed inwardly. This child had caused more chaos than she had at her age…
No, perhaps she had also surpassed herself by now.
She could not quite admit it, but she was secretly delighted. A son, after all, should exceed his mother.

She pulled Lin Lei into the carriage, and they drove through the cheers toward the palace.
Night Elves and Forest Elves guarded both sides of the carriage, keeping everyone else at bay.

“Shouldn’t I at least step out and wave?” Lin Lei asked, looking out. With so many waiting, hiding inside the carriage seemed to miss the point.

Winnie glanced toward the crowd. “Twin-Moon City has had a few strangers around lately. Your safety comes first.”
Lin Lei’s expression eased at once.
“Look at that face,” Winnie said with a smile. “Seems this journey wasn’t all smooth sailing, either.”
“Tell me about it. I barely slept.”

Lin Lei was not happy, but he was now almost certain that those demigods who wanted him dead would not attempt a direct assassination.

The carriage rolled into the palace square. Lin Lei and Winnie stepped down.
A fresh red carpet had been laid in front; the king stood across from it, watching Lin Lei with steady eyes.
Winnie nudged Lin Lei lightly and stepped aside.
Lin Lei blinked briefly, then crossed the carpet and went to stand by the king.

“Welcome, High King of the Night Elves.”

“…Good morning, Your Majesty.”
They exchanged greetings and, shoulder to shoulder, listened as the Forest Elves played music in his honor.

“Why so grand?” Lin Lei muttered under his breath.

“You are different now,” the king said in a voice barely above a whisper. “If I treated you plainly, the Night Elves would think themselves slighted.”

Lin Lei glanced back at the Night Elves; their expressions held quiet satisfaction.
He understood. Prejudice still lingered between the two elven kingdoms. The king did not want to let the Night Elves feel disadvantaged in ceremony. At the very least, they had to feel that their High King and he stood on equal footing—
and that, too, ensured Lin Lei’s authority.

Seeing this, Lin Lei played along and, as High King, fulfilled the formal transfer of the Twin Moon Wheel.
The king’s mages opened a special space for the Twin Moon Wheel, and it settled into a sort of slumber there.

“Kid, once that monster is dealt with, remember to take me out.”
He gave that instruction, and Lin Lei agreed.

That evening, after every event and banquet had ended, Ire and the others gave Lin Lei room of his own; only then could he finally relax before his parents.

“I’m dead tired…” Lin Lei lounged on a table with a weary shrug. “By the way, Father, when will that piece of the Guardian arrive?”
The Night Elves had strong resistance to handing the Twin Moon Wheel over to the Forest Elves, and Lin Lei had planned to keep the other part of the Guardian in Firenze to balance the kingdoms’ interests.

“We found a piece.” The king’s expression was not as severe as it had been in the daytime; a hint of amusement flickered in his eyes. “You can take it back with you tomorrow.”

“What!” Lin Lei sat upright in surprise. “So soon?”

“I was surprised by how quickly we got it too.” The king said. “That piece had originally been with the chief priest of Sky City. When our men were going there, he happened to run into a minor incident—two female thieves, uh… Never mind, perhaps I shouldn’t be telling you this.”

“What’s the harm in saying it?”

Winnie laughed. “He was knocked out by two thieves, and he was stripped to the skin. They were arguing over who would take the first turn, and our men lent a hand. He handed the fragment back to us.”

She had never liked that priestly leader, and she was secretly pleased to hear of his humiliation.

“By the way, both of those thieves were goblins.”