Aren't I Fucking Amazing?

Shock.

Utterly shocked.

And panic.

The two elves, Tagelise and Elandil, were in a state of great turmoil.

Because Kang De embraced Duke of Tiling affectionately.

They looked like best buddies.

--What... what are you doing?!

Tagelise was completely stunned, his body stiff and unable to move. He passively followed Kang De, staggering as he was embraced by him, toward the gate of the Vidal Chamber of Commerce.

Elandil was also stunned, looking as if he had witnessed the death of Twilight Moon.

Hong San followed with a beaming smile, extending his hand in invitation. "Your Grace, please don't be so formal. My prince felt deeply ashamed after hearing of your peaceful intentions, and has specially prepared this grand banquet to apologize to you. He also wishes to become friends with a kind and wise man like you..."

As Kang De walked, he patted Tagelise on the shoulder, with half of Taglius's back resting against his chest. He wondered if it was just his imagination, but there was something different about it.

Keep a calm mind, keep a calm mind, keep a calm mind.

He had ulterior motives and lacked experience. His strange feelings would normally be reflected in his actions, thus creating flaws... But there was a way.

Self-hypnosis.

Keep a calm mind, keep a calm mind, keep a calm mind.

Just treat him as a man you find pleasing to the eye, get along with, share similar interests, and have similar values.

A figure flashed through my mind.

Kang De smiled slightly and gently tightened his arm. Just then, Tagelise looked over, his emerald green eyes showing a hint of panic and helplessness, but he saw Kang De's sincere and peaceful smile.

This gave him a slight jolt.

Because this is an experience unlike any other.

From childhood to adulthood, no one has ever held me so intimately as they do now.

Moreover, during this contact, the faint aura emanating from Kang De, which was familiar to him and even evoked a sense of inexplicable nostalgia, further interfered with his thoughts and judgment at close range.

All these factors combined left him dumbfounded and stunned, unsure of how to react. He simply followed Kang De inside, completely unaware of where he was.

Just then...

"Wait a moment!"

The elven sage's shout resounded, containing a surge of Magic Power. A spell of clarity and tranquility was unleashed without any incantation or form, instantly calming Tagelise's tense and flustered mind.

Duke of Tiling escaped Kang De's clutches in an instant. His speed and agility were so great that Kang De didn't even have time to react. He only felt his arm slip away as his opponent darted to the side.

Before he could say anything, Elandil rushed forward, instinctively pulling Tagelise behind him like a mother hen protecting her chicks.

Immediately, the two elves realized what had just happened.

As expected of an elven sage, his mind worked quickly, and he immediately made amends. He said seriously, "My apologies, Kang De Highness Kant, but I must explain to you that His Highness the Duke has been introverted since childhood and has rarely had contact with elves and humans for various reasons. If you are too friendly and close, His Highness the Duke will feel very uncomfortable."

Kang De glanced at Tagelise, who seemed to have just come to his senses, his expression still somewhat dazed and confused. He stared wide-eyed in astonishment and asked, "Is that so?"

Elandil nodded repeatedly. "Yes, yes, yes."

Kang De frowned and said, "That won't do. What will happen after we get married if things continue like this?"

--None of your business!

Elandil roared inwardly, but outwardly showed no sign of it.

He chuckled dryly, "Yes, yes, Her Majesty the Queen and the other members of the royal family are very worried about this. They have even made several proposals, but they have all been rejected or backed down for various reasons. Your Highness is already so old; if the royal bloodline cannot be continued, we are all very concerned..."

The wise man's tone changed because Duke Tagelise behind him placed a finger on his lower back, and with a slight turn, Elandil's body, hidden beneath his wide robes, tensed up.

"I see," Kang De nodded. "That is indeed a big problem."

He seemed to have made up his mind, looked at Duke of Tiling, and said sincerely, "Brother, you need to get this problem treated. You're afraid of contact with other creatures, right? It's okay, you'll get better with practice."

"Leave this to me. Come on, let's start with the simple and gradually move to the difficult, beginning with men, starting with me, a human being. Let's get to know each other better these next few days, and take it one step at a time..."

So what?! It's none of your business!

Seeing Kang De approaching the Duke with great enthusiasm, Elandil stepped forward and blocked Kang De's path with a forced smile, "This matter is none of your concern... It's not that simple. After all, Her Majesty the Queen and the royal family have tried many methods, but to no avail..."

"That's because your methods are wrong. I have a set of Yongxin's Eight Methods, which are specifically designed to solve this kind of problem."

Kang De said, "He needs a bit of a strong stimulus. You see, he doesn't want to interact with others, so he needs a little stimulation. Which elven lady will he marry in the future? He doesn't want to interact with female elves, so let him interact with me, a male human, first."

"Moreover, I am your enemy, someone who made him cry, someone you really dislike. He would be very resistant to interacting with me, thinking I am very annoying. But after spending some time with me, when he interacts with beautiful female spirits, he will find that, ah, compared to Kang De, this lady is so sweet, kind, beautiful and charming, and then he will no longer feel resistant—isn't that the logic?"

That's incredibly eloquent.

If he hadn't known the truth, Elandil would have almost believed Kang De's nonsense. He even thought there was some truth to what Kant said, but... absolutely not.

He said, "No, no, no, I can't trouble you, I can't trouble you. That would be too much of a sacrifice for you, I can't let you risk being disliked by His Majesty the Duke..."

Kang De's voice rose eight octaves. "Then what can we do? What other options are there? If I don't go, am I supposed to take him to a brothel?"

Tagelise had been hiding in the back, listening to Kang De's nonsense with a subtle "what the hell is this guy talking about?" look on his face. But when he heard the word "brothel," he suddenly looked up and his eyes lit up.

Elandil remained vigilant and earnest, saying, "This needs further consideration..."

The wise elf carefully considered his words, not wanting to offend Kang De too much, nor wanting to act too aggressively, lest the other party notice something amiss.

So he said, "Thank you for your kindness, but firstly, the Duke may not be willing; secondly, the two countries are at war, and the Twilight Moon royal family has no right to accept your kindness. After all, as an envoy, if His Excellency the Duke accepts your favor, he cannot purely represent the interests of the country in negotiations..."

"No, no, you're wrong. I just wanted to thank him."

Kang De grasped the wise man's hand and said with deep emotion, "I feel very guilty about what happened outside the city, especially after hearing that he came for peace. I feel even more guilty and want to do something for him."

Elandil repeatedly said, "No, no, no, there's no need..."

"No, it is absolutely necessary, not only for me, but also for the peace and future of both countries."

Kang De grasped the other's hand, shifted his head slightly, and looked at Tagelise behind the wise man, saying earnestly, "You see, it was the Queen who started the war, while Duke Tagelise is a pacifist. If the Duke marries and has children first, the next Phoenix King might be a peaceful monarch."

"In fact, Your Grace, you should also reflect on this. If you were outgoing and sociable, and even frequently appeared in public, befriending many powerful officials and gaining the support of the people, the throne of the Phoenix King might not have fallen into the hands of your bloodthirsty, warlike, and ambitious sister."

Upon hearing this, the two elves' expressions changed again.

Elandil's face darkened, but he was secretly delighted. Kang De had misspoke, and he could use this opportunity to force a evasive response and get rid of the matter. "Your Highness, please watch your words. Do not use such controversial language to evaluate our monarch!"

Tagelise also showed his anger, and for a moment he forgot about being shy and about the brothel. The subtle and hazy feeling of attraction he had felt earlier had completely disappeared.

He poked his head out, looked at Kang De, and angrily said, "My... my sister isn't like that at all!"

Kang De simply gazed intently into his eyes and smiled calmly.

"Isn't that even worse?"

He said calmly, "Because of your introverted and weak nature, your sister had to don armor and take up a sword, along with you, to protect the family's honor and the royal family's dignity. She may also be an introverted, gentle, and beautiful girl who loves flowers and poetry, but she had to pretend to be strong and ruthless, to do things she didn't like, and to play the role of a cold-blooded tyrant. Isn't all of this your fault?"

Tagelise's pupils suddenly contracted.

A violent upheaval, visible to the naked eye, occurred within him.

In an instant, his eyes flickered violently, reflecting the turbulent emotions churning within him. He stared at Kang De in disbelief, and then, without realizing it, tears slowly welled up.

Elandil retorted sharply, "Your Highness, I formally lodge a protest with you!"

"... It's alright, Lord Elandil."

He took a deep breath and spoke from Duke of Tiling's lips.

The wise elf turned around, a bad feeling creeping into his heart.

"You're right, Kang De Highness."

Tagelise stepped forward, gazing at Kang De with a strange, complex look in his eyes. Then, a slow smile spread across his face as he extended his hand to Kang De: "You're right, it's all my fault. So, Your Highness Kang De —I'm willing to accept your help, no, I beg for your help."

Kang De smiled sincerely and replied, "That is indeed my wish, and I dare not refuse."

Their hands clasped together again.

Kang De turned around, his gaze quickly meeting Hong San's beside him, a fleeting look of smugness crossing his face.

--Am I awesome?

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PS1: First update, 3,000 words. The main problem was that the Shuke exploded, and things are only now getting better.

PS2: Today is Teachers' Day. I heard that some of my readers are teachers... Well, Happy Teachers' Day! I hope you can learn from my strengths and teach your children well.