The Elf Prince's coming-of-age ceremony was grand, with countless flowers paving the way, and butterflies and elementals dancing in the wind.
The Elf Prince walked onto the high platform under the gaze of everyone.
Besides Lin Yan and her group, the only spectators were the elves themselves.
Lin Yan and her group watched as the Elf King placed the crown on the Elf Prince's head, and the elves began to sing hymns.
The singing was beautiful, more relaxing than the choir in the Church of Light.
Qiao Yi sat obediently in his seat, attentively watching his friend's coming-of-age ceremony.
After the ceremony, they had a banquet with a distinctly elven flavor, and then attended a ball in the evening.
The elves were harmonious, dancing and singing under the moonlight. This atmosphere made Lin Yan very relaxed.
She leaned against a tree, watching the elves dance. Morris walked over to her with two drinks.
"Juice, you should like it." Morris handed one of the cups to Lin Yan.
"Thank you!" Lin Yan took the cup of juice.
"You're not going to dance?"
"If you want to, I'll go with you." His words were almost explicit.
"I don't want to dance. The night view of the Elf Forest is beautiful. Do you want to come see it with me?" Lin Yan invited him.
"It's my honor." Morris extended his right hand, palm open, in front of Lin Yan. He bowed slightly, making an inviting gesture.
Lin Yan placed her hand on his open palm.
"Daddy, where are Morris and Angelina going?" Qiao Yi, in the midst of playing, saw Morris and Lin Yan leaving.
"They have their own business, Qiao Yi. Play for a while longer and then we'll have to go back and rest. You don't want to be unable to get up tomorrow, do you?"
Olisius gently coaxed his son, as they had a schedule for the next day.
The coming-of-age ceremony was over. Tomorrow, they would talk to the Elf King about cooperation and also bid farewell.
"Daddy, let me play a little longer, so many little elves aren't asleep yet!" He pointed at the other little elves who were also playing.
"Then what will you do if you can't get up tomorrow?" Olisius asked.
"I can definitely get up, Daddy, don't worry." Qiao Yi guaranteed.
Morris led Lin Yan through the Elf Forest, and the Elf Forest at night was very romantic.
Fireflies danced in the air, and flowers on the ground emitted faint glows, like stars.
Leaving the lively ballroom, the environment here was very quiet.
"Angelina, I think you already know what I mean, don't you?" Morris asked hesitantly.
Although he felt that Angelina's attitude towards him already indicated her feelings, he couldn't be at ease without her response.
"What do you mean?" Lin Yan pretended not to understand. "Morris, if you don't explain, how would I know if I'm understanding it correctly or not?"
"What I mean is, Angelina, I like you. No, more than like, I love you. I wonder if I can become your partner?" Morris clasped Lin Yan's hand and knelt on one knee.
"But Morris, you should know that I'm just human, and my lifespan can't compare to that of dragons."
"I know. Anita had already considered this issue when she was with Olisius. I had also thought it through when I fell in love with you.
I will share my lifespan with you. When your lifespan ends, I will sleep with you forever." Morris gazed at Lin Yan deeply.
"But you should also know that what I have to do might involve you, or even the entire Dragon Island."
"Then, Angelina, do you believe that what you are doing is just?"
"Of course."
"Then why are you afraid of involving us? I know who your enemy is, but we dragons fear no enemy!" Morris, though he couldn't represent the entire dragon race's thoughts, could represent himself.
If it truly involved the dragon race, and the dragon race couldn't bear the consequences, he would leave the dragon race and stand behind Lin Yan.
"Then I have nothing to worry about." Lin Yan smiled. "Please bear with me in the future."
Lin Yan lowered her head and placed a very light kiss on Morris's forehead, as light as a breeze, as warm as a dream.
The next day, when Olisius saw the two of them, he noticed the change in their relationship.
He smiled suggestively at Morris, giving him an inquiring look. Morris understood that his brother-in-law had seen through it and didn't hide anything.
Qiao Yi still couldn't get up the next day, so Olisius had to leave him in the care of a maid.
Upon meeting the Elf King, Lin Yan prepared to bid farewell.
Olisius then revealed his plan.
"Young man, have you ever wondered why I am cooperating with you? Since we are going to sell the elves' goods, why can't we sell them ourselves?" the Elf King countered.
"I think Your Majesty would rather not interact with the outside world, otherwise, you wouldn't have sealed the Elf Forest for so many years." Olisius didn't understand why the Elf Forest was sealed.
But he knew the attitude some people on the continent had towards elves. This time, the elves had gone out and destroyed many slave organizations.
The Elf King probably didn't want his kin to interact with the outside world.
"But we are not short of money. We can be self-sufficient. Why must we do business with the outside world?" the Elf King countered again.
"Your Majesty, you do need it," Lin Yan interjected at this point. "There are still many things in the outside world worth bringing in."
Lin Yan knew what Olisius meant. She stood to gain from this as well, as the Elf King trusted her.
She began to list some of the items from various races in the outside world for the Elf King.
"Olisius has many merchant caravans. He will bring you everything you need, and you won't have to deal with those people.
I believe Your Majesty also wants to do this business, otherwise, you would have refused directly."
"Yes, Your Majesty. My merchant caravans have dealings with various races. Whatever you want, I can bring it to you." Olisius was confident in his merchant caravans.
"I can do this business with you, allowing you to procure the elves' goods and sell them, but the people who come to procure them must be from Ms. Angelina's group." The Elf King looked at Lin Yan.
"Ms. Angelina is a forever friend of the elves. We only trust her."
Elves weren't without friendships with other races, but due to their arrogance, they had caused unpleasantness with many races.
The Elf King had considered inviting others to the Elf Prince's coming-of-age ceremony as an opportunity to announce the elves' reopening.
However, after much deliberation, he abandoned the idea.