Ash was about to get inside the Elven palace when he was suddenly challenged by another Elf that looks to have the same age as Aurora.
"I challenge you to a duel! You emphasize ld that the Elven Prince was not as strong as you, right? Well, if you are really that strong, you will accept my challenge without a second thought, or are you just an all talk but doesn't have the capability to prove it?"
The young elf continues to taunt Ash.
However, Ash wasn't in the mood to deal with a stupid game at the moment. So, he just ignored the taunts and continued to walk when suddenly he heard another taunt that provoked him.
"Well, looks like you are just an undignified human who cannot prove himself to the world. It sucks to be a piece of crap such as yourself. Go on and walk away. I'm not gonna blame you for having no balls. Haha!"
"What's in it for me?"
Turning back to look at the elf, Ash had a menacing and creepy smile on his face, and slowly walked towards the elf.
Seeing this, the Elf didn't know what to do, and he didn't know what to say after receiving a question like that.
"If you win, I will take back what I said."
Aurora's elder brother replied in behalf of the younger elf.
"And if I lose?"
Replied Ash, looking directly into the big bro.
"One of Two things. You will be banished from this place and to never return, or you will just accept that you are a scum and beheaded in front of everyone."
Aurora's elder brother replied.
"How about that? You're scared that you couldn't think of what to do, right?"
The other elf inserted another insult.
Ash closed his eyes before answering.
"Your conditions are way too unfavorable for me. I will accept the challenge but I will add another condition!"
"You have no rights to demand…"
The younger elf replied but he was cut off by Aurora's elder brother.
"And what is that?"
"On the condition that if I win, I will marry Aurora."
Ash said.
Everyone's jaw in the vicinity dropped as they heard Ash's words.
"How bold for a human to say those things in our place."
"Right? He's not only detestable but a fool as well."
The crowd went wild after hearing Ash's condition.
Aurora who happens to arrive in time, heard Ash's words as well.
"Ash, I don't know what you're planning to do right now, but please don't be in haste."
Aurora thought as she watch from the sidelines.
Hearing all the commotions outside, the King went to the balcony to take a look at the situation together with Demittry.
"I believe it is my decision to make that happened. If you are planning on a duel then we should discuss the terms of it before proceeding, right Demittry?"
The Elven King said looking directly towards Ash.
"It is as the Elven King said."
Demittry agrees bowing his head.
"What? Did Demittry betrayed me or something? Why did he agreed to the Elven King without having a second thought."
[I think it's the opposite, Ash. Demittry agrees to the King in order for you to have a fair and reasonable duel, and pleade your case before the duel happens.]
"Then let us all discuss it inside."
The King went inside and everyone responsible followed after.
"Ash, I hope this plan of yours work for both of us."
Aurora thought as she followed them inside.
Inside the throne room, the Elven King, the Queen, and Demittry were present.
"State your name before your demands."
The Elven King ordered.
Four people were kneeling in front of the King. Aurora's elder brother together with the other elf was in the right side, Aurora who's in the middle, and Ash Magnus to the left.
"I, Vale Timbers, demands for this filthy human to be exiled from the elven kingdom immediately after he lose the duel or beheaded if he chooses to stay."
Without holding back, Vale - Aurora's elder brother stated his demands.
"I, Lucius Woods, demands to marry Aurora Timbers after I defeat the detestable human in the duel."
Everyone was in shock after hearing the younger elf's demand.
Lucius is Aurora's childhood friend, he always had a great crush on her ever since they were small. Lucius thought that this duel would be a great opportunity for him to demand a marriage with Aurora.
After hearing the demans of the younger elf, Ray glared towards Lucius which made the younger elf nervous.
"Hmm, and you human, tell me your demands."
Ray set aside Lucius' demands and look towards Ash.
"I, Ash Magnus, came from 'the slumps', demanded to clear my name and marry your daughter Aurora, and I also want the Elven King to grant his daughter's demands."
Ash peek at Aurora, signaling her to state her demands after which she understood immediately.
Ray couldn't help but ask the young man a question.
"What's changed Ash? Earlier you seem to be hesitating on marrying my daughter, but now, you're actually voicing it out. What made you change your mind."
"Earlier, I have no prior knowledge about the Elves, how do they live, and what kind of people they were when I got here, and on top of that my conscience is telling me that it would be inappropriate for me to marry Aurora as she appears to be just a kid. However, after learning that that wasn't the case, I have to man up and face the consequence of my actions. Which is why I demand on marrying your daughter."
Ash replied, eyeing Ray with conviction.
"Hmm, I see. However, we elves have to meet the other party's parents before approving the marriage. But, how do you plan on doing that when you have no parents beside you?"
Hearing that the Elven King said this, Ash was in shock.
"How? Did Demittry really sold me out? It can hinder my plan. Sh*t!"
Ash thought, looking towards Demittry's location.
"Yes, I heard from my friend Demittry that you lost your parents about 10 years ago, Ash. So, how are you planning on marrying my daughter, after learning the basic etiquette of marrying an elf? I know I had given you that choice but that was before learning that your parents perished away."
"Damn it, Demittry! You just ruined my plan!"
Ash thought.
"Well, I am the one who's marrying your daughter, isn't my presence already enough to win your approval?"
Ash tries to make a way for his plan to work.
"No, not really. We elves wanted to meet the other party's parents in order to know whether their family has the right environment to sustain the lives of an elf. However, if the other party's parents weren't available because of some circumstances, we elves gave them a chance to prove themselves whether they are worthy or not by facing another elf in a duel. And that we'll know later."
The Elven King responded.
"How about you Aurora? The human has given you a chance to state your demands on this duel. Now, state your demands before their duel begins?"
Ray ordered.
"I, Aurora Timbers, demands to go with Ash and attend the Academy of humans. I want to experience what you have experienced my King. I am also demanding not to be outcasted or banished from my home, and have my name cleared from all the disgusting nicknames after Ash won the duel. Furthermore, If Ash wins the duel, I want to go with him and find out for myself if I want to marry him or not."
Aurora stated her demands.
"Hmm, so you were saying to postpone the marriage if Ash won the duel?"
"Yes, you Majesty."
Thinking about his daughter's demands, Rat couldn't help but ask Ash's approval.
"Is that okay with you, Ash?"
"I have no problems with her demands, your Majesty. If she decides to do all that, I have no problems with it."
Ash said.
"So, you promised to protect her throughout her life in the human world, right?"
Ray added.
"Yes, your Majesty."
Ash replied bowing his head.
"Then that settles it, the duel will be held tomorrow afternoon. So, both parties must be prepared before that time. You may now take your leave, except for Ash. I want to talk to him alone. Demittry, you wait outside the room."
Ray ordered before standing up from his throne.
"Yes, your Majesty."
Everyone left the throne room except for Ash who didn't know what to do.
"Hey, system. If something bad happens to me, do you have a plan on how am I going to escape from the room?"
[Scanning the surroundings for a possible path.]
[The system found the best way to escape from the room when something bad happens. Do you want to review it?]
"No, I don't think it it the right time for that. Just tell me which way to run later. I trust you."
[Affirmative.]
Although, Ash said that he trusted the system. He didn't really fully trusted it because of things he experienced due to trusting the system.
"You can relax young man."
Ray ordered.
With it, Ash sighed in relief, thinking that he won't be taking the system's escape route.
"I just wanted to talk to you about your 'real' origin."
-End of Chapter-