After that things went pretty smoothly for the Elven race and they were constantly improving every day thanks to the brilliant mind of the Queen and the unique ideals of the Faerie. However, years passed and eventually there came a time where nearly all of the positions of power (disincluding the Grand Elders of course), had been rightfully obtained by the Fae.

In year 150, which was 23 years after the Second Heavenly Shift and the birth of the Fae, 37% of the Elders in the Elven Kingdom were actually Fae. Naturally, this caused some thoughts to enter a few people’s heads, but for the most part, it didn’t really matter.

Although there were times that a racial joke was made such as the term ‘Half Elf half Butterfly’, most people considered the Fae as no different from an Elf if not an even more elite version, and there was no problem with the Fae obtaining so much power. After all, their power was obtained righteously and fairly. In fact, under Zaculard’s lead, the Fae were so noble that there were times that they would willingly give up power to those that deserved it, or sacrificed themselves to protect the weak.

As a matter of fact, it was becoming a rising notion that the Fae were peak Elven lifeforms. They all had greater talent than regular Elves, greater strength, greater wisdom, greater creative ideas, selfless benevolence, noble hearts, unparalleled elegance, bewitching beauty and an awe-inspiring love and respect for nature.

Was this not the very essence of what it meant to be the perfect Elf? Was this not what all Elves aspired to be?

The Elves loved the Fae and their adoration for them was increasing by the year, and if it wasn’t for the Queen’s new rule that prevented Fae from reproducing with Elves (in hopes that they could produce more pureblooded Fae), they would have become the best candidates for marriage (something that always led to the birth of children if not its only purpose).

However, they still considered it a huge offence when Zalucard, the progenitor of the Fae, suddenly asked for the Queen’s hand in marriage 1 year later (Year 151).

The concept of marriage had taken place in the Elven Kingdom more than a hundred years ago because of the fact that the more powerful people kept on building harems of spouses and the weaker people were utterly unable to find even a drop of love. Obviously, this was quite a bit tragic for those at the bottom, and when these people started running off into situations that would surely end up leaving them dead (like attacking the Beast Kingdom in the Southern Region of the Forest), it was decided that things had to change.

For a while, it was debated that the weaker people should either find a harem owner to attach themselves to or become strong enough to own harems themselves, however, the Queen, who had knowledge of monogamy and its benefits to society, decided to introduce a majority of its concepts into their society including adultery.

In the memories she had gained, adultery was heavily frowned upon but it wasn’t a crime. However, in the Elven Kingdom, adultery was most certainly a crime, and was punishable by death. It wasn’t that the Queen had a personal issue about polygamy, but it was the only way to get those who owned harems to give it up and choose only one spouse. She couldn’t wait for them to die out of old age like a mortal ruler would so she had to be extreme in times like this. Later on, she planned to lighten the punishment for adultery and other such things that had been labelled as ‘crimes’, but for now, it still remained to be a fatal crime that shouldn’t be committed unless you were seeking death.

So for Zalucard to ask for the Queen’s hand in marriage despite the fact that she was already married, was that not asking her to commit adultery? Was that not asking her to die?

The concept of divorce had not been introduced (even if some people were gradually coming up with a few rudimentary ideas leading up to it on their own), so there was no other possibility other than Zalucard intending for the Queen to disregard Alan and commit adultery with him.

Madness!

Although the Elves wouldn’t dare to say anything even if the Queen were to break any or every of her own rules (because they loved and revered her that much), until the Queen responded, they absolutely wouldn’t let Zalucard off!

That day, Zalucard almost died, and If it wasn’t for some kind of strange powerup consisting of the invasive green energy the felt extremely cold and left the minds of those that were affected by it in disarray, and the swift arrival of the Fae, then he definitely wouldn’t have lived to live another day. Leader of the Faerie or not.

But instead of running off into seclusion or even fleeing the whole Kingdom altogether, Zalucard began to preach to the masses about the benefits of such a union to the entire Elven Race.

Of course, people tried to attack him once again, but this time he was ready and there were elite Fae guards everywhere he went. The Elves felt betrayed by this but going by the nonchalant manner of the guards that surrounded him and the passionate behaviour of the Fae that listened to him, it was clear that they were already in the know.

Something that caused the beginnings of the first true divide between the Fae and the Elves.

However, the more the Elves reluctantly listened, the more they began to feel like the things he was saying weren't so bad. If Zalucard and the Queen were to band together on the highest level possible, who knew what greatness would rain from their combined brilliant minds? The Elves couldn’t help but have fantasies of such a power couple that would undoubtedly advance their race by miles upon miles.

Something that Grand Elder Alan had unfortunately failed to live up to.

{𝐌𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡’𝐬 𝐍𝐨𝐭𝐞: For those who didn’t get it, the concept of suicide doesn’t really exist yet. The Elves who suffered loveless lives and had suicidal thoughts but not the knowledge of what they’re really thinking, simply concluded that the ‘Heavens’ were prompting them to sacrifice themselves for the ‘greater good’.}