Andreas curled his lips into a mirthless smile. "I thank Your Majesty for the hollow praise. Since you've already grasped my weakness, how do you intend to deal with me?"
"Deal with you?" Azshara shook her head with a smile. "Why should I? At the very least, you haven't done anything harmful to me yet, have you?"
Vashj's expression suddenly shifted; she sensed a troublesome turn of events. "Your Majesty!"
Azshara didn't say a word, merely glancing at Vashj with her majestic golden eyes.
"Err..." Vashj, who had intended to continue her counsel, felt her entire body stiffen. She immediately lowered her head in fear and dared not speak further.
Since their meeting in the palace, Azshara had appeared relatively easygoing and relaxed before Andreas and Leticia, aside from the innate aura of authority she radiated. Complemented by her Peerless beauty and captivating temperament, the Queen in her lazy state seemed quite approachable. Even the previously anxious Leticia had gradually returned to normal under the influence of the atmosphere.
However, that emotionless, fleeting glance sent chills through Andreas' heart. Although the primary target wasn't him, he could still read the warning intent in those eyes that seemed capable of speech. Vashj was, after all, a confidante who had followed Azshara for many years; a single look was enough for her to understand the Queen's stance without a word being said.
Having intercepted Vashj's unspoken persuasion, Azshara's face regained its spring-like smile.
"Forgive the lack of discipline; it must have been a laughable sight for you two."
"Back to the point. I do not intend to punish you, nor Leticia, who was innocently caught in the middle. However..." Azshara crossed her arms over her chest, pressing her magnificent peaks into a deep cleavage. She looked at Andreas with a meaningful reminder, "Little Druid, you are currently being hunted by the Burning Legion, aren't you?"
"Though I do not know what you did to them, as an ally of the Burning Legion, I have an obligation to share information about 'fugitives' with them. Unless..." A confident, chilling smile appeared on Azshara's face. "You can demonstrate enough value for me to personally step in and protect you."
"Um..." Mentioning this topic, Vashj spoke up with forced courage. "Your Majesty, please allow me to interject."
Azshara's brow furrowed slightly, but knowing Vashj was not one to be tactless, she tilted her chin toward the head handmaiden. "Granted. You have ten seconds. Speak."
Vashj hurriedly bowed her head and reported at a rapid pace, "Yes. Before I brought Leticia to the palace, the Burning Legion suddenly intruded into the Noble District without notice. Thinking back now, perhaps... their target was the Moonsong family."
Hearing Vashj's report, the relaxed Azshara sat up straight, her expression turning solemn. "Are you certain the Burning Legion submitted no application to the Moon Guard or the Royal Guard?"
"Yes. Regarding this, I specifically confirmed it with Varo'then earlier."
"Hmph!" Azshara's expression suddenly turned dark, and a heavy sense of pressure radiated from the Queen.
Leticia, caught off guard by the surge of aura, nearly collapsed to the floor. Andreas reached out just in time to support her, saving the girl from an embarrassing predicament. Leticia looked at Andreas with a complex expression, but eventually, she unhappily turned her head and pulled her hand away from his support.
Andreas thought with a bitter smile, I've been disliked, huh? But it's no wonder.
"Vashj."
"Present."
Queen Azshara ordered with a face as cold as water, "Varo'then should have already set out, correct?"
"Yes."
"Very well. You head there immediately as well. Pass my verbal command to Varo'then: I authorize them to use lethal force. Any demon who enters the Noble District without permission is to be executed on the spot!"
"Yes!" As Vashj retreated, she brushed past Andreas, glaring at him fiercely with a warning look.
Andreas: "???"
Once the order was given, the frost on Azshara's face gradually dissipated, and the invisible pressure filling the library vanished.
"Heh~ things have become interesting now." Azshara glanced at the worried Leticia. "Child, relax. Varo'then set out early. Unless the demons are insane enough to launch a direct attack, he should be able to stop the situation from worsening before they strike."
"Yes... thank you, Queen." Leticia's forced smile made Azshara slightly displeased, but since the girl was just a minor, Queen Azshara, ruler of the Night Elf Empire, wouldn't bother bickering over such small details with a child.
"Let us return to the main topic." Azshara looked at Andreas once more. Because of her foul mood, she no longer had her previous easygoing attitude. "Little Druid, first, state your name."
Andreas bowed politely. "Andreas. Andreas Moonshadow.".
"Very well, Andreas." Azshara extended her right index finger. "I give you two choices."
"One: Resist with all your might. If you can hold out against me for three minutes, not only will I wipe away the crimes of you and the Moonsong family, but I will also return Tyrande to you."
"To be honest," a subtle trace of irritation appeared on Azshara's face, "I have lost my patience with that stubborn woman. But I cannot simply return her to you for nothing. As long as you can preserve your life in my hands, I guarantee in the name of the Queen that I will place no obstacles in your way when you and Tyrande leave the city. The innocently involved Moonsong family will also continue to enjoy my trust as always."
Andreas lowered his head to think for a moment. "And the second?"
"The second..." A glint of playfulness flashed in Azshara's eyes. "You stay behind to replace Tyrande. I can see that you also bear the marks of Elune's divine favor. I wish to prove that as the Queen who governs the Night Elf Empire, I hold a more exalted position in the hearts of the people than the indifferent Moon Goddess, Elune. Whichever favored child of the Moon Goddess defects to my side, the effect is the same."
So that's how it is...
Under Leticia's nervous gaze, Andreas frowned and contemplated for a long time.
An omniscient true god, huh? Does that mean this difficult choice I'm facing was also within Elune's expectations?
If I choose option two, it might seem like a way to save my life in the short term, but it would undoubtedly damage Elune's image, elevate Azshara's prestige, and strike a blow to the Resistance's morale. Moreover, it would surely cost me Elune's favor. What seems like a safe option actually carries endless hidden troubles.
Conversely, if Elune truly foresaw this and specifically named me to rescue Tyrande, she wouldn't be unprepared. Perhaps...
Under Azshara's patient wait, Andreas finally made his decision.
"Your Majesty, I choose the first option."