Extraordinary Voyage-Chapter 789 - 679: Shattering Three Views and Honor Duel

Even as the envoy stood before Liweina’s throne, eloquently extolling the merits of the alliance between the Hilus Empire and the Phaletis Kingdom as an unparalleled great event both in heaven and on earth.

But to the Phaletis monarchs and ministers, this was nothing but a high-handed provocation from the Hilus Empire!

Under Queen Isabella’s governance, the Phaletis Kingdom had steadily increased its comprehensive national power over the years, and the entire kingdom was infused from top to bottom with a spirit of progress and aggressive advance, ready at any moment to stake a claim to maritime hegemony against Overlord Hilus.

There were many ways to achieve this, including economic wars, trade wars, political maneuvers, or even all-out military warfare, regardless of the inevitable blood and fire suppression that would accompany them; they were already mentally prepared.

However, among the options, there was one that was conspicuously absent—weak-willed alliance through marriage!

Moreover, after Aiven’s economic theories and the Overlord Disqualification Plan were proposed, even though Phaletis’ strength was still on the back foot, as a nation representing advanced productivity and a promising industrial prowess, they had already begun to develop a subtle psychological advantage over the Hilus Empire, which in essence remained a backward feudal agricultural state.

They didn’t fear this so-called Overlord of the Age of Navigation in the slightest.

Although Phaletis’ strongest adversary at present was indeed Hilus, their future foes would only be those representing some trend—the "capitalists"!

The ministers looked sullen, and Liweina, who had been happily and smoothly crowned, felt disgusted as though she had swallowed a fly. Nevertheless, her current role dictated that she could not act on her whims.

The newly crowned Her Majesty the Queen, wearing her crown, patiently listened to the envoy’s words with impeccable grace before signaling to the Foreign Minister beside her with a glance.

The slightly balding Foreign Minister understood, and immediately stepped forward to speak on behalf of the Queen:

"Thank you for His Majesty the Emperor’s kind intentions, but..."

"Oh beautiful Majesty, you are the stars in the night sky, perfectly stunning, neither adding nor subtracting a glow without your matchless brilliance. I have long admired you; please grant a heart-struck suitor a chance!"

After the envoy’s introduction, this Hilus Empire Prince named Manolo personally left his seat and also approached the throne. Meanwhile, the Great Knight holding a sword that attracted Aiven’s considerable attention, followed in his steps, maintaining a perfect distance of three steps.

Standing five steps away from Liweina, he bowed slightly, except for some slightly greasy air about him, he was by no means ugly with all his flawless knightly genes perfectly expressed.

With broad shoulders and handsome features, long golden hair tied artistically back into a braid. His black suit was elegant and dignified, and there was even a fresh purple windflower pinned at his chest.

"And I promise you, according to Hilus tradition, after we marry, as long as you bear our heir ensuring the continuation of both bloodlines. As a truly noble gentleman, I will not interfere in your personal life."

While speaking, he deliberately glanced in the direction of Aiven, who stood pressing a sword hilt as Liweina’s Guardian Knight on her right side—the closest male to the Queen at the coronation ceremony.

The Archbishop, three Bishops, two Kingdom Guardians, Palace Attendants, and others were either too old or too low in status; they had long been automatically ignored.

The meaning behind his words, however, was clear to those in the know.

Hilus’ two-century maritime expansion had always been led by an absolute authority-promoting royal family, with the vast wealth plundered worldwide mostly entering the royal family and a handful of power holders.

Neither the Royal Family nor the Great Noble class were production entities; the uses for this wealth were merely twofold: either continued military expansion and conquest, or... lavish indulgence.

One glimpse at St. Cruz, the so-called World Museum, and the high inflation rate within Hilus would be illustrative.

The lives of Hilus’ elite were notoriously decadent, filled mostly with enjoyment, from gourmet food, fine wine, attire, and beyond—single-handedly funding the entire continent’s money-draining industries of music, painting, architecture, sculpture, artifacts, and luxury goods.

St. Cruz gradually became an art center since the "Renaissance," following the Turkate Dynasty—a true playground for the city elite!

This was particularly evident in attitudes toward marriage.

Because under long-term religious control, the concept of divorce was nearly non-existent among noble marriages.

Only under one circumstance could divorce be proposed: "Only if either spouse requests annulment of an unconsummated marriage, can divorce be granted, even absent mutual consent."

Meaning that only in name but without substance could divorce be sought—even for the King, it was the same.

Thus, after noble family alliances through marriage in Hilus society, norms offered spouses full freedoms, allowing those united by interest to seek emotional respite from lovers while maintaining their marriage.

A true noble gentleman took no shame in his wife becoming someone else’s lover but considered jealousy towards his wife’s lover disgraceful; genuine love between noble spouses was even seen as embarrassing.