Entering the Hanging Palace not lacking any guards, Trudviar witnesses the Court of Elves in session with Kara leading the helm. There are a lot of elves kneeling on their knees, and Trudviar counts eight of them. Yirlung stands in attention as the princess gives her verdict one by one to them.
"Your name is Jarus, correct?"
"Y-yes, your highness…"
"And your crime is the neglect of work. Despite receiving direct apprenticeship from one of the finest blacksmiths of our aborning Kingdom, you dare neglect to work! Do I hear myself? It is because of elves like you that we suffer. You don't appreciate the opportunity in front of you! Remove his apprenticeship, and punish him with fifty floggings at the plaza!"
"You-ur Highness! Please, have mercy!"
Crying like a baby for the suffering that he ought to partake in, the poor elf madly cries as the Einherjars in the duty of guarding the palace drags him to the outside. Just beside Kara is a scribe writing about the proceedings.
Trudviar obediently watches from the side as the hearing methodologically ensues until the final elf. Naya is similarly on standby as the two of them wait in silence for the hearing to finish.
"Your name is Haruna, correct?"
"Y-yes…" The elf, Haruna, timidly answers.
Kara with a heavy sigh slants on her throne of vines, flowers, and wood. "From what I hear. You tried to exchange sexual favor with an Einherjar for food and protection. Essentially, you might as well be doing husband-hunting. But what is this that you asked the Einherjar to gather his friends so that you can… earn more?"
"Uuh…"
"Speak, or else, I will throw you to the goblins. The Dark Forest is a very diverse place." Kara severely warns the elf in question clearly finding the case to be a subject of exasperation.
Haruna fearing the princess's threat breaks down in fear as she confesses her motives. "At first, I am only thinking of asking him to recommend my services to his coworkers… But then I thought it will be easier if I just ask him to bring his friends… so that I can just offer them my services simultaneously... I... I am good at m-multi-tasking..."
In other words, she wants a quick buck. Though the concept of 'money' and the form of trade of the elves are still barter, most elves also regard exchanging favors as a form of trade. Sadly, elves in general are too boring.
If it is the human realm, the elf, Haruna's scheme will definitely succeed. Her beauty and charms are not something a mere human can ignore. Elves are such perfect beings of beauty. Alas, Haruna is in the realm of the elves… where elves tend to be… boring.
"I… I… But… I only did this because these are the only skills I know… Since the Count Urden… the… It was my skill and trade, your highness, I was a pros-prostitute… P-please, your highness… Don't ki-kick me out of the forest… I am willing to serve! I am willing to learn…." Haruna explains herself with difficulty while her teary eyes resist outpouring into a cry, and her weak legs persist to continue standing up.
"Silence." Kara commands and Haruna instinctively follows. As an impartial ruler should be, Kara gives her judgment befitting the authority and responsibility on her shoulders. "Your punishment is this. Research about the Arts of Sexual Pleasure. You may recruit elves to your research venture as long as they are willing to. My only requirement is this, recruit someone literate and good at drawing or painting. I will have you complete a series of books with regard to copulation. The goal of this research is to help our race to find ways to improve the fertility rate through experimentation. I trust you do well."
"P-princess?" Confusion is evident in Haruna's eyes.
However, the same is true for the others. The scribe besides Kara stops for a moment as he looks around to see others' reactions. Yirlung who is usually stoic while on duty has a weird face. Naya who is beside the General is resisting the urge to laugh with all her might. It is Trudviar who is weird as he remains stoic and unfeeling about the matter.
"Take her gently away, Einherjars… Also, give her a royal seal indicating that she is now directly working for me." The elves present gasps at hearing this. Only elves of high position can receive the royal seal like Trudviar, Yirlung, Varen, Lafira, Allenwood, and Naya.
For… someone as lowly as a prostitute to receive the honor of directly working for her highness, is a very surprising development. The Einherjars working as guards kindly escorts Haruna away. As Haruna is about to leave with her escorts, she gives a curious glance to Trudviar.
And... From curiosity, her gaze instantly becomes weird. "It is you… You are… that Einherjar, aren't you?"
The elves present becomes suddenly speechless on top of being silently in shock. That is too much quiet for the Court of Elves today. Yirlung especially has that funny look as he gazes at Trudviar.
The General, Trudviar, takes Haruna's words to heart as he answers her with conviction. "Yes, I am that Einherjar. I believe you deserve better. And the princess is able to see past that. Please work hard for the Kingdom."
Haruna's teary eyes that ought to flow in despair finally outpour like a damn, however not out of desperate misery, but utter joy. With a slight peck on Trudviar's lips, she runs off outside the Hanging Palace with a blush on her face like a maiden in love.
An elf 'female' bodyguard, someone directly subordinate to Yirlung, complains shamelessly in the court. "That is unfair. Its theft! It is an ambush! She just stole a man's kiss!" Apparently, the blonde elf complaining is none other than Dahlia, a very familiar elf.
Trudviar is such a character. As the 'sexiest elf' alive, it is inevitable that plenty of women cannot help but like him, and even fall in love with him at first glance despite elves being genetically boring.
"We should move to important matters. Dahlia, please shut up."
"Yes, your highness."
Kara's commanding presence takes hold of the space around them once more. Without beating around the bush, she reveals her intentions. "I want to establish an academy. It will be a military-centric academy. I want you Trudviar to prepare teachers according to my requirements. I will have you send them to me as fast as you can. Scribe, give the General the parchment that entails my requirements."
The scribe just beside her reverently hands the roll of parchment. Trudviar unceremoniously unfurls the parchment and silently reads the contents. "I will do as you instruct me to, your highness."
"And Clairvoyant Naya," Kara addresses Naya earnestly. "I want you to become the principal of this academy. I believe that with your Clairvoyant Insights, you will be able to discern the talents of the elves enrolling in the academy. I will bestow to you the power to give recommendations of apprenticeship of the highest order on par with my royal command."
Naya bows her head, and with nothing to say, she expresses affirmation of her newly appointed post. "Yes, your highness." She succinctly answers.
Kara relays the vision and mission of the academy in her mind with a strict gaze. "Not an elf will be unable to fight. From the youngest, the production class, and the most mundane workers of our nation… It will be the Academy of Hunts' highest priority to teach combat and nourish a reserved army in case of unforeseen circumstances where the whole elven race might be in danger. This shall be the academy's purpose and objectives. Through this, I believe we can nurture talents that the Kingdom desperately needs."
"Yes, your highness." Trudviar and Naya echo at once.
"Dismiss…" At her words, the two elves of great authority remove themselves from her presence.
The Academy of Hunts is a big step for them. Kara knows that the significance of its completion or failure will bring great changes to them, so with a cautious attitude, she decides to take matters step by step. Having Naya, a clairvoyant, is truly a great boon for them.
"Yirlung, send word to Varen to postpone his plans in conquering the Land of Outlaws and focus on the study of the murals…"
"Yes, your highness."
The elves are exponentially expanding their forces in the Dark Forest. Kara decides that it will be better for them to conquer the Dark Forest first so that they can have a stable foothold. Moreover, she doesn't want Trudviar to burn out.
Clearly, the elf is a workaholic. Even now, Kara feels bad as she realizes despite 'ordering' Trudviar to return to the capital to have a day off, he still ends up working. Kara is not blameless though as the idea of the 'academy' are actually an impulsive and sudden thought on her part.
Initially, she is only thinking of having Naya handle it, but at the sight of the capable Trudviar, she cannot help but also include the military man himself.
Trudviar who is outside the Hanging Palace continues to silently read the parchment. "Clairvoyant Naya, what do you say about accompanying me on a nice stroll?" Tucking the roll of parchment inside his clothes, Trudviar gently asks for Naya's companionship.