Aegwynn rattled on without drawing breath, "Back then! Those ancient fossils on the Council of Tirisfal harassed constantly about relinquishing my position. One day they feared I'd drop dead unexpectedly, the next they worried I'd beco corrupted and join the Burning Legion. By the Light, what absolute nonsense! Even if soone shattered my skull with a warhamr, I would never let those demons get a decent night's sleep. I'm not that desperate for companionship."
Jaina stared in stunned silence: "..."
"Honestly, I think Duke is quite exceptional. So talented at such a tender age, and brilliantly intelligent to boot. Sadly, I had no choice but to select the marginally more attractive Nielas Aran. If the Tirisfal Council had still existed ten years ago and pressured into it, I might have approached your Duke for his... contribution."
Jaina's face blazed crimson with mortification: "I'm asking you how to establish my relationship with Duke, not requesting your romantic autobiography!"
"Establish your position? The Edmund family possesses wealth that would make dragons weep with envy. Since they desperately need an heir, provide them with one. Then extort every copper coin you can manage from their coffers. With money, manpower, and resources secured, you can pursue whatever ambitions strike your fancy."
Jaina had never been content with diocrity or obscurity. If she could secure backing from the obscenely wealthy Edmund family, it would advance her entrepreneurial dreams beyond imagination.
However, her competitive nature rebelled against complete dependence on the Edmund family fortune. Yet Duke wielded influence throughout the Alliance that no other mortal could match.
Jaina writhed in internal conflict.
"I... I don't believe Duke harbors any affection for ."
"Ah, you're terrified by the recent news about Duke controlling the Scarlet Crusade through Calia's authority."
Jaina's silence confird Magna's assumption perfectly.
Duke had returned from the void, and within hours of news breaking about Arthas's patricide, he had elevated Calia nethil to queen status. Simultaneously, he absorbed the Scarlet Crusade into his forces and manipulated the Horde into obliterating Arthas's million-strong undead army near Dalaran.
This revelation had shaken Jaina to her core.
Duke's masterful strategy and his audacious manipulation of the Horde to annihilate millions of enemies proved beyond doubt that he remained the legendary tactician of old.
Conversely, Jaina felt profound unease - Duke had never formally acknowledged their engagent. Although King Llane Wrynn had negotiated the arrangent with her father, supposedly with Duke's preliminary consent, the final details remained subject to Duke's personal approval. What if Duke rejected the arrangent upon his return? What would beco of her then?
Duke had concealed Calia for thirteen years without informing anyone. Obviously, the Edmund family's inner circle knew about this secret arrangent. Only Jaina had been kept ignorant. Who could say whether Duke and Calia had been conducting a clandestine affair?
Thirteen years had passed - their child might already be twelve years old.
Regardless, Lordaeron would undoubtedly support Calia marrying Duke with fanatical enthusiasm. What about Jaina, the supposed fiancée who remained unwed?
Jaina's thoughts spiraled into chaos.
At this mont, Magna proved herself truly divine.
She announced with casual wickedness: "The solution is elentary - seduce him!"
Seduce him?!
Jaina's brilliantly intelligent crystal-blue eyes suddenly glazed over with shock.
"Hehe! n are fundantally identical creatures. You possess sufficient funds..." Magna's gaze swept over Jaina's already impressively developed mage's figure with predatory calculation: "Acquire the proper equipnt, and I guarantee Duke will crawl to you and beg to beco your devoted servant."
Following this declaration, Magna executed a theatrical pirouette.
(T/N I searched it and Magna is Aegwynn's title passed on from her ntor)
In her current high elf form, she revealed sothing that nearly blinded Jaina with its brazen audacity.
Yes!
Precisely!
Beneath her translucent white gauze blouse glead a scandalously pink, impossibly bold ensemble of strategic undergarnts. "That's exactly how I ensnared Nielas back then..."
Jaina buried her face in her palms, her forehead creased with exasperation: I must have lost my sanity to discuss such matters with Magna...
Naturally, Magna could be characterized as an indomitable woman requiring no explanation.
But Jaina's circumstances differed completely from Magna Aegwynn's historical situation!
Magna had been cornered and forced to resign her Guardian position. Magna reasoned that granting her own bloodline a strategic advantage was preferable to allowing strangers to benefit, so she acted accordingly.
Now Jaina was a princess of Kul Tiras, and Magna suggested she seduce Duke with the shaless tactics of a tavern wench?
This would not rely degrade her dignity... If she could succeed, perhaps Jaina might genuinely consider it. The most terrifying possibility was exerting trendous effort only to fail catastrophically, which would prove absolutely devastating.
Clearly, Magna excelled as a magical instructor and household administrator, but definitely not as a relationship counselor.
Jaina ceased speaking and raised her hand gracefully. An impossibly intricate sphere of frost elental magic materialized three centiters above her palm, rotating silently while demonstrating the fundantal mysteries of elental manipulation.
"Forget those complications for now. Arthas's Scourge has obliterated Lordaeron's capital. Soon it will consu the entire kingdom, possibly the entire northern continent. Business takes precedence over personal matters."
"Absolutely correct. Duke wouldn't appreciate a woman who lacks judgnt and creates dostic turmoil as the family matriarch." Magna's expression beca serious.
Jaina exhaled deeply: "Nevertheless, Arthas becoming a death knight fulfills divh's prophecy exactly!"
divh... Speaking of divh revealed another miraculous tale.
The formidable Aegwynn had resurrected her own son. Not as undead abominations serve the Scourge, but through genuine resurrection. This accomplishnt made every monarch throughout the known world profoundly uncomfortable and suspicious of divh's intentions.
Both Guardians who once possessed world-shattering power had now lost their incredible abilities capable of devastating half the planet.
Aegwynn currently possessed Archmage-level capabilities. After being discovered in seclusion by the traveling Jaina, she now served as Jaina's personal advisor.
After fulfilling his final prophetic obligations, divh had truly retired to live peacefully in obscurity.
If asked which leader believed most fervently in the doomsday prophecies, the answer would undoubtedly be Jaina.
Obviously! How could she disbelieve when constantly lectured by a powerful individual who had lived nearly a thousand years?
Magna inquired, "If the entire Eastern Kingdom continent truly faces annihilation, what will you do?"
Jaina remained silent for an extended period, then responded: "I will observe Duke's actions first. After all, Duke is a celebrated hero of both Dark Portal conflicts. If anyone can rescue this continent from such horrific Scourge devastation, it must be Duke. If Duke cannot accomplish this miracle, I will convince as many people as possible to accompany across the Endless Sea to the Kalimdor continent, seeking new opportunities for survival."
"Have you located a suitable destination?"
Jaina's vision seed to transcend physical limitations, piercing through the turbulent Endless Sea to reach the distant shores: "Yes! That place is called - Theramore!"
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