"Hey, Duke, how long do you think this war will last?" asked Kael'thas.
Duke smiled slightly: "Are you asking another friend in a casual conversation as a friend? Or are you asking the deputy commander of the alliance in an official capacity?"
Kael'thas smiled faintly and replied, "Friend."
"That's easy. It depends on how many neutral forces the ignorant orcs will anger. The more they anger, the faster the orcs will be destroyed."
"Although the Alliance has integrated eight kingdoms to fight against the Hordes, there are actually still quite a lot of neutral forces on this continent that have not participated in the war." Duke talked freely.
"For example, the goblins in Stranglethorn Vale in the southernmost part of the southern continent, the Wildhammer dwarves in the Hinterlands in the northern continent, or Quel'Thalas in the northernmost part..."
At this point, Kael'thas couldn't help but sigh. He immediately looked up and asked, "What if we maintain the status quo?"
"That depends on how long the Bronzebeard dwarves of Ironforge can hold out. If the Bronzebeard dwarves are destroyed before the Alliance counterattacks, it is very likely that this will become a long-term confrontation between the two continents of the entire Eastern Kingdoms. If we are not careful, it is not impossible that a hundred-year war will break out."
Kael'thas looked unhappy: "What if all the forces you mentioned join the war against the Horde?"
Duke held up a finger: "Within a year, the Horde will be defeated."
"This is really the best news I have heard recently." A gentle and crisp voice came from the door of the private room. Two beautiful female figures appeared at the door. The one who spoke was naturally Jaina who had a good impression of Duke just now.
Jaina, who had just received Duke's magical praise and was envied by countless female mage apprentices in Dalaran, was still unaware that this was a bad idea secretly used by Duke. Now Jaina's favorability towards Duke is definitely not low, of course, compared with a certain prince of Lordaeron, it is still much lower.
Jaina, wearing a light blue magic robe, bowed to Duke like a lady..
"Sir Edmund, we meet again." Jaina was in a good mood, her face full of sunshine, as if the haze of war was dispelled by this smile.
The other person was the one Duke was waiting for—the eldest daughter of the Barov family, Ilucia Barov, who was only 15 years old.
It was obvious that Ilucia inherited her mother's beauty. No, it should be even better than that of Duchess Janice.
Interestingly, Ilucia's appearance is more in line with the aesthetic standards of Oriental people.
The skin is white and delicate, as crystal clear as ivory jade carving.
Her black hair was parted in the middle and fell obediently from her ears to her chest. She wore a beautiful silver hair ornament on her forehead, with a sapphire inlaid on it. Her delicate face without any makeup was as delicate as cream. Under her two slender willow-leaf eyebrows, between her fan-like eyelashes were a pair of charming ice-blue eyes.
The two willow-shaped eyebrows are exquisitely crafted, the nose is straight and beautiful, and the nose wings seem to be slightly fluttering. Below the straight nose is a cherry-like mouth. Although she is not wearing lipstick, she looks brighter and more attractive than those who wear lipstick. The lips with clear contours are rosy, like ripe cherries that can be picked at any time.
Even though she was wearing a loose wizard robe, it was not difficult to see that she had a figure with golden ratio proportions, a slender waist but not too round, and she was as perfect as a model.
A very pretty beauty.
In fact, in terms of appearance, Ilucia is definitely not inferior to the beauties Duke has seen, such as Princess Calia, or Alleria, she is even slightly better than Jaina who has not grown up. If there is any place where Ilucia loses to them, it is temperament.
Princess Calia gave Duke the impression of being noble and kind, Alleria was a combination of the wildness of a ranger and the elegance of a high elf, Jaina was smart and extremely confident, and Ilucia...
Although the Barov family is also a high-ranking noble family, it can be seen that Ilucia has also received a very good family education, but Ilucia looks more... docile.
As soon as she saw Duke, she almost quickly looked him over before giving up her gaze. She lowered her eyelids and bowed her head slightly, which was also a very standard ms.'s etiquette.
"Hello, Duke Edmund. I'm Ilucia Barov." The timid voice made people want to bully her, or even protect her.
Duke sighed quietly in his heart. This kind of beautiful character meant that Ilucia might be a good marriage partner and a good wife for a man, but Ilucia would never be a heroine like Alleria who could stand on her own.
"Ilucia, I believe your mother has already sent someone to inform you of the details?" Duke asked.
"Well, actually, it was my mother who told me this herself using magic."
Duke thought about it for a moment and said, "After I get through this winter and upgrade to a fully realized archmage, we can confirm our relationship."
Duke didn't know yet that his words had already stirred up a storm in Kael'thas and Jaina's hearts. How could archmage be upgraded just by saying so?
Having reached the level of Master Mage, he can already be respected as a master.
Going up to the level of Grand Magus, it is a rare existence, and mages of this level are often local giants. For example, Kael'thas, Krasus, Kel'Thuzad, no matter their background, it's hard to reach this stage.
Not to mention Antonidas, there are only two of them in the world now.
Duke said to upgrade, and it was as common as eating and drinking. If it were someone else, they would definitely be regarded as a braggart. But he was Duke, a man who had twice deceived more than 200,000 orcs and burned half of Elwynn Forest.
At the meeting where the Kirin Tor Council summoned Duke to discuss, Kael'thas was deeply impressed by Duke: Duke was well-prepared for everything he did, as if nothing in the world could escape his prediction. It seemed that a man like him rarely boasted, and there was no need to use such deceptive means to lie about such things.
Duke's courage to make such a statement only proves that Duke is 100% sure.
You know, Duke will only be 16 years old next year!
A 16-year-old Archmage! ?
If it weren't for Duke's identity as the deputy commander of the alliance and his brilliant achievements, this alone would be enough to make Duke the most dazzling star in the world of mages.