"Boyfriend and girlfriend? Didn't you say you two were just business partners?" Liam asked with a smirk.
Max and the others also exchanged playful glances.
It didn't matter what Alice's goal was. Since she dared to associate with Lux, they also dared to push it further.
Though Alice was a little cold, she was beautiful and held a certain status.
Elfalhn Race was one of the top and oldest family in the Aeon Plane; no matter how they disregarded them, it was still beyond their reach.
Being in a relationship with their stupid brother was more than enough.
"I'm just shy; please forgive me," Alice apologized, gripping Lux's arm tightly.
"Oh? I don't believe it unless you show proof," Max pressed.
"You know what we mean. How about it, Lux? Do you know what we're talking about?"
Of course, Lux knew what they meant—it was nothing more than kissing and hugging.
Thinking about the major business cooperation he had with the Elfalhn Race, Lux gritted his teeth and looked at Alice.
"Do you want to do this?" Lux asked, giving Alice one last chance before jumping into the pit.
"Come on, don't be a coward," Alice snorted, grabbing Lux's collar and pulling him into a kiss.
After a few seconds of intimacy, the two pulled away, their faces red like tomatoes.
"That's enough. Don't show off your affection here."
Just a little hug and pat would be enough, they didn't expect the two to be too bold, displaying such intimate affection before their eyes.
"Is this enough proof?" Alice asked, as if she had sacrificed her life just to be pardoned.
"Hahaha, welcome to the family, Miss Alice! If Lux ever bullies you, be sure to tell us."
Seeing they were no longer rejecting her, Alice heaved a sigh of relief.
As long as her feelings were right and there was a World Tree with a complete origin here, whatever the sacrifice, it would be worth it.
Alice was from the Elfalhn Race, born from the Ancestral World Tree.
All the World Trees in existence originated from branches of the Ancestral World Tree, and Alice was the inheritor of this generation's Elfalhn Race.
In order to protect the race's position at the top, she had a mission—to become a master of the Ocean of Law.
For the Elfalhn Race, this could easily be achieved by binding a World Tree with a complete origin of laws, nurturing the river of law they mastered.
As long as there were enough World Trees with complete origins of law, the entire Elfalhn Race could even reach the peak of the world.
Unfortunately, everything had its limits.
In the Aeon Plane, there could only be nine World Trees with complete origins of law.
The three overlord forces possessed three, the top sects held three, and the remaining three were bound by the Elfalhn Race's Supreme Witches.
Alice thought she would, like the previous generation, mull over the river of law and live a mediocre life until the next generation's inheritor was born.
She never expected to find a World Tree in the Etherium Realm that has the complete origin of laws.
Although it seemed to have some defects, it's enough as long as it has all the origins of laws.
Mingling with the Shadowcrest brothers, Alice endured endless humiliation, acting coquettish in response to their teasing.
What angered her most was Lux.
This man was a gutless coward, disgusted by even the appearance of her affection as if she were a dirty prostitute.
But for the sake of her future, she held on and kept up the act.
As they circled the majestic castle, her feelings for the World Tree grew stronger.
Her heart raced as she became more active in her role, treating Lux like he was her husband.
Upon reaching the garden, she saw a gigantic tree shooting through the sky.
With excitement, Alice could no longer hold back and ran toward the World Tree as if her life depended on it.
However, just when she tried to bind the tree, she was repelled and thrown to the ground.
"How is this possible? Why can't I bind the World Tree?!"
"So this is what you're after…" Liam smiled, seeing her reaction.
They weren't fools. Knowing Alice was up to something, they quickly called their father to investigate.
After all, to join their family, beauty, talent, and status were only a prerequisite; what they could never compromise was character.
In disbelief, Alice ignored her injuries and tried again to bind the World Tree.
Falling repeatedly, Alice looked devastated.
"It's useless. This tree is bound to my father's Origin. It can't be stolen by anyone."
"Impossible! Only the Elfalhn Race can bind a World Tree! Even the Three Overlords of the Dimensional Alliance don't have that ability."
"That's them. Our father is different."
Their father practiced the Origin Manual, allowing him to separate himself from the rules of the world.
Slowly nurturing the World Tree in his origin, the connection between the tree and Maximus was beyond the interference of the Aeon Plane's rules.
"Impossible! Impossible! I don't believe it!" Alice became hysterical.
Seeing a bright future and then being told it was an illusion was the greatest despair.
"Miss Alice, calm down…" Lux knelt, attempting to comfort her.
After all, Alice had nearly become his wife. Seeing her in such a state made Lux uncomfortable.
"You! You knew this all along, yet you still took advantage of me!" Alice shouted.
She didn't believe Lux wasn't aware of his brothers' conspiracies.
"Took advantage? You were the one using me!"
As they argued, blaming each other, Liam and the others watched with amusement.
"What are you looking at? Is it fun to make a girl cry?" Lily and the other girls arrived, scolding Liam and the others for bullying Alice.
"Bad brothers! I'll tell your wives, and let's see if you don't kneel after that!"
After giving the boys a stern lecture, they approached Alice and helped her up.
"Sister, stand up. Don't listen to these stupid brothers of ours. Since you're part of our family now, we won't be stingy about a mere World Tree," Lily comforted.
"But what I need is a World Tree with a complete origin of laws," Alice muttered listlessly.
She could sense that each of them was connected to a World Tree, but they only had the essence of laws, not a complete origin.
"We know, sister, but aren't you curious how we managed to have a World Tree with a complete origin of laws?"
"Isn't it a miracle? Don't tell me there's an artificial way to produce such a World Tree!"
The World Tree before her had a complete but non-self-cycling origin of laws.
Alice had assumed it was defective due to the world's rules.
Yet, hearing Lily's words, Alice felt as if she had heard something absurd.
"Since you are a family, I'll tell you…"
Even before Lux could object, they had already accepted Alice into the family.
Their father's investigation had revealed that, aside from needing a World Tree, Alice didn't have a bad character.
As the inheritor of the Elfalhn Race, Alice possessed all the great qualities: potential, character, will, goals, and more.
Had it not been for the grand prospects presented before her, Alice might not have even bothered coming to the Etherium Realm, much less mingling with these heartless brothers.
They began explaining how they had nurtured the World Tree from a mere branch to a towering giant.
Using time crystals, various elemental and law materials, and finally, the power of the Origin Manual, they had nurtured a World Tree with a complete origin of laws.
They didn't care if Alice knew some of the family secrets.
If Alice accepted their offer and cultivated with the Origin Manual, she would be bound to their family.
Maximus controlled the lives, thoughts, memories, and very origins of those who practiced his method.
While he didn't abuse this authority, he used it to prevent the spread of the Origin Manual.
Hearing their explanation, Alice was filled with disbelief and enlightenment.
"So, are you willing to marry our brother?" Lily asked temptingly.
As time passed, Alice's thoughts drifted, weighing the benefits and consequences.
"Your brother doesn't seem to like me. How could we get married?" turning the question to Lux, Alice felt conflicted.
Seeing the dagger-like eyes of his siblings, Lux quickly knelt before Alice.
"Miss Alice, will you marry this humble one? I promise to keep you happy and rich for the rest of my life." Lux proposed.
Although a bit forced, Lux did have some feelings for Alice.
While he still loved money the most, for the sake of his bloodline's continuation, he was willing to nurture this budding feeling.
"You promise not to bully me?" Alice asked tearfully.
"Yes. My brothers and sisters are my witnesses. If I ever hurt you, I'll become poor for the rest of my life..."