"Have you heard the news, Fenric?"
Jason sat lazily in the chair, taking a deep breath as he glanced at Fenric across from him.
Fenric’s expression turned grim as he gave a slow nod.
"I’ve heard," he replied respectfully. "That incident shook the entire continent. Everyone’s talking about it."
He was referring, of course, to the destruction of the Halveran Capital at the hands of the Singularity of Chaos last night.
The Holy Empire of Valtanir—one of humanity’s greatest powers—was believed to have walls so strong they were impossible to breach.
But that belief was shattered last night, when Halveran, their final bastion, was obliterated—reduced to a crater two meters deep.
Many refused to believe it at first, but the evidence was undeniable.
The room fell silent, with only the sound of Jason and Fenric’s breathing filling the space.
After a moment, Jason exhaled slowly and murmured, "Princess Elina is truly fortunate. The protection of the Singularity of Chaos isn’t just a rumor—it’s real. What happened last night proves it. I’m sure now the other contenders for the throne will tread far more carefully. No one will dare provoke her."
The "contenders" he mentioned included his own nephew, Aldric. If anyone still believed Elina could be easily removed, that illusion had now been crushed.
Even if he had the strength and influence of the entire Malvain family behind him, Jason wouldn’t dare challenge her.
After all, if the mighty Holy Empire of Valtanir could be reduced to ruins by the Singularity of Chaos, then what hope did the southern region have?
"Fenric, cancel all the orders I gave for Princess Elina’s kidnapping and assassination. Destroy every trace—make sure nothing remains. Understand?" Jason’s gaze was sharp and unwavering.
He wasn’t the type to act with an iron fist. In truth, he feared death like anyone else—and he had no intention of angering the Singularity of Chaos.
If this ever came to light, that masked figure could appear in the southern sky and reduce his entire territory to ash.
The mere thought made his skin crawl.
Fenric didn’t dare take the order lightly. He bowed and said firmly, "Understood, my lord. I’ll see to it."
Without another word, he turned and hurried out of the study, leaving Jason alone, his expression heavy with regret.
"I just hope I’m not too late," he murmured, eyes closing with a sigh.
...
"Hahaha! Wonderful! The Singularity of Chaos—just as powerful as ever!"
Inside his study, Orlan burst into laughter, wiping away the tears that streamed down his face.
He hadn’t expected such wonderful news the moment he stepped into his study. It was simply perfect.
"You look very happy, dear," came a gentle, curious voice. "Did something good happen?"
Orlan looked up and saw Syra entering, carrying a tray of tea and sweets.
With a broad smile, he gave a small nod. "Yes, something very good happened. Come here, my dear."
Driven by curiosity, Syra approached and set the tray down on his desk.
Then she stepped behind Orlan and glanced at the document in his hand.
As her eyes scanned the contents, her expression turned to one of shock.
"Is this real?" she asked, horrified.
"It’s real," Orlan confirmed, pulling her onto his lap.
Syra blushed slightly, but the weight of the news she had just read pulled her thoughts away.
"In that case, do you think the Singularity of Light will take revenge on the Great Velmora Empire?" she asked uncertainly.
There was no direct link between the Singularity of Chaos and the Great Velmora Empire, but the destruction of Halveran was clearly connected to what had happened at the party last night—and to Princess Elina.
Her concern was valid. Everyone knew just how arrogant the Singularity of Light could be.
Upon hearing her question, Orlan let out a soft chuckle. He pressed his face against his wife’s fragrant neck and replied casually, "Revenge? That’s impossible—unless one thing happens."
"One thing?" Syra tilted her head, puzzled. "What is it?"
Orlan closed his eyes and whispered, "The Singularity of Light chooses to accept its death."
Syra froze, her mouth slightly open in shock. But after a moment, she composed herself. As absurd as it sounded, her husband’s words made sense.
Ever since the incident last night, everyone knew that the Singularity of Light seemed terrified of the Singularity of Chaos—so much so that he didn’t even dare to retaliate.
It was obvious—just a few words from one of the Singularity of Chaos’s subordinates had been enough to corner that old man completely.
"Then... we should be safe, right?" Syra asked, letting out a soft sigh.
"Yes, for now," Orlan nodded. "But the situation within the Empire—especially in the palace—won’t stay calm for long. Tensions will rise. The princes will start scrutinizing Princess Elina’s every move. This is both a blessing and a challenge—for me, for your father, and for the other heads of noble families."
Before, candidates like Aldric, Cedric, Adalen, and Elina were all on equal ground. But now, everything had changed.
The others would shift their attention to Elina, watching her every move with suspicion.
Of course, it wasn’t just Elina who had been thrust into the spotlight, but also Orlan himself, his father-in-law, and the noble family heads who had openly declared their support.
They would be closely watched by the other noble families, and tensions could easily arise—perhaps in the form of broken alliances, economic withdrawal, or the end of military cooperation.
After all, choosing a side in the succession meant declaring who your enemies were.
"You must be careful, my dear. I’ll always support you," Syra said gently, her voice filled with affection.
"Thank you, my love." Orlan kissed her softly on the lips.
"By the way," Syra added with a playful glint in her eyes, "I’ve been thinking... Maybe it’s time we had another child. What do you think?"
Her sudden words caught Orlan off guard. He swallowed hard, then asked, "Are you serious?"
"Of course," Syra said, nuzzling into his chest. "You’ve worked so hard all these years. I want to reward you. Would that be alright?"
Orlan wrapped his arms around her, holding her tightly.
"More than alright. I’d be honored. Let’s not wait."
And just like that, the study quickly turned into their private little love nest.
...
"Hahaha! After twenty years... my plan has finally succeeded!"
Inside a secluded cave by the shore, a gray-cloaked man laughed heartily.
Beneath his hood, his eyes gleamed as they stared at the towering egg before him—nearly ten meters tall.
Its shell was pitch-black, streaked with fiery green lines that pulsed faintly across its surface.
Although it remained still, it radiated a sinister aura that made anyone who approached feel deeply uneasy.
The man ran his hand over the egg’s surface, a cold grin spreading across his face.
"Soon, the eastern region will be reduced to ruin... Hehehe."