"Draco, what exactly happened? Why did you suddenly change your mind like that?"
Flying through the sky, Cassiopeia looked at Draco beside her, her eyes full of wonder and confusion.
Just moments ago, Draco had seemed determined to bring Nolan back to the palace. Cassiopeia knew him well.
Once Draco made up his mind, he was stubborn to the point that nothing could stop him—except a direct order from His Majesty the Emperor.
Yet now, her perception of him was completely shattered. Draco, usually so firm and unyielding in his decisions, had suddenly softened and chosen not to bring Nolan back.
Such a change could not have happened without a reason.
When she asked, Draco remained silent, shaking his head.
"It’s nothing. I just thought that forcibly bringing His Highness Nolan might anger the Emperor, so I decided to cancel it," he said perfunctorily.
Even his nickname for Nolan had changed to "Your Highness," a stark contrast to before.
Cassiopeia felt a pang of suspicion and wanted to ask more, but she held back.
With a small sigh, she shifted her gaze forward and said, "Since you won’t tell me, I won’t press further. But you’ll explain to His Majesty later, alright? I want to return to my mansion and rest."
Draco gave a small nod and replied briefly, "Okay..."
***
Like an arrow in flight, two days passed in the blink of an eye.
In that short time, news shook the Empire and spread like wildfire.
Reports spoke of the sudden appearance of a sea monster in the Eastern region. Thanks to the efforts of the Austin family and several other local noble houses, the news was tightly controlled. Even the palace intervened behind the scenes to prevent unnecessary panic.
But as the saying goes, "No matter how well a carcass is hidden, its scent will eventually be noticed." Inevitably, the news spread across the country, terrifying everyone.
Fortunately, word also came that the monster had been slain, thanks to Elina, Nolan, Rafine, Luvistar, and the palace soldiers.
The news quickly became a sensation—and it was easy to see why. Earlier reports had shown the sea monster causing destruction throughout the eastern region.
Many passing ships had been devoured or wrecked. On top of that, the Austin family’s first attack had ended in disaster, leaving two of the Empire’s newest warships shattered.
Elina’s victory was thus a major breakthrough, earning her widespread admiration—especially among the common people.
Naturally, the noble families were impressed as well. Many who had previously hesitated to support any candidate for the throne began to consider backing her.
Additionally, the rumors that Nolan was a useless, trashy prince began to fade.
His role in defeating the sea monster, combined with his act of saving Rafine, left many both amazed and deeply moved.
Most importantly, influential figures had gotten involved—particularly the young ladies of noble families who had surrounded Nolan at Ragan’s birthday party a few months ago.
When they learned that Nolan had helped defeat the sea monster, they were instantly excited. Leveraging their family connections, they spread word of his achievements far and wide.
Not all of them held significant influence, but several were heiresses of powerful noble families, which made the news travel even farther.
Of course, there were those who resented the news—especially upon learning that Nolan was still alive.
"Damn it..." Aldric growled, his hands clenched so tightly that blue veins stood out on his forehead.
His eyes landed on the black letter on the table, which confirmed Nolan’s appearance and denied the reports of his death.
"The gods are really unfair! Why is that bastard still alive!?"
If Nolan had truly been dead, Aldric could have made his move—attacking all his siblings at once, particularly Elina. That way, they would destroy each other, and the real battle for the throne would begin.
He was certain that Cedric, Adalen, Zarak, and Cassian thought the same.
Unfortunately, Nolan’s death had been nothing but fake news—and it crushed Aldric’s hopes.
"At this rate, the battle for the throne won’t progress at all. Even worse, Father might appoint Elina as successor instead of letting this battle continue," he muttered through gritted teeth.
Throughout history, such a thing had never happened. But that didn’t mean it was impossible.
His father was the Emperor, the ultimate holder of power. If he chose to change the rules, the rules would change—and once his decision was made, no one could argue.
Among all the candidates, Elina was the most likely to be chosen if that happened. After all, she had a connection with the Singularity of Chaos that had never been explained.
Clearly, gaining the favor of a Singularity was the most valuable thing in the world.
"I can’t stay silent," he whispered, narrowing his eyes. "The Caltherons are now supporting Elina. Conveniently, they’re in the southern region—the Malvain family’s territory."
A cold smile spread across his lips. "Destroying them will deal a serious blow to Elina. As I recall, Uncle said he would take care of them. It’s been almost a month—it should already be done. The Caltheron family... definitely finished! Hehehe..."
His eyes flashed with malice as he gazed up at the clear sky through the window beside him.
***
"Oh? That’s shocking news. But are they all right, Maya?"
Sitting in a small pavilion in the spacious courtyard, a beautiful, mature woman sipping her tea looked up, surprised by the words of the young woman before her.
"Don’t worry, Lady Isabella! Prince Nolan and Princess Elina are fine!" Maya replied excitedly.
Isabella set her cup on the saucer and smiled warmly.
"That’s good. I feel relieved that they’re safe," she said with a small sigh. "Defeating the sea monster, though... They’ve really grown up without me even realizing it."
Her gaze softened, filled with nostalgia and longing. In her mind, those two were still the beloved children she had cherished.
But time had shaped them into a capable young man and woman who could handle things on their own.
Seeing her sadness, Maya smiled reassuringly. "It’s okay, Lady Isabella. They’ve grown into remarkable people. You should be proud."
Isabella let out a small chuckle. "You’re right, Maya."
The two then continued their conversation, discussing various matters—particularly the news that had arrived while Isabella was away from the palace.
Suddenly, Miya came running from the direction of the courtyard gate, her face pale with panic.
"Lady Isabella!" she called out, breathless. "Your Majesty... Your Majesty has come to visit!"