Guest room of the Second Shaina Temple.

The Rihart imperial family held a gathering to celebrate the Sacred Fire Ceremony.

A silent tension hung in the air inside.

The imperial family members, who had been merely reading the atmosphere, continued their hushed conversations with those they were already close to.

“His Majesty did not attend this year either.”

“It’s become expected at this point.”

The main purpose of this gathering was for interaction among the imperial family.

There were a total of seven imperial family members who had completed their awakening. However, none of them were fond of these gatherings.

Among them, the Third Prince Chase la Rihart had been having nightmares for a month before the gathering.

‘It would be better if such gatherings didn’t happen at all.’

Chase was one of those who lived more cautiously than any other imperial family member.

He had not even married, let alone had children.

It was all because of Empress Wayeno.

Chase had personally witnessed the deaths of the First and Second Princes.

The official cause was accidental death, but everyone’s suspicions were directed at Empress Wayeno.

He could immediately sense it.

That he would be the next target.

As soon as Chase realized this, he entrusted himself to Shaina’s temple and became a priest.

It was a declaration of giving up his right to succeed the throne.

As proof, Chase’s attire was not the formal imperial dress but priestly robes, and he had left the imperial palace entirely to live in a temple in a small territory.

Besides the aforementioned imperial family members, many others had died.

Especially young imperial family members before their awakening had fallen victim in large numbers.

‘As long as Empress Wayeno is around, and as long as Crown Prince Valented becomes emperor, the bloodshed will not stop.’

This was why Chase had given up on having a partner or children.

The others present were likely no different.

Currently, aside from the Crown Prince, the remaining imperial family members all had some flaw or another.

The current imperial family was a world where only those who had given up their right to succession, or those incapable of succeeding, could survive.

‘If only His Majesty would clearly choose his successor.’

Merely living on, hoping not to be purged.

That was all those who remained could do.

Because Empress Wayeno disliked the imperial family members becoming close, the survivors had to whisper in hushed tones.

At that moment, the doors opened and today’s protagonist appeared.

“His Highness Valented Lahan Rihart enters.”

All eyes turned to Valented.

He sat down with a relaxed expression.

“Have you all received the blessing of the Sacred Fire?”

“Of course, Your Highness. The flames were beautiful this year as well.”

“Your presence has made this gathering even more special.”

The imperial family members spoke with flattery in unison.

But their outward appearance and inner thoughts were completely different.

‘He’s showing his face so boldly after being disgraced.’

‘I heard the person who published the article suddenly died?’

‘Most of the newspapers were collected and disposed of.’

The imperial family members who had heard the news about the Crown Prince had been doubled over with laughter that day.

In fact, the newspapers containing the article were being traded on the black market at a premium.

‘It would have been better if he hadn’t shown up at the gathering at all.’

To show his face before the disgrace had faded.

Those gathered agreed that he was as shameless as the Emperor himself.

“Now that everyone has gathered, let’s begin the meeting.”

One person had not yet arrived.

Everyone knew this, but no one dared to object to the Crown Prince.

It was the doorkeeper, not an imperial family member, who interrupted.

“Duke Kashar Bladis la Rihart enters.”

Suddenly, Valented’s brow furrowed deeply.

His attempt to naturally treat the Duke as if he didn’t exist had failed.

The Duke’s absence had been pre-planned, with the Crown Prince moving up the meeting time.

“…You’re late, Duke.”

“Isn’t it remarkable enough for a dog to keep time?”

The Duke responded nonchalantly to the reproachful words as he took his seat.

On the side table, decorative bottles of alcohol were placed.

The Duke picked up one at random and filled his own glass.

After wetting his throat alone, his now redder lips curled.

“Well then, shall we start sharing our recent news?”

With a tone that seemed to say ‘go ahead and talk’, the Duke’s gaze lingered on the wall clock.

The mandatory attendance time for imperial family gatherings was one hour. He tapped the armrest with two fingers as if wishing for time to pass quickly.

No one else was so free in front of the Crown Prince.

Strange looks of admiration were secretly directed at the Duke.

Noticing the subtle atmosphere, the Crown Prince raised his voice.

“Very well. Prince Chase, please speak first.”

“My life remains unchanged. I simply move according to the time set by the goddess.”

There were spies from the Empress’s side even at the temple.

Asking about recent news in such a public setting, despite already knowing, was to reaffirm each person’s position.

“How are your abilities?”

The abilities of the imperial family were diverse.

Some could manipulate natural elements without spirits.

Some possessed overflowing magical power. Some could see the future. Some had physical strength.

Among them, Chase’s ability was to hear sounds from far distances.

However, after a major accident just before becoming a priest, he could hardly use his ability anymore.

“It still hasn’t recovered.”

“That’s unfortunate.”

As the Crown Prince said this, a smile played at the corners of his mouth.

Everyone kept quiet about it, but they all knew that the Empress was behind the accident.

“Next, how are you doing, Duke?”

Valented’s gaze turned to Duke Bladis.

The Crown Prince’s eyes flickered for a moment.

The purple current shook the empty wine bottle and eventually pushed it off the edge.

Crash-!

With a sharp sound, shards of glass scattered in all directions.

The Crown Prince’s ability was telekinesis, allowing him to move anything he could hold in his hand with just a glance.

“My, you should have been more careful.”

It was a petty provocation.

The Crown Prince didn’t stop there and mouthed words in the air.

‘Mon. ster. Bas. tard.’

At that moment, the Duke picked up a shard of glass that had bounced onto the table.

When one thought the shard was glinting, it was already embedded in the wall behind the Crown Prince.

Crack. Crackle.

The solid temple wall was splitting in a spider web pattern.

“I’m a monster, and you’re a rat bastard.”

The wall looked threatening, as if it might collapse on the Crown Prince at any moment.

Kashar readily admitted his fault.

“I apologize. It’s just that there’s a rat scurrying about. A little rat that should be curled up in its pouch shouldn’t be wandering around sacred places, should it?”

The implication was that, as a lesser rat, he should crawl back into the Empress’s skirts.

“The antics of the red rat should have their limits. No wonder my lover was concerned. She said that rat and its little offspring need to use their brains more.”

Everyone was shocked to see the Duke openly mentioning the Crown Prince’s disgrace.

Also, a question they had always harbored burst forth.

‘Is Duke Bladis truly mad?’

His madness had manifested during his first outbreak and on the battlefield.

The Duke who returned from war was not mad, but rather a monster who toyed with the Crown Prince.

So it was natural for such questions to arise.

‘What if the Emperor reinstates the Duke’s right of succession?’

If the Duke truly had a chance at the throne, whose side should they take then?

But it was not yet time to show this.

“You dare insult me and Her Majesty?!”

The Crown Prince raged furiously.

Every object his gaze touched trembled, as if about to fly at the Duke.

It was Ecanesia Han Rihart, the empire’s only princess, who stopped the escalating situation.

“Both of you, please stop.”

The princess with long silver hair tinged with pink walked between the two. Yet her eyes remained tightly closed.

‘The blind princess. The half-wit prophetess.’

These were all nicknames for Ecanesia.

She had been born without sight. Thanks to this, she survived Empress Wayeno and awakened her ability of foresight at the age of 15.

However, Ecanesia’s prophecies were worthless.

She could only see her own future, and even then, she could only envision the immediate situation.

“Ha, this is ridiculous.”

Valented let out a bitter laugh.

“You can’t see, do you want to lose your ability to speak as well?”

Though the Crown Prince usually cared about appearances, he could hardly hide his emotions when it came to the Duke.

Despite the Crown Prince’s rebuke, Ecanesia did not back down.

“If you do not stop here, I will report everything that happened at this gathering to His Majesty.”

The Crown Prince’s face stiffened.

The princess who always quietly kept to her seat.

While everyone was surprised by this unexpected situation, the Duke who had risen from his seat pushed Ecanesia aside.

“You lack generosity. She is your sister, after all.”

As the Duke approached, Valented’s tension was evident.

Seeing this, the Duke sighed. Unable to even put up a proper fight, tucking his tail like that.

He looked at the Crown Prince as if he were a bothersome and pathetic sight.

“I’m always amazed. Even when I stay quiet as you wish, you always have a fit. It seems the madness is not in me, but in our dear brother.”

He had maintained a consistent attitude since receiving his duke title until now.

He had no interest in the throne, nor did he particularly think it had been taken from him.

‘There’s no reason to put on another leash.’

Even if it’s called the seat of absolute power, it’s nothing more than wearing the most dignified leash.

That was Kashar’s principle.

“So don’t stir things up. If you want that clever head and neck of yours to remain attached, that is.”

The tale of how he had ripped off an enemy general’s head in war flashed through everyone’s minds.

The Crown Prince was no exception, as he stepped back and finally declared the end of the gathering.

“…This concludes our meeting.”

It was the retreat of a loser who couldn’t overcome his inferiority complex.

“Since His Highness has graciously disappeared, this humble duke shall take his leave as well.”

Kashar also left, leaving the other imperial family members behind.

The priest who had guided him here stuck close by his side.

“I will escort you to where Lady Hallen is.”

He looked just like a tail-wagging dog.

Kashar, who was already in a foul mood, was not about to tolerate such a sight.

“If you need a donation, cut off your own neck. I’ll donate gold to the temple equal to the weight of your head.”

“…Pardon? What do you mean…?”

“I’m telling you to know your place.”

It was likely the temple’s plan to have him participate in a gathering that was deliberately meant to exclude him.

Thinking of the priest who would be by Eileen’s side made his irritation surge even more.

If he hadn’t met her shortly after, he might have drawn his sword himself.

A week had passed since the Sacred Fire Ceremony.

In Kashar’s office.

Frigia handed him the materials he had requested.

It was an ancient text about dragon magic.

“Are there no other ancient texts besides this?”

“Well, even this one was extremely difficult to obtain.”

For the words ‘difficult’ to come from the mouth of the head of the Elvitor Trading Company meant it was nearly impossible.

Kashar paid the price after confirming the item.

It was the mining rights to the red diamond mine he had previously taken from Frigia.

“Keep the contents of the request confidential.”

“Of course.”

Though they were at odds in business, they were serious when it came to transactions.

Frigia swallowed her curiosity as she watched the ancient text disappear into his possession.

“Then I’ll be going now.”

Even as Frigia was leaving the office, Kashar remained lost in thought.

He was investigating dragon magic. Specifically, whether there were people other than the imperial family who possessed dragon magic.

Suddenly, Eileen’s words in the carriage came to mind.

‘Have you ever eaten or seen food similar to what I made?’

Seaweed soup.

Though the taste and smell were different, the food he had confirmed on his birthday was the same as the soup the former Empress Viviana had made for him.

Empress Viviana did not die in the tower.

The reason they couldn’t hold a state funeral for the former empress was because she suddenly disappeared from the tower one day. As if she had evaporated, leaving no trace, despite the strict surveillance.

Though they searched thoroughly underground, no one could find any trace of Viviana.

Dragon magic is the root.

However, the magic possessed by each imperial family member had different colors and sensations.

‘It was the same magic.’

The dragon magic he sensed from the sleeping Eileen.

The faint feeling he had sensed in the tower where the empress disappeared was clearly of the same kind.

Something he didn’t know was connected.

Kashar’s eyes gleamed with a dark red light.

It didn’t matter what kind of being Eileen was.

Only, the premise of her disappearing must not exist.