Chapter 12: Dissatisfaction of Some Parties

"I didn't think Father would grant that brat's request. He really does love him."

In a luxurious room, Aldric lounged on a sofa, casually reading a letter held in his right hand.

The letter was a formal declaration from the Emperor: Elina would take Nolan's place in the battle for succession.

At first, Aldric had been surprised. Throughout the Empire's history, every prince was required to participate in the war for the throne—unless they were under sixteen.

But considering how much their father had always spoiled the brat, it all started to make sense.

"Pfft! You're right, Brother. But honestly, this change doesn't change anything. Whether it's Nolan or Elina, the result remains the same. They have no one backing them. Their chances of winning are close to zero."

Across from him, an extraordinarily beautiful woman let out a soft chuckle. Her face was captivating, framed by long, wavy blonde hair styled to perfection.

Her icy blue eyes radiated confidence and arrogance, with a touch of cynicism.

A crescent-shaped ribbon adorned the right side of her hair, adding an elegant charm—one that felt as deadly as it was graceful.

Aldric glanced at her—his younger sister, the second daughter of the Great Valdom Empire—with clear displeasure in his eyes.

"You may be right, but we must not underestimate the enemy. Who knows? They might launch an unexpected attack."

His tone was serious, though still laced with a hint of dismissal. He disagreed, if only slightly, with Novaria's reckless attitude—but he had to admit, what she said was absolutely true.

Whether Nolan was replaced by Elina or not, the outcome remained unchanged: the switch wouldn't alter the course of the succession battle.

To Aldric, only Cedric and Adalen posed real threats—ones that couldn't be ignored.

Cedric might not hail from an influential family like his, but his uncle was the Prime Minister of Roswell—the most powerful man after the Emperor.

Adalen, on the other hand, had a grandfather who was one of the Seven Singularities.

With power, reputation, and influence strong enough to shake the foundations of the entire aristocracy, Adalen only needed to invoke his grandfather's name—and the nobles would surely rally behind him.

That was why Aldric knew he needed to act fast—he had to draft a plan and discuss it with his mother and uncle as soon as possible.

Across from him, Novaria noticed the serious look on her brother's face. She rolled her eyes but chose to stay silent.

"Brother, did Mother find out about the succession issue?" she asked curiously.

"Yes, she should have," Aldric nodded slowly. "But she hasn't summoned me yet. Perhaps she's still in talks with Uncle Jason."

Uncle Jason, his mother's older brother, was the head of the Duke of Malviana's family. With support from his mother's side, Aldric felt far more confident about the upcoming battle for the throne.

"That's good," Novaria said with a faint smile. "I'm sure you'll be the one to win this battle and become the next emperor, Brother."

A confident smile slowly formed on Aldric's face. "Of course. I will win—without a doubt."

...

"Replacing Nolan with Elina? Father... you're really playing favorites."

In a lavish room lined with bookshelves, Cedric read the letter in his hand with a tired, helpless expression.

He couldn't understand why his father had agreed to Nolan's request to switch places with Elina.

It was clearly against the rules—yet he allowed it.

Cedric couldn't help but wonder: was this truly favoritism?

Otherwise, how could that brat's request have been granted?

The more he thought about it, the more absurd it seemed.

With a sigh, Cedric shook his head, trying to clear the irritation from his mind. He crossed his legs and leaned back against the sofa, forcing himself to relax.

"Well, in the end, whether it's Nolan or Elina, neither of them poses a real threat to me," he muttered, sounding indifferent. "Only they can actually pressure me."

He was, of course, referring to Aldric and Adalen—two serious threats he couldn't ignore. Especially Aldric.

That man always acted like a kind, caring older brother, but Cedric knew better.

Deep down, Aldric was after one thing: the throne.

When the succession was announced, Cedric could clearly see the flames of ambition burning in Aldric's eyes.

Adalen was still a threat—but not as significant as Aldric in his eyes.

After all, Adalen's greatest supporter, the Singularity of Light, wasn't even in the Great Velmora Empire.

That made dealing with Adalen far easier than confronting Aldric, who had the powerful Malvain family backing him.

Just as Cedric was lost in thought, a soft knock came at his door, followed by the quiet creak of it opening.

A small girl peeked inside, her expression timid.

"Brother? Are you in there? Can we play together?" she asked gently.

Cedric turned, surprised at first, then furrowed his brows in irritation.

"Sorry, Eliza. I'm busy and have a lot to do," he said coldly, waving a dismissive hand. "Go play by yourself, and don't bother me."

At the rejection, the girl puffed her cheeks in disappointment but said nothing. She closed the door slowly behind her.

As she left, Cedric let out a sigh and shook his head.

"Having a little sister is such a bother..." he muttered.