Chapter 96: A Small Seed

Eastern Region...

The eastern side of the Great Velmora Empire is the largest of its four main regions.

Although it lacks the rich natural resources of the southern region, the east remains relatively fertile and is home to lush tropical forests.

Its proximity to the ocean also gives it a thriving fisheries sector, which contributes significantly to the region’s economy.

In fact, this sector alone generates nearly half of the region’s total wealth—a testament to its vast potential.

At the heart of the eastern region, in one of its most prosperous cities, Ostravia, stood a grand and magnificent manor.

The manor featured elegant architecture, with towering pillars that firmly supported its structure.

Its silvery-white walls were adorned with ancient carvings—an artistic display that pleased the eyes.

The front courtyard was expansive, centered around a proud statue of a soldier on horseback—a symbol of the manor owner’s prestige.

Guards in red armor stood in orderly formation and patrolled the grounds, ensuring that no thief or criminal could slip through.

This manor belonged to one of the most influential noble families in the Great Velmora Empire—the Eastern Duke’s family.

Inside one of its rooms, a little red-haired girl in a lovely red dress lay on her back, listening intently to a story being told by a young woman sitting beside her.

"And that’s the end of the story," the woman said with a gentle smile. "Now it’s time for your nap, Masha. If you don’t sleep, Mommy will be upset later."

Masha pouted in protest. She sat up and crossed her arms in defiance.

"How did it come to this, Sister Rafine? Did you trick me?" She asked, her cheeks puffed up like a pufferfish.

Rafine chuckled and gently patted her sister’s head.

"Trick you? How could I ever fool my chubby little sister?" She said calmly, patting Masha’s head. "We made a deal, remember? You asked for a fairy tale, and in return, you’d take a nap. So, who’s the one breaking the promise now?"

Masha fell silent. She had no counterargument—Rafine had a point.

Still, she didn’t want to sleep. She wasn’t even tired yet. And tonight, they were heading to the capital—where there’d be no time left for fairy tales.

At the thought of the journey ahead, her eyes suddenly lit up.

She looked up at Rafine with excitement. "Sister, are you going to the capital tonight too?"

Rafine was briefly taken aback, then gave a slow nod.

"Of course I am. I’m the heiress to the Austin family, remember? Even if I refused, Father would probably spank me," she said with a sigh.

"Good!" Masha shouted excitedly. She jumped into her sister’s arms and looked up with sparkling eyes. "Sister, do you know about the Catastrophe-Level Dragon attack that happened during the succession announcement?"

"The Catastrophe-Level Dragon Attack?" Rafine echoed softly. She gave a small nod, gently pinching her sister’s chubby cheeks. "I know—you told me about it once, remember?"

"No, you’re wrong, Sister." Masha gave a small smile and shook her head. "What I want to tell you isn’t about the incident itself, but about the person who saved me!"

"Oh?" Rafine raised an eyebrow slightly.

She recalled what their mother had said about that day—how Masha had disappeared in the middle of a crowded square, sending their mother into such a panic that she nearly fainted.

Luckily, a young man had stepped in and rescued her. Their mother had mentioned that he was one of the princes from the Imperial Palace.

But when Rafine asked which prince, their mother’s face turned red, and she quickly changed the subject.

Rafine had also tried asking Masha about it before, but the little girl always refused to say a word.

Now, Masha was suddenly bringing up the dragon attack again, which only deepened Rafine’s curiosity about the man who had saved her.

Catching the curious look on her sister’s face, Masha grinned mischievously.

"Do you want to know who saved me? Well, I won’t keep it a secret anymore. It was Prince Nolan!" She declared proudly, her lips curling into a wide smile.

"What did you say? Prince Nolan? Isn’t he the Sixth Prince of the Imperial Palace?" Rafine gasped, covering her mouth with one hand.

The name of the Sixth Prince, Nolan Lorian, was indeed well-known—but not for honorable reasons. He was infamous for the many unpleasant nicknames attached to him.

At first, Rafine had assumed the one who saved Masha was the First Prince, Aldric, or perhaps the Second Prince, Cedric. Even the Third Prince, Adalen—renowned for his looks—seemed like a far more likely choice.

But Prince Nolan?

Noticing the disbelief on her sister’s face, Masha let go of the hug and stood up.

With her petite frame, her face barely reached Rafine’s chin as Rafine remained seated.

"Sister, I’m serious. I’m not lying," she said solemnly, crossing her arms at her waist. Her face was set in a stern expression—though it only made her look more adorable.

"I know it sounds impossible, but it’s true. And more than that, I’ve realized all those rumors about Prince Nolan were wrong! He’s handsome, strong, smart, and... amazing!"

Her eyes sparkled with admiration, as if golden stars had settled in them.

Rafine couldn’t hide her shock at such an earnest reaction.

If there was anyone who truly understood Masha, it was Rafine.

Despite her sister’s adorable appearance, Rafine knew the truth: Masha was sharp, cunning, and often deceitful.

She was also incredibly arrogant, frequently looking down on those she considered inferior.

That was what worried Rafine—her sister might one day offend the wrong person without even realizing it.

If it were someone from the lower ranks of the Austin family, she and her father might still be able to protect her.

But if it involved the Emperor, the Ministers, or one of the Princes, even their father might not be able to shield her.

And yet now—for the first time—Rafine saw a different side of her sister: genuine admiration, the kind that looked exactly like a fangirl falling for her idol.

And the most surprising part? The person she admired was none other than a prince notorious for his bad reputation.

Rafine stayed quiet for a moment before finally asking, "Is Prince Nolan really who you say he is, Masha? You’re not exaggerating, are you?"

Masha rolled her eyes, then leaned in, placed her lips near Rafine’s ear, and whispered,

"Do you know why Mommy got so shy when we brought it up? It’s because she fell in love with his looks!"

"What did you say?" Rafine’s eyes widened in disbelief.

Masha pulled back and nodded seriously. "I’m not joking, Sister. So you have to believe me."

Rafine remained silent, at a loss for words. Yet a quiet curiosity about Prince Nolan began to take root in her heart—a small, unnoticed seed that would one day lead her into the deep abyss known as... love.