Chapter 98: The Birthday Party (2)

Orlan was taken aback by the question, but he had a rough idea of what Aston meant. He nodded slowly.

"Yes. Prince Nolan did heal both Syra and Alicia, and I can personally attest to that," he said solemnly.

Aston fell silent, his expression a blend of confusion, unease, and lingering doubt.

He drew a deep breath to steady himself, then asked again, "And... is it true, what they’re saying? That you support Princess Elina?"

His gaze sharpened, searching Orlan’s face for even the slightest flicker of hesitation.

But Orlan remained composed. Wearing a calm expression, he gave a slight nod and replied casually, "Yes, I support Princess Elina. And it’s not just me—the entire Balfron family has pledged their support as well."

"What!? Even the Balfron family?" Aston’s eyes widened in disbelief. "You didn’t threaten them or use some kind of charm to win them over, did you?"

The Balfron family was no ordinary house. As one of the most powerful Count families in the Empire, they were often referred to as the "Thirteenth Marquis"—a title that spoke to the extent of their influence.

If not for their own reluctance to rise in status, that marquis title would have already been made official.

After all, they had met every requirement to ascend. All that remained was their consent, and the title would be granted without delay.

However, their decision to reject the title left many noble leaders confused. Even the Malvain family, the ruling power in the southern region, couldn’t fathom the reason behind it.

And now, that same family was declaring support for Elina—something no one had expected.

Although the Balfron family was related to Orlan by marriage, it seemed unlikely that they would support Elina solely out of sentiment or family ties.

The outcome of the succession would significantly reshape the noble hierarchy—from Baron to Duke.

Lower-ranking nobles who backed the winning candidate stood a chance to rise in status. It wasn’t unthinkable for a Baron’s family to be elevated to Marquis.

On the other hand, a Marquis family could just as easily be demoted to Baron—or worse, wiped out entirely and erased from history.

As cruel as it may sound, that was the unwritten rule of the battle for the throne.

It was precisely this risk that made many noble leaders reluctant to declare their support so hastily.

After all, the favored candidate could still lose, while the underestimated one might end up taking the throne.

Orlan chuckled softly at the accusation. He patted his burly shoulder and said, "What are you talking about? Do you really think I could pressure my father-in-law? If I even tried, he would’ve beaten me to a pulp."

Just because Orlan held a higher rank than his father-in-law didn’t mean he could do whatever he pleased. In fact, he was the one who got scolded more often.

It wasn’t surprising—his father-in-law had once been his father’s closest friend. To him, Orlan was still just a child.

And now that Orlan had married his daughter, he no longer paid much attention to noble hierarchy when dealing with him.

Of course, that only applied in casual, informal settings. During official meetings, his father-in-law still conducted himself according to his rank.

Aston was left speechless. Knowing Count Balfron’s personality, what Orlan said made perfect sense.

"Then... can you tell me how Prince Nolan was able to heal Alicia and Syra?" he asked quietly, his tone filled with caution. "Does he really have some kind of mysterious power? But... isn’t he known as the prince of trash?"

Although he was a Marquis, he still had to watch his words. Insulting a member of the imperial family could carry heavy consequences.

"Pfft!" Orlan chuckled and gave a small shake of his head. "Sorry, Marquis Valmire. I can’t tell you—that’s a very sensitive secret. But..."

He leaned in, bringing his lips close to Aston’s ear, and whispered, "Prince Nolan isn’t anything like the rumors say. He’s powerful, mysterious... and dangerous. Let me warn you—never make him your enemy. If you do, I won’t be responsible for the destruction your family might suffer."

Without waiting for a response, Orlan lightly patted his arm and walked past him.

He stepped toward Syra and Alicia and said, "Come on, Syra, Alicia. Let’s go."

Syra, who had been chatting with Ena, immediately paused the conversation and smiled at him.

"I’ll head in first. We’ll talk later, Ena," she said softly.

Ena returned the smile. "Alright, Syra. I’ll go in with my husband too."

She then turned to Alicia and gently pinched the little girl’s cheek.

"Goodbye, Alicia."

"Goodbye, Auntie!" Alicia replied with a sweet smile.

The three of them began walking toward the main hall, while Ena turned to look at her husband, who was approaching slowly with a distant, blank expression.

"What’s wrong, dear?" she asked, her voice laced with concern.

Aston snapped out of his thoughts and gave a gentle smile. "It’s nothing. Come on, let’s head inside."

Although still confused, Ena held back her questions and walked with Aston into the main hall.

...

"Tsk! No matter how you look at it, I’m ridiculously handsome."

Standing before the large mirror, Nolan admired his reflection with a satisfied smirk.

There was no denying it—his face was exceptionally handsome. Even Adalen couldn’t compare.

Tonight, he was dressed in a special outfit crafted by the Imperial Palace’s finest tailors, made specifically for this grand occasion.

He wore a robe of deep black, woven from luxurious, high-quality fabric. Gold brocade decorated the collar, sleeves, and chest, highlighting his composed yet striking presence.

His long black hair—normally messy or carelessly combed—was now neatly styled in a sleek, fashionable preppy cut.

If his usual appearance was worth a hundred points, then tonight, he easily deserved two hundred.

"Alright," Nolan whispered as he adjusted his robe and smiled confidently. "Time to head to the main hall. The noble guests should already be there."

For some reason, he couldn’t go with Elina to the main hall.

He suspected it had something to do with the rules of succession. As he had mentioned earlier, this birthday banquet was an opportunity for the successor candidates to earn the support of the noble family heads in attendance.

Most likely, his father wanted to keep things fair by gathering all the candidates beforehand and having them make their entrance together during the main event.

Without wasting any more time, Nolan turned and headed out of his room.

But suddenly, a small figure appeared in front of him and wrapped her arms tightly around his leg.

Startled, Nolan looked down—and was surprised to see someone he hadn’t expected.

"Eliza?"