CHAPTER 124: SURRENDER AND RETREAT IN SHAME

"Your Majesty, I apologize for my rudeness."

At those words, everyone drew in a sharp breath, trying to steady their racing hearts.

The scene before them shattered their long-held belief that the Singularities were untouchable.

The Singularity of Light, who had just moments ago seemed so arrogant, suddenly bowed his head—all because of a threat from a young man, merely a subordinate of the Singularity of Chaos.

This moment also confirmed the Singularity of Chaos’ claim: the Singularity of Light was no match for him.

"Grandfather, you..." Adalen choked out, his face frozen in horror and disbelief.

He had always known his grandfather feared the Singularity of Chaos—but this?

Apologizing to his father in front of everyone was no different than throwing away his pride.

As the grandson who depended on that pride to secure the throne, Adalen knew he would bear the consequences too.

You bastard... are the gods mocking me? Zarak howled inwardly.

His eyes bulged, and his fat body trembled with fury. He had been certain Elina and Nolan would die at the hands of the Singularity of Light—but fate had spared them once again.

I don’t accept this... I just can’t! He growled through gritted teeth, his fists clenched tight.

Meanwhile, Cedric, who had witnessed everything, could only let out a quiet sigh, his expression clouded with complicated emotions.

Luck really does exist,

he muttered, shaking his head. But that’s fine. I’ll challenge what you call luck... and fate.

Aldric and Cassian remained silent, but the grim look on their faces made their anger and unwillingness clear—they couldn’t accept the fortune that had favored Nolan and Elina.

"Thank goodness they survived..." Seira exhaled in relief, gently pressing a hand to her chest.

But her eyes soon turned cold as she fixed a sharp stare on the Singularity of Light.

Grandfather, you’ve crossed a line that shouldn’t be crossed, she whispered, her tone icy.

Like everyone else, she hadn’t expected her own grandfather to act so recklessly.

She had deliberately stayed out of it, confident that their father would never allow Nolan and Elina to be punished—especially when the charges her grandfather brought were clearly absurd.

Fortunately, her father had made the decision she’d been counting on. But her grandfather’s response defied all expectations—he had actually dared to strike at Nolan and Elina.

Had the Singularity of Chaos’s subordinate not intervened, the two might have died then and there.

For the first time, Seira felt the stirrings of murderous intent toward her own grandfather.

To her, Nolan was more important than anything—more than her grandfather, Adalen, or even... her own mother.

Anyone who harmed him was, without question, hurting her as well.

What the Singularity of Light failed to understand was that his actions today had already set in motion the future—one in which he would come to know betrayal... and perish in despair.

Elsewhere in the hall, Orlan, Syra, Rudy, Evalyn, Rafine, Anastasia, and the three dukes exhaled quietly, the tension in their chests easing at last after the Singularity of Light’s unexpected apology.

They may have voiced their support for the Emperor’s call to war, but none of them had truly wished to walk that path.

Deep down, they understood—war would only bring ruin to themselves and to the people they had sworn to protect.

After all, war would only bring suffering—to them and to the people they were sworn to protect.

"Whew! My dear, you were right!" Syra turned to Orlan with an admiring look. "Prince Nolan and Princess Elina survived—and won by a landslide!"

Orlan let out a soft chuckle but kept his calm, as though the praise hadn’t moved him in the slightest.

"You flatter me, my love. But yes... what you said is true. Prince Nolan and Princess Elina truly claimed victory in this confrontation," Orlan said with a playful smile.

Don’t focus solely on the Singularity of Light’s apology—consider the far-reaching consequences it will bring.

The heads of noble families, who had once considered backing Adalen, would now have to think a hundred times before taking another step.

Having long occupied the seats of power, they were far from foolish.

Most had considered supporting Adalen because they hoped to benefit from his close relationship with the powerful Singularity of Light.

But the Singularity’s reckless behavior—threatening the empire’s stability and revealing his murderous intent—shattered their confidence.

He had dared to aim that killing intent at Prince Nolan and Princess Elina. And if Adalen ever claimed the throne, who could say they wouldn’t be next?

Even worse, his threat to tear down the empire itself sent a chill through the hearts of everyone present.

In a single moment, the image Adalen had spent years crafting unraveled completely.

And it wasn’t just the elder nobles—now, even their sons and daughters stared at him with cold, bitter eyes.

To the young men, he embodied ambition and promise. To the young women, he was an ideal prince—refined in manner, fearless in heart, and flawless in appearance.

But all of that shattered in a single moment. What remained was only disgust... and hatred.

Ragan drew a deep breath, struggling to stay composed despite the pounding of his heart.

This is far beyond what I expected, he muttered to himself.

What he had said earlier wasn’t an empty threat—he truly would have declared war if Nolan and Elina had been killed.

It wasn’t just about their deaths; it was about what it meant for him as an emperor.

Standing by while your own child was killed without lifting a finger was something not even a beast would allow.

Had it come to that, a rebellion from both the nobles and the people wouldn’t have been unthinkable.

Fortunately, it never reached that point, all thanks to one person: the Singularity of Chaos.

Looks like I owe him, he whispered with a long sigh.

Snapping out of his thoughts, he turned to the Singularity of Light and said coolly, "Very well, I accept your apology. However, I want Tashuk City returned to the Great Velmora Empire. Otherwise, the war continues."

Tashuk City sat at the northernmost tip of the Empire, once part of the Northern Duke’s domain under the Ashvale Family.

But ten years ago, it had been seized—unilaterally—by the Holy Empire of Valtanir.

At the time, he had been furious, but the Singularity of Light’s presence behind Valtanir had forced him to hold back.

He tried diplomacy, but every attempt failed.

Reluctantly, he had been forced to retreat—though not entirely. Some soldiers and small outposts were left behind in the area, often resulting in minor skirmishes with the troops of the Holy Empire of Valtanir.

Upon hearing the demand, the Singularity of Light flinched and turned a murderous gaze toward Ragan.

But Arnold’s sharp glare snapped him out of his thoughts, forcing him to suppress the hatred boiling in his chest.

"Very well. I’ll inform my son," he said weakly.

"Good," Ragan replied with a satisfied smile.

So this is what it feels like—to push back against someone stronger than you. And it felt incredibly gratifying.

The Singularity of Light, humiliated, chose not to stay a moment longer.

He cast a complicated glance at Adalen before turning away and exiting the hall, his retreat followed by the silent stares of everyone present—right up to his final step.

...

A/N: I apologize if switching between multiple characters’ perspectives during a single event—like in the previous Chapter and this one—feels a bit overwhelming or annoying.

Personally, I don’t want the characters to exist merely as background spectators, with no insight into their thoughts or presence. Without that depth, the story might feel empty or hollow, as if everything revolves solely around the main character.

So once again, I’m sorry if this approach bothers you. Thank you for your understanding!