CHAPTER 332: THE NEWS OF ZARAK’S DEATH

"Take this. It’s my blessing. Whoever wins later... give it to them..."

Nolan was surprised and stared intently at the ball of light.

"The emperor’s blessing, huh? So it really exists in this world. Amazing."

A famous legend spread throughout the empire spoke of the emperor’s blessing—said to have originated from the founding emperor and passed down to his descendants who inherited the throne.

Those who possessed it were said to succeed in everything until the end of their lives.

However, by the fifth generation, the blessing disappeared and was never inherited by any emperor afterward.

That was why the Great Velmora Empire fell into a long period of stagnation.

Of course, many people were skeptical and doubted the existence of the so-called "emperor’s blessing."

They believed the emperor’s success had nothing to do with such a thing.

Nolan agreed with that view. After all, from the sixth generation to his father’s reign, the empire had remained strong and prosperous without any great disturbances that threatened its stability.

Even so, Nolan did not reject it. Since his ancestor had entrusted it to him, he would pass this emperor’s blessing to Elina.

One might wonder why he gave it to his sister... Well, wasn’t she the one who would surely win in the end?

Quickly, Nolan stored the ball of light in a special space he had created, then looked at the stone statue that was beginning to fade.

"Thank you, Old Man—no, Fifth Ancestor. I’ll give this to those who deserve it. You don’t have to worry," he said, clasping his hands together.

"Thank you, kid. Now, I can finally disappear in peace. May the Great Velmora Empire continue to prosper and stand for ten thousand years to come..."

Whoosh!

His body slowly turned to ash before vanishing completely.

Watching his ancestor’s departure, Nolan let out a quiet sigh and glanced at the golden staff in his hand.

Not just ten thousand years—even a hundred thousand years, I’m sure the empire will still stand strong. You can rest easy, he whispered softly.

The golden staff dissolved into fragments of light.

Then, Nolan’s gaze shifted toward the distant cave, and his figure disappeared from sight.

...

A week passed quickly, and the situation in the capital and the four main regions appeared peaceful.

Of course, that peace existed only on the surface. Behind it, the princes were fiercely competing with one another, traveling across the four main regions to meet the heads of noble families.

Ever since Elina had been granted the honorary title, the princes no longer held back. They knew that if they didn’t act now, it would soon be too late.

The balance of power among them had shifted drastically because of Elina’s presence. She now stood far above the rest, and they couldn’t afford to fall behind, not even slightly.

However, just when everyone thought that this fragile peace would last, horrifying news shook the capital and several major cities.

"The Fourth Prince, Zarak Lorian, has passed away."

People could hardly believe what they heard. How could a prince of such high status die so suddenly?

Many were skeptical at first, but the rapid spread of the news left no room for doubt.

"Have you heard?"

"Yeah, I did. Damn... The battle for the throne is truly brutal! My grandmother used to tell me stories about it, and she always looked terrified whenever she talked. I thought she was exaggerating, but now I know she was right."

"I was skeptical too, buddy. The struggle for the throne seemed peaceful these past few months, so I thought it would stay that way. But now, one of the princes has fallen... It’s really terrifying."

Most of them were born after Ragan took the throne, so they hardly understood the brutal struggle for power.

Moreover, the battle for the throne had stayed calm for several months, with no significant conflicts.

Unfortunately, they overlooked one crucial factor—Elina, backed by the Singularity of Chaos.

If not for her, the true cruelty of this battle would have erupted the very day the announcement was made.

***

"So, Zarak is dead? That’s shocking news."

In a pavilion, Isabella stared at the letter in her hand and let out a soft sigh.

She had always known the battle for the throne was brutal, but witnessing its consequences firsthand brought a different weight.

Nearby sat Elina and Nolan, while Rafine was dressed in a maid outfit.

Normally, she would have been embarrassed to wear such attire, but Nolan’s guidance over the past week had somehow made her feel confident—almost addicted to it.

Elina bowed her head, interlaced her fingers, and then looked up at her mother.

"What do you think about this, Mother?" she asked calmly.

Though she tried to maintain her composure, a trace of anxiety lingered. A few days ago, her brother had warned her to prepare for the worst.

He had also said the princes would make a move to create chaos. Unexpectedly, his prediction was entirely accurate—Zarak had been killed by an unknown party.

Elina had her suspicions, and several possibilities crossed her mind. Yet, lacking proof, she chose to keep them to herself.

"My opinion?" Isabella folded the letter and set it on the table, smiling slightly. "Of course, this news is shocking. But it’s inevitable. Only one person can survive the battle for the throne; the rest will be eliminated by the victor. Didn’t you realize that too?"

Elina fell silent, frowning. Before she could speak, Isabella continued.

"I know this worries you, but it’s the path you chose," she said softly, stroking her head. "So you must face it with all your strength. Even if you fail, don’t worry. I’ll take you and your brother away from this empire. By chance, I have a house in the Eastern Empire of Izanagi."

Elina took a deep breath and nodded slightly. "I understand, Mother. Thank you."

Isabella smiled gently as she stroked her daughter’s head. They continued their quiet conversation, while Nolan and Rafine remained silent.

Nolan’s eyes traveled over Rafine from head to toe, and he couldn’t help but admire her.

Leaning close to her ear, he whispered softly, "You look stunning, Rafine. This maid uniform suits you perfectly."

Rafine stiffened immediately, her face turning as red as a ripe apple.

"You..." she stammered, stepping back, panting. A faint wisp of steam seemed to rise from her head as she glared at Nolan.

"Don’t tease me like that, you stinky prince!" she snapped, clearly irritated.

"Pfft!" Nolan laughed loudly at her reaction. "But I’m serious—you really are beautiful. I used to think you were a duck, but I was completely wrong."

Rafine felt a mix of embarrassment and... happiness at the compliment. But her brows immediately furrowed at the word "duck."

"What do you mean by duck?" She demanded, narrowing her eyes.

"Isn’t it obvious? A duck is a duck," Nolan said casually, shrugging.

Rafine’s blush and happiness vanished instantly, replaced by fiery anger.

"Nolan Lorian, you—"

Before she could finish, hurried footsteps sounded in the distance.

"Lady Isabella! It’s urgent! The Third Concubine is storming onto your grounds in a rage! She demands to see Prince Nolan!"