Chapter 16
Elian smiled slyly and continued.
“I heard you were close friends with Lady Roshanak when you were young?”
Franz responded indifferently.
“I had many childhood friends. I don’t quite recall.”
“Surely you couldn’t have forgotten. Lady Roshanak possesses the mana of fire—just like Your Highness…”
“So?”
“Pardon?”
“What’s your intention in mentioning another woman to me, especially as I’m about to marry? Are you suggesting I should break the ‘soul bond’ that was confirmed by the mana stones?”
“No, of course not!”
Startled by the sharp question, Elian waved his hands frantically.
“I merely intended to pass on that Lady Roshanak greatly misses you—as an old friend, nothing more. Childhood friendships sometimes last forever, don’t they? Even between opposite genders.”
“…Isn’t the First Prince’s palace expecting you right now?”
Franz lazily rubbed his temples, his eyes drifting away from Elian toward the fountain outside.
“It wouldn’t do to keep them waiting.”
Though polite on the surface, his words clearly signaled dismissal.
Elian rose awkwardly from his seat, chuckling uneasily.
“Yes, I have an appointment with the First Princess Consort.”
“Enjoy your family time.”
“Thank you, Your Highness.”
Elian bowed courteously and exited the room. He maintained his smile until the doors closed behind him, at which point his expression slowly hardened as he walked through the corridors of the Second Prince’s palace.
By the time he reached the fountain Franz had been watching, his face was twisted with anger.
‘Arrogant brat…’
To be dismissed by a mere twenty-six-year-old prince—a son of the late empress with barely any backing from the imperial family—was humiliating.
He already knew Franz was arrogant. Yet unlike the subtle smiles from before, his attitude had grown cold recently, raising suspicions in Elian’s mind.
‘Has he already caught on?’
Elian’s mind raced as he walked toward the First Prince’s palace.
Recently, Lynden Schuyler had departed for Dafa.
Clearly, Lynden had swiftly caught on to the news that the Narot mine was running dry.
Elian had learned through the Empress that the Roshanaks’ financial source, Narot, was drying up as well. Appealing to the Empress’s sentimental nature, Elian had managed to secure her promise to help him obtain the rights to a new mana mine.
Yet Elian planned even further ahead.
If Nyris could stand by the Second Prince’s side, the Empress wouldn’t even have to intervene.
Because the decision-making authority for the new mine’s ownership rested with Franz himself, it would be simple to use Nyris’s closeness with Franz as leverage.
‘Just a few days ago, things were fine.’
Only months earlier, the Second Prince had openly shown dissatisfaction with having to marry Lady Ambrose. Elian had believed it would be easy to place Nyris beside Franz.
But now that he tried to act, things felt different.
Franz had changed. He now felt like a massive wall, unmovable no matter how hard Elian tried.
“Tsk.”
Elian clicked his tongue as he looked up at the First Prince’s palace.
Unlike Franz’s elegant yet simple palace, Creighton’s palace was lavish and extravagant. Every pillar was adorned with intricate gold ornamentation, and even the servants wore uniforms made from the finest fabric. It was clearly designed to convey that the occupant stood at the pinnacle of power.
But what good were grand appearances without true power?
Elian was displeased with his son-in-law, Creighton.
When his daughter married the First Prince, he’d expected Creighton to quickly become Crown Prince. Yet, he still vied with Franz for the position. It was pathetic.
Moreover, despite being the First Prince, Creighton didn’t even have the authority to decide mana mine ownership, since the Empress deliberately excluded him due to the First Princess Consort being Elian’s daughter.
Hence, Elian had no choice but to bow to Franz, the Second Prince, despite Franz’s inferior match with a mere baron’s daughter.
It wounded his pride deeply. But he had no choice—his family’s future depended on winning Dafa’s mining rights. He would endure Franz’s arrogance just until then.
“Father!”
Elian, entering the First Prince’s palace with a scowl, immediately smiled upon hearing his daughter’s cheerful voice. Despite everything, he was proud of his daughter enjoying such splendor.
“Princess Consort.”
“Oh, come now. Please speak comfortably when we’re alone.”
Glena winked affectionately. Her blue eyes, resembling his own, sparkled brightly.
“Yes, Glena. Have you been well?”
“So-so.”
Glena shrugged lightly, offering Elian a seat. After dismissing the servants who brought tea, she pouted unhappily.
Elian narrowed his eyes at his daughter’s expression.
That was the look she wore when she wanted something but hadn’t yet gotten it.
Yet, what could a princess consort possibly lack? He was puzzled.
Elian withdrew his hand from the teacup and spoke softly.
“What’s making your life merely ‘so-so’? I’ve given you everything to live perfectly.”
“You’ve done more than enough for me, Father.”
Glena spoke primly, reaching elegantly for a madeleine. As she delicately ate it, her face contorted in dissatisfaction.
Yes, there was definitely something bothering her.
“Then is the problem the First Prince?”
“No, not at all…”
“Haha, I’m hurt you misunderstood me.”
Just as Glena shook her head, the door swung open abruptly.
“What wrong could I possibly commit against my beloved wife?”
Creighton laughed heartily, stepping forward to kiss Glena’s cheek. Elian, momentarily suspicious, relaxed at his son-in-law’s affectionate smile.
Creighton and Glena were indeed a perfect match. Both were exceptionally attractive, pleasing the eyes whenever they stood together. Both were also equally ambitious, ensuring they obtained whatever they desired.
Creighton sat beside Glena, wrapping an arm around her shoulders, feigning offense as he addressed her.
“Come now, Glena, tell me. Your father might misunderstand.”
Nestling comfortably into his arms, Glena spoke coquettishly.
“My husband has always been devoted to me.”
“Then what exactly is the issue?”
“Well…”
Glena sighed dramatically under the gaze of both men. Her expression was beautifully tragic, as if burdened with unbearable sadness.
“You know the diamond necklace belonging to Her Majesty the Empress? The Roshanak heirloom she brought from her family?”
“Of course. You fell in love with it at first sight.”
Elian, previously nodding in agreement, stiffened slightly. His expression darkened as he turned to his daughter.
“Did Her Majesty refuse to give it to you?”
His voice filled with betrayal.
“I even went as far as recommending Lady Roshanak to the Second Prince.”
“I’m sure Her Majesty views the two matters separately. You know how she is.”
Glena complained openly, recalling the Empress’s fair-minded and compassionate nature.
“She always strives to treat everyone equally. She hasn’t even chosen her own son as Crown Prince yet.”
Glena sighed, examining her manicured nails.
“Well, considering she runs the palace in the Emperor’s stead, perhaps it’s inevitable.”
“Mother certainly insists on fairness—sometimes excessively so.”
Creighton soothed Glena, gently stroking her shoulders. Elian watched in confusion as the two defended the Empress.
“So?”
“That priceless treasure was given to that Ambrose girl.”
Glena lifted her chin sharply, eyes filled with disdain.
“That ignorant bumpkin who doesn’t even understand its value accepted it without hesitation.”
“Goodness…”
Elian murmured lowly. Now he understood what happened.
Whenever a new princess joined the imperial family, the Empress granted her jewelry. The particular piece gifted greatly impacted her standing within the palace.
Glena’s own piece was valuable, but nowhere near the Empress’s diamond necklace, a priceless family heirloom.
It was understandable that Glena felt bitter.
But what could be done? The necklace had already changed hands.
Elian clicked his tongue regretfully. He wanted to grant Glena whatever she desired, but this matter was beyond his power.
“If only Lady Roshanak had finished recuperating sooner…”
“Who?”
Glena’s eyes widened in surprise. Suddenly excited, she leaned forward eagerly.
“Are you talking about Nyris Roshanak?”
“You used to play with her occasionally when you were young, remember?”
“Of course I do.”
Glena’s smile brightened instantly, confidence returning to her posture.
“We simply have to get Nyris to charm the Second Prince. She had a crush on him even as a child—she once called him her dream prince. If Nyris stands beside him, that country girl will be sent back home.”
Glena clasped her hands together, speaking dreamily.
“Then the diamond necklace will finally be mine.”
It was the perfect plan, beneficial to everyone involved.
Everyone except the irritating Ambrose girl.
