As soon as the First Prince finished speaking, Viktor narrowed his eyes and fell into thought.
Could a prince's promise be trusted?
That wasn't the issue.
Had he chosen to give up because he saw that the throne was already out of reach?
Or had he never intended to fight his own family for power?
After all, not long ago, the head of the Lesser family had returned to the capital.
Viktor didn't believe that the Lesser family had no interest in the throne.
Otherwise, why would the Lesser family keep supporting the First Prince?
And the First Prince himself should have had ambitions for the throne.
Whether it was the noble and perfect image he had built among the people of the capital, or his repeated military achievements on the southern border.
He had even brought back the head of a dragon.
All of these seemed to show Albany's desire for the throne.
Viktor sank into thought.
The game had never spent much time describing the backgrounds and experiences of the two princes.
After all, both of them would eventually become sacrifices in the struggle for the throne.
After becoming Empress, Aurelian mercilessly conVikted both of her brothers and sentenced them to death.
At this moment, seeing Viktor deep in thought, the First Prince added, "If you're still worried, I can announce this to the public immediately."
For a prince, such a public declaration was almost the same as firmly giving up the throne.
The royal family's honor could not be tarnished, and words had to be kept.
Otherwise, the people's trust in the royal family would be severely shaken.
Even if the First Prince regretted it later, the still-living Aubrey would never allow him to take it back.
So Viktor believed his words and nodded slightly.
Even if the First Prince hadn't said so, Viktor could still ensure that the throne would safely pass to the Princess.
But this was, after all, a request from a prince.
Being willing to pay such a heavy price, Viktor was curious about his real intention.
"How do you want me to help you?"
Hearing Viktor's reply, the First Prince seemed to put down a heavy burden. His shoulders visibly relaxed, and he let out a long breath.
"The war in the south can only hold out for another two months at most."
"Within those two months, I only need you to go there once and deal with the monsters that have appeared."
Viktor nodded in understanding and calmly replied, "I can help you. You don't need to announce that you're giving up the throne."
Such an answer clearly caught the First Prince off guard.
His eyes widened, and he stood there in a slight daze.
He stared at a rolling sea of nebulae and began thinking.
As a prince, he naturally understood what Viktor was considering.
He himself knew very well that many noble families, wealthy merchants, and military groups supported his bid for the throne.
Those forces behind him naturally didn't want to see him withdraw from the competition.
If he really announced that he was giving up the throne, these people would definitely be the first to oppose it.
At that point, the entire Empire's political situation might fall into chaos.
Knowing how serious that would be, the First Prince nodded in understanding.
"I understand what you mean."
"But I still have to thank you again, Councilman Clavenna."
He straightened one arm and placed it beside his forehead, giving Viktor a military salute.
Viktor nodded in return.
"The door is over there. I won't see you out."
Hearing this, the First Prince nodded.
He also knew that Viktor and he now stood on different sides. Being seen together would obviously not look good.
But when he turned around, he was stunned.
There wasn't any door nearby.
Yet at that moment, within the hazy starry sky behind him, where wave-like magical power floated, a broad doorway suddenly appeared.
On both sides of the door, tiny furry-looking magical ripples drifted gently. The gem-like crystal doors slowly opened to both sides.
A pale blue curtain of water appeared in the center of the doorway, producing ripples like breathing.
The coolness refreshed the First Prince, and Albany's heart trembled slightly.
Magic truly was amazing.
After adjusting his armor, he smiled kindly and said to Viktor, "Count Viktor, I look forward to seeing you again at the banquet in the future."
With that, he turned and stepped toward the open magical door.
Ripples spread across the water membrane in the middle, and the blue light gradually swallowed his figure.
When the First Prince felt solid ground beneath his feet again, he slowly opened his eyes.
He was already inside the Arcane Hall, and many students were still around.
When they saw his golden armor, they couldn't help looking at him with admiration.
Only then did Albany finally understand why so many students gathered in the Arcane Hall even at this hour.
That miraculous "instance" was probably the reason.
Whether for combat training or simply to experience battle, students were willing to enter the instance on their own.
Standing in the Arcane Hall and feeling the magic in the air, Albany couldn't help sighing.
For the Empire to have someone like Viktor was truly its blessing.
Thinking back to how Viktor had agreed to his request, the First Prince felt relieved. The most troublesome issue finally had a solution.
That was why he was willing to let Aurelian inherit the Empire, as long as her existence ensured that Viktor would never leave.
But...
He thought back to that day when Owiser had come all the way from the capital to see him and said many things.
"My respected elder brother, many things have happened in the capital recently."
The Second Prince's face, carrying a half-smile, seemed fake like a mask.
Albany disliked it very much.
But Owiser had told him many things.
About their mother's return to the capital, and how their little sister had been chosen by the Emperor as the future heir to the throne.
When he heard that his little sister had been chosen, an indescribable disappointment rose in Albany's heart.
After all, how could a prince not yearn for the supreme throne?
Even though he had earned countless achievements, it seemed that in his father's eyes, it was never enough.
He also knew that it was because his father understood him best...
And after guarding the south for over ten years, he had actually already lost his qualification to compete for the throne.
If there had truly been a chance, Albany should have stayed in the capital instead of leading troops in the south.
Even though he understood all this, when countless people around him looked at him with admiration and support, he still couldn't bear to tell them the truth.
So he could only give them hope again and again, telling them, "Learn to endure. One day, we will achieve something."
Albany had always been like this. He had learned to endure, to control his emotions, and to treat others with kindness.
Yet when Owiser said those words, he lost his temper for the first time.
"Aurelian is only a girl. She shouldn't inherit the throne."
"We should act in advance..."
As he spoke, he straightened his hand and made two cutting motions across his neck.
And that was the first time Albany had felt such anger toward his family.
"Owiser, you beast!"
"Get out! Never appear in the south again! Never appear before me again!"
Thinking back on that now, Albany sighed.
That time, he had lost control of his emotions.
Although Owiser had spoken to him with a smile, Albany had still clearly seen something in the eyes of his false and gentle younger brother.
Jealousy.
If he, as the elder brother, had noticed it sooner, perhaps he could have corrected Owiser's character earlier.
But now, it was too late.
Just like how he hadn't noticed Saphiroth suddenly disappearing for an entire month, causing the southern front to become even more strained.
Suddenly, he seemed to think of something and stopped in his tracks.
Why had the monster rift riot happened exactly one month after Owiser appeared?
Just as Albany was about to act, three people happened to pass in front of him.
A head of golden hair swept past his eyes, making him pause.
Wasn't that just now... Duke Levi's daughter?
With that question in mind, he became particularly curious about the three people passing by.
Just as the First Prince was about to turn and take a closer look, his eyes suddenly locked onto the last person, a woman wrapped in a robe.
Although the loose robe hid her figure, he unconsciously felt a familiar presence.
At that moment, disbelief burst into Albany's eyes.
His lips trembled, and his voice shook slightly.
"...Saphiroth?"