"The eldest prince still hasn't married."
Hearing this, Liya's expression didn't show the slightest ripple. She leaned her body against the sofa back and asked, "So, what does that have to do with our Clavenna family?"
Hearing Liya's deliberately foolish question, Jace Lesser shook his head and chuckled.
"Miss Liya, you really don't understand. The Clavenna family is currently at the peak of its power. Your brother has become the princess's private tutor. If you were to marry His Highness the Eldest Prince..."
While listening to Jace's words, Liya stretched out her hand and, under the sunlight shining through the window, carefully admired the nails she had just gotten done not long ago.
The afternoon sun was warm and gentle. When it shone on Liya's delicate, fair face, it made her look even more noble.
She didn't even glance at Jace and said leisurely, "Did Viktor agree to it?"
"Hm?"
Liya lifted her head and looked at the slightly stunned Jace Lesser, speaking blandly, "Mister Jace, my brother is the head of the family. You'd better remember that."
"If he hasn't planned to marry me off, then even if the eldest prince comes here himself, I won't marry him. See the guest out."
Jace Lesser looked like he still wanted to say something, but Gwen's eyes flashed with a faint cold light. Jace narrowed his eyes, let out a light laugh.
"In that case, I won't disturb Miss Liya any further."
"His Highness the Eldest Prince will return after some time. We can discuss it in detail then."
Jace Lesser stood up, brushed off his clothes, and left the meeting room with his servants.
Liya sat on the sofa. Gwen looked at her with some concern.
"Liya, you…"
"Don't worry, I'm fine."
Liya waved her hand dismissively. In truth, she hadn't expected that the other party would actually set their sights on her.
Was it because she was also a member of the Clavenna family?
When one person rises, even the chickens and dogs rise with them, it was indeed a good thing. But correspondingly, she also became a piece of interest in other people's eyes.
"What kind of person is the eldest prince? All I know is that he's been in the south for a long time and rarely returns to the capital."
Gwen thought for a moment and said, "He's the prince said to resemble the current emperor the most."
It was said that the eldest prince was extremely upright and magnanimous, kind to commoners, and personally led troops to suppress the southern riots caused by the demon race.
On the empire's southern border, there was a massive rift that constantly spewed out monsters.
The small cities nearby could enjoy stability only because the eldest prince led armies to defend them.
He was a hero in the hearts of many in the empire.
A man like this, unmarried at thirty, whether inside or outside the capital, countless noble ladies admired him.
Liya nodded.
"I understand."
"According to what you're saying, a man with such leadership and personal charm, who is absolutely not lacking women, would he even look twice at me?"
After saying this, even she couldn't help but laugh.
Interest.
She didn't know whether Jace Lesser had approached the Clavenna family with the eldest prince's permission, but regardless, once Viktor became the princess's teacher, their Clavenna family could not avoid being dragged into the royal whirlpool.
Liya shook her head and said lightly, "Viktor cares a lot about benefits. I can't entrust my entire life to him."
'Although… he did seem to have changed recently.'
'But who knew whether this so-called change was just some fake lie?'
She also hoped Viktor would return and, as family, tell everyone, no one could restrict Liya's freedom.
But she didn't want that hope to be nothing more than wishful thinking or empty fantasy.
Liya rubbed her forehead and stood up, "Looks like I'll have to handle this myself."
Gwen quickly said from the side, "If there's anything I can help with..."
Liya looked at Gwen with narrowed, smiling eyes.
"No need."
Gwen was too upright. A person like her didn't need to get involved in this kind of chaos.
Besides, this wasn't the first time she'd done something like this. Liya stretched her fingers, and the magic crystal at her waist faintly lit up, as if sending a message.
———
On a street corner, a plainly dressed passerby got into a carriage.
He sat down and looked at the distinguished man before him.
The Calencia Empire's second prince, Owiser Sol.
"Your Highness, Jace Lesser just left the Clavenna estate."
The second prince smiled pleasantly as he listened to the report, unhurried, calm.
David felt uneasy and couldn't help asking, "Your Highness, if the eldest prince really gains the Clavenna family's support, then you…"
"Why do you think Viktor would let Liya marry him?"
The second prince narrowed his eyes and looked out the window.
"David, you know what emotion I like the most?"
"Jealousy."
David froze, but he didn't dare make a sound. He could only listen to his master muttering to himself.
"Jealousy is interesting. It provokes a person's greed."
"Because of jealousy, Jace Lesser will get angry, so he becomes desperate to help my foolish elder brother."
"And then, he'll conveniently forget certain things and end up doing something uncontrollable, yet everything will seem perfectly reasonable."
He smiled. His laughter carried a subtle, chilling undertone.
"Jace Lesser is like this. His stupid brother is the same."
"Because he's just jealous."
———
Early the next morning, the sun rose quickly. The guards still stood at the gate of the estate.
But each of them had tired expressions.
Even though the Clavenna family had provided enough food and water, their spirits still couldn't avoid fatigue and sleepiness.
Gwen had not left the Clavenna mansion, staying close by Liya's side.
Liya, however, seemed entirely unworried, acting completely normal, even having the leisure to scold servants who didn't do their jobs well.
Yet everyone knew very clearly, Viktor hadn't come back. And these days would continue.
The next day, the Clavenna family had another visitor.
But this time, it was Duke Levi.
Unlike Jace Lesser's aggressiveness,
The first thing Duke Levi asked upon seeing Liya was whether she needed his help.
Liya invited him into the meeting hall. He sat upright on the leather chair, like an elegant elderly gentleman.
Duke Levi lifted his teacup. The rich fragrance lingered on his lips.
"I've already heard about the matter, Miss Liya."
"Your brother has helped me many times. Although I've also given back to the Clavenna family, in comparison, what you've done for me is far greater."
A life-saving grace naturally outweighed everything, not to mention, the one Viktor saved was his beloved daughter.
And moreover…
The duke glanced at Gwen standing beside Liya.
The empire's youngest knight-commander, Viktor's fiancée.
She, too, had saved his daughter.
Ah… truly, his daughter Erica owed the whole Clavenna family her life.
Liya was a bit puzzled. 'When had Viktor helped Duke Levi again?'
"That miraculous red potion, was it Viktor's doing?"
Liya suddenly remembered that red potion that could save someone even from poison-induced suicide.
It seemed she wasn't the first person to know about it.
So Liya nodded.
"To be honest, I also came here with personal reasons."
Duke Levi took a deep breath, then said, "My daughter, Erica."
"She has recently developed a very strange illness. I've looked for many doctors, but none can cure it."
Liya understood, Duke Levi was placing his hopes on that red potion.
But she was still curious.
"What kind of illness is it, that even doctors all over the capital can't treat it?"
The duke didn't hide anything and said directly, "Her body… has grown full of strange flowers…"
———
Viktor had been fighting Druja for two days.
During this time, Cocotte and Haim had gone from shocked, to confused, to now completely numb.
Terrifying spells blasted endlessly throughout the space, one after another. Viktor didn't seem to care about mana consumption at all, waves of overwhelming flames never stopped.
For two whole days, he didn't stop even for a moment.
Even though Druja had incredible regenerative and summoning abilities, before this sea of magma and fire, it could hardly fight back. The flower buds around it that were about to bloom were instantly burned to ashes in a single second.
The forest and sea of flowers opposing Viktor were now completely ignited, with magma flowing between the flames.
In Viktor's eyes, Druja's health had already fallen below 50%.
Because the Wood Calamity had an extremely disgusting recovery skill, Viktor could only keep attacking to suppress its regeneration.
A gentle green glow flowed slowly from Druja's body, merging into its enormous form. Half of its burn marks disappeared at once.
But Viktor didn't hesitate for even an instant, continuing to pour out magic and shave away Druja's deep reservoir of life.
Between burnt grass, black vines like massive pillars rose from the magma.
The vines, whipping through the sea of fire like writhing tentacles, grew even more frenzied under the flames' stimulation.
The dried grass was shattered and crushed by monstrous weight, scattering through the air.
The black vines gradually split apart, and three massive monsters leapt out, turning into three green iron balls as they hurtled toward Viktor.
Cocotte and Haim, numb as they were, suddenly realized something as they watched the monsters charge. But it was already too late to warn Viktor.
At the instant the monsters were about to slam into him, Viktor drew the "Evil Knight" from his waist and struck three swift hits on the spinning shells.
Clang!
Precise, perfect.
After colliding with the metal round shield, the monsters' vision turned dazed. Their curled-up bodies slowly stretched open, exposing their soft bellies to Viktor.
With his shield-bearing hand trailing afterimages, Viktor quickly pulled a longsword from his pack and slashed hard at their weak point.
In an instant, several streaks of black blood burst from the monsters' bellies. Losing consciousness, their bodies fell into the air.
Meanwhile, Viktor's other hand still floated behind him, controlling endless profound magic, continuing its output. He didn't even turn his head, only saying lightly, "That's it?"
It was as if he had calculated everything beforehand. Even the small monsters' attacks were already accounted for.
Watching this whole scene, the two mages trembled all over.
"This… this f*cking guy is a mage?"