[Chapter 204] The Young Wolf Let Loose

"It's not right for Natasha, but making that child the Princess is not right."

Hwang Taeson should be there, shouldn't he. Abelus, who would usually grumble that his calm demeanor was being treated like a racehorse, remained silent. The shock was too great.

It had only been an hour. Natasha had gone to the rest area feeling unwell. But now, the palace's landscape had been completely overturned.

There were more than a few people who had been fawning over the Grunehalts Duke, anticipating Natasha becoming the Princess. Already, decades later, people were imagining the day when the child Natasha bore would become another Prince, even going as far as deciding the chairs they would sit in at that time.

There was no need to intervene, no reason to do so, so the palace observed their movements. Despite such groupings, policies had been decided to ensure that the power balance within the palace remained intact.

Until the next Emperor, who would connect the bloodlines of the Grunehalts and Vistah Imperial families, was on the verge of ceasing to exist.

Kamil explained 'why' Natasha had suddenly turned the banquet hall upside down that night, 'how' she had suddenly become unable to bear children in the future. Abelus felt 'somewhat' responsible for all these events.

In any case, the two women, considered the most beautiful and intelligent in the palace, had ended up in this situation fighting over him.

If Kamil could literally read his sister's thoughts, her interpretation would have been so pathetic that she would have been speechless for a moment. However, as clever as she was, she did not possess that ability.

So she agonized over her immediate future. Even at this moment, how should she suppress the nobles who were eagerly anticipating and speculating on who the next Princess candidate would be?

In the vast Vistah, there were many nobles, but the few who passed all the conditions of good lineage, health, and age suitable for Abelus were a minority. In places like the Ganielo Duchy, there were no daughters, and the daughter of the Kendall Viscount was said to be dead, with her father holding onto her body as if he were insane.

In reality, apart from Natasha, Megara, and Idalia, there was only one candidate among the high nobility.

"Valentin."

The Elendria family dared to defy the royal family. As a result, the royal family legally seized all the family's political rights and burdened them with debt for the next hundred years. The household's heirs were forbidden to marry without the royal family's permission for the next 50 years, and the soldiers were recruited without leaving even the guards.

However, despite the heavy toll, the family was not finished. The cunning Duke and the ancestors of the duchy had amassed enough to avoid the royal family's eyes over the years. Kamil was willing to let that slide. When cornered, even a cat will catch a mouse.

"And."

The family still had its uses.

Kamil disliked Valentin for being foolish and noisy, but being foolish was better than scheming.

They couldn't suddenly elevate the Duke who was planning betrayal to the position of the next Empress's in-law. It would give the impression that the royal family was lenient on the nobles. But what if they expelled the guilty Duke and replaced him with Nellucian instead?

Since the Duke's side was likely unprepared for the succession, weakening the Duke's power could be possible, and if Nellucian taught well, Valentin might become more manageable.

But would Nellucian once again turn into a wolf in sheep's clothing? Kamil didn't have much direct contact with Nellucian due to their age difference. To learn more about what kind of person he was.

"I should call him."

Kamil made the decision and said to Abelus, "You are the star of the banquet, Abel. Go and charm your guests, and show that even if two guests are missing, the Prince's activities will not be interrupted. Act with ease."

Abelus nodded. He smoothed out his melancholic expression, stood up, and left the small room with Kamil.

And it was an empty corridor they passed through to return to the banquet hall.

"Your Highness."

A trembling voice called out to him.

The corridor where Abelus stood had thick, ornate ancient-style columns interspersed throughout. It was open towards the living quarters of the royal family, a place where ordinary nobles would not enter.

Through the quiet corridor's decorated columns, Megara Ricciandros with tear-stained face walked out.

No, she was just 'Megara' now. The illegitimate child couldn't inherit the parents' surname.

Under the magical light hanging in the corridor, her beautiful yet sorrowful face was revealed. Even though crying would normally distort one's face, she looked simply beautiful like a flower drenched in morning dew.

"Megara. You're still here."

Slightly surprised, Abelus awkwardly spoke.

Abelus was well aware that she had been approaching him recently, so he had been playing along with her, matching her rhythm and having fun. When Natasha splashed water on him and complained about her father upsetting her, he had even said some kind words out of pity.

But when dealing with a reputationally good and intelligent beauty recognized in society versus someone who had just lost both family and status and was crying, his attitude naturally had to change. The former was a shoulder-shrugging matter, but the latter was not.

Now, seeing her in the palace might be the last time. He felt a bit regretful. She would never enter the palace as a noble lady.

Tears welled up in Megara's violet eyes as she took a step towards Abelus.

Her approaching figure was gentle, subtle, and enchanting, like moonlight descending. Abelus seemed rooted to the spot, unable to move.

Lovely lips parted like a painting of a goddess.

"Now, I... will be... divorced?"

It was a wistful question, almost too obvious, likely not even worth mentioning at the Ganiero Duke's.

"It's absurd. I've always wanted a divorce deep down. But my father was adamant, so there was nothing I could do. But now that I can divorce, I can no longer enter the palace."

Abelus asked, seemingly entranced. He felt sorry for her. And regretful. She could have been a remarkable person.

"Why did you want a divorce? Colin was very fond of Miss Megara."

Megara's face showed a beautifully restrained anger.

"So what! I have someone else I've always liked."

Always?

As Megara stood a mere half step away from Abelus, she lifted her face slightly.

There was a pleasant fragrance. And a pleasant touch. Abelus did not shy away from the light kiss, like a delicate petal brushing against him.

Feeling like he might lose himself in her moist eyes, he asked. He was already feeling incredibly lonely. Well, now that he was no longer a Viscount's son, maybe he could just reach out comfortably...

"Who is it?"

"Why are you asking if you don't know?"

Her eyes reddened with resentment and shyness.

This time, he bowed his head first.

***

The news of Megara being officially expelled from the Noble Academy just before graduation, having lost her noble status, was not particularly noteworthy in society. There were more interesting stories surrounding her name.

"So she's going to live in the palace as the Prince's official consort."

Talfrin relayed the news without much enthusiasm. Neris calmly responded.

"It's a pity. She could have lived peacefully."

The path for Megara to marry into nobility was closed. However, the Ricciandros Viscount was willing to pay a substantial dowry for his beloved daughter, so if she let go of her ambitions, she could have married quite a decent person from the commoners. Money makes many things possible.

After all, wasn't half of her bloodline considered among the top nobility in the Empire? Being quite intelligent herself, she could have married a cultured man and lived a happily ordinary life.

With the right amount of bribery, there was even a possibility that her children could be baptized.

Talfrin didn't particularly feel sorry. He never really liked Megara to begin with. He had seen her misbehavior at the Academy, and he didn't appreciate her rivalry with Neris.

"She probably thought this side was more worth trying."

"Yeah. That sounds like Megara. It's unusual to start with an official engagement before marriage. It seems the Prince really likes that child."

It seemed like the two of them were truly destined for love. Neris thought with a bitter smile.

Dora, who was cleaning the study, asked.

"What is an official consort, madam? How does one become official?"

"Is that a shameful question coming from a 'Yayeon' background."

Talfrin reprimanded his former subordinate before Neris. Dora defended herself with an indignant expression.

"My duties were all within Maindland, Captain."

"Still, you should know these basic concepts. If you're sent on a mission to the palace now, will not knowing what an official consort is ruin things?"

'Yayeon' was a gathering of exceptional individuals among Cladwin's subordinates, so Talfrin took pride in it. He glanced at Neris as if the former subordinate's ignorance was embarrassing.

Neris intervened gently.

"Don't be too harsh, Talfrin. It's a system unique to the palace, so if you've only served in Maindland, you might not know. Dora, an official consort is what the Emperor, the Prince, and the Crown Prince, those who have or are destined to ascend the throne, have in their chambers for the government."

It was common for nobles who strategically married in the Empire Vista to have government officials without distinction between genders. Like in the case of Rebecca Shirley. However, the number of people who could have an 'official' consort was limited.

There was a purpose. Perhaps in preparation for the lineage of the Visto warrior being cut off, or for some other reason. Nevertheless, the government was expected to seamlessly integrate a child born into the Vista noble society into the royal bloodline.

In Neris's view, this system was a tool that sacrificed several women to maintain the balance among nobles. If the Queen's family grew too powerful, they could select a suitable woman from that family to enter the palace, allowing other nobles to rally around another family.

Of course, this time it was just Abelus acting on his own.

Dora seemed puzzled.

"Why is giving up a chamber important? Rebecca Shirley lives in the Viscount's estate, doesn't she?"

"Yes. Everyone knows that fact. But officially, Rebecca lives alone in her own house."

"Oh, I see," and Dora's expression changed as if she realized something.

"If Megara's status is simply to be the Prince's lover, then she would have to sneak into the palace with the Prince's entourage when the Prince desires, and leave before nightfall, unable to show her face at gatherings within the palace. An official consort of the palace, having received recognition, could freely move around the palace alone, greet the attendants, and even attend palace gatherings alone."

Above all, what Megara desired most was 'social status.'

Of course, she would attract attention. Any foolish actions Abelus would commit in the future would be blamed on Megara. However, even under such unfavorable conditions, once she obtained access to society, she could establish her position.

Perhaps a new Princess could come in and shake her up. Just like Neris was a Princess in a previous life.

"I don't know who the new Princess will be."

Currently, Valentin was the most likely candidate that Kamil would keep an eye on. He matched in age, health, and lineage.

In that case, it wouldn't be long before Nellucian became a Duke.

Neris had been waiting for this day for a long time. She smiled.

"Strengthen surveillance on the Elendria family, Talfrin. It seems Nellucian will be coming up soon. Since our business is done, we should leave soon, shouldn't we? There will likely be many interesting things happening at the palace in the meantime, so make sure not to miss anything."

Kamil would still be unaware. How persistent and strong-willed that young lady who had caught Abelus's attention was.

So, how annoying the Princess would become when she started interfering with her man, and how tenaciously she could hold onto him.

Neris planned to give Megara some time to reevaluate and grow.

The young wolf let loose would eventually become a pack of wolves that could devour the palace.