[Chapter 253] To my dear daughter Valentine

[To my dear daughter Valentine,]

It's been ages since I last laid eyes on you. I can't believe I'm in a situation where I can't even wrap my arms around my precious girl. I miss you so much. How have you been?

I know this letter might come as a shock to you. You probably thought your father was gone for good. But here's something even more surprising than my survival.

Your brother, Nellusion, is the one who tried to end my life and forced me to leave.

He was always so bright and kind to our parents, and I trusted him completely. I was ready to pass everything on to him. But he couldn't wait and turned against me! The very person who gave him everything!

If it weren't for a kind stranger who came to my aid, I'd be six feet under right now. Thankfully, I'm still here to share the truth about your brother's treachery.

Yet, I still forgive him. That's what parents do. I want our family to be united again, just like it used to be.

There's a way for us to restore our family to its former glory. A way for you to reclaim your rightful place as princess, my beloved daughter, and for me to return with honor. The royal family is already looking for you, and I've done everything I can to prepare.

All you need to do is one simple thing. Just let everyone know I'm alive. Then, the lords who stand by me will rise up together...

After reading her father's letter multiple times, Valentine crumpled it in frustration. She felt trapped.

'My brother? My father?'

It couldn't be true, not at all! They were family! They loved each other more than anyone else! Sure, her brother had a dark side, but he would never, ever...

The wrinkled letter slipped from her weak grip, tumbling across the floor. Valentine just couldn't wrap her head around the idea that Nellusion would *ever* act like this.

Everything felt like it was spinning out of control. She sank into a chair, drowning in panic as memories of her father's death flooded back.

It had happened a few months ago while she was at the academy. Out of the blue, a family servant showed up with the devastating news. Her father, the former Duke of Elandria, had died, and her brother, Nellusion Elandria, had taken over the title. They held a quick funeral, and her father was laid to rest in the family cemetery on their estate.

She still couldn't figure out how she managed to get through the semester. Missing the funeral meant the reality of it all didn't hit her until her request to visit the estate after break was turned down.

Valentine had lost it, crying and causing a scene, and then she was whisked away to the imperial capital. They insisted she couldn't stay at the estate alone and had to live with her brother, the head of the family. In a tiny, cramped house that felt more like a shed than a home, a place she had never even seen before.

Just months ago, she had been flaunting the most famous ruby in the imperial capital, but now that wealth felt like a distant memory. People looked at the Elandria family with contempt.

That was tough enough. Valentine was already feeling miserable.

But now, the last bits of the happy memories she held dear about her family were slipping away.

'I'm scared.'

The fear she felt when she snooped around Nellusion's office was nothing compared to this. She couldn't even bear to look at her brother.

'I'm scared.'

All she wanted was to go back to how things used to be. She was worn out. Those thoughts consumed Valentine. Her mother had sent a letter saying she wanted to be with her, but her brother completely ignored it. He was determined to keep Valentine close.

Valentine figured there was a human side to Nellusion; he just didn't want to be alone. But was that really the case?

"He never even mentioned that the royal family was interested in me."

With Natasha and Megara out of the picture, she naturally thought she'd be next in line. Valentine had secretly wished for it, but Nellusion had only said, "Not yet." The idea that the chance to be a princess was right there, and she had no clue, was mind-boggling.

With fear of Nellusion and confusion over her dad's words swirling in her head, Valentine felt like the most miserable person alive. All she wanted was to break free from her current mess.

"If I tell Mom..."

Valentine's mom, the former Duchess of Elandria, had grown to resent her husband even more as their family fell apart, even though they were already separated. She couldn't handle the fact that her once-controlled life was now a mess, so she chose to direct her anger at someone.

But deep down, the former Duchess still cared for her son. She didn't visit, but her love shone through in the occasional letters she sent to Valentine. If she found out that Nellusion had tried to harm her father, she'd be shocked and disappointed, but in the end, she'd stand by her son.

That would only push Valentine's chance of becoming a princess even further away. In other words, her escape from this situation would take even longer.

She didn't have the skills to figure it all out. Everything had been fine as long as she believed what those around her said. With the clever Delma gone, Valentine had no one to help her gauge how real her father's letter was.

Valentine picked up her father's letter again. With a fierce look in her eyes, she set it ablaze in the candle flame.

A few days later, Valentine Elandria boarded the carriage to the Noble Academy.

News spread through the imperial capital that Nellusion Elandria had illegitimately claimed the dukedom by faking his father's death.

****

The shocking tale of the Elandria ducal family's terrible deeds had been the talk of the town in the imperial capital for days, and it quickly made its way to White Swan Castle in Maindelant.

Neris grinned as she set down the newspaper from the capital, which had arrived in record time thanks to a mix of banquets and secret routes. Keeping the former Duke of Elandria alive was proving to be a smart move. She finally had the perfect opportunity to use him.

Cledwyn's voice broke through her thoughts from the chair nearby.

"Wouldn't it have been smarter to let things cool off a bit?"

"When Nellusion thinks everything's going his way? I don't want to give them any false hope. I can't risk even one more of our people getting hurt. The fact that the Elandria family is still around and doing well is just sad."

While the imperial family might want to preserve the Elandria lineage, Neris had no such intentions. She was done with her ongoing feud with Nellusion.

"You're too nice."

Cledwyn let out a sigh, leaving Neris puzzled.

"What part of what I just said was nice?"

"I want to do everything I can to rattle him, especially after what you've been through. I want to watch everything he's built come crashing down just when he thinks he's finally won."

"I've decided to stop wasting my energy on those thoughts. I want one thing, and one thing only."

Neris's eyes sparkled with a cold intensity.

"The safety and happiness of my people is my priority. To achieve that, I need to take down the royal family and their supporters as swiftly and completely as I can."

"Is that right?"

Cledwyn's response hung in the air, leaving Neris curious if he had more to add. She waited briefly, but when he remained silent, she decided to continue.

"Even though the Elandria family is in disarray, they still possess the power of their extensive lands and many vassal lords. Nellusion would have felt a sense of relief after this year's harvest, but now that option is off the table. As long as the former Duke is alive, the whole region will be embroiled in a struggle for wealth, and they'll have to contend with uprisings like the one in Viscount Tipeian's territory."

The former Duke of Elandria was unaware that his savior and protector all this time was Yayen, sent by Neris. And honestly, he didn't need to know. The vassal lords loyal to the former Duke, along with other nobles worried about setting a bad example for their heirs, would ensure his safety.

Yayen wrapped up his last job, which was all about keeping the former Duke safe. He ended up delivering a letter from the Duke to Valentine.

"Nellusion is pretty much on his own now. The dukedom is definitely going to be taken away. He'll probably start pushing for crazier policies just to stay close to Abelus. It's like he's following in Megara's footsteps."

The accusations against Nellusion—conspiring against the royal family, tricking the prince, even trying to kill his own dad—are serious enough to take him down. But Abelus is likely to keep him around. He must have figured out that he can't fight this war solo.

So, Nellusion is basically under Abelus's thumb. He might be plotting behind the scenes, but on the surface, Abelus will look like he's got his back, even with all his flaws.

And Neris, who picked up political tricks from Nellusion, already has a good idea of where he'll turn next. It's not exactly rocket science.

The local nobles were already feeling indifferent. With Talprin now spreading rumors about Princess Caymil's connection to the Nellusion incident, their frustration has likely reached a breaking point. This leaves only the foreign powers to consider.

Hero Visto, who stands above all the monarchs on this continent, and his descendants, enjoy the loyalty of kings and nobles from other nations who became rulers with his blessing.

Sure, it's mostly just a formality, a relic from history that serves as a foundation for diplomatic relations. But when the empire faces a crisis, it's a handy reason to seek military aid and supplies from foreign rulers.

The reason these foreign monarchs are willing to back the Vista royal family is that their subjects firmly believe in the tale of the three heroes. They hold a strong conviction that it's right to support the descendants of these heroes.

If that belief fades, which monarch would willingly take a hit?

Luckily, Neris had the guidance of a pro who could read the hearts of monarchs and steer them toward choices that favored her. He even suggested that avoiding unnecessary conflicts from the get-go was the best approach.

'It was Lord Voltaire who said that.'

Lord Voltaire, a diplomat turned academy teacher, remains a legendary figure in Berlen. Neris learned a ton from him during her previous life as a princess.

Your Highness, feel free to use whatever you need if it comes down to it. Just remember, don't put too much faith in anyone's feelings. Do you know why?

"Why's that, my Lord?"

"Because everyone sees their goals differently. What's super important to you might not mean a thing to someone else. Don't think everyone shares your values."

Lord Voltaire was definitely a sharp guy. He subtly pointed towards Nellusion while saying that.

He probably realized that Neris, in her naivety, thought Nellusion was on the same page as her.

"The aim of rulers is to win their people's support without incurring losses. My aim is to stop them from causing harm to my people."

The Visto family has been riding the wave of the tale about the three heroes and the wicked dragon for ages. Now, it's time for that story's 'power' to turn against them.

****

"I love you, too."

With those heartfelt words, Cledwyn wrapped up his chat with his wife and stepped out of the tent.

Across the expansive plain, Count Berta's banner waved proudly, showcasing his family crest. The camp was well-established, but it seemed small next to the enormous army Cledwyn commanded.

'My wife said she wouldn't waste her energy worrying about our foes?'

She really was straightforward. Cledwyn had only heard a brief, no-nonsense account of her past struggles, and it made him furious.

Just thinking about the screams she had let out when she was cursed in her previous life sent chills down his spine.

But if she chose not to stress over such exhausting matters, that was okay. He could handle the revenge.

He would repay everything that had tormented her tenfold, a hundredfold.

"Did you mention that some of my wife's classmates from the academy are part of Count Berta's army?"

"Yes, Your Highness."

Aidan responded. Cledwyn squinted as he focused on Count Berta's forces.

When he finally raised his hand, the signalman of the Maindelant army hoisted the flag to signal the advance. The ground shook. The cavalry, dressed in black cloaks, surged forward like arrows.

That day, the Duke's army claimed another victory.