"In a room filled with power and pride, words cut deeper than swords—but it's the silence that wounds the most."
I stepped into the throne hall. The sound of my footsteps was nearly inaudible amidst the murmurs of the gathered nobles. They spoke in hushed voices, yet their words were clear enough for me to catch.
Uncle Arcanis had separated from me, taking his place among the Hierophants and the Acolytes—the temple attendants who served beneath them.
"This is already the fifth summoning this year…"
"Prince Soren and Prince Sylas are still in a coma, right? I even heard that Prince Lucan, who's only six years old, nearly lost his life because of the Mana sacrifice."
"I know Prince Lucan. He's the grandson of an Astral Voyager who holds the title of Viscount, right?"
I swallowed hard. As expected, the summoning rituals had devastating consequences for the imperial family.
The crisis in Midgaria had persisted for 700 years, ever since the Abyss Gates first opened across the land. Abyssian creatures emerged from those darkness rifts, bringing ruin and death to the entire realm. Civilization teetered on the brink of collapse, and the once-glorious five nations were driven to the edge of extinction.
Amidst the despair, a group of people discovered the Mana Stone—a colossal, mysterious crystal brimming with immense energy. Harnessing its power, they summoned a warrior from another world. That first Astral Voyager drove back the Abyssians, united the five nations, and founded the Midgarian Empire.
But peace did not last. The Abyss Gates continued to open, forcing the empire to summon a new Astral Voyager every 185 days—sometimes even twice a year. This ritual did nothing more than delay the Abyssians' advance; it did not stop them.
Midgaria relied on the Astral Voyagers because of one simple fact—they all carried an unfinished Arcana Codex. Unlike the people of Midgaria, who had limits to their magic and strength, the Astral Voyagers had no such restrictions.
Their Codex held blank pages, waiting to be filled, allowing their power to grow endlessly. The ones I had met were already incredibly strong, their abilities bordering on terrifying. And if their magic was still evolving… I didn't even want to imagine how powerful they could become.
I shook off the thought.
I quickened my pace toward the throne.
Noticing my presence, several nobles shifted their conversation as if suddenly reminded of a new subject for gossip. They might have thought they could conceal the movements of their lips, but their efforts were in vain—my hearing was far sharper than that of an ordinary human. Every whispered remark reached me, piercing deeper than they should.
"How about the crown prince? I heard he hasn't contributed anything."
"While the rest of the imperial family lie on the brink of death in the infirmary, he spends his time romancing that former slave."
I bit the inside of my cheek, resisting the urge to respond. Pointless. Their words were nothing new—I had been hearing them for years.
My steps remained steady as I approached the throne, though I could feel the sharp gazes piercing me from every direction. Some nobles didn't hide their expressions; a few openly sneered at me, while others merely cast fleeting glances before resuming their hushed, mocking whispers.
"If His Majesty hadn't favoured him, that child would have been cast aside long ago."
"Living on nothing but pity, powerless, without magic… why does Midgaria even bother keeping such an heir?"
I drew a slow breath. Keep walking, Elenio. Don't let them shake you. Don't waver.
Stopping a few steps away from the throne, I bowed deeply. "My respects, Your Majesty."
It was only then that Grandpa noticed my presence. Though dimmed by age, his golden eyes regarded me with a gentleness he rarely displayed in front of others. He placed the document he had been reviewing onto the small table beside the throne and sighed.
"Elenio." His voice was deep and warm, starkly contrasting to the commanding tone he had just used to silence the nobles. "Come here, child."
I lifted my head, meeting his gaze briefly before stepping closer. A faint smile touched his lips, softening the deep lines creaking his cheeks and chin.
As I stood before him, he leaned back against his throne, looking satisfied. But before he could say anything further, someone suddenly entered the throne room in a hurried stride.
"Your Majesty, forgive the interruption, but—"
I turned toward the voice, as did the rest of the nobles. A maid stood at the entrance, clearly uneasy, though she bowed her head respectfully.
Grandpa waved his hand lazily. "What is it?"
The maid hesitated briefly before answering, "His Majesty's new consort requests an audience to discuss certain matters…"
I nearly choked on air. New consort?
I stared at Grandpa in disbelief while the previously tense atmosphere of the room fell into stunned silence. Even the nobles who had been gossiping earlier seemed momentarily frozen as if holding back laughter or waiting to gauge my reaction.
"Have her wait," the Grandpa said curtly. The maid nodded understanding, bowed, and swiftly exited the throne room.
At this time, with the empire on the brink of collapse, Grandpa still had the leisure to think about his bedroom affairs?
"A new consort?" I finally spoke, needing to confirm that I hadn't misheard.
Grandpa merely chuckled, stroking his beard with a relaxed air. "Ah, yes. She arrived just yesterday. Exquisite beauty—her hair as dark as the midnight sky and her eyes—truly mesmerizing! Even Arcanis let out a sigh when he saw her."
I briefly glanced at Uncle Arcanis, who stood among the ranks of the Hierophants. His face remained stoic, but I caught the faintest twitch of his temple. He was clearly exhausted by Grandpa's indulgences.
I stared blankly at him. Seriously, Grandpa?
"The empire is on the verge of destruction, and you're still preoccupied with your harem?" My voice carried unmistakable disbelief.
"Oh, come now, Nio," the Grandpa chided playfully. "If you hadn't fallen for Zura, you would've succumbed to the same temptations."
I shook my head, exasperation simmering within me. Midgaria was crumbling, its people drained of mana and left to wither away, and all Grandpa could think about was adding another consort to his collection?
"What do you think of my new consort, Tavon?" he asked his right-hand man, who clearly had no desire to be dragged into this conversation.
Tavon opened his eyes, glanced briefly at the Grandpa, and muttered expressionlessly, "Congratulations on your new consort, Your Majesty."
Grandpa's expression shifted at once.
"Sit," he ordered, his tone now authoritative. He held Tavon's gaze momentarily, signalling that the meeting was about to begin.
The room felt suffocating under the gazes of the nobles. No surprise—they despised me. Those looks had become a common sight in meetings like this. I just hoped that I wouldn't disgrace my grandfather with my imperfections.