Ilian smiled slyly and continued: “I heard that you were a close friend of Miss Roshanak when you were young?”
Franz answered coldly: “I had a lot of childhood friends.
I don’t remember them all.”
“You must not have forgotten.
Miss Roshanak possesses fire mana, just like Your Majesty...”
“So what?”
“Excuse me?”
“What is your purpose in mentioning another woman to me, when I am about to get married?
Are you suggesting that I break the ‘soul bond’ confirmed by the mana stones?”
“No, of course not!”
Ilian was startled by the intensity of the question and waved his hands quickly.
“All I wanted was to deliver a message from Miss Roshanak… She misses you very much—as an old friend, nothing more.
Some childhood friendships last forever, don’t they?
Even between different sexes.”
“…Aren’t you supposed to be in the First Prince’s Palace now?”
Franz rubbed his temples lazily, his gaze shifting from Iliane to the fountain outside.
“It wouldn't be nice to keep them waiting.”
Despite the tact of his words, they were clear in his expulsion.
Ilian got up from his seat nervously, and laughed dryly:
“Yes, I have an appointment with the First Prince’s wife.”
“Have a great time with your family”
“Thank you, Your Highness.”
Ilian bowed respectfully and left the room.
He maintained his smile until the doors closed behind him, then his features began to freeze little by little as he walked through the corridors of the Second Prince's Palace.
When he reached the fountain that Franz was watching, his features were distorted with anger.
'What an arrogant bastard...'
To be insulted by a prince who was only twenty-six years old—the son of the late Empress, and who had no significant support from the imperial family—was an extreme insult.
He already knew that Franz was arrogant.
But unlike his previous gentle smiles, his behavior recently had become cold, which aroused Ilian’s suspicions.
'Has he already revealed my plan?'
Thoughts were racing through Ilian's mind as he walked towards the First Prince's palace.
Recently, Linden Schuyler left for Dafa.
Apparently Linden quickly picked up on the news that the Narut Mine was drying up.
Ilian learned, through the Empress, that the Roshanak family's source of money—the Narut Mine—was also beginning to dry up.
Through emotional entreaty, he was able to obtain a promise from the Empress that she would help him obtain the rights to a new mana mine.
But Ilian was planning further than that.
If Naerys could side with the Second Prince, there wouldn't even be a need for the Empress's intervention.
Because the decision to own the new mine rests with Franz himself.
It was easy to exploit Naerys's close relationship with him as a pressure card.
'Just a few days ago, things were fine.'
A few months ago, the Second Prince was publicly showing his displeasure at his impending marriage to Miss Ambrose.
Elyan thought it would be easy to put Naerys on his side.
But now, when he started to actually move, he felt that things had changed.
Franz has changed.
It seemed like a huge wall that could not be moved no matter how hard he tried.
“Tshh”
Ilian clicked his tongue as he looked up at the First Prince's palace.
In contrast to the elegant simplicity of the Franz Palace, the Crichton Palace was luxurious and exaggerated.
Each column is decorated with delicate gold decorations, and its attendants are dressed in costumes of the finest fabrics.
The goal of all this was clear: to show everyone far and wide that the resident of this palace is at the pinnacle of power.
But what good are grandiose appearances without real power?
Ilian was dissatisfied with his son-in-law, Crichton.
When he married his daughter to the first prince, he expected that Crichton would quickly become crown prince.
But he is still competing with Franz for the position.
What a shame.
Even worse, even though he was the First Prince, he did not even have the authority to decide who owned the mana mine, because the Empress deliberately excluded him, since the First Prince's wife was Ilian's daughter.
Therefore, Ilian had no choice but to bow before Franz, the Second Prince, even though his wife was only a Baron's daughter.
This killed his pride.
But he has to put up with Franz's arrogance... at least until he wins the rights to the Dafa Mine.
"my dad!"
Ilian entered the First Prince's palace with a frown on his features, but he smiled as soon as he heard his daughter's joyful voice.
Despite everything, he was proud of his daughter as she basked in this glory.
“Crown Princess”
"Oh, come on.
Speak fluently as long as we're alone."
Glenna winked affectionately.
Her blue eyes, similar to his, were shining brightly.
"Yes, Glenna.
Were you okay?"
“Mm, sort of.”
Glenna shrugged gracefully and offered him a seat.
After dismissing the servants who brought the tea, she let out a small sigh of distress.
Ilian narrowed his eyes as he noticed the expression on his daughter's face.
That face she only wore when she wanted something and didn't get it yet.
But...what could the prince's wife lack?
He asked in amazement.
He withdrew his hand from the teacup, and spoke gently: “What makes your life just ‘normal’?
I have provided you with everything to live perfectly.”
“You've done more than enough, Dad.”
Glenna spoke in an even tone, and gracefully extended her hand to take a piece of Madeleine.
As she ate it softly, her features contracted in annoyance.
Yes, something is definitely bothering her.
“Is the problem with the first prince?”
“No, not at all...”
“Haha, it hurts me that you thought that about me.”
While Glenna was shaking her head, the door suddenly opened.
“What sin could I commit against my dear wife?”
Crichton laughed heartily, and came forward to kiss Glenna's cheek.
Then, Ilian's tension eased temporarily in front of his son-in-law's friendly smile.
Crichton and Glenna were truly a perfect couple.
They are very attractive and a delight to look at when they stand together.
Their ambition is equal, and they are both accustomed to getting everything they want.
Crichton sat next to Glenna, and put his arm around her shoulders, feigning anger as he addressed her: “Come on, Glenna, tell me.
Your father might misunderstand.”
Glenna curled up in his embrace gently, and spoke affectionately:
“My husband has always been loyal to me.”
“So, what exactly is the problem?”
“Okay...”
Glenna sighed with emotion, under the eyes of the two men.
Her expression was dramatic and beautiful, as if she was carrying unbearable sadness.
“You know the diamond necklace that Her Majesty the Empress owns?
The family heirloom of the Roshanak family?”
“Of course.
I loved it at first sight.”
Ilian was nodding in agreement, but he stiffened a little, and his features darkened as he looked at his daughter.
“Did Her Majesty refuse to give it to you?”
His voice was laced with disappointment.
“I even went so far as to nominate Miss Roshanak for the second prince.”
“I am sure Her Majesty decides between the two matters.
You know her nature.”
Glenna sighed, showing off her carefully manicured nails.
“She always makes sure to treat everyone fairly.
She has not even appointed her son as crown prince yet.”
“My mother is determined to be fair—sometimes overly so.”
Crichton reassured her, caressing her shoulders.
Ilian watched this in amazement, as the two of them were defending the Empress.
"then?"
“That priceless treasure...was given to that girl, Ambrose.”
Glenna raised her chin proudly, her eyes full of contempt.
“That ignorant villager who did not even realize its value accepted it without hesitation.”
“Wow...”
Ilian mumbled quietly.
Now he understood what happened.
When a new princess enters the imperial family, the Empress presents her with a piece of jewelry.
The gifted piece greatly affects the princess’s status within the palace.
Glenna's piece was valuable, but it did not come close to the diamond necklace, a priceless family heirloom.
It's normal to feel resentment.
But, what to do?
The necklace passed to another hand.
Ilian clicked his tongue sadly.
He wished to give Glenna what she desired, but this matter was beyond his power.
“If Miss Roshanak had finished her recovery sooner...”
“Who?”
Glenna's eyes widened in surprise.
Suddenly, her secrets were revealed with great enthusiasm.
“Are you talking about Naerys Roshanak?”
“You used to play with her sometimes as a child, don't you remember?”
“Of course I remember.”
Glenna's smile immediately brightened, and her stance returned to stability.
“We just have to send Naerys to seduce the second prince.
She admired him even when she was young—she once called him the prince of her dreams.
If Naerys sides with him, that village girl will be sent home.”
Glenna clasped her hands and spoke dreamily:
“Then... the diamond necklace will finally be mine.”
It was a perfect plan.
Beneficial to all parties.
Except the annoying girl...
Ambrose.