Late at night, an elderly man with gray hair and a stooped figure was reviewing official documents inside Galene Palace in Aylka. He appeared pale and listless. Occasionally, he would erupt into violent coughing fits. After his coughing fits, his white handkerchief would even reveal faint bloodstains. The elderly man was none other than the reigning King, Valon Linsor."Your Majesty, you haven't fully recovered from your illness. It would be wise to rest and prioritize your well-being!" an official attending to him urged. The King had fallen ill precisely because of overexertion, resulting in excessive fatigue. Despite having only a few days of rest and a slight recovery, he resumed the arduous task of reviewing official documents and handling various matters with unwavering dedication. How could his body possibly withstand such demands? "No worries. I'll be done in a little while." Valon took a sip of tea from his cup before immersing himself back in work.Ever since the
Valon looked like a completely different person compared to ten years ago. A decade ago, Valon exuded charisma and a vibrant spirit, commanding dignity befitting a ruler. However, the Valon today appeared frail and listless, looking like an elderly person nearing the end of life. This was despite him being only in his fifties. At his age, he was supposed to be in his prime. Why did he appear so aged? "When did you get so good at talking, kid?" Valon chuckled. "Well, this might be for the better. You've lost a little bit of edge and appear calmer. Seems like you've grown mature."Dustin lowered his head slightly, remaining silent.Before the tragic incident that occurred all those years ago, both families had shared a close relationship. Dustin's father and Valon even considered themselves brothers. They were able to talk about everything. However, all of that had changed. Even though the Dragon Guard were the ones who plotted the assassination, it did not rule out the poss
"Thank you for the reminder, Your Majesty. I've already made preparations. Even if the Dragon Guard does not come looking for me, I will seek them out," Dustin said. "In short, I will not give up until the Dragon Guard is totally destroyed!""Your determination is commendable. I will support you fully and provide you with all the resources you may require," Valon said seriously. "Thank you, Your Majesty." Dustin didn't refuse his offer, only nodding in acknowledgment.Regardless of the past, at least for now, both of them shared a common enemy and could work together temporarily. They would go their separate ways after everything was settled. "Logan, I know you still have many questions. Just ask away, I will answer everything that I know of tonight," Valon said."I do have a question that I'd like to ask, Your Majesty."Dustin appeared to have remembered something and asked, "Would you happen to know where Reston Rever is?" Although the Dragon Guard was destroyed, he still
"It's good that he's alive! That way I can personally seek revenge and eliminate Reston and the rest of the Dragon Guard members once and for all!" Dustin said with fierce determination."This matter requires careful planning. You should not rush into it. Reston is a cunning man. It's easy to fall into his trap if you act recklessly," Valon said solemnly.Upon hearing him, Dustin took a deep breath and suppressed the anger within him. He understood all too well that anger wouldn't resolve any issues.It was going to be a challenge to deal with someone as cunning as Reston who hid in the shadows. "Logan, I'll constantly keep an eye on any updates about Reston and the Dragon Guard. I'll let you know of any news immediately," Valon promised. "Thank you, Your Majesty," Dustin expressed his gratitude with a respectful bow. Valon had endured a decade of hardships and must have accumulated a massive influence during that time. Now, with the Dragon Guard's downfall, he was finally Dra
Taking a moment to gather his thoughts, Dustin replied, "Your Majesty, I haven't had the chance to interact with the princes. Thus, I lack the familiarity needed for a fair evaluation. Please, forgive me." "It's alright if you're not familiar with them. Let me provide you with more insights," Valon said. He wasn't one to back down and continued, "My eldest son possesses a calm temperament and grew up learning the ways of governance next to me. "While he may not be able to expand our territory, he is more than capable of safeguarding what we have now. "Unfortunately, his frail health and persistent illnesses make him unsuited as a ruler." By the end of it, Valon let out a sigh. His eldest son would be considered a wise ruler, but unfortunately, he didn't have a King's destiny. A prophecy had predicted that his eldest son wouldn't live past 36. If he passed the throne to him, he would probably meet his end within a few years of the taxing work. "If the eldest Prince isn't
When Dustin thought about it carefully, he could guess Valon's intentions. With the Dragon Guard eliminated, the royal family would gain true control of the nation. However, due to the Dragon Guard's influence over the years, the royal family found itself in a precarious position and needed substantial support. It was clear that Valon had considered the West Lucozian monarchy the best choice to provide this support. On one hand, the West Lucozian monarchy boasted formidable military strength and wielded influence in the court. On the other hand, since they considered the Dragon Guard their sworn enemy, collaborating with them seemed like the logical move. As long as the royal family had the backing of the West Lucozian monarchy, their position would be fortified. This was the reason Valon had sought out an audience with Dustin. Although it sounded absurd for Dustin to decide the next in line for the throne, it underscored Valon's sincerity. He was indeed a strategist with a
"Your Majesty, forgive me for being direct, but I don't agree with you," Dustin said.He continued seriously, "While it might be normal for you to have multiple wives, in my view, a monogamous marriage is the only way to go. "Not to mention, a loveless marriage is a dead marriage. I don't wish to put myself or another person in that situation." Grace was surprised at Dustin's words and seemed to look at him in a different light after that. Most powerful and influential men in Oakvale had multiple women. The remaining minority either had wives from influential backgrounds, making it unwise to cheat publicly, or struggled with impotence.It was rare to find men like Dustin who had self-control and refrained from engaging in improper relationships. "Logan, do you not like Grace? Or do you think that she is not worthy of you?" Valon probed. His daughter dominated the Beauty Ranking. She was at the top, whether in terms of looks or talents. Countless young talents across the lan
Dustin frowned slightly. "Then, who do you think is most suitable to be the next ruler among your brothers?"Trying to get me to talk now, huh?" Grace chuckled lightly. "Since Father presented this question to you, you should find the answer yourself. I won't be able to help.""You're pretty incompetent as a Regal Observatory disciple!" Dustin shook his head helplessly.The nation's fate was going to be impacted by choosing a successor. Dustin never expected such a heavy responsibility to fall on his shoulders. The key matter was that no matter who he chose, he would inevitably offend the other powerful princes. He would land himself in trouble if that were to happen. "There's no need to be so anxious. Father gave you time to think about it. You can observe them carefully before deciding which prince has better potential or perhaps aligns better with the West Lucozian monarchy," Grace said meaningfully. "What a bother." Dustin sighed. He could feel a headache coming on."Oh