The evening had finally descended, painting the sky in deep hues of orange and purple. It was time for the council meeting.

The meeting was being held in a separate palace, smaller than the grand royal palace of the Gwarga Kingdom. Unlike the luxurious halls filled with glittering chandeliers and lavish decorations, the meeting room was modest in size, with dim lighting filtering through the tall windows. The air carried a quiet heaviness, a sign that whatever was to be discussed was of great importance.

At the center of the room, a grand table of gold and other precious materials stretched across, separating the seven seats arranged around it. Each chair was intricately carved, showcasing the fine craftsmanship that only the wealthiest could afford. Five of the seats were already occupied, with one of the two remaining empty—the seat reserved for none other than Scarlett Nova.

Footsteps echoed through the long hallways, the golden light of the evening casting a glow over her breathtaking figure as she approached. Scarlett walked with a slow, steady grace, her loose white t-shirt struggling to contain the sheer size of her chest. The fabric stretched dangerously, outlining her curves in a way that would make any lesser person lose their composure. Her shorts barely covered her upper thighs, revealing strong, sculpted legs that only added to her irresistible allure.

Beside her walked Kroenen, his presence solid and composed.

Scarlett could have chosen Li Fang or others to accompany her, but they were still too excitable, like children in a candy store. Even though Li Fang was mature, she feared he might let his emotions slip and say something reckless. Kroenen, on the other hand, was an expert in handling such formal meetings. He was calm, calculating, and, most importantly, he knew when to speak and when to stay silent.

As they reached the doors, two guards dressed in pristine white stood on either side. The moment they saw her, they immediately stepped aside, making way without hesitation. No words were exchanged. They knew better than to question her presence.

The heavy doors opened, revealing the grand meeting room. The six individuals already seated turned their gazes toward her the moment she stepped inside. Their eyes carried different emotions—some filled with admiration, others with silent awe, and a few with well-masked wariness. But none could look away.

Scarlett exuded dominance, her every movement demanding attention without a single word spoken.

The room was empty except for them. No soldiers, no assistants, no outside influences. This was a clear sign—every decision made here would be hers alone to finalize.

Her crimson and blue eyes, hidden beneath her blindfold, gleamed with curiosity as she thought to herself, "Huh? There isn't a single Holy Knight here? That means what Aoto said is true. They'll only reveal themselves if everything goes smoothly."

As she looked around, her eyes landed on Aoto, seated among the others. A flicker of joy crossed her face.

"So he really is here!" she thought.

It had been over a year since she had last seen him. He had grown taller, his body more built, carrying an undeniable prince-like charm. It was only natural—time had changed them all.

She wanted to speak with him face to face, but now was not the right time.

Her gaze swept further across the room, landing on Leonidas. Seated beside him was a young man in his twenties, with striking green hair and smooth green eyes. His elegant royal attire made him stand out, but what truly caught Scarlett's attention was his familiar face.

"Ohh… he's the first prince of Almeida, Richard's brother—the same boy who caused a ruckus on the first day at the academy!" Scarlett smirked to herself.

Then, her eyes moved to another figure. A woman—besides Scarlett, the only other woman in the room.

She appeared to be in her early twenties, with silver hair that shone under the dim lights and pale skin so smooth it looked unreal. Her beauty was captivating, drawing the eyes of anyone who dared to look her way.

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She was dressed in a flowing gown with an alluring neckline that left little to the imagination. Yet, it wasn't her beauty that surprised Scarlett—it was something else entirely.

Scarlett's eyes widened slightly.

The woman had a pair of ears atop her head, twitching ever so slightly, and a long, fluffy silver tail that curled at her side.

"A beastwoman?" Scarlett thought, caught off guard.

She had never seen this person before, but she immediately knew which kingdom she ruled. After all, among the six kingdoms, only one was led by a woman.

"Kingdom of Victoria," Scarlett mused. "When I heard that the ruler was a dictator who enforced strict laws and harsh punishments, I expected some smug, overconfident woman—or at least a human. But a beastwoman?"

The thought lingered in her mind. The Kingdom of Victoria was mostly populated by humans. In every other kingdom, humans ruled without exception. And yet, here she was—a beastwoman, sitting at the head of one of the most powerful kingdoms.

This was truly unexpected.

And then it was the last person in the room. "Ruler of the Kingdom of Mystveil," Scarlett thought as she looked at him.

Draped in the finery of royalty, he exuded an effortless dominance, as if the very air around him bowed in silent reverence.

Golden hair, kissed by the sun itself, framed his sharp, aristocratic features, a few stray strands falling over his forehead in a deceptively careless manner. He was wearing an intricate golden laurel-like headpiece.

His eyes—an exquisite shade of violet—held an almost lazy amusement, as though everything before him was a mere spectacle for his entertainment.

Adorned in a rich ensemble of crimson and gold, his tunic clung to his form, exposing a glimpse of his chest, where an intricate golden pattern traced the fabric like ancient sigils of power. A regal black cape, embroidered with gold, cascaded from his shoulder, its weight no burden to the one who wore it. A laurel-shaped crown of gold sat atop his head, while dangling sapphire earrings swayed gently with his every movement, reflecting the dim light like captured stars.

One leg rested atop the other, his bare foot adorned with golden anklets, his fingers lazily tracing the armrest of his seat. There was an undeniable elegance to his posture—effortless yet commanding, as if he had no need to prove his authority. After all, power was not something he sought. It was something he was born with.

The Kingdom of Mystveil was the strongest kingdom currently. It could be said to be the U.S. of this world, completely dominating in terms of strength and overall aspects.

The only reason for this was its ruler, who wielded the legendary Gravity Sword.

He had sharp eyes, golden hair, and a commanding presence.

"Hmm... so he is the ruler. Everyone here is so young except for Leonidas," Scarlett thought.

Although she had all these thoughts, only a few seconds had passed in reality.

Leonidas stood up, grinning from ear to ear as he rubbed his hands. "Lady Scarlett, please take a seat!"

Scarlett nodded and sat down.

But there was still one empty seat left, which meant one more person had yet to arrive—the King of the Kingdom of Armament.

The King of Mystveil looked at her with amusement. "Everything here is so boring. The only interesting thing is you!" He winked at Scarlett, clearly trying to flirt.

Scarlett sighed internally, her face showing pure boredom. "Flirting? In front of everyone? This guy's got guts," she thought.

But what she didn't know was that he was secretly using his unique skills on her.

At once, his skill activated.

"Huh?" He was quite surprised.

He tried again.

He sighed. "So she's not just a pretty face, huh? Is it because of that blindfold she's wearing?" he wondered, then smiled at her.

"My name is Vladimir Thorne, King of Mystveil. You've got a nice blindfold there. Is it some kind of magic-nullification relic? I want one too!"

Scarlett shook her head. "It's actually to restrict my power and keep it under control."

"Pft... You've got a great sense of humor!" he chuckled.

Scarlett didn't bother responding. Who knew what he was really thinking?

After that, one by one, everyone started introducing themselves.

"I'm Aoto Takahashi! I'm the representative of the King of Darwitz. I came in his place to carry out his will," Aoto said. He acted like he didn't know Scarlett to avoid any suspicion about their relationship.

"Ahem... I'm Valen Windsor, the first prince as well as the representative of the King of Almeida. My father is currently ill, so I have come to carry out his will!" he said.

Leonidas leaned back, grinning. "I don't think I need to introduce myself, hahaha!"

Of course, everyone knew he was the one who proposed this meeting to establish Dreadhaven as a country. Naturally, he knew Scarlett well.

And then there was the last introduction—the proudest one of them all.

"Hmph! To think there would be a time where I need to introduce myself. I'm Victoria Cecilia, Queen of the Kingdom of Victoria," she declared, her voice dripping with arrogance.

Scarlett raised an eyebrow. "Oops, so much pride that I can't tell if it's actually pride or just plain ego!" she thought to herself, holding back a smirk.

The room fell into an awkward silence, the air heavy with impatience.

It was well past the expected time, yet the King of Armament was nowhere to be seen. His absence was no small matter—it was a blatant statement. He wasn't coming.

Vladmir, the King of Mystveil, let out a loud yawn and stretched his arms lazily. "Huff... that bastard skipped the council meeting again. How many years has it been now? Fifty? Sixty? My father said he saw him once in his childhood! What a coward," he scoffed, sounding both irritated and amused.

Scarlett nearly choked on her own thoughts. "What the fuck?",She had expected a high-stakes, serious discussion, a room full of leaders handling matters professionally. "What kind of words is he using? Is he drunk or just naturally like this?"

Before she could react, the beastwoman, Victoria, chimed in, slamming her fist on the table. "Yeah! Does he think just because he has a unique title, he's above us? If I ever see him, I'll beat the shit out of him!"

Scarlett blinked. "Nevermind, everyone here is drunk." She smiled bitterly, unsure if she should be amused or worried about the state of this so-called 'council meeting.'

But then, Vladmir casually dropped a bombshell.

"Yeah! What was his title again? 'The Man from the Future,' was it?"

Scarlett's breath hitched.

"The Man from the Future?"