"The Crown Prince remains unmarried to this day."

Hearing these words, Lia's face remained impassive. She leaned back on the sofa and asked:

"So, what does that have to do with the Kravina family?"

Jace Reiser shook his head and smiled at Lia's feigned ignorance.

"Miss Lia, you really don't understand, do you? The Kravina family is now at its peak. Your brother has become the princess's private tutor. If you were to marry the Crown Prince—"

As Jace spoke, Lia extended her hand, carefully examining her freshly manicured nails through the sunlight streaming in from the window.

The afternoon sun was warm and gentle, casting a noble glow on Lia's delicate, fair face.

Without even glancing at Jace, she said nonchalantly:

"Has Viktor agreed?"

"Hm?"

Lia looked up at the slightly stunned Jace Reiser and said coolly:

"Mr. Reiser, my brother is the head of the family. You'd better remember that."

"If he hasn't arranged for me to marry, then even if the Crown Prince himself came, I wouldn't marry. Please see yourself out."

Jace Reiser seemed to want to say something more, but a cold glint flashed in Gwen's eyes, causing him to narrow his own and chuckle softly.

"Well then, I won't trouble Miss Lia any further."

"The Crown Prince will return in a while. We can discuss this in detail then."

Jace Reiser stood up, brushed off his clothes, and left the meeting room with his servants.

Lia remained seated on the sofa, with Gwen looking at her worriedly.

"Lia, you..."

"Don't worry, I'm fine."

Lia waved her hand dismissively, but in reality, she hadn't expected them to set their sights on her.

Was it because she was also a member of the Kravina family?

It was indeed a good thing that when one person succeeds, the whole family benefits. But correspondingly, she had also become a part of the interests in others' eyes.

"What kind of person is the Crown Prince? I only know that he's always been in the south, rarely returning to the capital."

Gwen pondered for a moment before saying:

"He's said to be the prince who most resembles the current emperor."

It was rumored that the Crown Prince was very upright and magnanimous, kind to the common people, and personally led troops to suppress the demon uprising in the south.

There was a huge monster rift on the southern border of the empire, constantly spewing out magical beasts.

The surrounding small cities were able to maintain their current stability because of the Crown Prince's efforts in leading the army to protect them.

He was a hero in the hearts of many people in the empire.

For such a man to still be unmarried at thirty, he was admired by noble ladies both inside and outside the capital.

Lia nodded and said:

"I see."

"From what you're saying, a man with such leadership qualities and personal charm, who doesn't lack for women—would he really be interested in me?"

After saying this, she couldn't help but laugh at herself.

Interests.

She didn't know whether Jace Reiser's approach to the Kravina family had the Crown Prince's permission, but regardless.

Once Viktor became the princess's teacher, the Kravina family inevitably became entangled in the royal whirlpool.

Lia shook her head and said softly.

"Viktor is a person who values interests. I can't pin my life on him."

Although... he seemed to have changed now.

But who knew if this change was just some false pretense.

She also hoped that Viktor would return and, as family, tell everyone.

No one could restrict Lia's freedom.

But she didn't want this to become a mere fantasy or wishful thinking.

Lia rubbed her head and stood up:

"Looks like I'll have to handle this myself."

Gwen quickly said from the side:

"Is there anything I can help with?"

Lia looked at Gwen with a smile:

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"No need."

Gwen was too upright; someone as righteous as her didn't need to be involved in such chaos.

After all, this wasn't the first time dealing with such matters. Lia stretched her fingers, and the magic crystal at her waist glowed faintly, seemingly transmitting some message.

...

On the street, a plainly dressed passerby boarded a carriage.

He sat down, facing the noble man before him.

Owiser Sol, the second prince of the Carenthia Empire.

"Your Highness, Jace Reiser just left the Kravina house."

The second prince smiled, his eyes curving, as he listened to his subordinate's report, unhurried.

David felt uneasy and couldn't help but ask.

"Your Highness, if the Crown Prince really gets the support of the Kravina family, you..."

"What makes you think Viktor would let Lia marry him?"

The second prince narrowed his eyes, looking out the window.

"You know, David, my favorite emotion is jealousy."

David was a bit stunned, but he didn't dare to speak, only listening to his master's soliloquy.

"Jealousy is interesting. It provokes people's greed,"

"Because of jealousy, Jace Reiser will be angry, so he eagerly wants to help my foolish elder brother."

"Thus, he will selectively forget some things, and eventually do something uncontrollable, but everything can seem reasonable and ordinary."

He smiled, his laughter somewhat eerily subtle.

"Jace Reiser is like this, and so is his stupid brother."

"Because he's just jealous."

...

The next morning, the sun rose early, and the guards still stood steadfast at the main gate of the mansion.

But everyone's face showed signs of fatigue.

Although the Kravina family had provided them with enough food and water, their mental state was inevitably tired and exhausted.

Gwen hadn't left the Kravina mansion, constantly protecting Lia's side.

Lia, however, seemed to have no worries at all, still in a normal state, and even had the leisure to scold those incompetent servants.

But everyone knew clearly in their hearts.

Viktor hadn't returned, and this situation would continue.

On the second day, the Kravina family had another visitor.

But this time, it was Duke Levi.

Unlike Jace Reiser's aggressive approach.

Duke Levi's first words upon seeing Lia were to ask if she needed his help.

He was invited by Lia into the conference room, sitting elegantly on the leather chair like a senior gentleman.

Duke Levi picked up the teacup, the fragrant tea lingering on his lips.

"I've heard about the situation, Miss Lia."

"Your brother has helped me a lot in the past. Although I've reciprocated to the Kravina family, comparatively, your kindness is greater."

Life-saving grace naturally outweighed everything else, especially since Viktor had saved his most beloved daughter.

And also...

The duke glanced at Gwen beside Lia.

This youngest knight commander of the empire, Viktor's fiancée.

She had also saved his daughter.

Ah, truly, Erica owed so much to their family.

Lia was a bit confused, wondering when Viktor had helped Duke Levi again.

"That miraculous red spirit potion, was it from Viktor's hand?"

Lia suddenly remembered, that red potion that could even save someone from suicide by poison.

It seemed she wasn't the first person to know about this.

So Lia nodded.

"To be honest, I also have personal reasons for coming here," Duke Levi said, taking a deep breath.

"My daughter, Erica."

"She's recently contracted a very strange illness. No matter how many doctors I've found, none can cure it."

Lia understood that Duke Levi was pinning his hopes on the red potion.

But she was still curious.

"What kind of illness is it that even all the doctors in the capital can't cure?"

Duke Levi didn't conceal anything and said straightforwardly:

"Her body... is covered with strange flowers..."

...

Viktor had been battling with Druja for two days.

During this time, Cocotte and Haim had experienced shock, bewilderment, and now numbness.

Terrifying magic spells were rampaging within the space one after another. Viktor seemed to disregard mana completely, his overwhelming fire attacks never ceasing.

For two full days, he hadn't stopped for a moment.

Even though Druja had powerful regeneration and summoning abilities, it was hard to counterattack in the face of this lava sea of fire. The flower buds about to bloom around it were devoured by flames within a second.

The dense forest of flowers that had been opposing Viktor was now completely ignited, with magma flowing between the flames.

In Viktor's eyes, Druja's health had already dropped below 50%.

Because the Wood Calamity had a very annoying revival skill, Viktor could only continuously attack to counter its recovery.

A gentle green light slowly surged from Druja's body, gradually merging into its huge form, instantly healing half of the burn marks on its body.

But he didn't hesitate in his magic barrage, continuously weakening Druja's deep life force.

Among the withered grass, some black vines rose from the magma like giant pillars.

The vines swaying in the sea of fire were like writhing tentacles, becoming even more frenzied under the stimulation of the flames.

The withered grass was completely broken and crushed by the huge objects, flying in the void above.

The black vines gradually receded, and three huge monsters suddenly leaped out from within, transforming into three green iron balls rushing fiercely towards Viktor.

Cocotte and Haim, numb on the side, watched the approaching monsters and suddenly realized something, but it was too late to warn Viktor.

Just as the monsters were about to collide with Viktor, he pulled out the 'Evil Knight' from his waist and quickly made three precise strikes on the rapidly rotating shells.

Clang!

Precise and perfect.

After the monsters' shells collided with the metal round shield, the three monsters became disoriented, their curled bodies gradually stretching out, exposing their soft underbellies to Viktor.

His hand carrying the round shield moved with afterimages, quickly drawing a long sword from his backpack and slashing fiercely at the monsters' weak points.

In an instant, three monsters spurted black blood from their abdomens, lost consciousness, and their shells fell into the void.

Meanwhile, Viktor's other hand was still suspended in the air, controlling the endless mysterious magic behind him, continuing to output damage. He didn't even turn his head, just saying calmly:

"Is that all you've got?"

He seemed to have calculated everything, even anticipating the attacks of the minions.

The two mages who witnessed all this shuddered.

"This... is this guy really a mage?"