"You... This is..."

Jace Reiser stared at the peculiar insignia on Viktor's chest, his eyes widening.

Viktor was flaunting his identity, status, and power to him.

Jace felt helpless; in Viktor's eyes, he was nothing more than a failed dreamer.

Others in the palace, upon seeing the badge on Viktor's chest, couldn't help but rub their eyes in disbelief.

The nobles present all recognized this insignia; it would have been strange not to have seen it before.

"This is... the emblem of the Mage Council!"

"Viktor actually has such a thing. Could it be that he has become a councilor of the Mage City?"

The Mage Council was an organization with immense international influence.

Any councilor of the Mage Council would be treated as an honored guest of the state.

They represented not only unparalleled power but also an extremely righteous moral code, which always commanded respect and admiration.

Moreover, the Mage City monopolized a vast amount of powerful magical knowledge and even had dedicated magical research members.

The magical luminous lamps commonly used throughout the empire today were the result of magical research and development by those mages in the Mage City.

Although... Viktor's moral principles were indeed questionable.

But his becoming a councilor of the Mage Council was now an indisputable fact.

Before Viktor, the empire had another councilor of the Mage Council - the principal of the Royal Magic Academy, Rachel.

However, everyone present frowned. It was understandable for Principal Rachel to become a councilor of the Mage Council.

He had long since become a fourth-tier mage and was highly respected.

Everyone knew of his lifelong dedication to the Royal Magic Academy.

The empire had many fourth-tier mages, but only Rachel could become a councilor of the Mage Council.

This was because the Mage Council's strict selection criteria had filtered out many mages who wanted to become councilors.

But what about Viktor?

He indeed possessed formidable power, but his morals... The nobles present had almost the same thought on this point:

Practically non-existent.

Was it just because he was the youngest fourth-tier mage in history?

"Damn it! Why does Viktor get to be a councilor!"

"Can someone with his moral standards really be accepted by the Mage Council?"

Many mages present resented Viktor becoming a councilor, but his joining the council was already a fact, and this couldn't be changed.

Most importantly, many people realized one thing.

Now that Viktor had become a councilor of the Mage City, his status was no longer limited to his current noble title.

In other words,

Viktor and Jace Reiser's status and positions were no longer equal.

Jace Reiser stood frozen, under Viktor's cold gaze, he opened his mouth and managed to ask,

"Viktor... Councilor Kravina, what exactly do you want? I was just making a suggestion."

"Are you trying to make things difficult for the Crown Prince?"

Viktor looked at him contemptuously.

"Difficult? Well, then don't do it."

"I don't care what you're trying to do, nor do I want to know what orders the people behind you have given. Remember this."

"Don't provoke me."

He stared into Jace's eyes, constructing a small green formation within Jace's pupils.

In an instant, several wild thickets sprouted from the golden floor of the palace, their twisted branches lifting Jace and hurling him out of the palace.

The people in the hall, witnessing this sudden scene, were stunned.

This was certainly Viktor's magic, but they hadn't seen Viktor construct any formation in the air.

But that was no longer important.

At this moment, almost everyone present had only one thought.

Viktor had flipped the table!

He even dared to throw Jace out of the palace in front of everyone, even the Emperor!

How could he be so arrogant? Just because he had become a councilor of the Mage Council?

But despite thinking this, not a single person dared to step forward and say a word against Viktor.

Faced with their shock and questioning looks, Viktor dusted off his clothes as if he had just done some trivial task.

Afterwards, he turned to face Emperor Aubrey, bowing respectfully.

"I beg your pardon, Your Majesty."

Stolen story; please report.

Duke Levi looked at Viktor with an appreciative gaze.

Emperor Aubrey chuckled and nodded in response.

"No harm done."

......

The court session ended abruptly due to Viktor's sudden intrusion.

Lia stood outside the palace gates, with Viktor's pet crow perched on a nearby pole.

Even now, Lia was still in a daze.

She had prepared everything, even throwing out the Chur card in advance.

But Viktor suddenly returned.

And warned Jace Reiser with thunderous methods.

"Stay away from the people around me."

Recalling these words Viktor said upon his return, Lia's mind was somewhat confused.

Why?

Viktor shouldn't have been this kind of person. His behavior was tantamount to publicly flipping the table, turning everyone except the Emperor against him.

Whether it was the Second Prince or the yet-to-appear Crown Prince, after Viktor's big scene in the hall, they would definitely not send anyone to recruit him again.

'Once and for all.'

But this approach might have been a bit too abrupt.

In Lia's mind, she didn't want the Kravina family to fall out with both princes.

After all, it wasn't clear who would be the final victor.

Just as Viktor said, if the Emperor only had two years left...

Then two years later, no matter who ascended to the throne.

Viktor would face retribution for today's actions.

But on the other hand...

Lia placed a hand on her chest.

Somehow, there was a warm feeling in her chest.

Perhaps it was the long-awaited hope that had finally been answered at this moment.

When she thought she no longer expected anything from anyone, Viktor had once again solved everything for her.

Lia turned her head to see Viktor finally walking out of the palace.

Gwen was accompanying him.

Finally, when everyone else had left, Viktor stayed behind in the palace, seemingly saying something to His Majesty.

So he became the last person to leave the palace.

Lia looked at Viktor, her mood somewhat complexly subtle.

She opened her mouth, originally wanting to say some words of thanks, but what came out was:

"Why did it take you so long to come back?"

Her tone seemed to carry a hint of complaint.

Viktor had his hands in the pockets of his coat. He looked down at Lia.

"I was helping someone solve some problems."

"Also, teaching magic lessons to the princess."

Hearing Viktor's casual reply, Lia was about to say something to tell him how angry she actually was, but before she could speak, she heard Viktor suddenly say:

"Remember, you have your own freedom."

"No one can force you to do anything."

This abrupt statement interrupted Lia's complaining mood.

She stared blankly at the tall figure before her.

Somehow, there was a strange feeling in her heart.

She wanted to say something to vent her anger, to act spoiled towards him.

As if she believed Viktor could tolerate all her unreasonableness.

These words were too distant for Lia.

After her father's death, no one could protect and care for her as she wished anymore.

But now, Lia felt a sudden impulse.

"Bro..."

She tried to let the end of this word slip out, but it got stuck in her throat and she couldn't say it.

In the end, she still couldn't say it, because a fantastically luxurious carriage slowly drove towards them from the dark street corner, emitting a warm light.

This carriage was quite peculiar. As a carriage, it had no horses pulling it in front, naturally no coachman to whip the horses, it was simply driven by pure magic moving the axles on the road.

Lia looked at Viktor's exclusive carriage that he often used for travel, slightly stunned.

The door opened automatically, and Viktor calmly said.

"Let's go."

"It's time to go home."

......

The carriage stopped in front of the Delin mansion.

Lia watched as Gwen got off the carriage, with Kevla already coming out to greet her at the door.

Before leaving, Gwen didn't forget to look at Viktor one last time, asking:

"This time, you won't disappear for a few days again, right?"

Viktor nodded.

"Then don't forget to come over tomorrow morning."

After saying this, as if realizing some misunderstanding, she quickly added:

"I'm talking about tomorrow's sword practice, don't forget!"

After finishing, Gwen hurriedly turned and entered the mansion, not daring to look at Viktor again.

Seeing Gwen completely gone, Lia sat in the carriage looking at Viktor, her tone quite teasing:

"Oh, so our mage lord knows how to communicate with his fiancée?"

Viktor didn't respond to Lia's comment, casually feeding Vega some bird food, then turned to look at Lia.

"What did you want to say before getting in the carriage earlier?"

Lia was taken aback, coughed lightly, and said nonchalantly.

"Nothing, I just wanted to ask you some things, but we hadn't left the palace yet, so it wasn't appropriate to say."

She wasn't that sentimental, at her age, how could she possibly call him 'brother'?

And she did indeed have things to ask Viktor.

Now that they were in their own carriage, she could ask whatever she wanted.

"Do you really intend to... support the princess?"

Viktor nodded.

Lia was very confused.

"Why? The princess has no power base, and besides, the empire has never had an empress."

"Then, she will be the first."

Viktor's voice sounded faintly, his tone leaving no room for doubt, leaving Lia somewhat stunned.

Although she couldn't understand the reason for Viktor's confidence, she didn't impulsively question further.

The two remained silent in the carriage.

Soon, the carriage slowly came to a stop, and Viktor opened the door, letting Lia get off first.

The large group of guards at the courtyard entrance had already left, and it was now empty.

The princess had long been sent back to the palace by Viktor, so naturally, the guards had no reason to stay here.

A servant, seeing the master and young lady return, opened the main door.

Entering the mansion, Lia seemed to suddenly remember something and began to say:

"Oh right, the Duke came yesterday. It seems his daughter has some kind of illness. Did you have any..."

As she spoke, her voice gradually became softer.

Passing by the garden, was that a soft, fluffy cloud floating by?

Lia blinked, her gaze following the cloud.

On that cloud lay a sleeping slacker elf, dressed somewhat scantily.

"?"

A big question mark appeared above Lia's head.

What on earth was this thing?