"What?" The sudden turn of events left everyone dumbfounded. Nobody expected the Princess of Theswe to greet Landon with a slap to the face. It was a simple, brutal action without any warning nor words of exchange. The problem was Landon was the Minister of War and an official of the first rank. She completely disregarded him by slapping him in public. "Yo—Your Highness, why did you hit me?" Landon was dumbfounded. He felt disoriented as he clutched his throbbing cheek. He would have flown into a rage if it had been just another ordinary aristocrat. But given that this was the Princess Consort of Theswe and Dragonmarsh's eldest princess, he could only hold it in even if he was frustrated. "That slap was for your ignorance. Now, kneel before you speak." The beautiful woman spoke icily. "Your Highness, I don't understand. What have I done to offend you?" Landon summoned up the courage to ask. She struck him hard across the face again. Coldly, she demanded, "Are you deaf?
"We can only hope that the Princess Consort of Theswe will not implicate us Grants," Arthur said, swallowing dryly. He had lost his previous arrogance. It was now replaced with fear and anxiety. The Princess Consort of Theswe's appearance had changed the situation unexpectedly. "Hmph! You bunch of impudent scum! You would have lost your heads if the Prince of Theswe was here!" The beautiful woman sneered.Then, under the watchful eyes of many, she walked up to Dustin. Her previously proud and cold demeanor disappeared. It was now replaced with a rare smile. "Logan, long time no see. How have you been all these years?""Thank you for your concern, Your Highness. I've been living quite well." Dustin nodded slightly without arrogance.While he didn't exactly hate the woman before him, he didn't have positive feelings about her either. "Ten years had gone by so quickly. You've grown so much, I almost didn't recognize you."She smiled, then waved to someone behind her. "Austin,
Austin's hands were on his hips. With one foot stepping down on Landon's chest, he launched into a violent tirade. Every word he uttered was an earth-shattering revelation that shocked the crowd. For a moment, the entire scene was covered in silence. Everyone was dumbfounded and in disbelief.They could never have imagined that Dustin had hidden such a huge secret. He was Austin's eldest brother, the unparalleled Kirin, and the Crown Prince of West Lucozia. The three revelations weighed upon them like three massive mountains."I—I know who he is now. He was that monstrous genius who stirred Oakvale into a storm ten years ago. Logan Rhys!""What? Logan Rhys? Isn't he supposed to be dead? How can he still be alive?""Logan Rhys … It's Logan Rhys! Oh my goodness! How did we manage to offend such an influential figure?" After a brief silence, the entire scene erupted into chaos. Everyone had their attention on Dustin. Their faces displayed astonishment, fear, doubt, and mostl
Arthur was overcome with panic as he broke out in a sweat. Dustin was the Rhys family's Kirin and the future Prince of Theswe. The Grants had provoked someone they never should have."It's over … we're done for!" Trent fell to the ground with a thud; the color drained from his face. The elders of the Harmon family were also filled with despair, deeply regretting their actions. Nobody expected Dustin to have hidden such a terrifying background. It sent shivers down their spines. The Grant family was powerful and influential enough to have support from the Minister of War and other high-ranking officials. They were undeniably a force to be reckoned with in Balerno. But all of that was nothing compared to a colossal figure like the Prince of Theswe. They were but insignificant pawns that would never be able to put up any resistance. They stood on entirely different planes of status. As the Crown Prince, Dustin could destroy the entire Grant family if he wanted to. And the Har
Arthur was slapped so hard across the face that he almost stumbled. A handprint was visible on his cheek. But he didn't dare voice his frustration. Instead, he turned around instantly and roared at Trent and his group, "All of this is happening because of all of you! "What are you doing just standing there? Let them go!" Arthur quickly distanced himself from them to avoid being implicated. "What?" Trent and his group exchanged glances, unsure of what to do. Although they knew they kidnapped Natasha, they didn't know where she was being held. Feeling helpless, they could only look to Kate for help. "In … In the secret room. They're being held in the secret room." Kate shrunk back. In the end, she confessed with her head down. "Hurry! Save them!" Landon cried as he led a group of high-ranking officials straight to the Grant family's secret room.It was the best chance for them to make amends. Naturally, they had to perform well. "All of you better pray that Natasha is s
It was the Harmons themselves, Natasha's own family, who kidnapped her and led to Hector's death.Dustin could no longer tolerate their selfish behavior. "Dustin, we were wrong. We won't do it again. Please spare us!"We promise never to go against Natasha ever again!" Kate quickly begged for mercy when she noticed their dire situation. "What's the point of saying all these now?" Dustin replied coldly. "You've repeatedly resorted to dirty tricks and fought for power. While it was already getting out of hand, at least you hadn't crossed certain lines. "But this time, your actions have shown a complete lack of humanity! You've lost all conscience and are worse than animals. What makes you think you deserve forgiveness?""Regardless, we are still Natasha's relatives. We share the same blood. If something were to happen to us, she would surely be heartbroken. "You love her so much; you wouldn't want to see her in tears, would you?" Kate began playing the emotional card. "Re
"Hey! Stop spouting nonsense! I didn't do anything! It has nothing to do with me!" In the face of the crowd's accusations, Kate was exasperated. "I'm warning you! If you accuse me again, I'll beat all of you up!"Naturally, as the matter involved her life, she would never admit her involvement. She couldn't let herself die in vain. "Kate Harmon! Stop messing around! If you don't confess, none of us will survive!""That's right! It is your crime! Why must you push the blame onto us?"The Harmon family members grew agitated. They never expected Kate to be so shameless and unapologetic in her lies. Everyone knew that the situation was already beyond redemption. There was no saving for the mastermind behind it all. If Kate confessed to her crimes, she would at least be able to save the Harmons. However, she wasn't only unwilling to admit it; she was trying to implicate the entire family. What a malicious woman! "Kate! The evidence is as clear as day. It's not something you
Despite her shameless and disgraceful behavior, she was only concerned about her life now. She was betting on whether her father would be willing to sacrifice himself for her. "Kate Harmon! Are you even human? How could you accuse your father to clear yourself of guilt? You're worse than an animal!""That's right! Your father worked hard to raise you, yet you're framing him? It's one thing to be ungrateful, but this is too much!" "What an unfilial child! You're a monster!"The Harmons rebuked her angrily. Kate's unfilial behavior angered them. She caused this mess, yet she wanted her father to bear the blame. She had no conscience at all."Shut up! All of you shut up!" Kate was furious and yelled repeatedly. She then turned her attention back to Trent and appeared pitiful once again. "Dad, you watched me grow up. You've always been so fond of me. You certainly can't bear to see me die, right?"You're already old and have a few years left to live. But I'm still young. I h
An hour later, Nathaniel quietly entered a private mansion wearing a disguise.Inside the living room, Tristan had already prepared tea and refreshments. He looked as if he had been waiting for a long time."Sorry to have kept you waiting, Tristan." Nathaniel took off his coat and walked forward with a smile."No need to apologize. I'm happy that you made the effort to arrange this. A few extra minutes are nothing, especially since it's rare for us to meet." Tristan gestured for him to sit while he poured two cups of tea and handed one to his brother.Nathaniel accepted the cup and discreetly set it aside. Whenever he was out, he was always cautious about food and drink—this wariness had become second nature."You asked to meet me on short notice. Is this about official matters or something personal?" Tristan took a sip from his cup and got straight to the point."Both," Nathaniel replied, still smiling."Oh?" Tristan raised an eyebrow. "Let's hear it, then.""Given how things
In another luxurious mansion in the Inner City, a female spy dressed in black, cloaked in a hood, was reporting the results of her investigation to Nathaniel."Your Highness, the Moseys have been particularly active recently and are rallying allies. Many of the eight great families and other influential factions have already allied with them. If left unchecked, they'll pose a serious threat to us," she said, kneeling with her head lowered slightly."So the Moseys are backing Matthias, huh?" Nathaniel sat quietly, his expression unreadable."The Moseys have grand ambitions. While they claim to support Prince Matthias, they're merely setting him up as a puppet to rise to power and expand their own influence," she revealed.She had been infiltrating the Moseys' mansion for years and had gained a deep understanding of their operations, from the smallest details to the key players.Though Seamus appeared as a benevolent philanthropist, it was all a façade. Behind closed doors, he was r
That night, two young men sat playing chess inside a secluded mansion in the Inner City. On the left was Anders, who had visited the Ballard estate earlier. Across from him sat Matthias, a broad-shouldered man dressed in richly adorned robes.The game was intense, with fast moves followed by moments of deep thought. About ten minutes later, Anders finally conceded defeat."Anders, you've really improved since we last played. You almost had me there," Matthias said, stroking his beard in mild surprise."You flatter me, Your Highness. My chess skills are nothing compared to yours. If you hadn't gone easy on me, I wouldn't have lasted half as long," Anders replied with a modest smile."You're as smooth with words as ever." Matthias let out a hearty laugh with a look of smug satisfaction. Winning was in his nature—whether in war or on the chessboard, defeat was not an option."Well, we've eaten, and we've played. Let's get to business." With a wave of his hand, he signaled his men t
"Honestly, we shouldn't waste time debating who's better suited to be king. We just need to figure out who's most likely to take the throne," Jensen said matter-of-factly.As a businessman, he only cared about maximizing profit. To him, it didn't matter who sat on the throne but who had the best odds. He felt that backing that person would be the wisest choice."Who's most likely depends on who has the strongest backing," Jonathan said thoughtfully."Oh, right! I forgot to ask—who are the Moseys supporting?" Jovian asked, smacking his forehead. They'd been discussing this for so long but still hadn't figured out where the Moseys stood."My guess is Prince Nathaniel." Jensen narrowed his eyes as he analyzed the situation. "He's close to Anders. With his immense potential and the king's favor, the Moseys might see him as their best bet.""Anders' personal ties can't speak for the entire Mosey family," Jovian countered, shaking his head. "Family interests outweigh personal relationsh
Even without the king's involvement, the ambitious individuals would tear the Ballard family apart and leave nothing behind.If Simon chose the right side and it prevailed, his family could enjoy a century of stability and prosperity. But if he backed the wrong prince, everything could fall apart in a single night.At that moment, he didn't know what to choose. This was a critical decision—one mistake and the entire family could be ruined."Regarding this matter, I need to think it over carefully. I can't give you an answer just yet," Simon said. He knew the stakes were too high. A single misstep could lead to disaster, so he had to be cautious."I understand," Anders replied with a faint smile. "This isn't an easy decision. Still, I hope Your Lordship can decide soon.""Your Lordship, the forces seeking a marriage alliance with the Mosey family aren't limited to your family alone," Zack added coolly. "Don't think you can afford to wait for the highest bidder. Time is running out,
"In response to Your Lordship's question, this marriage alliance between our two families isn't my decision alone—it's also my godfather's and the entire Mosey family's," Anders said with a smile."According to the established rules, marriages between royal bloodlines are forbidden. Have you forgotten?" Simon replied coolly. "Sticking to outdated rules only holds us back," Anders said, shaking his head with a smile.He continued, "Right now, Dragonmarsh is going through a turbulent time—internally and externally. I've also heard the king's health is deteriorating. There are rumors he plans to name a successor and step down soon."With that, Oakvale will likely be in turmoil. When that happens, all the powerful families—the four ancient houses, the eight great families, and other factions—will be dragged into the chaos."That's why I'm hoping our families can form a marriage alliance to navigate the coming crisis together."Simon remained calm and said, "It's natural for the king
"Dad, what do you think?" Jonathan asked, turning to Simon."A guest has arrived, so we can't be rude. Invite them to the living room so we can discuss things properly," Simon replied calmly.Anders represented the Mosey family, and regardless of his intentions, Simon couldn't simply turn him away. As for the proposed marriage alliance, it was a matter that required thorough consideration."Understood," the butler replied promptly before leaving."Go on with your meal. I'm going to meet with Anders," Simon said, excusing himself from the table.Jonathan, Jensen, and Jovian exchanged glances and, without hesitation, followed their father. They were curious to see what the Mosey family had in mind."Alright, let them handle it. Let's focus on our meal," Gemma Letcher, Natasha's grandmother, said with a smile and signaled everyone to continue eating.…Three minutes later, in the Ballard family's living room, Simon sat at the head of the table near the entrance. Jonathan and his b
After leaving Dash Corporation, Dustin and Natasha headed to the mall, where they picked out gifts for every member of the Ballard family. From the eldest to the youngest toddlers, no one was left out. Later, they stopped by an antique shop and chose a beautiful calligraphy painting as a special gift for Simon.By evening, Dustin had everything ready for his first visit to the Ballard estate, located in the heart of Oakvale's city center. The estate was a sprawling courtyard mansion built on a large plot of land.Simon, the Duke of Lachshire, had three sons and a daughter. His eldest son, Jonathan Ballard, was a third-ranked official in the government. The second son, Jensen Ballard, was a successful entrepreneur in the pharmaceutical industry in Oakvale, with billions in assets. Meanwhile, the youngest son, Jovian Ballard, had made a name for himself in the military and was now a third-ranked general.Simon's youngest daughter, Jessica—Natasha's mother—was highly favored with
While Dustin was away, Natasha couldn't help but worry about him. She would always keep an eye out for any news about him. But no matter how much she missed him, she wouldn't call him. She didn't want to distract or cause him to lose focus on the important matters concerning the nation's affairs. Understanding how busy he was, she kept her feelings in check and buried herself in work to keep her mind occupied.But when Natasha finally saw Dustin again, all the emotions she had bottled up came rushing out. Months of longing turned into overwhelming affection, and tears streamed down her face uncontrollably.Her assistant, Tanya, watched in shock. She had no idea Natasha—typically the poised, decisive, and commanding chairwoman—was in a relationship. What surprised her even more was how different Natasha seemed around Dustin. The usually unshakable "queen" now appeared soft and tender in his presence.Tanya couldn't help but watch Dustin more closely. His looks and charisma were u