Inside the Imperius Family’s main house, the air itself felt heavy.

The grand hall was vast and opulent—polished black marble floors reflected the towering crystal chandeliers above, and tall pillars carved with star patterns lined the walls. Rich red carpets, edged with golden thread, led straight up to a raised platform where ornate chairs and a long obsidian table stood.

Tapestries depicting the Imperius lineage hung from the high walls, each woven with constellations of silver and gold thread.

Despite all that luxury, the atmosphere was anything but warm.

At the center of the hall, one man sat alone.

Edgar Vale Valmont.

Patriarch of the Valmont Family and one of the Velmora Kingdom’s strongest martial artists—renowned across the continent. He had blond hair cropped short, hard brown eyes, and a tall, heavily muscular physique that strained against the simple black martial coat he wore. Even seated, he radiated raw, unrestrained power, as if he could shatter the floor with a single stomp.

His arms were folded across his chest.

His expression made it clear he was not in the mood to talk.

Servants of the Imperius Family hovered at a cautious distance, whispering nervously among themselves. None of them dared step too close. The faint killing intent leaking from Edgar’s body made them feel as though they were standing before a hungry beast.

He was Julia and Aaron’s father.

And he looked like a man barely restraining himself from tearing the palace down with his bare hands.

The heavy doors opened.

Three more figures entered the hall.

At the front walked a woman with long platinum-blond hair and warm brown eyes—Ravina Crown. She wore a fitted navy dress with silver embroidery and subtle jewelry around her neck and wrists. She carried herself with the practiced poise of a business empress, every gesture controlled and graceful.

Beside her strode another powerful presence.

Eliana Ceal Ashford.

The Queen of the Ashford Empire—and Evangeline’s mother. Her magenta hair fell in soft waves down her back, and her violet eyes were as sharp as polished amethyst. She wore a white-and-gold royal coat over light armor, a slim sword resting at her hip. Her aura was calm but undeniably dangerous.

Neither of them wore pleasant expressions.

Their children were still being held captive by the Imperius Family.

Seeing them, Edgar stood up, his huge frame unfolding like a mountain rising.

"I knew you two would come as well," Edgar said, his voice low.

Eliana eyed him.

"You’re as annoying as ever, Edgar," she said, her lips curling slightly. "But it looks like your presence will be useful today."

Ravina stepped forward, inclining her head politely.

"It is an honor to meet you, Lord Edgar," she said. "My name is Ravina Crown. I am from the Republic of Arcania."

Edgar waved a hand dismissively.

"There’s no need for introductions, Miss Ravina," Edgar said. "Who on this continent doesn’t know you and the Crown Family? With all the wealth and businesses you control across Vespara, your name reaches even my kingdom’s backwater villages."

Ravina smiled faintly.

"I hope we’ll all be able to stand together against the Imperius Family," she said, "and get our children back safely."

Edgar’s aura flared.

The temperature in the room seemed to drop.

"If anything happens to my kids," Edgar said, his voice turning hard as stone, "then no matter what, a war will be inevitable."

Eliana laughed softly.

"A musclehead to the core, huh?" she said. "I knew violence was the only thing you understood."

Edgar’s eyes sharpened.

"So what do you suggest we do, then?" he asked. "Oh, great Queen."

Eliana’s face grew serious.

"We have to be careful here, Mister Musclehead," Eliana said. "Think about what they’ve already done. The story they’ve spread is that your children and mine kidnapped the Imperius daughter and beat her. Those are serious charges. They’ve already brought them before the Council."

The Council of Vespara.

The governing body that balanced the power of the entire continent and the first to unite if Vespara was ever invaded from outside. On paper, it safeguarded stability. In reality, it was a battlefield of politics.

The Vespara Continent had twenty-one countries.

Among them, five held absolute authority:

Nihon—the country Yuna belonged to.

The Republic of Arcania.

The Valeria Empire, ruled by the Imperius Family.

The Ashford Empire.

And the Velmora Kingdom.

"Apparently," Eliana continued, "when the matter reached the Council, the majority of the twelve neutral countries voted in the Imperius Family’s favor. They framed themselves as the victims, hid the full truth, and demanded compensation from the nations whose nobles and princesses were involved."

Ravina’s eyes narrowed.

"They also demanded that Arthur Celestian be branded a wanted figure throughout the continent," Eliana said. "And that he be immediately handed over to the Imperius Family upon capture."

Everything was proceeding exactly as the Imperius Family had planned.

Nobody knew that Adrian Evan Imperius had been outsmarted by a child and was now imprisoned inside a ring. The Imperius Family controlled the flow of information flawlessly, shaping the narrative to their advantage.

Seeing how badly the scales had tipped, Eliana, Ravina, and Edgar had no choice but to negotiate.

And today, they were here to do exactly that.

"We’re at a disadvantage," Eliana said quietly. "We have no proof that Yuna was attacked first. Arthur did everything to protect her. And now he’s missing, so we can’t even ask him if he left behind anything we could use."

Edgar clicked his tongue.

"What baffles me," Edgar said, "is why my kids followed that Arthur boy in the first place. He’s betrayed them now—ran away with his tail between his legs and left them to die."

He snorted.

"And here I thought my kids were smarter than me," Edgar added, a crooked smile tugging at his lips. "Looks like they take after me after all."

Eliana stared at him.

"Why do you look so happy about that?" she asked. "All of them got their asses kicked."

Before Ravina could step between them and diffuse the tension, the doors to the grand hall opened again.

Three more figures entered.

At the front was Sylvia Evan Imperius.

Her golden hair cascaded down her back in gentle waves, and her red eyes gleamed with a cold, distant light. She wore a dark, form-fitting dress accented with silver, a cloak draped over her shoulders. Her beauty was sharp—refined and dangerous, like a blade wrapped in silk.

Behind her walked two older elves.

One was a man with grey hair and stern features, appearing to be in his fifties. His posture was straight, and his gaze heavy. The second was a woman with grey hair tied back tightly and sharp eyes that missed nothing.

Melina Crestfall—one of the seven elders of the Imperius Family, from a powerful branch line.

The third figure was a man with brown hair and calm brown eyes, his presence giving off a steady aura like polished stone.

Riley Everglade—another elder from a branch family.

As the three approached, Ravina, Eliana, and Edgar rose from their seats.

They faced each other in the center of the hall.

Eliana sighed.

"Sylvia," Eliana said, "do you really want to do this? Do you think we’re all idiots—that we don’t know what actually happened?"

Edgar’s aura sharpened.

"You were the ones who attacked first," Edgar said. "And when he retaliated, he did it to save his master from your clutches."

He gave a humorless chuckle.

"Can’t believe you’d go this far over a kid," Edgar said, his eyes locking onto Sylvia. "Tell me, can you even call yourself a mother?"

"Don’t go too far," Eliana said quickly, shooting him a warning look.

"Tell me if I’ve said anything wrong," Edgar replied.

Eliana had no answer.

Sylvia’s expression didn’t change at all.

Her face remained smooth and cold as she spoke.

"Speak only if you have proof, Lord Edgar," Sylvia said. "Your daughter and son participated in the kidnapping of my daughter. And in case you don’t know, I only have three children—Jessica, Arina, and Lucas. I don’t know which one you people are talking about."

Edgar’s annoyance spiked.

"Then I take it that Arthur boy is a bast—"

He never finished.

A cold blade pressed against his throat.

A chill rushed down his spine as he realized Sylvia was standing right beside him. He hadn’t even seen her move.

’So this is the prodigy of the Phantom Clan...’ Edgar thought. ’Fast.’

"Watch your words, Edgar," Sylvia said quietly, her eyes glinting. "Or only your god will hear your voice if you speak further."

The hall went silent.

Then Eliana stepped forward.

"That’s enough," Eliana said firmly. "We’re here to avoid war, not start one."

Sylvia withdrew her blade and returned to her original spot as if nothing had happened.

Melina and Riley stepped forward together.

"If you are here to negotiate," Melina said, her voice smooth and cold, "then the Imperius Family has prepared its demands."

Eliana and Ravina exchanged a glance and nodded.

Edgar remained silent, listening with a tight jaw.

"For our first demand," Melina said, "we want the mines that the Velmora Kingdom and the Ashford Empire are currently in conflict over."

Edgar’s expression darkened.

Melina turned her gaze toward Ravina.

"And from you, Miss Crown," Melina said, "the Imperius Family’s demand is this: we request fifty percent ownership of the Crown Family’s overseas trade network, granting us access to countless foreign contracts and businesses you currently manage. Revenue will be shared equally."

Riley spoke next.

"On top of that," Riley said calmly, "we demand control of one high-grade mana crystal mine owned by the Crown Family."

Both elders looked at them with cold, unyielding eyes.

"If these demands are met," Melina said, "this matter will be considered resolved."

"And your children," Riley added, "will be returned safely."

Eliana and Edgar stared at them, dumbfounded.

Even Ravina’s composure cracked for a moment.

The sheer value of those demands—the contested mines, half of the Crown Family’s overseas trade network, and a high-grade mana crystal mine—was enough to make any sane person refuse immediately.

Yet their children’s lives hung behind those words like invisible chains.