CHAPTER 176: ENTERING THE TOPIC AND PREPARING THE PLAN (1)

Nolan, Elina, and Luvistar walked down the hallway with Rafine leading the way.

After a short walk, they arrived at the door of the study where Alvaron was.

Knock!

"Father, may I come in?" Rafine asked softly as she knocked on the door.

"Come in, Rafine," Alvaron’s voice responded from within.

Rafine gently turned the doorknob and pushed the door open before stepping inside. Nolan, Elina, and Luvistar followed close behind.

Nolan glanced around the study, surprised by its size. Unlike his father’s modest study, Duke Austin’s felt more like a private chamber—spacious and elegantly arranged.

On the left side of the room was a bed, with a wardrobe nearby and two sofas placed at its foot.

At the far end of the room stood a desk, positioned in front of a large window that bathed the space in warm sunlight.

When Alvaron saw Elina, Nolan, and Luvistar, he immediately rose and greeted them with a warm smile.

"Welcome, Prince Nolan, Princess Elina, and General Luvistar," he said politely, gesturing toward the sofas near his bed. "Please, have a seat. Rafine will bring you some tea."

His courteous and enthusiastic manner made Nolan smile despite himself.

Apparently, the Tharvis family matter really did scare Duke Austin, he muttered silently, feeling helpless.

Still, he said nothing and simply gave a small nod. The three of them walked to the sofa and sat down, while Alvaron tidied up the documents on his desk before joining them.

He took a seat on the opposite sofa, a warm smile still on his face.

His eyes settled on Elina before he finally spoke. "Princess Elina, I am truly sorry for what happened three days ago. Rafine told me everything, and I was genuinely shocked."

He drew in a deep breath, bowed his head slightly, and continued in a soft voice, "I sincerely apologize. I hope you’re not offended."

The gesture startled Elina. She quickly stood and approached him, gently trying to lift the Duke back up.

"Please, don’t do this, Duke Austin," she said carefully, though there was a hint of helplessness in her tone. "If word spreads that you bowed to me, I won’t be able to bear the consequences. The reputation of the Austin family would also suffer greatly."

Upon hearing that, Alvaron let out a long sigh and gave a slight shake of his head.

"I understand, Princess Elina," he replied with a faint, bitter smile. "But this grave mistake was the result of my negligence as the head of the eastern region. It’s truly shameful."

As a Duke, bowing his head was unthinkable—except to the Emperor. Even in front of Elina, he shouldn’t have done it.

And yet, this situation left him no choice. He could not risk letting the foundation of the Austin family—so deeply rooted in the eastern region—be shaken.

The presence of the Singularity of Chaos behind Elina had terrified him to the core.

For the past three days, he hadn’t been able to sleep properly, plagued by nightmares of the eastern region being reduced to ashes by the Singularity’s hands.

It was a clear reflection of just how anxious and deeply unsettled he had been.

If Elina had known what was going through his mind, she might have complained, "Duke Austin, you’re too much! Do you really think I’d be heartless enough to ask the Singularity of Chaos to destroy the eastern region?"

Shaking her head lightly, Elina sat back down and tried to ease the tension in the room.

"Didn’t I already say that everything is fine? So please, just act as usual, Duke Austin. Besides, I’ve read Rafine’s letter stating that the Tharvis family will be punished. That’s more than enough."

Hearing the sincerity in her words, Alvaron finally felt a wave of relief wash over him.

Now that Elina had spoken so clearly, he no longer had any reason to worry.

At the same time, a deep admiration began to grow within him. Elina was sincere, humble, and able to assess the situation with wisdom.

If it had been someone else in her position, they might have chosen a crueler path—resorting to threats or using the situation for personal gain.

Meanwhile, Nolan remained silent beside Elina, quietly observing the exchange. He had no intention of interfering in his sister’s affairs.

After all, as he had promised, he would only step in if absolutely necessary.

He wanted his sister to grow and thrive without relying on his presence. Only then would Elina truly be worthy of becoming an empress one day.

But... she’s too gentle, he murmured softly.

Having always been by her side, Nolan knew her nature well. On the surface, she seemed cold and indifferent, but in truth, she was warm-hearted and deeply empathetic.

And that, perhaps, was her greatest weakness. If Cedric or Aldric had been in her position, they would have taken full advantage of Alvaron’s desperate state—pressuring him and forcing him to surrender.

Of course, such methods could breed resentment from the Austin family. But even so, they were valid tactics—and ones worth considering.

Unfortunately, Elina didn’t take that path. Honestly, Nolan didn’t mind—but he knew that sometimes, ruthlessness and cunning were essential traits for anyone who aspired to rule.

’Let her walk her own path. My role is to watch over her and protect her from the shadows,’ he murmured, shaking his head slightly.

Once the atmosphere had settled and warmed, Elina and Alvaron began discussing the Tharvis family and the ongoing battle for the throne.

But the longer the conversation went on, the more surprised Alvaron became.

He had always known that Elina was the dark horse in this succession—but he hadn’t realized just how much support she had gained from the heads of the noble families.

’Could it be... that I can entrust my support to her?’

The thought made Alvaron drift into deep contemplation. The support of a Duke’s family carried far more weight than that of lower-ranking nobles such as Marquises, Counts, or Viscounts.

Setting aside the Malvain family, the other three Duke houses would never offer their support lightly.

After all, open backing from a Duke’s family could dramatically shift the balance in the battle for the throne.

And from his perspective, Elina was the candidate with the highest chance of winning this succession.

The desire to support her slowly began to take root in his mind.

As the conversation continued, Rafine entered the room carrying five cups of steaming tea. She placed them carefully in front of each guest before sitting down beside her father.

Her arrival marked a shift in the discussion—this time, to the topic of the sea monster.

"By the way, Duke Austin," Luvistar said with a serious look. "Is it true that two of the Austin family’s warships were destroyed?"

Alvaron narrowed his eyes and gave a solemn nod. "Yes, it’s true. Both warships were destroyed, and we lost hundreds of soldiers."

He went on to explain the events in detail—the monstrous creature, the sudden attack, and the helplessness of his forces.

Elina, Luvistar, and Nolan listened in silence, their faces growing increasingly grim.

"So you’re saying..." Elina knit her brows, her voice low. "It can’t be defeated? Not even killed?"