CHAPTER 320: A NEW STAGE IN THE BATTLE FOR THE THRONE

"You..."

Teased by her, Melinda’s anger peaked. However, the words to refute her never came.

Admittedly, she was very angry at what she saw. The blind woman had regained her sight—something that should have been impossible.

"How could you do that?" she asked, gritting her teeth.

Claire casually tossed her hair to the right, smiling slightly. "It doesn’t matter, does it? After all, you’re nobody to me. We have no relationship."

Her eyes flashed coldly, full of mockery. In the past, she might never have imagined saying such arrogant words to Melinda.

Yet in truth, this was something she should have done long ago. Faced with the oppression from Belfor and Melinda, she had once been too afraid to speak up.

But it was understandable—she had still believed in Belfor’s love, which turned out to be nothing but an illusion.

Melinda was speechless, unable to believe it. This time, she truly dared not act recklessly to challenge her.

Suppressing her anger, she turned and snorted coldly. "Well then, let’s see what happens. Just because I haven’t managed to master Red Obsidian yet doesn’t mean I won’t be able to tomorrow or the day after."

With that, she walked away, leaving Claire alone in her seat.

"Pfft," Claire chuckled. "Melinda Horven, you’re so stupid."

Her gaze turned cold as she continued indifferently. "How naive I was to think of you as a sister. You’re no different from your father. Just because of your status as a concubine, you can live comfortably. But..."

A wide grin appeared on her lips. "It will all end soon. Your son, Zarak, will be eliminated, and so will you..."

***

Melinda walked out, her expression cold and gloomy. Two guards and a staff member standing by the front door wanted to greet her but held back when they saw her mood.

As she passed, the three exchanged meaningful glances.

"Concubine," a maid near the horse-drawn carriage called out. "Did the negotiations go well?"

Melinda entered, sank onto a sofa, and shook her head slowly. "No. That woman has changed a lot, and she has regained her sight."

The maid gasped in surprise. "How is that possible? I thought Lady Claire would never be able to see."

The maid had served Melinda since childhood. They were not just mistress and maid but also longtime companions.

Naturally, she knew about Claire and the torments she had endured in the past.

Even so, she didn’t care much about Claire. After all, her mistress was Melinda, not Claire.

"I don’t understand either," Melinda said, taking a deep breath. "But it seems Shion from the Blue Moon Trading House—or even Nolan—was involved. This matter is complicated, and I need to find a way to resolve it. Otherwise, Zarak and I could end up in serious trouble."

Her chances of acquiring the Red Obsidian Trading House were gone. What she had believed Nolan had secured was actually being orchestrated behind the scenes by Blue Moon.

It wasn’t just her—even the Empire wouldn’t dare challenge them directly.

Blue Moon was the largest trading house, controlling many key sectors in the empire and its surrounding regions.

Seeking trouble with them was like inviting death, and Melinda was not foolish enough to throw herself into the abyss.

The maid said nothing, merely nodding slightly. Soon after, the horse-drawn carriage departed, heading back toward the palace...

...

Five days passed quickly, and many events unfolded in the imperial capital during that time.

As the hero who had saved the eastern region from the sea monster attack, Elina was awarded the title of "The Chosen One" and granted the privilege of forming her own army.

Normally, princes were forbidden from doing this, as direct use of the palace’s power was restricted in the line of succession.

But with this title, Elina could—though there were limits. She could only recruit fifty soldiers, and all had to join voluntarily.

Moreover, the army could only be mobilized for valid, clear reasons.

Naturally, the title sparked jealousy and resentment among the other princes. Even Cedric, usually indifferent, was so frustrated that he couldn’t sleep properly for two days.

The one who regretted it most, however, was Aldric. A seasoned warrior with extensive combat experience, he had long dreamed of forming his own army. But under the rules of succession, it had always been impossible.

And now, the privilege he had always dreamed of had been claimed by someone else—and worse, by Elina, the very person he had always looked down on.

Beyond the right to form her own army, Elina was also awarded a gold medal depicting a bird spreading its wings: the Medal of Freedom—a symbol of honor with profound significance.

As its holder, she would be granted a territory in one of the four main regions, along with a special mansion within it.

In effect, Elina now held rights equal to those of noble families with their own power.

The princes, already jealous from the start, grew even more consumed with envy, unable to hide the hatred in their glares whenever they saw Elina standing beside Ragan.

It wasn’t just the princes—Queen Vanessa and the other concubines also viewed this as a serious threat. If they didn’t act swiftly, Elina might very well claim the throne.

Aside from Elina’s special honors, other shocking events unfolded, such as the discovery of a destroyed horse-drawn carriage at the southern border.

At first, the news seemed insignificant—but learning that the carriage contained Belfor, who had previously escaped, made it explode like a bomb.

Everyone questioned whether it was true or merely sensationalism.

The Palace, upon receiving the report, immediately moved to verify its accuracy.

It turned out the news was entirely true. Mangled human remains were found around the wrecked horse-drawn carriage, and the clothing on the body marked them as one of Belfor’s direct subordinates.

Belfor himself, however, could not be found, and no one knew whether he was dead or alive.

The news struck Melinda hard. She had long believed her father had fled to another region, choosing years of exile.

The reality, however, was far grimmer. Her father had suffered an accident, and his fate remained unknown. Melinda sank into deep depression, often locking herself in her room in an attempt to calm her troubled mind.

While Melinda grieved, others naturally saw an opportunity—namely, the princes and the other concubines.

Previously, they had been cautious, fearing Belfor had left a secret weapon to punish anyone who dared threaten Zarak or Melinda.

With this news, their caution faded.

The battle for the throne, stagnant for months, had finally entered a tense new phase...