TO CELEBRATE THE Crown Prince's success in the assessment—having the ability to conjure fire in the future—the emperor decided to hold a small banquet, inviting only the first-rank nobles. Naturally, the Pei Family was among the invitees. And as usual, Duke Pei didn't attend, claiming he was in poor health and beginning to feel the weight of age. Those words struck a chord with everyone.
Emperor Jun even began to suspect that the duke might be nearing the end of his life. Otherwise, why else would the old hero keep turning down invitations?
The thought, though disturbing, was also quite... interesting. But Emperor Jun didn't dare to hope too much. He feared that if he got his hopes up only to find out the old man would live another hundred years, his heart would be shattered into pieces.
"The Duke is already old," Emperor Jun sighed deeply. "Although This Emperor wishes to see him more often, his health must take priority." Then, as though struck by a noble idea, he added, "How about letting Elder Leo have a look at the Duke's condition? He is an expert, after all. Perhaps he can help him recover." His tone was gentle, laced with false concern, as though he genuinely worried about Duke Pei's well-being.
Lily took a casual sip of her tea, her expression revealing none of the reverence expected of someone sitting in the emperor's presence. On the contrary, her brows slightly furrowed, clearly annoyed. Though she'd attended the banquet, she hadn't come to be gracious or sociable. She came with a purpose—a plan that would unfold within these palace walls.
And entertaining fools was not part of that plan.
"There's no need," she said coolly. "My grandfather is too obsessed with cleanliness. If something were to end him, it wouldn't be illness. It would be someone else's hand."
The air grew stiff in an instant. Her words, though spoken with calm indifference, cut deep.
Elder Leo, who had previously pretended not to notice her, now turned with a thunderous expression. His face darkened, more so than the bottom of a burnt pan.
"What do you mean by that, little girl?" His voice was low and icy, enough to freeze the marrow of weaker men.
Lily turned her head slightly and gave him a sidelong glance, blinking innocently. "Exactly what I said, Imperial Preceptor Leo."
"Impudence!" Elder Leo roared. The girl dared mock him—taunt him—before all these nobles. The nerve of it!
But Lily only blinked again, eyes wide and guileless. "Imperial Preceptor Leo jests. Which part of what I said is incorrect?" Then, knitting her brows with mock confusion, she added, "My grandfather is, indeed, obsessed with cleanliness. He once had a seizure from being touched by a stranger. That's why we never request the palace's physicians. Each time he's ill, we can only watch in horror as he writhes in pain."
She sniffled dramatically and reached for her napkin. Though she dabbed at her eyes as though crying, not a single tear had appeared.
"....." said everyone present.
Elder Leo's fury bloomed into silent rage. He knew what she was doing. Everyone did. Her insinuation was clear—he, the Imperial Preceptor, might have designs on Duke Pei's life.
His gaze darkened, flickering with murderous intent.
Just as it seemed he might strike, he inhaled slowly, bit back his anger, and with a sharp whip of his sleeves, turned and left the banquet hall.
Lily tilted her head as she watched him leave, propping her chin against her palm.
What a pity.
She really thought he would explode. The pressure had grown thick—so thick one could cut it with a knife. But it seemed the new Imperial Preceptor had some restraint after all.
Then she glanced at Emperor Jun, who had frozen beside her like a statue. Their eyes met for a solid twenty seconds.
He coughed awkwardly and fled the scene, robes rustling in retreat.
Coward number two, she thought with a grin.
"Young miss, that was too reckless," Ji Mei whispered nervously.
Lily clicked her tongue. "He wouldn't dare," she said with confidence. "That man holds his reputation in too high regard."
Ji Mei raised a brow. "What reputation? The Medicine Sect already lost its credibility years ago. There's nothing left to preserve."
Lily only shrugged.
Regardless of the sect's current standing, Elder Leo still needed to gain solid footing in the empire. The Pei Family, on the other hand, remained revered—heroes of the people. If he were to harm her now, it would ignite the wrath of the commoners. They'd protest, scream for justice, demand the emperor strip him of his title.
And Emperor Jun, ever cautious, would be forced to listen. The risk of public unrest—or worse, rebellion—would be too high.
In short, Elder Leo would need to bide his time. Build trust. Weave his schemes quietly.
Lily smirked. She could already tell—he wanted the Pei Family eradicated. She could see it in his eyes. And frankly, she couldn't wait to see what cards he played next.
But that was a concern for the future.
Her current priority was to get the little prince out of this cursed palace.
She hoped Hugh's dependable shadow guard had already made it to the northern quarters.
---
"....."
Shadow Guard Loid stood in stunned silence. For someone who claimed to know nothing of magic or the Earth Realm, Young Miss Lily certainly had no shortage of magical weapons.
"It looks amazing!" Prince Zak beamed, eyes sparkling as he admired the item Loid was holding.
The magical weapon gleamed in the moonlight. It was roughly a meter long, silver-bodied, and embedded with multicoloured gems spaced evenly along its length. It looked both ancient and modern—like something forged in legend.
"What is it?" Zak asked eagerly.
"A fourth-grade elemental sword," Shadow Guard Loid answered calmly.
"But it doesn't even look like a sword..." Still, Zak couldn't help but think it was the coolest thing he'd ever seen.
Shadow Guard Loid didn't bother to argue. Instead, he pointed the blade's tip at the bed.
A moment later, blue fire burst forth—clean, concentrated, and furious. The bed went up in flames, then collapsed into ash. The blaze didn't spread wildly. It devoured only what it touched, turning the bed and floor beneath it to cinders before boring into the earth itself.
Still, it burned—hungrily, searching for more.
Zak stared, wide-eyed, in amazement.
"I want one," he breathed.
Loid noticed the boy's longing expression. "Weapons like this require immense cultivation. You must first awaken your attribute. Fifth-grade to first-grade magical weapons can only be used by those who can properly channel their energy."
Even then, that wasn't the full story.
A wielder's element would normally influence the weapon's power. The elemental sword adapted its output to the user's energy. Shadow Guard Loid, being of the storm attribute, shouldn't have been able to produce such a flame. But he hadn't created it—the weapon had retained its former owner's energy.
And that energy...
Shadow Guard Loid frowned.
This was no ordinary fire. Its form, its control, its raw destruction—none of it was standard. And no magic user could create such refined energy so flawlessly.
There was no mark on the weapon, no seal or name, but it definitely belonged to someone. Otherwise, the output would've defaulted to his own element.
The more he thought about it, the more mystified he became.
Young Miss Terra—just who exactly was she?
Meanwhile, Zak's shoulders slumped in disappointment. But only briefly.
Then, his eyes lit up with determination.
He just had to work harder!
Shadow Guard Loid gave a small nod of approval, then turned his attention elsewhere.
Time to finish what Young Miss Lily had asked.
With a wave of the elemental sword, he unleashed its fire upon the northern courtyards.
Initially, they planned to burn only the young prince's living quarters. But Lily—ever dramatic—had changed her mind.
She wanted chaos.
Why stop at one courtyard when she could torch half the palace?
After all, what could bring her more joy than watching the imperial family descend into panic?