Increase Talent: Become More Stronger!

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For a moment, as I held the elf girl's wrist in front of me, I didn't see her attempt to do anything else.

In a split second, I felt a small sting on the palm of my hand.

Before long, I had no choice but to let go of her wrist.

Unfortunately, just as I was about to look back at the elf girl—

I saw her leap away, as if she had no intention of continuing the conversation.

"Wait! You can't—"

Suddenly, I heard an explosion coming from one of the elf girl's companions.

And just as I thought—what I feared truly happened.

The moment the elf girl disappeared from my sight, I saw her comrades choose to blow themselves up.

But what? The fact that the elf girl's companions tried to harm the students of Lunar Academy was undeniable.

Look at the noble family leaders—they wouldn't possibly sit idly by.

Maybe because of that, none of the students were injured in the chaos.

Even Ash managed to protect several students around him.

Although he was safe, he knew the chaos couldn't be ignored.

Because of that, Ash understood that sooner or later, the empire would be swept into turmoil.

If not for this, it would've been impossible for someone like me to be targeted.

After all, the fact that I am now the heir to the imperial throne is something undeniable.

"Are you all alright? I didn't expect them to choose to blow themselves up," Ash commented. Of course, he wouldn't miss the chance to check on his friends.

When Ash looked at his companions, he saw they were safe.

Even the people behind him had not sustained any injuries.

On the contrary, they were extremely grateful for his actions.

If it hadn't been for Ash, they wouldn't know whether they could have survived or not.

Now, their admiration for Ash had increased several times over.

If they looked closely, they would realize Ash looked like a hero from a fairy tale.

Even his expression showed that he was a chosen hero.

He wasn't afraid. He cared deeply about others' lives.

He wasn't weak.

With those three points, they knew Ash was a future powerhouse.

After all, Ash was a true hero.

"We're fine. But what really happened? It's rare for intruders to break into the imperial palace. What were the guards doing?"

"Who knows? I think they're already dead," Eric replied, assuming the intruders had killed the guards earlier.

In truth, Eric knew the guards outside had been taken out by a long-range attack.

How did he know?

Simple. He was a spy.

Although Eric was technically just working with outsiders, it didn't matter.

He knew they had given him great benefits.

Even if he betrayed the empire, he was confident he could escape the wrath of the Emperor.

'So naive. Do you think I could ever forget my hatred for Noah? No, no. He's my enemy. He'll always be my enemy. Oh, Noah... You're so pitiful. But don't worry, I won't let you live in peace.'

For a moment, a small smirk formed on Eric's lips.

Originally, he planned to dance with Alicia.

But he knew—he realized Alicia would never accept his invitation.

From the beginning, Eric knew Alicia had always been cold toward him.

That's why it wasn't surprising he chose not to ask her to dance.

In the end, Ash was the only one Alicia liked.

'Even if I can't have Alicia, I don't care anymore. For now, I need to prepare for the next phase of my plan.'

Eventually, Eric chose not to dwell on what had happened.

For now, he needed to focus on the present.

If he didn't, he feared he might get exposed as a spy.

'Huh? Why do I feel unwell? This is strange...' I thought. I didn't understand why I was feeling afraid.

When I thought back, I knew the crisis had already passed.

But why? Why couldn't I shake off this bad feeling?

Forget it...

Luckily, I didn't really care about what had happened.

For a moment, as I turned my gaze to Celine and Aisha, I saw worried looks on their faces.

"Noah, are you hurt? You were reckless! What if you'd been stabbed?"

"She's right. But I'm glad you're okay. And you even defeated that hooded guy."

"You're both right. But I'm sorry. I didn't expect that person to escape my sight."

Honestly, I had to admit—I regretted letting my guard down.

If I hadn't been careless, that elf girl wouldn't have escaped my grasp.

But so what? I knew what happened couldn't be undone.

That's why I didn't think the Emperor would scold me.

When I recalled his intentions, I knew he only wanted to ensure my safety.

And now, he knew I had survived the assassination attempt.

"It's okay. We don't care about that person. We're just happy you're safe."

Just as I was about to turn my head, I heard the Emperor speak.

"Apologies for disrupting the celebration. But today, we must end the festivities early. I hope no one is disappointed."

I see...

From the Emperor's expression, I could tell he had realized something.

Maybe that's why he chose to end the banquet.

If he didn't act, he feared I might be forced to lose my life.

"Farewell," the Emperor said, and his figure vanished from where he stood.

Even the Empress had no intention of staying still.

Instead, without hesitation, she ordered the imperial guards to escort the students back to their dormitories.

"Royal guards, go and escort the students back to the academy dorms. Don't let the security weaken. Understood?"

"Understood. Leave it to us!"

"Alright. I'm counting on you. Good luck."

Without another word, the Empress glanced slightly at her children.

For a moment, as her gaze landed on her eldest child, she noticed an annoyed expression.

Still, deep in her heart, the Empress had no desire to think about her eldest son's problems.

'No, no. I don't believe he's the one behind this. Don't overthink it. For now, I must focus on strengthening the empire's defenses.'

Unexpectedly, several nobles on the second floor showed nervous expressions on their faces.

"And as for you, I hope you don't forget your duties. Don't just laze around. Get back to work."

"Uh… W-We understand. Excuse us."

She was so cold...

The Empress was truly different.

But she was worthy of representing the empire.

That's right. The nobles all knew she was the most suitable woman to stand beside the Emperor.

If the Emperor disappeared, she would be the only one capable of leading the empire.

If not for her, the empire wouldn't have grown to what it was now.

But they also knew—she was the firmest leader.

If they dared disobey her orders, they'd most likely be punished.

Even the Emperor wouldn't dare go against his wife's wishes.

In the end, the fact that the Emperor had fallen for the Empress was undeniable.

To him, she was one of the most important people in his life.

If she died, he wouldn't be able to bear the consequences.

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