As Edmund trailed behind Evan, he mustered up the courage to speak his mind.
"You know, Your Highness Evan," he began, his voice tinged with emotion. "I've been serving the Imperial Lord of Frost for years now, and I've never seen him show favoritism to anyone."
Evan glanced at him curiously. "I know my father can be strict," he replied. "But what are you trying to say?"
Edmund took a deep breath before continuing. "It's just that... he treats everyone equally, except for you. You're different. You're deeply loved."
Evan's heart skipped a beat at Edmund's words.
"I know," he whispered, a hint of vulnerability in his voice. "But sometimes I wonder if it's only because I'm his only child."
The Frost Clan's traditions were steeped in history and held firm by an unyielding rule. Members of the main family were forbidden from taking concubines without just cause, and marrying beneath their status was simply unthinkable.
The rule was born of a tragic lesson learned long ago, during the reign of the clan's second patriarch. He had foolishly taken a famous prostitute as his Empress, unaware of her treacherous nature. The woman had sowed discord and caused immense harm to the clan, leaving the second patriarch with no choice but to take her life with his own hands. This traumatic event left him mentally unstable, making him unfit to rule. He was forced to step down, passing the reins of power to the strongest and most capable member of the next generation.
Enter the fifth generation patriarch, the esteemed Grand General of the Empire. He had married just once, and his devoted wife had blessed him with three sons. Among them, the youngest and most capable was Evan's father. When the Grand General retired, Magnus ascended to become the sixth generation patriarch of the Frost Clan. Like his father before him, Magnus also cherished only one woman in his life. After her untimely death, he remained steadfastly loyal, refusing to remarry. Unfortunately, this devotion resulted in a dearth of descendants from the main branch.
Recently, the elders of the clan had been urging Magnus to adopt children from the minor families, but he refused them each time. He was determined to focus solely on his son.
However, Evan's future was not guaranteed. He would have to prove himself worthy of his position or risk being passed over in favor of a more qualified heir. Magnus's love for his son had blinded him to the responsibility of securing the Frost Clan's future. But the same couldn't be said for the Grand General and the elders. If Evan failed, Magnus would be forced to adopt a child from another family and train them to take on the mantle of the next heir apparent.
"That's certainly a possibility, but I think there's more to it than just that." At this point, Edmund chuckled, looking at Evan with a playful glint in his eye. "Your father is a stern man, but I've seen him soften up whenever you're around. You have a way of bringing out his softer side."
Evan grinned, "Well, I suppose I have that effect on people."
Edmund raised an eyebrow, "Is that so?" A moment later, he teasingly said, "You must be quite the charmer then."
"Oh, you have no idea. I could charm the birds out of the trees with a wink if I wanted to." Evan joked back.
Edmund's eyes widened for a brief moment, caught off guard by Evan's sudden display of humor. However, he quickly regained his composure and carried on with their conversation as if nothing had interrupted the flow.
"Well, I'll have to keep an eye on you then. I wouldn't want you charming all the birds away from the Imperial Palace." Edmund said in a playful tone.
"Don't worry, Sir Edmund. I'll make sure to save some for you." Evan playfully bumped the older man with his elbow.
Evan's lightheartedness and smile were enough to tell Edmund that he had changed. After all, Edmund rarely saw such behavior from him.
The number of times he had joked in the past few years could be counted on one hand. After the demise of Empress Frost, it was as if Evan had been stripped away of his ability to smile.
'It's amazing how much he has changed for the better once the misunderstanding was resolved.'
Despite the noticeable shift in Evan's demeanor, Edmund found it refreshing. It was a pleasant break from Evan's stern and gloomy demeanor.
It made him wonder how great things could have been if Evan had never succumbed to paranoia.
Evan parted ways with Edmund before he stepped back into his room, shutting the door softly behind him.
Without hesitation, he strode across the room and collapsed onto the sofa, his muscles relaxing as he settled into the soft cushions.
In his hand, he clutched a small glass vial filled with a glowing elixir that shimmered like liquid gold in the dim light. With hands trembling in excitement, he removed the cap from the elixir and brought it to his lips.
The rich, amber liquid glinted in the dim light, sending a tantalizing aroma wafting through the air.
"With this," Evan murmured, lifting the elixir to his lips. "I'll ascend to the Soul Manifestation Stage."
The first sip tasted sweet, coating his tongue in a sugary haze. But as the elixir slid down his throat, the taste turned bitter, leaving an acrid aftertaste in its wake.
Evan's heart raced with anticipation as he waited for the elixir to take effect.
Suddenly, he felt a warmth spreading through his body, a sensation that seemed to come from the very depths of his being. It was a feeling that was unlike anything he had ever experienced before.
"It's happening!" He knew without a doubt that the elixir had started to work its magic.
He could feel the power of the elixir building within him, like a raging storm about to break free. As the energy grew stronger, Evan felt a sudden pressure building within him. The force was so intense that it felt as though his body might explode.
"Ugh, it hurts so much." Evan grabbed his chest as he felt his heart beating faster than ever. "But I can't stop now. I have to see this through," he said through gritted teeth.
He knew that the power he was about to obtain was well worth the pain he was experiencing.
He didn't have to wait for long before it happened.
The torrent of energy surged towards a certain organ of his body, crashing against the sealed opening of his soul pocket like a tsunami.
Bang! The sound that came from within him was deafening, like the crack of thunder, and it echoed through the room. But it also signified something great.
As the sound faded, Evan felt a new sensation overtaking him. It was like he was floating, weightless and untethered, as if he had transcended his physical body. His mind was sharp, his senses heightened to an almost unbearable degree. He felt like he could see every atom in the room, hear the beating of every heart, and sense the presence of every living thing around him.
And then, just as suddenly as it had come, the sensation faded, leaving Evan with a sense of elation that he had never felt before.
He was happy as he had become a Soul Manipulator!
His first soul pocket had been opened!
[Ding!]
A sudden, piercing ding sound rang through Evan's ears, startling him.
Evan's heart skipped a beat as he began to search for the source of the unexpected noise, and just then, he noticed something peculiar happening before his very eyes.
Out of nowhere, a semi-transparent screen materialized right in front of him. It was as if it had been conjured out of thin air.
[Congratulations on advancing to the beginner-level of the Soul Manifestation Realm]
[The condition to unlock the system has been met]
Shivers of excitement rang down Evan's spine when he heard the notification.
And then, just like that, the semi-transparent screen changed again.
It flickered, and a new message appeared, causing Evan to gasp in astonishment.
The message read:
[You have gained access to the Player System!]