Loana stood in her study, specifically beside the large window from which the palace gate was visible.
"This..." She looked out the window with a strange expression, as if the despair of the entire West had gathered on her face.
"How?!" She struck the wall to her right, barely resisting the urge to destroy it.
"How did he survive? How is he still alive?" She struck the wall again when she noticed the door of the vehicle opening, and two people emerged from it.
The person she hated most in her life, whom she thought she had finally gotten rid of seven months ago, was now standing before her as if all her plans were mere jokes to him.
Everything had changed about the formerly weak-willed Cassian. He had grown taller and heavier to suit his frame perfectly, and the aura around him had intensified.
Although he still lacked mana, he now appeared dangerous even to Loana, causing her face to frown more and more.
Her fingers peeled against the wall from the sheer force she applied. "If you want war... I'll give it to you."
She cast one last look at Cassian and the other person who emerged from the vehicle with him—a man in his thirties with a few white strands mixed in his black hair.
She returned to her wooden desk immediately and pressed the call button.
"Contact Carlos; we may need his assistance."
"I would have let you be if you never returned to the West, but you brought this upon yourself." She sat in her chair with a weary expression.
Although things were starting to turn worse for her and her son, she did not worry even a little.
'After seeing what he can do, they will never choose Cassian over him.' She was thinking about Darian now.
She wanted to resume her work, but the button suddenly lit up with a red light. She pressed it immediately.
"No need, he should focus on the academy as much as possible." She lifted her finger from the button immediately, "Should I go see him?" She cast one last look at the window.
She wanted to go herself to gauge how much his personality had really changed, but she decided against it in the end.
'There is no room for loss.' Such were her thoughts.
***
=+=
I decided not to show Daristan and Jin to the rest of those in the palace for some reasons, so Killian accompanied me alone.
I still needed a reliable person to help me inside the palace; Alfred might be good, but he lacks real power.
As for Killian—who is with me now—it would take at least an assassin at rank A- to kill him, and that would not be without causing a commotion that could alert me.
I looked at the palace grounds after passing through the black gate; the place was decorated with gardens and fragrant flowers.
A giant fountain was placed in the center, topped with a sculpted star, and around the flowers were thin wooden fences. The fragrance was very soothing, I might spend some time here after reclaiming my throne, it was truly relaxing.
Perhaps I will plant some of the sleep flowers I still have here, but that might affect the workers in the palace.
'The sight of workers napping in the courtyard would be quite interesting...' I laughed inwardly at the thought.
"Look." Killian, who stood behind me, spoke, gesturing with his chin towards the main entrance of the palace, which was twenty meters away.
"This..." I looked at the distant figure with golden hair, able to notice his distinct gray eyes even from my current position. He walked with strange confidence, wearing a decorated gray suit, clearly caring about his appearance.
I could smell the fragrance as he got closer, we were finally within speaking range.
"Prince Cassian! What an honor." Lionel StarHold—one of the family council members—lowered his head slightly.
I could barely recognize him, but I did after a little time. I frowned a bit when thinking about the story I wrote for him.
"The honor is mine, uncle." I spoke without lowering my head, extending my hand to shake his. Everything made sense now...
Lucas had said his father would receive us at the palace gate, I wouldn't have mentioned my desire for the legendary potion had I known he was Lionel's son.
Things could get very complicated now... I sighed internally but acted as if I were very pleased on the outside.
'She is likely watching from there...' I glanced at one of the high windows of the palace, unfortunately, it did not reveal the interior, so I could not see her miserable face.
'It doesn't matter, I will see it myself soon anyway.'
"Please, come inside, we will arrange a place for your travel companion as well." Lionel gestured to Killian while speaking, then began walking into the palace.
We followed him, keeping some distance from him. I heard whispers in my ear.
'Fifteen people at rank S- or higher are watching us. Around fifty in rank A, most are highly skilled in stealth.' The content of Killian's whispers was somewhat terrifying.
Bringing him along was definitely a wise decision, I could not sense anyone other than Loana and Lionel, and the latter had allowed me to sense him in the first place.
'The StarHold palace is safe for me? What a joke.' I remembered my previous words at the city walls and couldn't help but mock myself.
'I have Jin at least...' We agreed that I would summon him at any sign of danger.
We separated from those three without anyone noticing in certain ways. We became two teams, each with essential tasks.
Every person, even Daristan, would have a central role in this inheritance war, I planned everything down to the smallest details. This throne will definitely be mine, but I must first start building the battlefield, or I will return to square one.
I will avoid contacting Jin for now since he is looking for a hiding place, he can never leave Elara and Daristan alone.
Of course, I told him to hide himself and everyone as a precaution for any possible situation. If anyone saw Jin in the West before the third or fourth day of the inheritance war, our plans could fail immediately.
For his earlier visit to the library, it was fine, the important thing was that it wouldn't happen after my appearance in this palace.
I took a deep breath as I entered the hall for the first time in a long time, the air here was very fresh. The floor was covered by a black carpet made of luxurious wool, and over it extended a red cloth carpet to the end of the hall.
To the left were corridors to the other rooms of the palace, ahead led to more gardens and open-air courtyards, while the right was for elevators and stairs.
The royal StarHold palace was spacious enough for a large family and a huge staff. This was not a place for ten people or fewer to live in.
My father's brothers, my father's cousins, and their children.
About a hundred and twenty people descended from StarHold blood and lived in this palace, even though those of pure blood were fewer than five. The inheritance war will be political, but it won't be any less dangerous than a regular war for me, especially with hundreds having unknown intentions towards me.
My confirmed allies are only two; I know nothing about the rest.
'A regular war might be easier for me...'