The journey back to House Valehart was quieter than expected.

The bustling streets of Valoria remained as lively as ever. Merchants shouted from beneath colorful awnings, advertising their wares.

Noble carriages rolled across polished avenues while children ran through crowded plazas. Musicians performed beside marble fountains, their melodies drifting through the morning air and blending with the endless murmur of the city.

The atmosphere was charged with liveliness and prosperity, yet the young noble barely noticed any of it.

His thoughts remained trapped within the conversation that had taken place inside the private chamber of the Gilded Crown.

The king is dying...

Of everything Aerolia had revealed, those four words lingered the most. They repeated themselves endlessly within his mind, like the symphony of an earworm that refused to he forgotten.

The more he thought about them, the more unreal they felt. King Aurelius Valerion had rules Valoria for decades and to most, he seemed less like a man and more like a permanent pillar upholding the kingdom.

So to hear that this pillar was suddenly crumbling was something that made him to almost doubt the reality of life...

The carriage rolled through the grand golden gates of House Valehart before entering the estate beyond.

The moment it came to a halt, several knights stationed nearby immediately approached. One of them stepped forward to open the carriage door, and Cedric alighted onto the paved pathway a moment later.

"Young Lord!" The knights echoed in a respectful manner.

Cedric acknowledged them with a small nod before continuing toward the main residence without wasting time. The matter occupying his thoughts was simply to important than pleasantries.

Passing through several hallways adorned with expensive paintings depicting ancient battles, legendary figures, and myths passed down through generations, Cedric eventually arrived before a pair of enormous doors.

The knights standing outside immediately straightened upon seeing him. Then they bowed as they called out. "Young Lord!"

Cedric offered another perfunctory nod before pushing the doors open...

The room beyond them served as Lady Seraphina’s personal study. Unlike his father’s office, which had been designed to impress visiting dignitaries and influential nobles, this chamber possessed a quieter elegance.

Bookshelves occupied nearly every wall, stacks of documents rested upon a massive desk crafted from darkwood, while maps, and other organized parchments covered nearby tables.

The room lacked any unnecessary extravagance, yet everything within it spoke of refinement and purpose.

Behind the desk sat Lady Seraphina Valehart herself...

As the matriarch of one of the most powerful Houses within Valoria, many would imagine her life to be one of endless banquets, social gatherings, and leisurely afternoons spent entertaining fellow noblewomen.

But reality could not have been further from the truth. If anything, Seraphina was even busier than most people in the kingdom.

Maintaining political relationships, overseeing the House’s affairs, coordinating trade agreements, maintaining noble activities, and maintaining the influence of House Valehart all required constant attention.

The woman looked up from the parchment she had been reviewing the moment Cedric entered.

Her blonde hair, streaked with strands of gold, cascaded gracefully over one shoulder, while a pair of sharp green eyes settled upon her son as a faint smile touched her crimson lips.

"You’ve returned." She said gently.

Cedric closed the door behind him before speaking. "Yes, I have."

Then, without hesitation, he crossed the room and lowered himself into the chair opposite her.

"So..." She started, setting aside the quill in her hand. "How did it go?"

Cedric exhaled slowly. "The meeting went well..." He stated, then his voice became more serious. "But I learned some things that were far more disturbing today."

That statement immediately captured Seraphina’s full attention. She straightened slightly in her chair, placing the documents in her hands down, before asking.

"And what were the things you learned?"

There was the briefest silence before the young noble replied solemnly. "...The king is dying."

Seraphina’s emerald eyes sharpened further as all traces of warmth vanished from her face. For several moments, she simply stared at her son, the she asked softly.

"Was it the Third Princess who told you this?"

"Yes..." Cedric nodded. "And apparently, that isn’t even the worst part."

Seraphina remained silent as she waited for Cedric to continue talking...

The young noble took a very deep breath in before spilling everything. He spoke about the king’s illness, the failed attempts at treatment, the revelation regarding the Netherblood poisoning, and even Aerolia’s suspicions concerning the First Prince...

Piece by piece, he repeated everything exactly as he had heard it...

Throughout the explanation, Seraphina’s expression grew increasingly grave, and the more she listened, the heavier the atmosphere within the study became.

By the time Cedric finished speaking, the room had descended into a complete stillness.

Seraphina leaned back against her chair, tapping the armrest lightly with her fingers. Then, she finally spoke.

"Netherblood poisoning..." The words left her lips almost as a whisper. "That is almost unbelievable."

Cedric gave no commentary as he understood she needed time to process everything. After all, the revelation was simply to significant that even he had needed time to take it all in.

After several moments, a long sigh escaped Seraphina’s lips. "So... I guess it was true." She muttered.

Cedric’s brows furrowed as he asked.

"What do you mean by that, mother?"

Lady Seraphina remained silent for a moment before answering.

"Rumours regarding the king’s health have been circulating among certain noble circles for months now..."

Cedric blinked. "Months?"

Didn’t Aerolia state that only a few people knows about this?

Seraphina nodded.

"Right. Though they were nothing concrete, only whispers that were dismissed as political gossips by most, including me. But now..."

She folded her arms atop the desk as she said firmly. "I’m not so sure anymore. If what Princess Aerolia told you is true, then Valoria is approaching a dangerous crossroads."

"Is it because of Prince Daemon?" Cedric asked.

"Partly..." Seraphina stated.

"King Aurelius’ condition alone is enough to create instability within the kingdom. Now add succession disputes, political factors, ambitious nobles, and the uncertainty surrounding the royal family... And you’ve gotten a recipe for a disaster."

Cedric frowned before continuing.

"But what does Prince Daemon actually have to do with any of this? Even Aerolia herself admitted that she has no proof connecting the First Prince to the poisoning."

"That is true, but suspicion does not necessarily require proof." Seraphina said. "You see, at this stage, every action he takes will be scrutinized and considering his reputation, many people will naturally assume the worst..."

"So you truly believe that he should be watched?" Cedric asked.

"Yes..." Seraphina answered without hesitation.

"This is not because I know that he is the one responsible. Instead, it is because overlooking certain possibilities during times like this is how most powerful families fall."

Cedric understood that is mother wasn’t merely speaking from paranoia, but from experience and caution. And in noble politics, caution often means survival.

The young noble took some time to contemplate as he lowered his gaze slightly. Then, eventually, he looked back up and asked.

"It is that serious, isn’t it?"

Seraphina’s gaze met his as she replied seriously. "Yes, my son. Yes, it is..."