"You want me to become the leader?" Max raised an eyebrow. It was already his plan, so the fact that Rosalia had reached the exact same conclusion threw him off balance. He wondered if she had lost all respect for her father or if she had been secretly hungering for power this whole time. He couldn’t be sure, but he knew this was exactly what he needed.

"I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but lately Father has not been acting like himself," Rosalia said. "His decisions are irrational, his views have shifted, and he keeps talking about protecting the clan and doing whatever it takes to make it great again. Because of that, he’s lost his mind. I don’t think he’s fit to lead anymore." Her voice wavered, as if she feared her father might somehow overhear her.

"Rosalia, this is a big step," Max replied carefully. "I don’t know if the people would even accept me." Now that he had an ally, he had to pretend the idea had never crossed his mind. Until he obtained the Ice Dragon Bloodline, he couldn’t tell her the truth, or she might end up despising him even more than her father.

He told himself he would come clean one day, but not today, not when she was happier than he had ever seen her. He also couldn’t reveal the bloodline power directly. He would have to bluff later and claim he had no idea how it had happened.

"They will accept you. All you need to do is follow my lead." She stood up and pulled him along with her.

"Wait, right now?" Max was stunned. He had at least expected her to come up with some kind of plan. Rushing into this would make it look like he had turned her against her father. He was afraid it would backfire spectacularly. "Hold up." He caught her hand and pulled her into his embrace. Her soft body pressed against his, trembling visibly.

"If we wait any longer, we might never—"

"Do you trust me, Rosalia?" Max’s eyes burned with serious intensity. His fingers gripped her waist tightly, as if afraid she might slip away.

"Of course I do," she replied, a little flustered. "I’m your wife now. You and I are forever bound. How could I not trust you?" She turned her face away, still reeling from yesterday’s events that continued replaying in her mind.

"Then I need you to wait. Give me two weeks. In that time, I’ll find a way to seize leadership from your father without staging a blatant coup, or else the people might think we’ve both lost our minds."

"I’m sorry..." Rosalia softly pressed her forehead against his chest. Now that she thought about it, if she came out openly calling for people to follow her over her father, they would surely believe she had gone mad.

"There’s nothing for you to be sorry about. He’s the one who should apologise for treating you so poorly." Max stroked her hair, then planted soft, reassuring kisses on top of her head. His eyes gleamed with a dangerous, calculating light.

He wanted to see how Henry would play his cards now. He had a feeling the old man would try to use him to safeguard this place, but Max harbored far greater ambitions. His sights were already set on the Fire Dragon Clan. He simply didn’t know their exact location yet.

That was what he needed to uncover in the next two weeks, and during those two weeks, he planned to march against them. If he could conquer their lands, who would dare oppose him when he demanded the leadership? Not even Henry would stand a chance. And once he claimed their bloodline, the old man’s fate would be sealed for good.

"Let’s go see what he wanted from us." Max gave her a few more tender kisses on the crown of her head before gently lifting her chin. Her eyes were slightly red and glistening. He wiped the tears away with his thumb. Rosalia followed Max out the door. She pulled herself together, the fire returning to her eyes. She had chosen to trust Max and whatever scheme he had in mind.

The moment the two of them stepped out of the hut, countless eyes turned toward them.

"Good morning, young chief and chieftainess," several clan members greeted with warm yet respectful smiles. After all, this was a small village, and the loud moans from the night before had carried far, causing many to smirk with knowing looks. Rosalia’s face flushed deep crimson as she caught those teasing glances. She swore to herself she would stay quiet next time.

Soon they reached Max’s hut, where Henry sat outside, gazing out over the forest.

"Father, you called for us?" Max spoke first, addressing him formally.

Henry turned his head, his face wearing a grave expression. Something was wrong, and both of them sensed it immediately.

"I’m truly happy for the two of you. Watching you yesterday, my dear Rosalia, reminded me of your mother and how I too was once young, bursting with passion and fire, ready to face any danger or difficult decision." Henry let out a heavy sigh, his gaze drifting toward the sky beyond the distant mountain range.

"Father, I don’t understand," Rosalia said. She could tell her father was behaving strangely again. She could no longer tell when he was being genuine and when he was lying. Had he ever been genuine? Fresh doubts began swirling in her heart.

"I received word last night that the Thunder and Wind clans have formed an alliance." Henry’s voice trembled as he spoke, and in that instant Rosalia’s knees buckled. Luckily, Max caught her before she could fall.

"What does that mean? Is Thor trying to rally allies to march against us?" Max asked, his tone deadly serious. He was already struggling to hold his own against one empire. Now two? This would wreck all his carefully laid plans.

"You’re exactly right. My spies in the Wind Empire have confirmed that their army is already assembling." Henry stood up, his face pale and drawn.

"How many?" Max asked.

"Two hundred thousand each..."