"Well, well… If it isn't Ragnar's replacent."
Just as I stepped to follow her, a sharp, mocking voice echoed from behind .
A wave of burning anger surged through my chest, but I quickly suppressed it.
I sighed, turning to face the man who had spoken.
He appeared to be in his late forties, his tall, well-maintained fra exuding an aura of power.
Long, vibrant olive hair cascaded down his back, framing his sharp features, while two elongated ears peeked through the strands, betraying his elven lineage.
His eyes—dark eralds filled with hatred—bored into .
The slight tilt of his head, combined with the way his gaze lingered, made it clear he found my existence either amusing or pitiful.
'Great. Another high-and-mighty elf.' I sighed again, turning to look at Diana, who stood at my side with no intention of helping .
"Do I know you?" I asked, my voice flat, though I already had an idea who he was.
His face contorted with fury at my casual tone.
Yep, it's so like you, Lorvil Leena Gerald.
"You sure are impudent for a heir," Narcos barked, his voice filled with malice. "How can you not know Sir Lorvil?"
"Is he important?" I asked, not hiding my smirk. "Doesn't strike as one."
"You speak as if you are important," said Kelvhan, stepping forward.
He bore such a striking resemblance to Lorvil that it was easy to imagine this was what Lorvil had looked like in his youth.
"Sure," I replied, shrugging off his glare. "I don't really care what an elf says."
"I comnt you to say that in the royal palace of the elves," Narcos scoffed, slowly walking towards . "Are you not afraid?"
"I don't see anyone here worth fearing," I replied, turning fully to face him. "Including you, Narcos."
Narcos chuckled darkly. "Are you really challenging in my own kingdom?"
"Tell , does it seem like it?" I asked, smiling, leaning towards him slightly.
[]
'A little bit of both.' Even though I want to punch him, I also want the upper hand.
If he does attack , I would use it to my advantage.
If things go according to what I want, then I can force the elves to get close to the World Tree.
Narcos's breath beca ragged, his hand curling into a fist.
"Before you do anything foolish," I warned, my tone icy, "rember—I am the heir of the Segyal Highbloods."
"The Segyal Highbloods an nothing now," Lorvil interjected, his voice dripping with contempt. "They're just hollow remnants of their forr glory."
He took a step closer, his voice dropping to a whisper. "As worthless as you are."
I smiled, looking behind him. "Really now? What do you think, Lady Mariam?"
Lorvil flinched slightly as he abruptly turned around, only to find the place empty.
"Oh? Is that fear I see?" I chuckled softly. "Fear towards the Segyal Highbloods."
I walked back towards Diana, just in case they both attacked together.
"You elves are all the sa," I said, gazing back at them. "Look tough on the outside but weaklings on the inside."
I glanced at Rosalie, who was frowning as she looked at .
'Well, there goes my good impression in her eyes.' "Am I wrong, Diana?" I asked, looking at the woman standing beside .
She didn't reply, instead staring into my eyes.
Perhaps she was judging ?
Or maybe judging Mariam's decision to have as their heir?
Who knows.
"Narcos," Lorvil said coldly, his gaze not leaving mine, "throw him out."
"But, Lord, what about Lady Mari—"
"Do as I say!" he roared, cutting Narcos off with a glare.
Narcos quickly clapped his hands, and the next instant, guards started to fill the room.
They quickly began to encircle us.
"I asked only one thing—to be respectful. Yet you didn't," Diana said, looking at .
"I did my best," I replied, averting my gaze.
She sighed, rubbing her temples.
"Stop."
A calm voice echoed throughout the throne room.
Everyone's gaze turned towards the door as a lady walked in.
My body reacted on its own.
I instinctively took a step back as I looked at her with an old man behind her.
I felt my breath beco shorter as I noticed her gaze on .
She was dressed in all black—a color rarely worn by the elves.
"Lady Niressa."
Everyone within the room bowed toward her with respect.
She slowly walked inside the throne room, observing everything.
"What is the aning of this?" she asked, looking at Narcos. "Why are the guards here?"
"King Narcos wants to throw out the heir of the Segyal Highbloods," Diana quickly explained, earning her focus.
"Why?" she asked, turning to look at Narcos. "Did he do sothing?"
"I am punishing him—"
"For what cris?" she cut in, grasping the situation. "For not lowering his head or for hurting your little pride?"
"With all due respect, I am the king here," Narcos said, walking towards his throne. "I can do what I like."
"Kneel."
At her single word, a suffocating pressure filled the room.
Narcos groaned in agony as he collapsed to his knees, helpless against her power.
"Father!"
Both his children and wife rushed to his aid, only to freeze in place as Niressa glanced at them.
"You haven't changed one bit, have you?" she said, stepping toward Narcos. "Still pretending to be worth sothing."
"Hah... Huff... Huff..."
The suffocating pressure lifted, and Narcos gasped for air, struggling to steady his breath.
She looked down at him. "Know your place, Narcos."
She looked around the place as if trying to find soone.
"Kelvhan."
"Y-yes?"
"Where is Nyria?" she asked, turning to look at him.
"Lady Elife called her," Lorvil replied in his stead.
"I see," she replied while Rosalie ordered every guard to move out.
Finally, Niressa turned towards , her gaze boring into .
She started walking towards without uttering a word.
I drew in deep breaths to steady myself, resisting the overpowering urge to take a step back.
'I hate this feeling.' I don't know what is happening to my body.
It feels like my muscle mory is kicking in just by being in her presence.
She finally stopped in front of , and even though she was shorter than , I felt intimidated by her presence.
"We finally et," she said, keeping her face as stoic as ever.
But her eyes...
...They were brimming with hate.
Hate towards .
Even though I don't understand why, I tried to compose myself by taking in a deep breath.
"It's a pleasure to et you, Lady Niressa—"
"What's your na?" she interrupted coldly.
"Uh... Himl."
'Huh?' A flash of anger rushed past her eyes and sothing else as well... Sadness?
"Lady Mariam chose that na, didn't she?" she asked, staring into my eyes.
I nodded without thinking.
She turned around and said, "Go back. We don't need an outsider here."
"I can't do that," I said without missing a beat. "As the heir of Segyal Highblood—"
"It doesn't matter," she interrupted, still not looking at . "This eting is for the future of the elves. From what I know, you're not soone who cares to see elves thrive."
"That's a harsh accusation," I replied, keeping my tone even.
"Am I wrong, though?" She turned back to face , stepping closer. "Are you not the sa person who once celebrated not being an elf?"
"I did not a—"
"You do," she cut in, looking deeply into my eyes. "And even if you don't, it's better for to be cautious about you, don't you think?"
"...."
I turned silent, staring back at her.
"I won't be repeating myself," she said coolly, looking at . "Go back. There isn't any need for you here."
"Why should I?" I asked back, not trying to back away.
"Because Segyal Highbloods are dead and aren't needed here," she replied, looking into my eyes. "And we don't need their pretender of an heir."
"Then why are Gerald Highbloods here?" I shot back, glaring at her. "I do know about the promise Ragna—"
"Shut up, Himl," Diana quickly interjected, squeezing my hand. "That's enough."
"Does that feel good?" Niressa asked, with a slight smile.
A smile that would have looked beautiful if it wasn't forced.
Suddenly, my body flinched, and the mana around surged, flooding my senses with a chilling warning of impending death.
She was ready to kill .
"Enough, all of you."
A voice echoed within the throne room.
The mana stopped its warning as I turned to look at the woman walking inside the room.
Mariam quietly looked around before walking toward .
"Go back to your academic trip," she said, her tone leaving no room for argunt.
I frowned. "But what about the eting?"
"The Solace Kingdom is playing gas with us," she replied, glancing briefly at Niressa. "They've requested to postpone the eting until tomorrow."
Niressa kept on staring at before she turned around, walking out of the throne room.
I let out a tired sigh, stopping the urge to sit down on the ground.
I fucking hate that woman.
[]
'I do.' The [Main Antagonist] of the First Core. The one who massacred the Gerald Highbloods.
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