Daniel quietly closed his eyes.
[Fallen Vision]
For a moment, everything blurred, then the world changed. His perspective was no longer his own. Daniel looked at the world through Rynor’s eyes.
The first thing he saw was a magnificent royal hall. High ceilings made of white and golden wood. Massive columns carved with thousands of ancient elven symbols. Living branches of sacred trees passed through the walls, filling the hall with a soft green light.
At the end of the hall sat a girl. Daniel said nothing for a few seconds, because he almost didn’t recognize her.
Ilaris.
But at the same time, she was no longer the Ilaris he knew. The last time he had seen her, she had been a shy, withdrawn, pressured princess.
But now, her posture had changed, her gaze had changed, even her silence seemed different.
The white and silver royal dress she wore, instead of hiding her under the shadow of the royal family’s power, seemed designed to display her status. The center of attention in the entire room was just one person.
Ilaris.
’She really looks like a future queen,’ Daniel thought to himself.
At that moment, Rynor, who was standing respectfully before the desk, opened his mouth.
But the voice that came out was not his own.
"You’ve changed a lot during this time."
Ilaris raised her head, her gaze fixed on Rynor for a moment.
Then a quiet smile appeared on her face, a smile Daniel hadn’t seen in a long time.
"We haven’t talked in a long time."
"If someone hadn’t been so stubborn, we would have talked much sooner." Daniel sat on a nearby chair through Rynor’s body.
Ilaris’s smile faded slightly. She was silent for a few seconds, her gaze losing its confidence, as if she didn’t know how to answer this question.
"Are you angry with me?"
"I’m not angry." Daniel shrugged.
"But it wouldn’t have been a problem if you had asked for help when you needed it."
Ilaris lowered her gaze, her fingers moving quietly on the edge of the desk.
"I didn’t want to be a burden on your shoulders again." She didn’t want to be like before, a useless girl who only caused trouble for her two friends, Andreas and Daniel.
For once, she wanted to stand on her own feet and try by herself.
For a moment, neither of them said anything. Daniel knew well that this sentence was not spoken out of pride.
Ilaris just didn’t want to always be the princess who needed to be saved. She wanted to stand on her own feet, and apparently, she had succeeded.
He had no problem with that, in fact, he preferred it, because it meant less trouble for him as well.
Daniel smiled faintly.
"Still, it seems you’ve succeeded. Congratulations on becoming a candidate for succession."
"Thank you." This time, Ilaris’s smile was more genuine.
Then her gaze fixed on Daniel.
"The path wasn’t easy, but it’s clear you haven’t been idle either." For a moment, her emerald eyes narrowed.
"Your aura... has become strange. So calm and vast, like I’m looking at an endless ocean. What happened to you?"
Daniel answered sarcastically.
"Oh, the princess has reached a level where she can notice such things? I didn’t think you could look into my existence. A few things happened that made me a bit stronger."
This showed Ilaris’s power, because he was currently only controlling Rynor’s body, and yet this girl had managed to glance at his own power.
That meant this girl could directly recognize his existence and look into its depth. It was clear she had improved a lot.
Then Ilaris laughed. A genuine laugh. Not because this man had mocked her, but because she could feel he was trying to be humble.
"A bit? What I’m feeling is far beyond ’a bit.’"
"How is Andreas?" After a few moments of silence, she suddenly asked.
This time, Daniel saw the change. It was only for a moment, but he saw it. The face of the princess who had been sitting before him just moments ago suddenly softened, showing loneliness and longing.
"I haven’t spoken to him since we parted." Then she said quietly.
"But he’s probably busy securing his position as heir. After all, he still has one rival."
Ilaris slowly exhaled.
"I miss him, but I can’t go to see him."
"The princess no longer has time for her old friends?" Daniel said with a mocking smile.
"You know it’s not like that." Ilaris shot him a sharp look, clearly angered by these words.
Then she leaned back in her chair tiredly.
"The Emperor doesn’t take his eyes off me for a moment. Every move I make is watched." Even though this place, the elf lands, should be like home to her,
she felt no freedom or peace here. Every day, she was caught up in competition and political conflicts with her rivals.
The best days of her life had been spent with Andreas, in the Lionheart family, in peace, with no worries about anything.
Then she shook her head.
"Anyway, was there a problem that made you want to see me? And I’m sorry about before. I was asking the Emperor for permission to undergo the Supreme Elf Trial."
"Supreme elf Trial? What’s that?" Daniel asked curiously. He had never heard of such a trial before, which was natural.
Ilaris was silent for a few moments, as if choosing the right words.
"A trial held directly by the World Tree. Over the past tens of thousands of years, only a few elves have been allowed to enter it."
"Even most royal princes have never been deemed qualified."
Daniel became a bit more curious.
"And the reward?"
"The blood of the World Tree. The World Tree has wept blood only five times. So far, two people have managed to obtain two drops." This time, Ilaris’s gaze became serious.
That sentence alone was enough to show the importance of the matter.
"Each drop of that blood can elevate an elf’s bloodline to the highest possible level, a level even their ancestors never reached."
"But many who entered the trial never returned."
Daniel thought about her words for a few moments.
"If you actually succeed, your position as heir will probably be guaranteed." Then he said.
The highest level of elven bloodline is no joke. This is a bloodline that could rival the first elf. Such a thing is no joke.
Aside from the status and position Andreas would gain, her potential would practically become endless.
A bitter smile appeared on Ilaris’s face.
"If I succeed, and if I can accept the Emperor’s condition to gain entry."
"What condition?" Daniel sharpened his gaze.
Ilaris was silent for a few seconds.
Then she looked directly into his eyes.
"That I marry one of his sons."
The room fell silent.
For the first time since the conversation began, Daniel gave no answer.
He wasn’t surprised, wasn’t shocked. His gaze just grew colder, because he immediately understood what this meant.
It was a political deal. The Emperor didn’t want the power to leave the main royal family.
Even if Ilaris became the heir, she would still have to remain chained to the royal family.
A few seconds passed, and then Ilaris smiled quietly. A smile that carried exhaustion in it.
"I knew something like this wouldn’t come for free. Power always has a price."
But unlike before, there was no trace of despair in her voice. She had just accepted the reality, a reality a candidate for the throne had to face.
"And what are you going to do? Accept?"