Chapter 7: Substitute (2)

Chapter 7 - Substitute (2)"Elina, I have an idea—what if you replaced me in the succession?" When Elina heard those words, her expression instantly froze. Her eyes fixed on her brother in disbelief. "What did you say? Replacing you?" She pointed at herself with an index finger. "Me?" Nolan smiled widely, nodding eagerly. "Yes, you, Elina! Will you take my place?" Without hesitation, Elina shook her head vigorously, refusing outright. "No, that's impossible! How could I replace you? Even if I wanted to, it still can't be done!" Unlike the princes, the princesses had the choice to participate in the succession—or not. However, most chose to stay out of the Great Velmora Empire's most prestigious event. This decision was not without reason. For thousands of years, the Great Velmora Empire had been ruled by powerful emperors, all of whom were men. The chances of a princess winning the succession to the throne were slim. Some tried, but most were swiftly defeated by the princes. After all, the throne's succession depended heavily on the support of noble families—Dukes, Marquises, Viscounts, Earls, and the like. Clearly, these families would almost certainly never choose a princess to ascend the throne. As if expecting her reaction, Nolan did not give up. He slowly rose, walked over to her, and sat beside her. Taking Elina's right hand in his, he gently rubbed it, looking at her with deep affection. "Are you sure you want to refuse? Elina, I know you better than anyone. You are someone who yearns to be a ruler like Father, aren't you?" Elina's body stiffened at those words. Noticing this, Nolan couldn't suppress a satisfied smile. As her twin brother, he had spent more time with Elina than anyone else. He knew her better than anyone. While he preferred a laid-back, carefree life, Elina was strong-willed, courageous, and unyielding. More importantly, she harbored great ambition. Nolan vividly remembered how Elina once confided in him that she dreamed of becoming the ruler of the Great Velmora Empire, just like their father. Though many years had passed, those words were still etched in his mind. "I..." Elina began to speak but paused. The truth was, what Nolan said was accurate. Becoming emperor had been her childhood dream. However, as a princess, she knew the chances of that happening were nearly impossible. That was why she had buried the dream deep inside and never spoke of it again. But now, hearing her brother's words, the dream resurfaced, bringing both excitement and fear. Nolan knew his plan was nearly complete, but Elina needed a little more encouragement. "Are you afraid Father won't approve?" He asked gently, his fingers brushing through Elina's hair. Although Elina didn't respond, her expression spoke volumes. With a small smile, Nolan spoke with confidence. "You don't need to worry about that. Leave it to me." "I can't guarantee a hundred percent success in the succession, but I will do everything I can to help you defeat our siblings. How does that sound?" Elina paused for a moment, then took a deep breath, her face hardening with resolve. "Since you've said that, I'll trust you, Brother!" Her hands clenched into fists, a clear sign of her determination. She knew full well that her brother was incredibly talented and sharp, on par with princes like Aldric, Cedric, Adalen, and the others. But Nolan's lazy nature had led him to remain in the shadows, which only fueled the spread of negative rumors about him across the empire. Nolan chuckled softly when he heard her response. "Well done, my dear sister!" he said, ruffling Elina's hair. "Together, we'll win this battle!" In his heart, Nolan couldn't help but think, Here we go! For the sake of lazy, carefree days, Elina must not lose this succession! *** Inside his workspace, Ragan sat at his chair, signing a mountain of documents. The Great Velmora Empire, the largest on the continent, spanned millions of square kilometers, demanding constant attention. Without it, threats from enemy kingdoms or malicious individuals eager to undermine the empire could go unnoticed. After half an hour, he paused, stretching his stiff body. "Huh... I'd rather be on the battlefield than deal with these damn papers," he muttered, letting out a long sigh. Even with his immense physical strength, the monotonous task still drained him. "By the way," he whispered, leaning back in his chair. "I wonder what that brat will do next." Recalling Nolan's desperate expression, he struggled to contain his laughter. It had been a long time since he'd seen Nolan like that, and it brought him an unexpected sense of joy. Just as he was basking in his amusement, the door to his workspace flew open with a loud bang, and the one person he least wanted to see walked in with his usual lazy and insolent demeanor. "Father, I've come to request a change of terms!" Ragan: "..."