Chapter 532: Chapter 532: Elina’s Promise

"Hey, Rafine, aren’t you tired? You’ve been working too hard, you know?"

Sitting in her chair, Elina watched Rafine with concern.

Rafine, sorting through documents, smiled reassuringly.

"Don’t worry—I’m fine. I used to handle the Austin family’s work, so this isn’t too much trouble. How about you? Haven’t you been losing sleep these past few days?"

Elina slumped against the desk, her right cheek resting on its surface as her arms sprawled across it.

"Yes... I’ve been having trouble sleeping. Every day there are so many documents to finish, since the reports have to be ready by tomorrow," she replied, her voice heavy with fatigue.

At that moment, the town of Virella was growing rapidly. Many merchants came to buy land or conduct business, knowing this town was destined to become a major hub in the future.

This was a stark contrast to the past, when she had to spend heavily just to attract a few merchants.

The standard of living had also improved, and the townspeople no longer lived in extreme poverty.

All of this, of course, was thanks to the massive investments by the Blue Moon and White Lotus trading houses.

Rafine smiled at Elina’s exhausted yet endearing behavior. She rose slowly and walked to the other end of the room to prepare some tea.

When she returned, she placed the steaming cup on Elina’s desk.

Elina’s face lit up, and she murmured softly, "Thank you."

Rafine nodded and returned to her seat, sipping her tea.

Winter wasn’t over yet, and the chill outside still seeped through the windows.

Elina took a sip of her own tea, feeling a wave of refreshment.

"Rafine," she called, looking at her, "if I win the throne battle, you have to be my prime minister. No refusals."

A playful smile curved her lips.

Rafine froze for a moment, then burst out laughing.

"That’s impossible. I’m the heir to the Austin family. How could I possibly become prime minister?" She shook her head helplessly.

The position of prime minister was highly strategic and critical. Whoever held it could not have any ties to the Duke families.

Otherwise, the balance between the four dukes could collapse in an instant.

After all, despite the peaceful facade, the four dukes carried a dark history with one another. Without the palace as a neutral center, a war might have broken out long ago.

"Just give the Duke of Austin’s position to your sister. But you have to stay by my side, okay?" Elina’s eyes sparkled with hope.

She knew the only people she could truly trust were Rafine and Nolan.

Of course, Nolan was unreliable. There was no way he’d want the prime minister’s position; if he had, she would have offered it to him instead of Rafine.

Rafine paused for a moment, then nodded.

"Alright. If you win the throne battle, I’ll become prime minister," she said casually.

Whether Elina could actually win remained uncertain. Her opponents were Cedric and Aldric—two names not to be underestimated.

Even so, Rafine had no doubt she could do it.

"Oh, right! I almost forgot! If you keep your promise, I’ll set you up with my brother later," Elina said, practically bouncing with excitement.

Rafine froze. Her face flushed as red as a ripe tomato.

"You... what are you saying!?" she protested, her voice tinged with shyness.

Elina rolled her eyes, took a sip of tea, and said, "Why are you still hiding your feelings, Rafine? Do you think I don’t know? Back at the palace, I noticed how you looked at my brother differently than you do at other men. And Mother often mentioned how excited you always were to hear stories about him. It’s all too obvious, isn’t it?"

In the past, Elina would never have allowed another woman to come between her and her brother.

But if it was Rafine... she didn’t mind at all. Their bond was close, almost like sisters.

Rafine bit her lower lip, her face growing even redder.

Even in the cold air, her cheeks burned, her embarrassment impossible to hide.

It was clear she had feelings for Nolan. These feelings were new, and sometimes she asked herself, "Do I really love him?"

No matter how much she tried to deny it, her heart couldn’t lie.

"But you have to be careful," Elina said, her tone serious. "Even though my brother seems uninterested in romance, I think he does have feelings for someone. I remember seeing him daydream by the window, staring at the night sky. When I asked him why, he only smiled and said he missed someone he couldn’t name. I think... it was a woman."

Her words cut through Rafine like a knife. Her breaths came fast as she recalled Nolan’s expression on the ship’s deck that night.

It had been a look of longing, of sadness... and perhaps regret. She didn’t know if that’s exactly what Elina meant, but it seemed to fit.

’Nolan,’ she whispered, her voice barely audible. ’Who is the one you miss?’

...

"This is so annoying!"

Crash!

Aldric slammed a glass onto the floor, the shards scattering across the room.

He was breathing heavily, his red eyes burning with hatred and frustration.

Suddenly, Novaria appeared at the door. Her face froze in shock at the scene before her.

"Brother, what are you doing?" she asked, bewildered.

She stepped inside, quickly scanning him from head to toe, and let out a relieved sigh. Fortunately, he wasn’t hurt.

Aldric sank onto the sofa behind him, trying to calm himself. With his teeth clenched, he muttered, "I just received a letter from Father. It says I’m forbidden from returning to the palace for a week, and my allowance will be cut for three months because of my previous actions."

Novaria slowly sat down on the sofa opposite him, her eyes widening slightly at his words.

"The actions you’re talking about... don’t tell me this has something to do with New Year’s," she guessed.

Aldric nodded heavily. "Yes... it’s because of New Year’s."

Novaria was silent for a moment. She had expected this outcome.

Her brother had carelessly disrupted the New Year’s Eve decorations in the capital, clearly angering their father.

At the time, public sentiment toward the imperial family was extremely negative.

Fortunately, Nolan and Seira had managed to handle it.

Otherwise, Aldric’s punishment would have been far harsher than just being barred from returning home and having his allowance cut for three months.

"You really need to control yourself," she warned. "If you want to attack someone, aim for Cedic, Elina, or Adalen—they’re your rivals in the succession. Going after others, like Nolan and Seira, is practically inviting death, Brother. Nolan has just returned from the northern region victorious, and you’re only making things harder for him. Father is being lenient with you this time; otherwise, the consequences would have been far worse."

Her words left Aldric speechless. She made perfect sense.

With a long, heavy sigh, he nodded.

"I understand."