Ravenna’s Imperial Faction had once been a formidable force, filled with influential nobles and powerful allies who placed her leagues ahead of the other contenders for the throne. In the original timeline, it was this very advantage that had led her to ascend as Empress, crushing all opposition in her path.

  However, after his regression, Eugene had set his sights on her first and foremost. He understood that if Ravenna remained in the race, William would never take the throne. That was why he had orchestrated her downfall, ensuring her exile and dismantling her influence before she could consolidate her power.

  Duke Morgen sighed, setting his teacup down. “Most of the nobles who once stood by you have already pledged their loyalty to either Landon or William after your exile.” His tone was measured, but there was an unmistakable hint of disappointment in his voice. “Many saw no benefit in standing by an exiled princess.”

  Ravenna leaned back in her chair, her fingers tapping lightly against the armrest. “That was to be expected.” She had never been naive enough to believe that loyalty in the imperial court was absolute. Nobles followed power, not sentiment. “But that doesn’t mean they can’t be persuaded back.”

  Morgen nodded slightly, conceding the point. “True, but there are still a handful of nobles who remain loyal to you.”His gaze sharpened. “We will need to gather them and fortify our position before we make any significant moves.”

  Ravenna, however, had other priorities. She straightened, her dark black eyes gleaming with determination. “We will deal with that in due time, Uncle. But there’s something far more urgent we need to discuss first.”

  Duke Morgen raised a brow, intrigued. “Oh?”

  Outside Garden, William’s Chambers, Southern Wing, Imperial Palace

  The afternoon sun cast golden streaks over the palace gardens, its light reflecting off the delicate porcelain teacups placed between two men. William, dressed in an embroidered dark blue tunic, leaned forward, his expression laced with suspicion. Across from him, Eugene sat calmly, though the tension in his gaze was unmistakable.

  “I can’t shake this feeling,” William muttered, swirling his tea absentmindedly. His sharp eyes flickered with unease. “She’s up to something.”

  Eugene exhaled slowly, his fingers tapping against the table in thought. “Duke Morgen couldn’t have known that her Highness Ravenna would be here. Even we were unaware that His Imperial Majesty would extend an invitation to her.”

  William scoffed, setting his teacup down with a sharp clink. “Then why in the world did Uncle go through such trouble to get an invitation himself?” His voice grew more agitated. “He willingly gave up the dungeon rights for a mere wedding invitation. That’s not something he would do without a deeper motive.”

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  Eugene’s gaze darkened. “You suspect he planned this from the start?”

  “Of course he did.” William’s jaw tightened. “He’s using this opportunity to reconnect with Ravenna. If they manage to revive their faction, our entire plan will be in jeopardy.”

  The air between them grew heavy with unspoken tension. Eugene clenched his fists. He had spent considerable time orchestrating Ravenna’s downfall, ensuring her exile so that William could ascend unchallenged. Yet now, she was back in the Imperial Palace, and despite his careful calculations, he couldn’t predict her next move.

  Eugene forced a smirk, though his eyes were cold. “Whatever she’s planning, I won’t let it succeed. You focus on the goal, Your Highness.”

  William gave a curt nod. “Yeah, yeah. I know.” His gaze flickered toward the towering palace walls in the distance. “We’ve just begun experimenting on the Abomination. If all goes well, we’ll have results soon enough.”

  Just then, a shadow fell over them. A messenger approached, bowing respectfully before whispering something into William’s ear.

  William’s expression immediately darkened. He turned to Eugene, his lips curling into a grimace. “I was right.”

  Eugene narrowed his eyes. “What is it?”

  William leaned back, a smug yet dangerous glint in his gaze. “Uncle is in a private meeting with Ravenna in the West Wing. Right now.”

  Eugene’s fingers tightened around his teacup, his mind racing.

  A Hidden Underground Warehouse Near the Imperial Palace

  Beneath the grand, bustling streets of the imperial capital, deep within a labyrinth of forgotten tunnels, lay a massive underground warehouse. The air was thick with the stench of damp stone, blood, and rotting meat.

  Towering metal cages, each twice the size of a man, were stacked in long rows, forming a nightmarish prison. Within them, monstrous magical beasts snarled and howled, their glowing eyes filled with rage and hunger. Some clawed relentlessly at their enclosures, while others growled in low, guttural tones, sensing the unnatural energy in the air.

  The dimly lit chamber flickered with an eerie glow as torches pulsed with faint orange light.

  Two cloaked figures moved methodically through the warehouse, their boots barely making a sound against the stone. Hooded and shrouded in secrecy, they carried sacks of raw meat, tossing chunks into the cages. The beasts lunged at their meager meals, the sounds of snapping jaws and tearing flesh echoing through the cavernous space.

  After completing their rounds, the two figures gathered at the center of the chamber, speaking in hushed tones.

  “It’s in a week, right?” the first hooded man asked, his voice gruff and impatient. He kicked a stray bone aside as he sighed. “It’s getting harder to feed these things ever since Prince William dismantled the underground black market. Supplies are running low.”

  The second figure, slightly taller, let out a low chuckle. “Don’t worry,” he said in a calm, almost amused tone. “You won’t have to worry about feeding them much longer. Word from the higher-ups is that Princess Serena’s ship has just docked at one of the empire’s ports. The time for release is near.”

  The first man’s lips curled into a smirk beneath his hood. “Hah. Finally, Hopefully, the Emperor himself gets torn apart in the chaos.” He let out a sinister chuckle, already picturing the bloodshed that would soon unfold.

  The second man, however, remained composed. “Unlikely,” he said, crossing his arms. “The Emperor is a tough one, but it doesn’t matter. The real objective of this attack will be completed. That’s all that matters.”

  For a moment, silence filled the chamber, save for the restless growls of the imprisoned creatures. Then, without another word, the two figures turned and vanished into the darkness, each disappearing through separate exits.