Sista’s heart gave a sudden jolt.
She had never imagined that Steyat would pose such a question at a time like this. Her eyes flickered slightly, and she remained silent for a moment before slowly speaking.
“Father, I…”
Her words came to an abrupt halt as she suddenly realized that the answer to this question concerned not only her personal fate, but also the future of the entire Kingdom of Ansels.
‘To think he would suggest giving the throne to me… but according to the order of succession, that position should belong to Moria.’
Although both she and Steyat knew the secret of the Heart Core and that Sista was equally qualified to become the King, she could not afford to let her guard down.
‘Was the King’s statement a test? A joke? Or was he being serious?’
‘This man seems to be on my side for now, but will he go back to Moria’s side one day?’
In the world of the Blood Clan, there was no such thing as family or friendship — only eternal interests. Once their interests diverged, a fallout would be the only inevitable outcome.
At that thought, Sista took a deep breath, struggling to keep her voice calm.
“Father, I have never thought about becoming the King. I only wish for Ansels to be peaceful and stable. If I can contribute to that goal, I will give my all regardless of my position.”
It was a standard, formulaic answer delivered with a wary tone. It was impeccable.
Steyat gazed at Sista with mixed emotions.
“But Sista, you are broad-minded and have a long-term vision, which Moria lacks…”
“I will be blunt, Father. That idea is utterly childish.”
The old King stood there stunned for a long while. He had been hit where it hurt and was left speechless. Indeed, in front of his brilliant second daughter, none of his thoughts could remain hidden.
Seeing the old King fall silent, Sista continued.
“Why don’t you think about it carefully? Moria has spent years building her influence in the Palace, and her roots are deep. If the order of succession is suddenly changed now, it will only trigger political instability, or even civil war. As for me, though I possess the Holy Seal Soul Core, I do not have a Duke as a benefactor like Moria does. I have never truly been involved in politics and have no prestige to speak of. How could I possibly convince the masses?”
Steyat’s expression shifted between light and dark. He knew that every word Sista said was reasonable. Yet, the moment he thought of Moria’s ambitious gaze, his heart was filled with unease.
Nowadays, he and his wife, Moria, were leading separate lives in the same bed. Other than his daughter, Sista, Steyat no longer knew whose strength he could rely on.
Above the dome of the Conference Hall, dark clouds gathered in dense layers like heavy black stones, tightly sealing the narrow skylight and blocking out almost every hint of light.
The two people on either side of the long table remained silent, neither looking at the other. They were like two black shadows, nearly merging into the dim environment.
After a long wait, Sista let out a soft sigh.
“Father, this is also what I specifically came to discuss with you. If you truly want to stabilize your royal power, you can no longer spend your days doing nothing.”
As she spoke, the black-haired girl stood up elegantly and picked up the draft from the table, taking it back into her hands.
*Tap. Tap. Tap.*
She walked rhythmically around the long table, gradually approaching Steyat’s seat. Her black-gloved fingertip brushed lightly along the edge of the table.
“Weakening Moria’s influence cannot be done overnight. You must weaken the Queen’s Faction step by step and gradually push them out of the Palace.
As for the matter of succession, you should set it aside for now and decide once the time is right. After all, the stability of Ansels is the top priority.”
Any strategy required long-term planning and careful layout. This was exactly how Moria had pried loose the foundation of Steyat’s rule bit by bit, waiting for the opportunity to topple the entire tower of royal power.
That woman was like a venomous snake, radiating a dangerous aura at every moment.
The old King pondered for a moment and felt the plan was feasible, so he nodded. “Fine, I will do as you say. But… what exactly should I do?”
A hint of a smile flashed in Sista’s eyes; she had clearly already prepared her plan.
“Regarding that, I do have some ideas.
Father, do you remember the veteran noble officials who were pushed out of the Palace by Moria shortly after the Old King passed away? Though they are old, they still possess strength, and they have always held a grudge against Moria.
If you can reinstate them to balance the power of the Queen’s Faction, you will achieve twice the result with half the effort.”
Steyat’s eyes lit up, and he clapped his hands. “That is a wonderful idea! I will arrange it immediately — but are you sure they will stand with us?”
Sista’s expression remained unchanged, looking entirely confident.
“How will you know if you do not try? They have been suppressed by Moria for years and have long harbored resentment. As long as you give them enough benefits, they will certainly be loyal to you.
Furthermore, they still care about the stability of Ansels and will not easily do anything to harm the Kingdom’s interests.”
A look of joy finally appeared on the old King’s face. For years, the criticism from others regarding his political incompetence had weighed on his heart like a heavy stone. Although he craved pleasure, he did not want to be accused of being useless.
In other words, the King did not necessarily want to do hard work, but he wanted to leave behind a good reputation.
“My dear daughter, this is truly the grace of the Divine Abyss Goddess! I am lucky to have you by my side!” Steyat said with great emotion. He reached out and patted Sista’s shoulder firmly, moved almost to the point of tears.
Sista only gave a shallow smile and said nothing more before standing up and walking toward the door. The hem of her skirt trailed behind her like a light, dancing black butterfly.
The moment she turned around, the smile on her face vanished, replaced by a trace of subtle worry in her eyes.
She knew in her heart that these measures were merely temporary solutions. The future of Ansels remained blurred and full of variables.
Their opponent was by no means an ordinary person. While they were carefully planning, Moria’s side was surely arranging other schemes in the shadows.
Moreover, even among the group of nobles she intended to win over, there were some strange members of the Blood Clan whom she still could not see through.
‘That eccentric old man… what should I do with him?’
As Sista pondered, she tightened her grip on the roll of parchment in her hand.
In that list of nobles she had carefully screened and believed might be loyal to the King, there was one name that was particularly eyesore.
That person was a member of the Blood Clan who had once colluded with the Rebel Army to plot a rebellion.