"Your Highness," John’s voice came from the other side of the heavy wooden door. "An important guest requests an audience."

  Ravenna, who had been lost in thought, rubbed her temples. The morning had barely begun, and yet she already had matters to deal with. She let out a slow breath before responding.

  "Come in."

  The door creaked open, and John stepped inside, bowing respectfully. "Your Highness."

  Ravenna turned to face him, her piercing gaze locking onto his. "You’ve come at the right time, John. I needed your counsel on a matter that falls within your expertise."

  John hesitated for a brief moment before shaking his head. "I’m sorry, Your Highness, but we have an urgent matter. A guest is requesting an audience first."

  Ravenna’s expression shifted into a scowl. She had too much on her plate to be dealing with unannounced visitors. Crossing her arms, she arched an eyebrow. "Oh? And who in the world is troubling me so early in the morning?"

  John lifted his head, meeting her gaze. "Duke Kevin Morgen has requested a meeting with you, Your Highness."

  Ravenna’s eyes widened slightly, and she straightened up.

  "Uncle?" she muttered under her breath, momentarily taken aback.

  She hadn’t expected him—not at all.

  She quickly masked her surprise and regained her composure. "Why is he here?" she mused in her mind before shaking her head. "Never mind. Tell him I will see him in a few minutes."

  John gave a sharp nod. "Understood." He bowed once more before swiftly exiting the room to deliver the message.

  The moment the door shut behind John, Ravenna’s fingers curled into a loose fist as she paced across the room.

  Duke Kevin Morgen shouldn’t be here.

  In the original novel, none of the vassal state nobles were invited to the capital for the imperial wedding. The empire had grown complacent in its rule over the vassal states region, outright dismissing the concerns of its vassal states. This blatant disregard had only fueled anti-imperial sentiment, something Prince Landon later capitalized on when he rebelled against Crown Prince William.

  But now, Duke Morgen is in the capital.

  Ravenna frowned. This was a serious deviation from the original plot. And it wasn’t just that.

  If she remembered correctly, Duke Kevin Morgen was supposed to stay in his territory and focus on matters concerning the Eight-Floor Dungeon in the Morgen Duchy. William tries to take control of the dungeon’s management, to strip Duke Morgen of direct authority over it but Duke Morgen refused and had to deal with William’s representatives trying to take over the dungeon in the Estra Kingdom’s official court.

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  Duke Morgen never attended the wedding. He remained in Morgen Duchy, unaware of the imperial schemes at play. And, in the original storyline, he died.

  He was supposed to fall when the Conley Empire launched a surprise invasion in his territory during the wedding in the capital.

  Ravenna gritted her teeth. That event was a major turning point in the novel.

  Duke Kevin’s death led to his daughter, Aria Morgen, inheriting the title of Duchess. In her grief, she swore loyalty to Crown Prince William, pledging to aid him in his war against the Conley Empire in exchange for revenge.

  But now?

  Now, Duke Morgen was here. Far from his territory.

  Which meant—

  His death was no longer a certainty. And if he didn’t die, the entire political landscape of the empire would shift.

  Ravenna exhaled slowly, her mind racing with possibilities. The domino effect of this single change could be catastrophic—or an opportunity.

  “The story has totally derailed,” she muttered under her breath

  She inhaled deeply, forcing herself to steady her racing thoughts. "Let's not panic. Think positively," she murmured, absently biting her thumbnail.

  Yes, this was unexpected, but unexpected didn’t necessarily mean disastrous.

  Duke Kevin Morgen wasn’t just any noble. He was her maternal uncle, the younger brother of the late Empress and one of the few steadfast supporters of Ravenna’s right to the throne.

  If he had traveled all the way to the capital, then it wasn’t for a casual visit. He had come for her.

  That meant only one thing— He was here to discuss the future of her faction.

  if Duke Kevin Morgen still supported her… If he was still willing to stand by her claim, then she wasn’t out of the race yet and she might also be able to use him in her scheme against the coming Magical Beast attack.

  Her fingers curled against the polished wood of the table.

  In the novel, Duke Morgen had died before he could ever take action. His premature death had sealed the fate of his duchy, leading to his daughter's desperate plea for protection under Crown Prince William.

  But now he is alive. If she could ensure his survival, he could become one of her greatest assets.

  A Few Minutes Later – Audience Room, Ravenna’s Chambers, Imperial Palace

  The scent of freshly brewed tea drifted through the air, mingling with the rich aroma of polished wood and parchment. Sunlight streamed through the grand windows, casting golden hues across the ornately carved furniture.

  Seated across from Ravenna, Duke Kevin Morgen exuded the quiet confidence of a man who had weathered countless storms. his piercing blue eyes, so reminiscent of the late empress, held a calculating glint. He took a leisurely sip of tea, studying Ravenna over the rim of his cup.

  “It’s good to see you doing well despite all the chaos that unfolded last year, Your Highness,” he finally said, setting the cup down with a soft clink.

  Ravenna met his gaze with a cool, composed expression. “It’s good to see you as well, Uncle. I heard the past few months haven’t been easy for you either.”

  Duke Morgen let out a wry chuckle, leaning back in his seat. “That’s an understatement. The eight-floor dungeon caused more trouble than I care to recount. But it’s been dealt with.” He tilted his head slightly, his expression shifting from casual to intent. “Now then, Your Highness, I didn’t come all this way just to exchange pleasantries.”

  His eyes sharpened, a knowing smirk tugging at his lips. “I went through considerable effort to secure an invitation to the wedding. So let’s get straight to it, shall we?”

  He placed his hands on the armrests of his chair and leaned forward slightly. “What’s your plan? How do you intend to return to the succession race?”

  Ravenna let out a small chuckle, unhurried as she swirled the tea in her cup before taking a slow sip. The warmth spread through her, but her mind remained as sharp as ever.

  “So I take it that our faction is still intact?” she asked, a knowing glint in her deep black eyes.