Unrivaled in another Chapter 47: Former Empress

Chapter 47: Forr Empress

[: Caelira POV :]

As our embrace faded into quiet, and the grief dulled into sothing softer—but no less heavy, I found my voice again.

"...And what of the Elf Continent?" I asked gently, watching the way Aeriwen’s expression shifted the mont the words left my mouth.

Her eyes, which had just held sorrow and resolve, now clouded with hesitation... and sothing darker.

A shadow of uncertainty.

She lowered her gaze, and I could feel her weighing her words.

"There’s too much, Mother," she said softly at first. "Too much has happened since the day you vanished."

I remained silent, letting her speak.

I could sense the pressure buried deep beneath her tone, the burden of a crown she was never ant to carry so soon.

"The Zero Organisation..." she began, her voice hardening, "...they’ve sunk their roots deeper than we ever thought possible’’

’’They didn’t just act from the shadows, Mother. They made allies... from within."

My breath caught. I knew what she ant.

"Elves?" I asked slowly.

She nodded. Bitterly.

"So of our kin. Highbloods. Even so of our armies’’

’’Whether they were bribed or enchanted—I don’t know’’

’’But they’ve turned. And worse... so of them sit in positions of power."

She glanced toward the marble windows, where the light of the World Tree barely reached anymore.

"I don’t even know who to trust."

My heart ached for her. For the child forced to beco a Queen amidst betrayal and rot.

"And the Elders?" I asked carefully.

Her eyes narrowed.

"They watch ," she said, her voice sharp and laced with venom.

"Every step. Every word. They smile at court, bow when others watch... but in truth, they wait for

to falter."

Aeriwen clenched her fists.

"They want a puppet. Not a ruler. I’m too young, too untested in their eyes. They think that without you, I can be shaped. Controlled."

"Why haven’t you removed them?" I asked, though I already suspected the answer.

She answered with a bitter laugh.

"Because I can’t."

Her gaze darkened, fury restrained behind diplomacy.

"They have the Sacred Elves under their command—the elite among elites’’

’’One hundred of our strongest warriors, bound by ancient oaths not to the throne... but to the Eldertree’s bloodline."

"Only a few of them still heed my command. The rest... would stand still if I were assassinated in my court."

My lips thinned into a tight line.

How deeply had this corruption seeped while I was gone?

But Aeriwen wasn’t finished.

"The continent is fracturing," she went on. "The gates are opening across the outer forests and the inner cities. Too many... too fast."

I could feel the anxiety beneath her words now. The sheer weight she carried every day.

"We’ve lost contact with three border provinces already’’

’’Invaders are pouring through the rifts, devouring lands that once flourished under your reign’’

’’The mana fields are thinning. Our sacred groves are dying. The World Tree is weeping sapblood, and no druid has been able to heal it."

She took a breath and then added quietly:

"So even whisper that your disappearance... was an on."

That made

pause.

"What?" I asked, stunned.

"They think your disappearance had brought ruin," Aeriwen said bitterly. "That your soul has been corrupted. They don’t say it aloud—not yet—but I’ve heard the murmurs. Even among nobles."

"Sigh," I hissed, fury blooming in my chest.

’’I never thought that my disappearance could have affected this much"

Aeriwen looked at , her face stricken not with fear, but with exhaustion.

"And still, I must pretend. Smile. Bow. Rule with half a court trying to unseat

and half a world on fire."

I stepped forward and placed a hand on her shoulder.

"You’ve done more than I could ever have asked," I said softly. "And you have endured what no one should."

She looked up at , weariness in her eyes.

"But I don’t know how long I can keep this kingdom from being torn apart."

"Then we’ll do it together," I said, voice firm.

Her lips parted slightly in surprise.

I saw a glimr of sothing new flicker in her eyes—hope.

And yet, as we stood together in the fading gold of the Palace, I knew that reclaiming this kingdom... would require war.

Not only against the Zero Organisation and the slavers, but against traitors wearing the faces of friends.

The Elf Continent was broken.

And blood would be spilt before it healed.

No, that isn’t a war.

This will be a reclaimation, sothing that I should have done earlier on.

I looked at my daughter—this young Queen who had borne far too much upon shoulders still soft from youth.

She had weathered storms ant for warriors.

Worn the crown in my absence like armour, even as knives gathered at her back.

And yet... I could see it in her eyes.

She was tired.

Weary of the endless balancing act.

The hidden enemies.

The poisoned court.

She was strong—stronger than I could have imagined—but she shouldn’t have had to be.

She was too young to be an Empress, she had still much too learn, and only the n one day could she wear the crown proudly.

But for now, leave it to , my daughter.

I reached out, brushing a strand of silver hair behind her ear.

"You’ve done more than enough, Aeriwen."

Her lips parted slightly, eyes widening.

"It’s ti," I continued, my voice deepening, resolute.

"Ti for the Elf Continent to rember who sits on the throne—the Empress of the Golden Era"

I stepped forward, each word like the drawing of a blade.

"I will remind them. The Elders, the nobles, the traitors—they’ve grown too bold in my absence’’

’’Too comfortable and they have mistaken my silence for death... and forgotten who I am."

My eyes flashed with fury long buried, now awake again.

"I will spill blood if I must. I will burn down the roots of their sches’’

’’Let them taste fear again—let them rember the one who once made even dragons bow with respect."

Aeriwen stared at

in awe, her lips trembling with emotion, but I raised a hand before she could speak.

"But..."

The fire dimd slightly.

"...before I can do any of that," I murmured, my gaze falling to my hand—the one still etched with black sigils, cursed with the seal that once turned

into property.

I clenched it tight, feeling the burning throb still lingering beneath skin and bone.

"...I need your help, my daughter."

She blinked.

"To remove this curse seal."

Her breath caught, and I saw her magic stir with fierce protectiveness.

"I’ve tried to suppress it with all I have," I admitted.

"But the relic used against

ca from the Forgotten Lands. It twisted the slave mark into sothing far deeper... sothing that has carved itself into the roots of my spirit."

Aeriwen’s hands reached for mine, holding them tightly.

"Don’t worry, mother, I’ll help you break it, and I have the perfect tool for it