72. Siblings in the Imperial Palace of Ancorna

User: Ravenna Solarius / Joy Cha Kim

Reputation Level: 61 (7034 / 9400 EXP)

Current Reputation Points: 44,454

Titles:

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Ravenna frowned slightly as she reread the glowing interface before her.

“My points doubled.”

She scrolled through her status, taking note of the numbers. The surge had happened shortly after the city’s household tap system was officially launched—something she had expected. What caught her attention, however, was how the gain had slowed to a near halt.

The increase had been rapid at first, but now, despite the continued waves of praise and gratitude from the citizens, her reputation points barely moved.

“Maybe there’s a limit to how many points you can gain from the same people within a certain timeframe.”

She tapped her fingers rhythmically against her desk, deep in thought. The system wasn’t infinite—it had rules. But if that was the case, it meant she couldn’t rely on repeated actions to farm reputation indefinitely. She would need new accomplishments, and new ventures to keep her momentum going.

Her gaze flickered toward the piles of parchment spread across her desk.

The Innovation and Initiative Program still needed to be finalized before she departed for the imperial capital. The upcoming royal wedding had placed a strict deadline on her schedule. If she didn’t complete it before leaving, progress in Jola might stagnate in her absence.

With a sigh, she leaned back against her chair, rolling her shoulders to ease the stiffness from hours of work.

Her attention drifted toward her bed.

Nestled beneath the thick covers, Marie lay sound asleep. Her small form was curled up, her breathing soft and steady. Exhaustion had finally caught up to her after spending the entire day enduring dress fittings. She had tried to stay awake, still muttering complaints about suffocating corsets and heavy skirts, but sleep had claimed her mid-sentence.

Ravenna’s lips curved into a faint, almost wistful smile.

The sight of Marie’s peaceful face reminded her—this world is all I have now.

Her past life, the life of Joy Cha Kim, was gone, nothing more than a distant memory. There was no going back, no waking up in her old world. But perhaps that wasn’t such a tragedy.

She had a new name. A new purpose. A new life.

And as long as she remained in this world, she would live it to the fullest.

With renewed determination, Ravenna turned back to her work, the candlelight casting a golden glow over her desk. There was still much to do, plans to complete, projects to oversee, and a main event of the story waiting beyond the horizon.

Sun Palace, Capital City, Ancorna Empire

The grandeur of the Imperial Palace was on full display as more than sixteen carriages rolled through its towering gates, their polished exteriors gleaming under the afternoon sun. Five of the carriages bore the emblem of Hilda Kingdom, while the remaining eleven carried the golden insignia of the Ancorna Empire—a radiant sun encircled by a ring of swords.

The arrival marked the long-awaited return of First Prince Nolan Solarius, who had spent the past two years in Hilda Kingdom alongside his wife, Princess Frederica Hill of Hilda, and their young son, Hans Solarius.

As the lead carriage came to a halt, the door was opened by a royal attendant, and Prince Nolan stepped out first. He was a tall man with sharp, well-defined features, his black hair and dark eyes marking him unmistakably as a true-blooded Solarius. His imperial bearing was effortless, honed by years of training and discipline, yet there was a quiet edge to his gaze—a subtle wariness cultivated by court life.

Following behind him, Princess Frederica descended gracefully. Her golden-blonde hair shone like spun sunlight, cascading in elegant waves over her shoulders. Her cool blue eyes scanned the palace entrance with a practiced composure, though the slight stiffness in her posture betrayed her unease. Unlike her husband, whose roots were deeply tied to the empire, she was an outsider—a princess of a foreign land now bound to the intricate web of imperial politics.

Trailing behind them was their son, Hans Solarius, a small boy of about four years, his black hair a striking contrast to his mother’s golden locks. He clutched the fabric of Frederica’s gown tightly, peeking out cautiously from behind her as they approached the palace entrance.

Standing at the top of the grand marble staircase was Emperor Andrew Solarius himself, flanked by palace officials and high-ranking nobles. Despite his advancing years, the emperor remained an imposing figure, his regal bearing unshaken by time. His dark eyes, much like his son’s, carried both wisdom and the weight of rulership.

As they approached, the emperor’s stern expression softened slightly.

“My, my, Hans! You’ve grown quite a bit since I last saw you!” His voice, deep yet warm, carried easily over the courtyard.

Hans stiffened at the attention, gripping his mother’s gown even tighter. After a brief pause, he peeked out hesitantly and mumbled, “G-Good morning, Grandfather...”

A low chuckle escaped Emperor Andrew’s lips. “Good morning, indeed!”

Princess Frederica offered a polite smile and curtsied. “Greetings, Father-in-law. It has been quite some time since I last set foot in the capital.”

The emperor gave her a curt nod, though his attention remained fixed on his grandson. Frederica glanced down at Hans, gently rubbing his back before speaking again.

“I apologize. Hans is quite shy. He was only an infant when he last saw you, so it may take him some time to grow comfortable.”

“No need to apologize,” the emperor said, his gaze unwavering. “Trust is not earned so easily, especially from such an esteemed young man.”

At his words, Hans peeked up again, his small fingers twitching against the fabric of his mother’s gown.

“Indeed, Father,” Prince Nolan interjected, stepping forward. “It brings me great relief to see you in such fine health.”

Emperor Andrew finally shifted his gaze to his son and gave him a slow nod. Then, without preamble, he stated, “You should head inside. Landon and William arrived earlier today. Serena will be here in a few more days. As for Ravenna—she will be arriving in a week.”

A brief silence followed.

Prince Nolan blinked, his expression momentarily frozen. “Ravenna? You invited Ravenna?”

Princess Frederica, standing beside him, stiffened slightly, though she masked it well.

The emperor’s lips curved into a knowing smile, though his dark eyes gleamed with something unreadable. “But of course. She may be exiled, but she is still your sister. It is only natural that she attends Serena’s wedding.”

A fleeting look of discomfort crossed Frederica’s face. Nolan, too, hesitated before nodding stiffly. “You… You are right, of course.”

With that, the imperial entourage moved inside, the grand palace doors swinging open to welcome them into the lavish corridors of the Sun Palace.

The opulence of the Imperial Dining Hall was unrivaled—its towering chandeliers cast a golden glow upon the long banquet table, set with the finest porcelain and silverware. The air was thick with the scent of freshly prepared delicacies, and murmured conversations echoed beneath the high-vaulted ceilings.

As Prince Nolan and his family made their way inside, they were immediately approached by a tall man with broad shoulders and a playful smirk.

“Well, well. The mighty scholar has finally returned,” the man remarked with an amused gleam in his sharp eyes.

Prince Landon Solarius. His dark hair and piercing gaze marked him as another of the emperor’s sons, though unlike Nolan, his expression always carried a mischievous edge.

Nolan let out a short laugh. “Of course—”

“Oh, I wasn’t talking about you,” Landon interrupted smoothly, his smirk widening. He then crouched down to Hans’s level, ruffling the boy’s hair. “I was talking about the mighty Prince Hans.”

Hans blinked in surprise, looking up at his uncle with wide eyes. Frederica chuckled, finally relaxing slightly.

“It’s nice to see you again, Your Highness Landon,” she greeted with a polite nod.

“And you as well, Frederica.” Landon straightened and fell into step beside Nolan as they continued toward the main table.

Once they were slightly distanced from the rest, Nolan lowered his voice and murmured, “What’s this about inviting Ravenna? I thought Serena explicitly ensured she wasn’t on the guest list?”

Landon sighed, his demeanor fading just a fraction. He responded in the same hushed tone, “I don’t know. He made the decision himself. This is one of his games again.”

Nolan clenched his jaw. Their father was always calculating, always scheming. If he had invited Ravenna to the wedding, It meant something.

And whatever it was, it would soon come to light.

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