19.

Dante couldn’t say a word.

“Not even knowing what she likes…”

“…”

“Isn’t it selfish behavior on your part, Dante? Why do you define Yulia’s happiness within your own thoughts?”

Until the end, he couldn’t respond to Serenity.

* * *

The day for the Heirs’ meeting arrived.

As disasters intensified, their meeting was seen as a solution to urgent situations.

Wyatt was the first to arrive. He entered as he stared intently at the still-undimmed horizon.

Their symbols were engraved on the round table. When the final successor of Water was determined, their seats were decided at the table. The lines connecting each symbol converged and merged at the center of the table.

As he took his seat, flames flickered up from the symbol of Fire.

“You’re here first, Your Highness. It’s been a while.”

Next to arrive was Clagen. As Clagen took his seat, light emanated from the symbol of Earth.

“It’s unusual for Dante not to arrive first.”

“I see.”

Dante, who always valued principles, preferred to arrive before the agreed time. Not a single moment late. Being 30 minutes early was the norm.

However, today, Dante entered the room with just one minute left until the agreed meeting time.

“Greetings.”

With a simple greeting, Dante took his seat, and the symbol of Wind sparkled.

“We’re down to one.”

“…She might not come.”

“I called her, so she’ll come. She can’t refuse the royal summons.”

Wyatt recalled the warning he gave to Yulia at the last meeting. If Yulia didn’t want to further tarnish the reputation of the Reivka family, she trembled and nodded vigorously at the insistence to attend regularly.

At the appointed time, someone entered the room, their silver hair swaying.

“Ah, hello.”

Yulia sat down, concealing her feelings as if walking on thin ice. As soon as she took her seat, the symbol of Water sparkled.

“Let’s all gather our strength.”

They met once a week to sit around the table and channel their powers.

The palace was located near the center of the empire, designed for a moderate climate. Among them, this building was situated in the middle of the continent.

The circulation varied depending on the individual’s current abilities, personality, and potential power.

The reason the four Heirs spent time getting to know each other was also because of this. The more they understood each other, the more they could harmoniously share their strengths.

Inadvertently, the four Heirs couldn’t help but learn about each other.

There was no precise understanding of how the four elements harmonized. They could only guess by listening to reports of natural disasters and unusual weather.

Yulia felt the cold gaze of their eyes on her. She clenched her trembling hands into fists to hide them.

“Why am I being treated like this?”

The place she initially thought would be her breakthrough had now become a prison, trapping her.

“Natural disasters continue to increase.”

“Has there ever been a time when natural disasters continued to occur even after the four Heirs were determined?”

The ten-month period was a grace period. There had always been erratic weather until the Heirs were determined and became familiar with each other.

However, it was rare for such a level of natural disasters to persist.

“…That’s a bit strange.”

Dante paused for a moment. He recalled the records he had searched for regarding the previous Heirs.

The information about the first Heirs was undoubtedly accurate. However, the more he read the old records, the more questions arose.

To preserve the old records for a long time, the royal family transferred them from old paper to new paper. Every detail was meticulously inspected by the palace staff to ensure no information was lost during the process.

Choosing a successor was considered to be the will of the gods. It was said that defying the gods would result in divine punishment. Therefore, if the process was mishandled, punishment would be inevitable. That was the belief of the people.

…However, Dante felt that something was missing in the middle.

“There was never a time when natural disasters continued like this.”

“But?”

As Dante trailed off, Wyatt corrected him immediately.

“It’s true that the frequency has been steadily increasing.”

Yulia stared at Dante with a surprised expression. She didn’t expect Dante to support her because she had never imagined he would.

“I’m stating facts, not offering praise.”

Dante drew a line as if sensing Yulia’s feelings.

There was a brief silence. Clagen was the first to speak.

“I’ll look into it as well. I’m not someone who brings up such matters lightly.”

The four Heirs had a duty to maintain balance and harmony between the seasons and weather. If Dante had begun to doubt this disaster, there must be a reason.

Clagen, as a fellow noble and successor, trusted Dante enough to inquire about it.

“Indeed.”

The same went for Wyatt.

Yulia foolishly remained silent, feeling as if she didn’t exist among the three men conversing as if she weren’t there. She had nowhere to interject.

…Why?

It was natural for them to share information to maintain balance. Yulia tried to engage in conversation with these three men to find her husband. She possessed everything—family background, appearance, and the abilities as the Water successor. She was undoubtedly an excellent bride candidate.

She didn’t even seek love. She knew none of these men were foolish enough to marry based solely on love or appearance.

She felt satisfied watching them coldly reject Julie. It felt refreshing to deny Julie’s existence, which she couldn’t understand.

It was true that she had tried to kill Julie when she fell into a coma. However, the continuous visits from these three men prevented her from doing so. It was as if they knew she was trying to kill Julie.

She thought it was just a passing interest. Just a show put on for external appearances.

However, even after a month passed, then two months passed, their behavior remained unchanged.

Instead, they took even more care of Julie, attaching a physician and a priest to her.

‘Strange.’

Since the moment Julie collapsed until now, their attention had continued. No, it seemed to have intensified.

‘Why?’

Yulia pondered this question repeatedly before abruptly turning her head.

…Julie was no longer the most important issue for her.

‘…I can’t take it anymore.’

Since becoming the Water successor, it seemed like everything would be fine.

Even though natural disasters continued to increase, it wasn’t proven to be her fault. She didn’t even know how to prove it.

She was tired.

It was difficult.

‘Serenity Zeros.’

Yulia recalled Serenity, who had visited her mansion.

Most people in high society kept their distance from her. But Serenity was different.

…Although her interest in Julie was suspicious, she was kind to Yulia as well.

‘How long has it been since I mingled with a noblewoman?’

If she could maintain a continuous relationship with Serenity, her image might improve.

Serenity’s family and status. If such a Serenity associated with her, the gaze of others would inevitably change.

Serenity still seemed to not fully understand Yulia. Or maybe it was sympathy for Julie. Either way, it didn’t matter. It was like choosing between hot and cold water.

Serenity seemed concerned about Julie, who was in a situation similar to Yulia’s past self. It might be good to use this.

…Perhaps.

Using the clueless Serenity Zeros might sting a bit.

Her conscience had long been abandoned.

If she could survive, she would do anything.

* * *

“It must have been quite challenging.”

It seemed like even Clagen had experienced it. Dante readily admitted.

“…Yes.”

“I thought it might be beneficial for us to share the information we’ve exchanged.”

Clagen finally took his seat properly. His features sharpened. Only his pupils sparkled within the deep darkness.

“You thought there might be mutual gain.”

Clagen was a merchant. He never spoke a word without purpose. To him, words were information, and information led to money.

Clagen chuckled.

“That’s correct.”

“…”

“I’ve taken another step.”

“What do you mean by that…”

“No, I didn’t say anything. In fact, I’ve only received several blows.”

“…”

“I thought it would be easy. I hadn’t been awake for long, didn’t know much about society, and didn’t properly understand the person I am.”

The Julie he observed was a closed-off person.

She didn’t easily open up to others. While she was willing to sacrifice herself for someone, she wouldn’t reveal much about herself.

He knew he had hurt her. She had trusted him.

‘But I thought it couldn’t be helped.’

He was the one who had caused her pain. But everyone carries wounds in life.

He was no exception.

Being hurt by someone meant not easily trusting people and not revealing oneself.

By building deeper and stronger walls against people, he had kept them at bay. So, even when Serenity said Julie was close to her, he didn’t fully believe her words.

Because Julie would never open