After the tragedy of the Blood Night, the Ether Empire entered one of the most uncertain periods in its history.
The newly crowned emperor, Alric von Voldigord, was still young when he ascended the throne.
He had inherited not only the crown of the empire…
But also the chaos left behind by his father.
The royal authority had been shattered.
The nobles had witnessed the madness of the previous emperor and now doubted the stability of the throne.
Across the empire, corruption had already begun to spread.
Some nobles ignored imperial orders.
Others used their influence to expand their own power.
And many believed that the young emperor would not be strong enough to control them.
But Emperor Alric did not give up.
Despite the heavy burden placed upon him, he worked tirelessly to stabilize the empire.
Day after day he attended council meetings.
Night after night he reviewed reports from distant provinces.
He personally sent aid to regions suffering from famine and poverty.
He passed laws to limit the abuse of power by certain noble families.
Yet the truth remained painfully clear.
The emperor was fighting this battle almost alone.
Many nobles pretended to obey his commands while secretly ignoring them.
Others openly mocked the emperor's kindness.
To them, compassion was weakness.
And a weak ruler was easy to manipulate.
Still, Alric refused to abandon his beliefs.
He believed the empire could still be saved.
But even the strongest heart grows tired when it stands alone for too long.
For years the emperor carried the weight of the empire by himself.
Until one day…
His life changed in the most unexpected way.
It happened during a grand gathering of nobles held within the imperial palace.
Among the many guests that day was the daughter of one of the most feared noble houses in the empire.
Helena Raventhorne.
She was the daughter of the Duke of Raventhorne, a man both respected and feared throughout the empire.
The Raventhorne family was known for two things.
Their overwhelming power.
And the dark legend surrounding their bloodline.
For generations, the Raventhorne bloodline had been rumored to carry a curse.
Many members of the family possessed extraordinary strength and magical abilities.
But those same powers often came with terrible consequences.
Madness.
Shortened lifespans.
Or uncontrollable magical outbursts.
Because of this reputation, many noble families kept their distance from them.
Some even believed the Raventhorne bloodline was cursed by the gods themselves.
Helena herself was surrounded by countless rumors.
Some claimed her magic was dangerously unstable.
Others said she carried the strongest curse in the family's history.
Many nobles whispered that anyone who married her would eventually face misfortune.
Yet when Emperor Alric first saw her…
None of those rumors mattered.
The moment his eyes met hers across the grand hall…
The world seemed to grow quiet.
Helena stood calmly among the other nobles, her silver hair falling gracefully over her shoulders.
Her eyes were sharp, intelligent, and filled with quiet confidence.
Unlike the other noblewomen, she did not seem interested in the politics and flattery surrounding the emperor.
She simply stood there, observing everything with calm curiosity.
For a brief moment…
Their gazes met.
And in that moment, something unexpected happened.
The emperor felt something he had not experienced in years.
Warmth.
After years of loneliness and responsibility, he had finally met someone who did not look at him with fear, pity, or political ambition.
She simply looked at him as a person.
That moment changed everything.
From that day onward, Emperor Alric found himself seeking opportunities to speak with Helena.
Their conversations began politely at first.
But gradually they discovered something surprising.
They shared the same ideals.
Both believed that power should exist to protect the weak.
Both believed that compassion was not a weakness, but a strength.
Slowly, their relationship grew closer.
Until finally, the emperor made a decision that shocked the entire empire.
He announced his intention to marry Helena Raventhorne.
The reaction from the noble houses was immediate and fierce.
Many nobles strongly opposed the marriage.
They warned the emperor about the curse of the Raventhorne bloodline.
Some even argued that allowing such blood into the royal family would bring disaster upon the empire.
But Emperor Alric remained firm.
For the first time since ascending the throne…
He refused to compromise.
He ignored the protests of the nobles.
And married Helena anyway.
The day Helena Raventhorne became the Empress of the Ether Empire, the entire political landscape of the empire shifted.
Some nobles were furious.
Others were fearful.
But none of them could deny one thing.
For the first time, the emperor had shown a strong and unwavering will.
Years passed peacefully after their marriage.
The emperor finally found happiness.
And the empire welcomed two royal children.
The first was a son.
The Crown Prince, strong and talented from a young age.
The second child was a daughter.
The Imperial Princess, beautiful and intelligent.
Both children showed great promise.
The empire began to believe that perhaps the royal family's strength was returning.
But fate had one more surprise waiting for the imperial family.
Several years later…
The empress gave birth to another child.
The third royal heir.
The Second Prince of the Ether Empire.
A boy who would one day change the fate of the entire world.
His name was—
Alex von Voldigord.