— The Weight of Power
Deep within the heart of the Samarian Empire, beyond layers of guarded gates and towering walls, stood the imperial palace—
A symbol of absolute authority.
At its center lay the King's Court.
Vast, silent, and filled with pressure.
Rows of ministers stood on both sides, their heads slightly lowered, their expressions serious. The atmosphere was heavy, as if even breathing too loudly would be considered disrespect.
At the highest point of the hall—
Sat the Emperor.
Smaguel Klowen.
He rested upon the throne, his presence alone enough to suppress the entire court. His gaze was calm, yet carried an invisible weight that no one dared to meet directly.
Below him, a minister stepped forward and bowed deeply.
"Your Majesty, we bring forth an important matter."
Smaguel's voice was indifferent.
"Speak."
The minister hesitated for a brief moment before continuing.
"A marriage proposal… has arrived from the Northern Empire."
A faint ripple passed through the court.
Another minister stepped in.
"It is from the Crown Prince—Jabron Thokill."
Silence deepened.
"The proposal," the minister continued carefully, "is for Her Highness, Princess Imaria Klowen."
For a moment—
Nothing changed.
Smaguel remained still, his expression unreadable.
But those who knew him well could feel it—
A slight shift in the air.
"The Northern Empire…" another minister spoke, choosing his words cautiously, "currently holds three top experts at the late stage of Ascension."
A pause.
"In contrast, our empire…"
"…has only one at the middle stage."
The implication was clear.
Strength.
Pressure.
Threat.
"This alliance," the minister continued, "could stabilize relations and prevent future conflict."
Another added, "The Crown Prince himself is highly talented. At the age of 250, he has already reached the middle stage of Void Refinement, with ice spiritual roots."
A rare genius.
On paper—
An ideal match.
Yet no one in the hall looked relieved.
Because everyone knew something else.
His reputation.
Silence lingered again.
Then—
Smaguel spoke.
"No."
A single word.
Firm.
Absolute.
The ministers froze.
One of them gathered courage and stepped forward again.
"Your Majesty… this decision may—"
"I said no."
This time, the pressure behind his voice became clear.
No one dared to speak further.
Smaguel's gaze turned slightly colder.
"I will not hand my daughter to a man like him."
The hall fell into complete silence.
The Crown Prince of the Northern Empire—
Powerful.
Talented.
But infamous.
Especially among women.
Smaguel knew this better than anyone.
And he had no intention of sacrificing his only daughter for political convenience.
The ministers lowered their heads.
The discussion ended.
But the problem…
Remained.
—
Far from the court, within the inner palace—
In a secluded and heavily guarded area—
Stood the Palace of Laminia.
A place reserved only for one person.
Princess Imaria Klowen.
Inside a quiet chamber, cold air filled every corner.
The temperature was unnaturally low.
Frost spread across the walls.
The floor shimmered faintly with thin layers of ice.
At the center of the room—
Sat a young girl.
Her eyes were closed.
Her expression calm, yet strained.
Her breathing was uneven.
Around her, streams of cold energy moved uncontrollably, as if trying to escape.
Her body trembled slightly.
She raised her hand, trying to stabilize the flow.
But the energy resisted.
Her voice was soft, barely audible.
"…not now…"
The cold intensified.
A sharp crack appeared on the ground beneath her.
Her condition—
Was unstable.
Princess Imaria possessed something extremely rare.
A Yin Immortal Body.
A constitution both powerful… and dangerous.
Combined with her single ice spiritual root, her cultivation speed far surpassed ordinary geniuses.
At her age—
She had already reached the late stage of Foundation Building.
A level that many struggled to achieve in decades.
But this power came with a cost.
The cold within her body was not something she could fully control.
If left unchecked—
It could consume her.
Her fingers tightened.
Her breathing became heavier.
The frost climbed higher along the walls.
For a moment—
It seemed as if everything would freeze completely.
Then—
Slowly…
The energy began to calm.
The cold receded.
The room returned to stillness.
Imaria opened her eyes.
Clear.
Cold.
Yet deep within them—
A trace of gentleness remained.
She lowered her gaze slightly.
"…again."
This wasn't the first time.
And it wouldn't be the last.
Outside her chamber, guards stood silently, unaware of the struggle happening within.
Inside—
She sat alone.
A princess of the strongest family.
A genius admired by many.
Yet bound by a power she could not fully control.
Unaware that beyond these walls—
Decisions were being made.
Decisions that would shape her future.
And soon—
Her fate would become intertwined with someone she had never met.
Someone from the lowest corner of Lamul.
A name unknown to the world—
Nahil Dragsen.