The Third Prince Of Darkness

Catherine's uncle was secretly gathering his supporters and gaining more backing. Moreover, throughout the long history of the Tiamat Empire, it had never been governed by a woman, which harmed Catherine's image. The fact that Catherine was currently at the academy indicated that her power on the throne was actually weak.

After all, Catherine was about to turn 20 and should have been declared empress by now. However, she had been sent to the academy under various pretexts.

Fortunately, there were still many noble houses that were loyal to the late emperor and supported Catherine, but they were also being secretly eliminated by her uncle's supporters.

Additionally, since the death of the late emperor, the influence of the Tamerid Empire over Tiamat had increased, leading some Tiamat nobles to believe that the old emperor's death was a murder, and that the perpetrators were from the Tamerid Empire.

For this reason, it was inevitable for Catherine to enter the throne war. Like everyone else who wanted to take the lead in the Tiamat Empire, Catherine found herself amidst political intrigues and secret alliances. Every day she spent at the academy allowed her uncle to strengthen his grip on the throne. This meant that time was running out for Catherine.

However, another important issue was coming into play: Catherine's character. Although Catherine appeared to be emotionless and was known as the Ice Princess, that wasn't entirely true. According to the information I received from the servant guild, Catherine was an extremely generous person. She loved to help orphans and the underprivileged, often sacrificing her own allowance.

All of Catherine's personal court ladies were from victimized little girls. This suggested to me that Catherine might actually be a very kind-hearted person, which is why I had been involved in various charitable initiatives across the continent, especially those aimed at helping women through my companies for the past two years.

I had even established shelters in many kingdoms where women could live safely.

Just for this reason, a few weeks ago, Catherine had sent me a special thank-you letter, which I found to be very sincere. Although the initial excuse for sending the letter was my companies' investments in the Tiamat Empire, most of the letter was about the assistance I had provided to girls in need.

In any case, I was seen as a wonderful man in Catherine's eyes, and this would make it easier for me to approach her.

My primary goal was to establish a romantic relationship with Catherine if possible and bind her to me, but if I couldn't realize that chance, at least I could gain a powerful ally by helping her. Even though the outcome was uncertain, Avanne's situation was somewhat similar.

A romantic relationship had developed between us when I made her a viscountess–or at least, that's what I thought…–and this had allowed me to acquire tobacco fields for my cigarette company at a cheaper price.

With those thoughts set aside, I began walking toward the main door of the building. At the entrance of the unity building was a beautiful garden featuring various flowers, and in the center of this garden stood a magnificent fountain made of stone and marble. I tore my gaze away from this view and entered the unity building.

As soon as I stepped inside, I noticed that, unlike the exterior, the interior was simply but elegantly decorated. I was in a spacious hall; the walls, although a plain white, were adorned with finely crafted wooden panels. The floor was tiled with black-and-white marble, and this simplicity gave the space a sophisticated atmosphere.

Small but stylish chandeliers hung from the ceiling along the corridor, sparkling like gold as natural light streamed in.

In the center was a large area filled with strategically placed white marble statues. These statues must have represented important figures of the Tiamat Empire. The ceiling was low, supported by slender, intricately carved columns. All this simplicity seemed to remind me of the serious purpose the building served. Rather than a magnificent grandeur, a decor style emphasizing functionality prevailed.

Additionally, on the wall directly opposite the main door hung the emblem of the unity building: a flag featuring a striking white lion, a symbol of the Tiamat Empire, on a blue background, known for its rare beauty and strength.

Since I entered, I had felt many eyes on me and soon noticed a young and beautiful woman approaching me. She was likely a member of these unity and had long chestnut-colored hair. She was quite short and had a slim figure, but intelligence and attentiveness were evident in her eyes. She wore a simple but elegant dress resembling a barracks uniform.

When she approached me, she made a slight bow and began to speak respectfully.

"Welcome, Mr. Arthur. May I ask why you have come here?"

"I would like to have an important meeting with Princess Catherine, if she is available."

The woman smiled lightly and bowed her head. "I believe she is available right now, but I still need to go ask."

After finishing her words, the young woman quickly turned around and walked down the long, simple corridor, disappearing from view. While waiting for a short while, I examined the atmosphere of the barracks more carefully. Simplicity was everywhere, but that didn't mean Catherine had compromised on power.

On the contrary, I felt I was in an environment that reflected the Ice Princess' cool demeanor and precise strategic thinking.

As my eyes roamed over the fine details of the marble statues, footsteps were heard again from behind the door. When the young woman reappeared, she approached me with a slight smile.

"Princess Catherine has agreed to meet with you. Please follow me; I will take you to her presence."

Following the woman, we walked down a long corridor. The echo of our footsteps resonated in the extensive area. Finally, we arrived at the front of a large, intricately carved wooden door. The woman gently knocked on the door and then opened it, inviting me inside. As I stepped into the room, I noticed that Catherine's chamber had a strange atmosphere from the other places.

The cold, white walls and large, wide windows allowed plenty of light to fill the room. In the center stood a large desk, and behind the desk, at that moment, I saw Catherine. The woman known as the Ice Princess was even more impressive than she appeared.

Her bright golden hair looked as if it were made of purest gold, and her deep blue eyes seemed to be taken from the center of the ocean. Despite the mild temperature, she had a sweet little nose that was slightly flushed, full lips, and cute little freckles. The strands of hair that fell over her ears added an attractive touch to her appearance.

Although the glass she held in her small hands looked tiny, it appeared large in her delicate grip.

When Catherine noticed me, she lifted her head with a slight smile. "Mr. Arthur, welcome," she said. Her voice was fresh and clear, like a cold winter morning. "Though I am curious about the reason for your visit, I am glad to see you here today."

I took a few steps towards her and bowed my head slightly in greeting. "Princess, I would like to discuss something important with you, but first I would like to ask if I could have a moment alone." I said in an extremely respectful tone. After all, she was the princess of one of the most powerful empires on the continent.

Catherine continued to speak with me, her expression softening with a slight smile. "Of course, Mr. Arthur," she said, making eye contact as she requested the others in the room to leave, yet she did so with utmost grace.

As Catherine shifted her gaze to another corner of the room, I seized the opportunity to look at her more closely. There was still something that surprised me; despite her youth, the weight of the responsibilities she bore was visible on her shoulders. She was skilled at hiding her emotions, but it was possible to sense something beneath the depth of her eyes.

The loneliness and responsibilities of a princess vying for the imperial throne were reflected in her expressions.

Once the door closed behind us, Catherine returned to her work with several files on her desk. "If you don't mind, you can tell me why you came here," she said without lifting her head. The coldness in her voice was still present, but the curiosity she held was evident.

"Princess, I don't like to beat around the bush or prolong the matter unnecessarily. So I will directly say why I am here," I said, managing to capture Catherine's attention even more with my words.

"The situation in the Tiamat Empire is deteriorating for you day by day. As your uncle's power increases, your authority on the throne is in danger of being shaken. Although there are many noble families that support you, I know you are at risk of gradually losing their backing."

Catherine's eyes froze momentarily at my words. In that moment, I could see that despite her strong and courageous image, the anxiety within her surfaced. The cold expression on her face softened slightly; however, she still seemed hesitant to fully reveal her emotions.

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