My Dragon Cultivation System: Rise Of An Empire

Nyella stepped closer to Lord Edgar. Her voice trembled as she asked, "What do you mean by that? That the throne is lost?"

Lord Edgar was still on the floor, his body shaking as he sobbed. He could not bring himself to utter the words.

"You are scaring me right now," Nyella pressed him. "Please, my lord, tell me something. Explain what you just said."

Lord Edgar struggled to find his voice. When he finally spoke, it was weak and broken. "The King… the King…"

Nyella screamed. "The King what, my lord? The King did what?"

Lord Edgar lifted his head slowly, his face wet with tears. "The King is dead," he said at last.

The room fell into silence as everyone froze.

Nyella staggered two steps back. "No… no," she whispered. "I do not believe you. I refuse to believe you. The King is dead? That King is my father. Do you realize what you are saying?"

"I know, your highness," Edgar said with deep sorrow. "I know. But it is true. Your father, King Tharyn, is dead."

Nyella shook her head violently. "It is not true. No!." Tears streamed down her face as her voice broke. "No!"

Aeron stepped forward quickly and held her hand tightly in his own. She leaned into him, sobbing.

Ser Devic, who had been silent all this while, finally spoke. "What are you saying, my lord? Tell us clearly, what exactly happened?"

Edgar kept his head down, unable to answer. Then King Rollo said, "Please, Lord Arbiter, stand on your feet and explain yourself. Tell us what you mean when you say my friend, King Tharyn, is dead."

After a long pause, Lord Edgar slowly stood up. His face was pale. He took a breath and began.

"Ivarion, especially the capital, has fallen into political turmoil. The palace was invaded… by Lord Vanyr."

"What?" King Rollo exclaimed. "Is that not the Lord Chancellor?"

Edgar gave a weak nod. "Yes… the very same."

Nyella's eyes widened in shock. "Wait, are you saying Voryn Vanyr attacked the capital?"

"I am afraid it is so, your highness," Edgar answered.

"That is nearly impossible," Ser Devic said. "It is unlikely that anyone could invade the palace of Ivarion, in the very heart of the capital? It should not be possible. How was he able to do it?"

Edgar shook his head slowly. "That is the very question we all ask. There was no sign of him, no warning. It all happened last night, while you fought the battle of Bones. We never expected it. I rode all night to bring this news."

"Even so," Devic argued, "it makes little sense. An army large enough to attack the capital should have been seen long before it reached the palace. There must be more to this."

"And what happened after they entered the palace?" King Rollo asked.

Edgar's face hardened with pain as he spoke. "The soldiers were too many. Wave after wave. They butchered everyone they found. Guards, servants, maids… no one was spared. The palace was filled with blood. And then… they reached the King."

"He could have escaped." Edgar continues, "But he refused to do so, and the Queen stood by him too. Vanyr slaughtered the King and took the throne for himself."

Nyella, who had been crying, suddenly lifted her head and asked in a trembling voice, "What about my mother? What happened to her?"

Edgar answered, "The last I heard, the Queen is alive, but she is locked in the dungeons."

Devic cut in, looking at Nyella. "Vanyr is most likely keeping her as bait, waiting for you to come."

"And he will get what he wants," Nyella says as she tries to leave.

"Please, your highness, no," Edgar begged, stepping closer. "Do not grant his wishes. Do not walk into his trap. Right now, nowhere in Ivarion is safe for you. Vanyr has his soldiers taking over every path and village. He even goes to the point of making the councillors swear allegiance to him as he kills those who refuse to.

"You are the only child of King Tharyn, the only true ruler Ivarion has left. If anything happens to you, the kingdom is lost forever."

"But I must save her," Nyella cried. "I am her only hope. I cannot leave her there to suffer."

Edgar's face was filled with pain. "Do you think your mother would want you to risk everything for her? Do you think she would want you to fall into his hands? I know this hurts, but you cannot just run back to her, not like this."

"Then we take the army," Nyella said firmly through her tears. "We march with them and crush that rebel before he destroys more. We save my mother with force."

Rollo shook his head. His voice was calm. "You know that is not possible now, Princess. The Hydra could strike at any moment, maybe now, maybe later today. We cannot spare a single soldier. The army must be at full strength, or we all perish."

Nyella's voice rose in anger. "So all of you are saying I should leave my mother, the Queen of Ivarion, to rot in a dungeon? That I should do nothing while she suffers? I will not. I cannot. I must go!"

"You cannot, Princess," Edgar pleaded. His voice broke as he knelt before her. "We cannot stand to lose you too."

There was silence. Then Devic stepped forward. " I will go."

Everyone turned to him.

"I was meant to be there," Devic said bitterly. "If I had been there, perhaps the King would still be alive. I failed him. I failed the royal family." He turned his eyes on Nyella, but she looked away, refusing to meet his gaze.

Devic's shoulders sank. He stepped closer to her. His voice softened. "I only hope one day you can forgive me."

Nyella kept her eyes fixed on the floor, silent. Devic bowed his head and walked out slowly.

The moment he left, Nyella collapsed to the ground and wept bitterly.