The Shining Star Above The Heaven

Responding to Ilona's question, Aldrian just nodded. This made her heart want to burst with happiness, but then, as if the bubble popped, she was brought back to the ground again. She suppressed her happiness as she took a deep breath and looked at Aldrian, frowning.

"Your Majesty, how can you be so sure you could heal my parents? Even if you heard about their condition from Elder Vars, I don't think you could diagnose what happened to them just from his explanation. My parents—especially my father's condition—is peculiar, which even made the famous physician confused," she said.

"Moreover, why do you want to help me, or more specifically, my parents, who come from a family that has bad intent toward you or your empire?"

Aldrian kept his smile.

"Before I answer your question, I would like to ask something about the current condition of the Barevisk family, because my answer has something to do with it," he said, which was met with a nod from Ilona.

"I heard that the Barevisk family has a strong connection to the Valroy family and is even said to be one of their vassal families. From what I know, the movements of the Barevisk family regarding me and the Barisan continent are tightly decided by the Valroy family," he continued.

"To be honest, at this moment, the one I suspect the most is the Valroy family, which might be the true mastermind behind the scenes. Your family has allowed themselves to be ordered by the Valroy family, which leads me to my question, do you have any opposition faction inside the family regarding this matter? I mean, those who do not agree with how the Valroy family is controlling your family like a puppet."

Ilona frowned as she felt slight irritation at how the Barevisk family had become, but then she took a deep breath to calm herself.

"Yes, Your Majesty, of course there is an opposition faction. They are mostly the past loyalists of my father when he was still a candidate for the position of patriarch. They are also dissatisfied with the current decisions made by the patriarch, but their voice is too small and does not really change anything. The influence of the current patriarch is too strong and, with the support of the Valroy family, he is basically unshakable," she explained.

"However, I must clarify something, Your Majesty. My family has not always been a vassal of the Valroy family. That kind of impression has only been built since the current patriarch took the reins of the family."

Aldrian raised his eyebrows. This was something new to him.

"Tell me more about it," he said.

Ilona nodded. "Well, this is a story from before I was born, back in the time of the past patriarch, my grandfather. Actually, in the past, our family was already strong on its own and did not need to be under any other family. However, the moment the current patriarch took the reins, the policies of the family suddenly had to fall in line with those of the Valroy family."

"What the Valroy family asked, my family, or more specifically the patriarch obeyed, and even his supporters simply followed his decisions. The voices of opposition grew smaller as the current patriarch and his faction gained so much power that the opposition no longer had any real influence."

"As time passed, because of the current patriarch's policies that turned our family into something like a lapdog of the Valroy family, the impression of being their vassal family became more and more ingrained. Until today, the reputation of the Barevisk family remains stained as nothing more than a vassal of the Valroy family."

Ilona gritted her teeth. "That bastard must have had secret dealings with the Valroy family to make our family like this. Many in the opposition suspect that the current patriarch was already directly supported by the Valroy family back when he was still a candidate, but we have no proof, which leaves it as nothing more than a story of conspiracy."

Aldrian nodded. "I see. From your explanation, your family is not really a lost cause, and it could still be salvaged," he said.

Ilona looked at Aldrian in confusion. "What do you mean, Your Majesty?"

He looked at her calmly. "I want the opposition faction—more specifically, your father to replace the current patriarch. I want him to lead the Barevisk family and detach your family from the Valroy family's influence."

Ilona's eyes widened in shock at Aldrian's words. To make her father the patriarch, replacing the current one?

"Excuse me?" she asked unconsciously, which made Aldrian repeat himself.

"I want your father to take the position of patriarch, replace the current one, and erase any trace of Valroy's influence from your family."

Ilona now knew this man was serious, and she could not help but ask him,

"My apologies, Your Majesty. Let's put aside the matter of whether you can really heal my father. At this moment, my father has no real power or influence anywhere near that of the current patriarch. How could he possibly withstand the patriarch's forces? I can only imagine we would be barraged from all sides if we tried to take the seat of patriarch by force."

"Not to mention, my father's cultivation is truly lacking compared to the current patriarch and even some of the elders or grand elders. There is no way we could seize the position of patriarch with his strength, even with the support of the other opposition members."

Hearing her concern, Aldrian's expression did not change.

"If you lack the strength within your family, then seek support from outside it," he said.

Ilona kept frowning. "Asking for outside help? Even if my father or anyone in the opposition faction agreed, there is no one who would join hands with him under the current circumstances. Who would dare meddle in the problems of the Barevisk family, especially with the Valroy family backing the current patriarch? That alone ensures no one would want to help us. So I don't think that is even an option, Your Majesty," she said, slightly shaking her head.

Aldrian could not help but show a slight smile.

"Are you sure there is no one who would help you?" he asked, which made Ilona frown in confusion. She did not really understand why he was asking this, but then she froze as realization struck her. Her eyes widened slightly at what Aldrian was implying.

"Your Majesty, do you mean… do you mean you want to support us in seizing the patriarch's position?" she asked in astonishment.

Aldrian only smiled, but that alone was enough of an answer for her—and it shocked her even more.

"So, to answer your earlier question about why I want to help your parents—this is the reason. I need someone to replace the current patriarch, who seems far too close to the Valroy family, with someone of more integrity and neutrality. This is also to prevent me from having to shed excessive blood within your family, which could lead to its destruction," Aldrian said.

Ilona's heart trembled, but then another thought came to her mind, and she could not help but ask him,

"Your Majesty, I know you would not do all this out of pure generosity. You must have something in mind. My guess is… do you intend to use my father as your proxy in the Akares Star? To use the Barevisk family as your proxy?"

"Well, that is correct. But I do not intend to use the Barevisk family like a vassal that I constantly order around. What I need is a family I can count on if something arises from the Akares Star. I also want to reduce the Valroy family's influence there. The Valroys are the ones moving in the background, always using the Barevisk family to provoke me. So why not have the Barevisk family leave them?" Aldrian replied.

Ilona contemplated Aldrian's answer. Although she disliked the idea of seeking outside help to seize the patriarch's seat, there was not much they could do with their own power. The current patriarch was strong, not only in cultivation but also in influence, and with his faction behind him, he was practically unshakable.

However, she set aside the matter of seizing the patriarch's seat for the moment and returned to what weighed most on her heart, her parents. If Aldrian truly could heal them, then it would be the best outcome. She could already imagine her father returning the favor, even serving as Aldrian's proxy.

Ilona bit her lip. If this was the only way for her parents to be healed, and in the end, for that bastard to face his karma, then she would take it.

Ilona then looked at Aldrian.

"Then what is your plan, Your Majesty? You don't intend to just barge into the Barevisk family manor and kill the current patriarch, right? If you do so without any provocation, the other powers would look at you warily, and it would greatly affect your image."

"Well, to be honest, that is exactly what I planned, to barge into your family and punish those who dared to harm my interests and my empire," Aldrian said casually, which made Ilona's eyes widen in shock.

"Are you serious, Your Majesty?" she asked in astonishment. "Even if you came to them with the intent of reciprocating their dubious actions against you, all of that happened behind the scenes. Others will not see it positively. They will only see you as invading another power unprovoked."

"Of course I am serious. And as for the reason I can show to the world…" Aldrian pointed at her. "You will be a good reason—one I can take advantage of to get to those people."

Ilona blinked several times in confusion.

"Me?"