Chapter 72 – The Forgotten KingA Name That Refuses to Die
The Empire of Regalis was known for its strength, its power, and its unwavering rule.
But now, it was known for something else.
A traitor.
The once-revered Leonhardt Valerian Everhart—the empire's greatest genius, the future Grand Duke, the sword that stood above all others—had abandoned them.
The nobles whispered his name like a curse.
The commoners spoke of him in hushed voices.
And the emperor… watched.
For the first time in centuries, the empire had lost something it could not afford to lose.
But the world had not forgotten him.
And neither had the empire.
A Divided Empire
The declaration of Leonhardt's betrayal had shaken the empire to its core.
Some nobles rejoiced—his departure meant less competition, less pressure, and more chances for their own families to rise.
Others mourned—they had placed their faith in him, believed in his future, and now, that future had been erased.
But most… were afraid.
Because Leonhardt was not dead.
And a man like him—who had abandoned his name, his duty, and his empire—was dangerous.
"What if he returns?" one noble whispered during a private gathering.
A duke scoffed. "He won't. He made his choice."
"But what if he does?" the noble pressed. "He's still the Grand Duke's son. Still a monster in both sword and magic."
The room fell silent.
Because no one had an answer.
What if he returned?
And worse—what if he returned as an enemy?
The Emperor's Cold Calculations
Aurelian Valtis Regalis sat upon his throne, his face unreadable as the nobles debated before him.
They argued about Leonhardt's betrayal.
They discussed what should be done.
They whispered about the consequences.
But Aurelian remained silent.
Because he knew something they did not.
Leonhardt had not left in weakness.
Leonhardt had not left in shame.
Leonhardt had left in power.
And that, more than anything, made him dangerous.
"Enough," Aurelian finally said, his voice cutting through the noise.
The nobles fell silent, turning to their emperor.
"We do not fear traitors," Aurelian declared. "We do not chase after those who abandon their duty."
"But, Your Majesty—"
"We move forward," Aurelian interrupted coldly. "Leonhardt Valerian Everhart is no longer of this empire. He made his choice."
He leaned forward, golden eyes gleaming.
"And if he ever returns… we will make ours."
A simple statement.
A deadly promise.
Because if Leonhardt ever stood against the empire, there would be no mercy.
The Grand Dukedom – A House Without an Heir
At the Everhart estate, silence reigned.
The Grand Duke had not spoken his son's name since the day he left.
His wife, the strongest magician in the world, had buried herself in research.
His siblings—brilliant, gifted, powerful—had been forced to step into the light.
But none of them could replace him.
Leonhardt had been the heir.
And now, there was no heir.
For the first time in centuries, the Grand Dukedom stood without a future.
The Kingdoms Beyond – Watching the Chaos
The world was watching.
The Northern Kingdoms saw an opportunity.
The Eastern Nations strengthened their borders.
The Western Territories waited, eager to see what chaos would unfold.
And the Kingdom of Aurion—the very kingdom that had once stood against the empire in war—now held the greatest secret of all.
Because they knew what the empire did not.
They knew where Leonhardt Valerian Everhart had gone.
And they knew who he had gone to.
Aetheria's Silent Reign
Far beyond the empire's reach, Aetheria Nyx Lunaris Solis stood upon her throne of midnight.
She had watched as the world turned against her king.
She had listened as the empire cursed his name.
And she had done nothing.
Because their words did not matter.
Their opinions did not matter.
Only one thing mattered.
Leonhardt was here.
With her.
At last.
And the world… would soon understand what that meant.
The Forgotten King – Walking the Unknown Path
Leonhardt Valerian Everhart had abandoned his empire.
His name had been dragged through the dirt.
His past had been erased.
His future had been shattered.
And yet—he walked forward.
Toward a new destiny.
Toward a new future.
Toward the woman who had always been his home.
For the first time in two lives, he was free.
And the world… was not ready.