“What did you just say?” 0

Olivurn’s face hardened as he glared at Karyl.0

“I am a prince of the empire. Even as a king, you think you can speak to me like that?”0

But Karyl merely scoffed, dismissing Olivurn’s indignation.0

“The empire? What is that, exactly? From the Lurein Principality to the Three Kingdoms of Istria, no king—not even one of the heirs—would so much as think they could stand on equal footing with me.” 0

Karyl fixed his gaze on Olivurn as he continued, “Don’t mistake the empire’s grandeur for your own strength. The empire wasn’t built by you. It was established by those who came before, and you’re simply confusing their legacy with your own abilities. You’ve accomplished nothing.”0

“...”0

“And even now, you’re not capable of much. The emperor, at least, expanded the empire and earned the title of the Conqueror King. He pushed the borders from the northern lands to the southern territories. You, on the other hand, are just reaping the benefits under the guise of righteousness. So stop pretending to be virtuous, will you?”0

“You’re crossing the line...!” Olivurn growled. 0

The pretense of civility was finally slipping away. 0

Karyl didn’t show much of a reaction; he was merely amused, feeling a strange sense of déjà vu. They used to argue like this often, back when they were close friends; but despite being constantly at odds, they...0