The Abandoned Luna's Journey to Power Chapter 341: Ambition

Cindy's POV:

"Viola."

I wiped my tears and suddenly stood up. The candlelight flickered, but my eyes were steady.

"First thing tomorrow morning, take the carriage back to the capital. Tell Adam everything. Don't leave out a single detail. Have him send the best medical team and the strongest medicine they've got. Even if it only gives her one more day, I want her to at least be comfortable when she goes."

"What about you?" Viola asked quickly.

"I'm staying," I said without hesitation. "I'll stay here and keep Sephiria company for the rest of her time."

"I'm not leaving either!" Viola pulled the whip from her waist. "I might be a hothead, but I know what loyalty means! Sephiria is in this mess—how can I let you stay here alone? If you stay, I stay! Tomorrow we'll let Stick drive back to deliver the message. He's fast and reliable. I'll stay with you and keep an eye on the spies Leanna sent."

I looked into Viola's fiery eyes and gave her a firm nod.

"Alright."

After arranging for Stick to rest in the men's guest room and preparing for the trip tomorrow, Viola and I returned to our room.

It was late.

I lay on the hard, cold wooden bed, listening to the wind howling outside the window. I couldn't sleep.

My brain was racing.

"Prince Niall wants to marry Viola..."

I muttered in the darkness, turning that ridiculous piece of news over and over in my head.

Why would he do that?

Was it just because Viola earned credit in Southreach and became a Knight? Or because she was young and beautiful?

No. It definitely wasn't that simple.

That old fox spent his whole life drowning in wine and lust, but he definitely wasn't stupid.

He abandoned Sephiria, who had no powerful family, and supported Leanna, whose family controlled a large army. That alone proved he cared about power and benefits.

And Viola? She wasn't just a hero of Southreach. Behind her stood the Blaze Pack, the most powerful force in the south, famous for their fierce warriors.

And she was also the prized student of Dean Dross at Moonridge Martial Arts Academy.

"Is he trying to use the power of the Blaze Pack and the academy to achieve some hidden ambition?"

The second that thought hit me, I broke out in a cold sweat.

Ambition? What kind of ambition? A coup?

"Impossible," Diana immediately shot down the idea in my head. "Everyone in the kingdom knows what kind of trash Prince Niall is. His reputation is terrible. He only cares about his own pleasure. The soldiers and commoners don't respect him. King Ryken is still in his prime and rules with an iron fist. Besides, the King has three sons, two of them already adults. Even if Adam gave up military power on the surface, he could get it back anytime with just one order from the king. He's still a real power figure. Even if the King died tomorrow, there's no way the throne would go to a loser prince like that.

"He doesn't have the courage or the strength to rebel."

I agreed with Diana's analysis.

But if it wasn't a coup, why was he so eager to marry into a powerful family?

Was it just to strengthen his control over his own territory? Or to protect himself from Leanna's family, who could push him aside at any time?

I frowned at the thought.

In the game of power, you should never underestimate a person's greed.

Desire has no limit.

Who could guarantee that the useless prince, who just rolled around with women all day, wasn't secretly hiding his real abilities the whole time?