The person Levin mentioned in his letter would have left Brando baffled before the Elemental Boundary expedition, but now he knew exactly who it was: Antitina, the descendant of White Tiamat's husband and the two children he had left behind with his former wife. She carried the bloodline of the Xifah Royal Family and had firmly stood with the traditional southern faction in Fir Territory, Ambersell, the dispute between the princess and the Royalist Faction, and the Second Black Rose War that followed. She was precisely the person who embodied the reputations of both sides—the king Levin had described in his letter as "someone capable of bearing the past grievances and history of two families."
Although Eluin had never had a queen before, everyone could understand that the ancient kingdom had reached the point where its traditions needed to change. Haruze was outstanding, but he was not suited to be a ruler. Griffine and Levin each represented the southern and northern factions. As for Brando, first of all, he lacked the proper claim and legitimacy. By assisting Princess Griffine as she regent of Eluin, he was a knight loyal to the rightful bloodline of Kolkova and bearing its honor. That was precisely why he had won the goodwill of the Highland Knights, Lantorilan, and Grand Duke Viero. But if he accepted Eluin's crown at Haruze's request, he would become a despicable usurper. His reputation and honor would vanish, and even the southern alliance would fall apart as a result.
Perhaps Brando could disregard his own reputation and honor, but he did not want to see the south return to the fragmented state it had been in before the Battle of Ambersell, with every faction ruling itself. For this ancient kingdom, that would be nothing short of a disaster.
Haruze was