Grand Duke Mora

After venting his anger, Prady XIV sat alone in his study. As the Kingdom's supreme ruler, he could not show the slightest weakness before others. Only when he was alone could he indulge in self-pity.

Prady XIV did not consider himself a foolish king, and no one could question his abilities. He had been called a genius since childhood. Whether it was transcendent powers or the lessons expected of the Kingdom's heir, he mastered everything with extraordinary speed. His talent and ability had astonished countless people.

So why, after becoming King, had a genius like him worked tirelessly to strengthen the Kingdom, only to watch it decline?

Abroad, the Rune Federation forced the Kingdom into retreat after retreat. At home, corruption ran rampant, factions undermined one another, and political infighting drained the nation's strength. During the otherworldly coalition's invasion of Northwest Province, several nearby great families and even the Mages' Guild had stood by and let the enemy run wild—all because Nikolayevich, an Elder of the Mages' Guild, had sided with the royal family.

They had wanted to see Nikolayevich suffer. They had watched Saint Tower Academy nearly fall and Friedenburg City come close to being overrun. In the end, Prady XIV had paid a tremendous price to secure the Holy Light Church's intervention and bring the affair to a close.

But the incident had humiliated the Lorenzo Kingdom across the continent. Just five Legendary-Rank Transcendents who had escaped an abandoned Void World had led a force of several thousand through the Kingdom almost unopposed. It was an utter disgrace!

The Lorenzo Kingdom and its King would become the subject of idle gossip in other countries!

Prady XIV could not understand how the once-powerful Kingdom had come to this.

"Your Majesty, you have lost your composure."

A deep voice suddenly