Three days later, Daniel made his way toward Bluefountain Palace, his heartbeat thundering anxiously in his chest.

  The bronze lion statues outside the palace stood tall and imposing, their sharp claws gripping the cold metal spheres beneath them, as if silently scrutinizing his every thought.

  He repeated inwardly, "It was just a quarrel, just a normal argument. It wasn't a staged performance."

  His thoughts returned to the argument with Orlanis by the lake three days ago—her tear-streaked face, his resolute back as he walked away. He wondered how his father had interpreted that scene.

  Taking a deep breath, he pushed those thoughts aside, straightened his collar, and stepped into the study.

  "Father," Daniel greeted softly, his tone laced with just the right amount of concern.

  Only then did King Mithras slowly turn around, his gaze sweeping over his son before signaling for Daniel to sit across from him.

  As Daniel approached, he finally saw the heavy dark circles under his father's eyes—like someone had smeared them with thick ink. The sagging eye bags seemed to carry the weight of exhaustion and age.

  "Father, you have the affairs of the entire empire on your shoulders. Please take care of your health. It seems you haven't been resting well lately." Daniel's tone was sincere, and the worry in his eyes wasn't entirely feigned.

  Mithras's face flushed instantly, and an uncontrollable scene from the temple rose in his mind—Solanmar's fiery passion in sharp contrast to his own aging body. Three consecutive nights of "prayer" had left his lower back screaming in agony.

  He cast a suspicious glance at Daniel, his eyes sharp as a hawk's, searching for a trace of mockery. But all he found was genuine concern. Relieved, he let out a few coughs to cover his awkwardness and forced a faint smile. "Son, you've been a bit down lately."

  Daniel opened his mouth to explain, but before he could speak, his father abruptly pressed his right hand down with an air of authority that brooked no argument. "I know the reason. There's no need to explain."

  Mithras's tone softened, a flash of fatherly affection in his eyes. "Daniel, you're an adult now. It's time you started sharing your father's burdens, just like your older brothers."

  After a pause, his gaze turned solemn. "Here's the deal. I'll assign you some official tasks. Consider it a way to adjust your mood."

  Daniel's heart skipped, but his face remained composed. He understood all too well that in this palace, every word and action might be a trap.

  He wasn't against the idea of work—after all, as a prince, it was his duty to serve the empire. And if this gave him a chance to leave the palace, it might just open a door for his own plans.

  With that thought, he suddenly stood up, his posture straight as a pine tree. "Father, I await your command!"

  Mithras smiled in satisfaction at his son's upright bearing and motioned for him to sit. "There are two tasks. One is to maintain order at the Port of Hyos, and the other is to oversee the marketplace order in Llorente City. You may choose one."

  At the mention of the Port of Hyos, Daniel's pulse quickened. It was the largest seaport in the Elven Empire, always bustling with merchant ships from all over the world. The forest of masts, the roaring crowds, the towering stacks of goods—it accounted for at least half the kingdom's trade.

  More importantly, passenger ships to other continents departed from there. It was the perfect escape route. Daniel's fingers curled slightly within his sleeves as he quickly calculated his options.

  "Father, the Port of Hyos is the empire's primary trade hub, a highly significant location," Daniel said solemnly, his eyes earnest.

  "To manage it well, one must coordinate among many factions and handle countless affairs. I fear my capabilities are insufficient for such a task." He paused, then added, "I'm willing to go to Llorente City to oversee the marketplace. It's only forty li from the capital, so if I encounter any difficulties, I can report back to you immediately."

  Mithras was momentarily stunned, a flicker of surprise flashing in his eyes. In his mind, if Daniel intended to escape the engagement, Port of Hyos would be the obvious choice.

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  But Daniel's decision had completely defied expectations. Llorente City was practically under the capital's nose—any attempted scheme would be nearly impossible to execute under his scrutiny.

  He gazed into his son's sincere eyes and began to question his own judgment: Could it be that the boy truly has no intention of running away?

  Mithras turned his eyes to the window and sighed quietly, a trace of guilt welling in his heart. But just as his thoughts turned muddled, Daniel's next words hit like a thunderclap, striking him square in the chest.

  "Father, I am willing to dedicate myself fully to the empire. May I humbly ask you to retract your command and allow me to be with Miss Orlanis?" Daniel's voice trembled with earnest pleading.

  Mithras flew into a rage, his calm and noble mask shattering instantly. He shot to his feet, jabbing a finger toward the door as he bellowed like thunder, "The engagement will not be changed! You may leave!"

  Daniel flinched from the sudden fury, his lips trembling as he stammered. With a look of dejection, he bowed respectfully and slowly exited the study.

  But the moment he stepped outside the palace gates, his footsteps grew noticeably lighter. He raised his head to the sky—blue and clear with a few scattered clouds. A gentle breeze brushed his cheek, carrying with it a breath of freedom.

  The corners of his mouth curled up slightly, forming a smug arc. Today's performance had been, without a doubt, a success. He knew his father had been deceived by the fa?ade he presented, never suspecting that his true goal was to escape.

  The original Third Prince, Daniel, had a timid and na?ve nature. Faced with such circumstances, he would have tried every possible way to appeal to his father's emotions, hoping to change his mind through familial bonds.

  But Daniel knew all too well—King Mithras of the empire, nicknamed "the Rock," had earned that title for good reason. In the Elvish tongue, "rock" and "stubborn" were essentially the same word. His father's obstinacy and resolve were legendary.

  What Daniel needed was to make his father believe he was unwilling to fulfill the engagement yet lacked the courage to elope. Ultimately, he would seem to resign himself to reality under pressure. Only then would his father let down his guard.

  King Mithras bore the burden of the entire empire. Every day he handled mountains of state affairs, met with officials from across the land, and reviewed countless memorials.

  During the day he was overwhelmed with administrative duties, and at night he still had to attend "divine prayers" at the temple. Both his body and mind were exhausted. Daniel understood that as long as he didn't display any clear intent to flee, his father wouldn't have the energy to keep a close watch on him.

  After a day of rest, Daniel set out for Llorente City with a grand entourage of officials. As a satellite city of the imperial capital, Dawn City, Llorente held immense strategic importance.

  It functioned like a vast transit hub for the empire. A significant portion of overseas goods was offloaded, processed, and repackaged here before being sent to the capital. Likewise, specialties from across the empire gathered here, to be loaded onto merchant ships bound for other continents and the Comoros Islands.

  On maps of other continents, the Comoros Islands were marked as a mysterious and alluring region. But to the locals, they proudly called their homeland the Comoros Continent.

  The main island, Grand Comoros, covered about seven million square kilometers—an area so vast that it blurred the line between island and continent. Because of this, it was often referred to as the "Great Island."

  Surrounding Grand Comoros were seven other islands, each larger than ten thousand square kilometers, and another known as Little Comoros, spanning over half a million square kilometers.

  It was a land of chaos and complexity, with tangled factions and powers—a perfect place to disappear into. For Daniel, it was the ideal destination in his plan to flee the marriage.

  Daniel chose to go to Llorente City under the pretext of maintaining market order, but his real aim was to mingle with foreign merchants and gather information about sea routes. In his mind, one didn't need to go directly to the ports to obtain such intelligence.

  A true strategist could always reach their goals through indirect means. Though he didn't consider himself a sage, Daniel had received a modern, well-rounded higher education. He had been exposed to countless advanced ideas and strategies. He believed firmly that, with his intellect, he wouldn't be easily outwitted by these "natives."

  To better carry out his mission and avoid unwanted attention, Daniel made a slight change to his appearance. He shed his ornate princely attire in favor of an imperial administrative uniform.

  The deep blue uniform was embroidered with silver thread in delicate patterns, symbolizing his rank as a senior official. As he walked through the bustling streets of Llorente City, he took in the crowds, the calls of street vendors, and the city's vibrant pulse.

  On either side of the streets stood shops of all kinds: general stores selling exotic spices that filled the air with rich and unusual aromas; porcelain shops displaying exquisite wares that shimmered in the sunlight; and rowdy taverns, where laughter and the clinking of mugs intertwined.

  Daniel moved among them, keenly observing everything. He chatted with merchants, asking about their goods' origins and destinations; he examined prices, noting supply and demand; he listened to the grievances and needs of the common people, trying to extract useful clues from their mundane complaints.

  This work might have seemed ordinary, but to Daniel, it was the perfect way to understand the lives of the empire's lower classes.

  He was no longer a prince above the masses, but an ordinary official moving through every corner of the city.

  He knew that only by truly understanding this place could he pave the way for his grand plan.

  And thus, Senior Administrative Officer Daniel officially took up his post, as a carefully orchestrated drama began its silent performance.