Internal Factional Struggles Within The Family

The Skywing Knight Family is the largest and most chaotic knight family among the Four Great Knight Families.

Moreover, the family has long been grounded in the aristocratic class, so everyone inside is a young noblewoman with considerable assets.

The cost of making a single cup of tea is an amount ordinary people can hardly imagine!

With so much aristocratic backing, the Sky Wing Knights are actually the most stable and least likely to collapse family in the entire Auriel Kingdom.

Because they are closely tied to the functioning of the kingdom—if they were gone, Auriel Kingdom would lose its ability to operate.

But with that strength comes an equally significant weakness.

Factions proliferate within the Skywing Knight Family.

There may be more factions inside than one would imagine.

However, the number of factions matters less than their aims—if they’re just after interests, that’s actually normal.

Who doesn’t love money!

But at this moment, the Black Wing Knights split off!

A branch of the Skywing Knight Family—Xiya Blackwing—led her people to confront Nia Skywing.

Xiya Blackwing herself was even the second-in-command of the Sky Wing Knights, and yet two people of such similar rank became opposed!

This directly caused subordinates to pick sides; on the surface the Skywing family appeared calm, but in reality it was split into two camps.

The situation didn’t escalate further because Skywing and Blackwing differed only in ideology, not in open betrayal.

Nevertheless, this marked the beginning of an internal power struggle within the Skywing Knight Family.

“My people think Fire Lina is too domineering; we can’t keep fighting head-on like this—it’s better to recuperate and rebuild.”

“But Nia Skywing’s Sky Wing Knights follow Auriel’s will more closely—they must be ready to strike again!”

“……..”

After hearing Xiya’s words, Young Master Naiye immediately understood the situation at the banquet.

This explained why many people at the banquet had been indulging themselves, trying to cast aside the troubles of their defeat in the previous war.

Neither side’s thinking was entirely wrong—after all, the war was over.

But the knights of Auriel won’t stop!

Either be ready to continue fighting, or recuperate and fight later.

But obviously, because the two held incompatible views, a split occurred.

Especially in a factionalized group like the Sky Wing Knights, differing voices and ideas erupt everywhere!

It’s simply a nightmare!

You say one thing, I say another, she says something else!

Just thinking about it makes one sick.

“So your banquet tonight was to gather everyone, call me over, and try to force a consolidation?”

Naiye Lycoris, Duke Lycoris—whether in family strength or fame—far exceeded the other nobility.

Although he was also a noble, he had at so young risen to the peak of the aristocracy.

He even forced his way into the fifth family above the nobles, standing on equal footing with the Four Great Knight Families; even Nia Skywing and Xiya Blackwing were on equal terms with him.

So many young noblewomen shamelessly pursued Young Master Naiye more than others did.

Lycoris, as a single great noble, occupied lands in the east of the kingdom.

And that territory revolved entirely around Lycoris.

And the whole of Lycoris centered entirely on Young Master Naiye.

This was something every noble envied immensely.

“Yes… Nia and I weren’t confident about this matter, because of what is happening outside we in the Sky Wing had to force this.”

“Isn’t it calm outside? What’s making you so nervous?”

Young Master Naiye closed his eyes and smiled faintly.

Xiya looked at Naiye’s charming smile and his deliberately leading, mischievous question; an inexplicable flame rose in her heart, but she suppressed it and replied.

“Elemental Knight units have already been consolidated and are ready to fight at any time; although the Flame Lance Knight has not yet rejoined, it cannot be ignored.”

“The Three Moons Knights have been quiet, but they’ve recently begun to make big moves—we must be on guard.”

“The Dragon Knights… recently allied with Lycoris; although they’ve made no moves, they cannot be ignored.”

This was why they wanted to temporarily halt their infighting—it’s so fierce outside; who would dare to fight within?!

After all, factional struggles are actually very common.

Not to mention a group like the Sky Wing Knights, where aristocratic factions abound—each noble will surely try to form alliances.

Moreover, within the Skywing Knight Family, Sky Wing and Black Wing are originally one household—their conflict is ideological; there’s no need to go out of their way to court disaster!

Xiya disclosed everything she had learned, and when she mentioned the Dragon Knights, she secretly glanced at Young Master Naiye.

Naiye’s expression remained calm and composed, as if he didn’t care at all.

“So why did you hold a banquet and, with everyone gathered, force a duel—and with no limit on force, that’s already in the realm of life-or-death combat…”

Young Master Naiye spoke again; a hint of warning crept into his cold voice.

A banquet was held in their own Golden Castle, and fighting took place during the banquet.

Only that an accident happened, leaving someone gravely injured!

That was a very straightforward and useful excuse…

The Student Council cannot casually interfere in other families’ affairs.

But Young Master Naiye was referring specifically to the final duel between the two—the Golden Knight and the Black Wing Knight—who ultimately used their true strength.

Their power was so great that the entire castle was affected…

“……..”

Xiya did not respond immediately; instead she became somewhat flustered and panicked.

Because Naiye’s question hit the sorest spot for her.

She actually knew the plan was very bad and that the fight could even leave her gravely injured!

They had deliberately invited Young Master Naiye as an important neutral witness to consolidate the people beneath them!

After a moment of silence, Xiya Blackwing’s noble upbringing and manners quickly calmed her down.

And she began to answer.

“Nia and I originally intended to fight with everything we had! To leave one person gravely wounded and force them to concede, to demand they join the other side—thus completing the consolidation!”

Even though Xiya was well aware she herself was likely to end up gravely wounded and on the ground.

She knew clearly the strength between her and her mentor; in her current state she couldn’t possibly defeat Nia.

But those under her command had already begun to stir—they were dissatisfied with the losses and failures caused by the recent war.

And arrogantly believed that Nia Skywing was too weak, which led to the Skywing Knight Family’s defeat in the war!

They completely ignored the strength of the opposing Fire Elemental Knight, Fire Lina.

In reality, Golden Knight Nia was among the few who could directly confront a Fire Elemental Knight—how dare they scorn her?

In fact, these people were simply bored—doing little in the war, their money was enough.

This was one consequence of having many wealthy subordinates who contributed money but not strength.

But none of that was the main problem; as long as things were under control it was fine—the point was!

They began to ignore Xiya’s intentions and secretly schemed behind her back!

Factions under the great families began power struggles; one could say it was ideological conflict, but ultimately it was all for the family.

But once it escalated to armed confrontation! That meant crossing the line—they would no longer heed niceties and would use force!

This was the last thing Xiya wanted to see, because it could really lead to the family’s split!

Young Master Naiye also knew this, perhaps even more clearly than Xiya.

After all, when Naiye first took control of Lycoris—he had come up this same way!