Reborn as the Psycho Villainess Who Ate Her Slave Beasts' Contracts

"Perhaps." Elara looked back at him over her shoulder. "But it won’t be you. You’ll be somewhere else, living quietly, with nothing but memories of the empire you built and lost because you made the mistake of trying to stop me."

She left.

The doors closed behind her with a heavy sound.

Outside, Dimitri was waiting by the carriage, looking shaken. "Your Highness... that was..."

"Efficient," Elara said. "Three local threats neutralized in four days. Kessler fled, Marrs withdrew support, Carver destroyed." She climbed into the carriage. "The message is clear now. Opposing me costs more than tolerating me."

"But Carver was right about one thing," Dimitri said carefully as the carriage started moving. "You’re making enemies very quickly. And you’re still in the succession battle with princesses who have far more power than local nobles."

"Different problem. Requires different approach." Elara looked out the window at Port Crestfall passing by. "But I needed to clear local threats first. Can’t fight effectively in the succession battle while local enemies are sabotaging my foundation."

"So now what?"

"Now we focus on the real fight." She pulled out the imperial summons she’d received—the one ordering her return to the capital in ten days. "I have one week to make Port Crestfall operations fully sustainable without my presence. Then I return to face my sisters."

"Are you ready for that?"

"No. But I’m more ready than I was six months ago." She folded the summons. "Six months ago I had nothing. No money, no allies, no power base. Now I have profitable businesses, loyal staff, trained guards, and intelligence networks. That’s not enough to win the succession battle, but it’s enough to survive the next stage."

Dimitri nodded slowly. "What about the evidence against Carver? You promised to suppress it for a year if he complied."