Chapter 428: The Shadow of Deception

**Thelma Zane’s POV** The state of the elves had been a growing concern, and the Great Elder wasted no time in laying bare the situation. “You’ve seen the chaos among the elf race. The power struggle has spiraled into something far worse than anyone anticipated. I believed the Crown Prince would restrain himself out of respect for His Majesty, but I was mistaken. His ambition knows no bounds. He seeks to take everything in one reckless sweep, leaving our Council of Elders stretched beyond its limits. The interim government is barely holding the fragile peace together.” His words painted a grim picture, but I remained unmoved, refusing to let his rhetoric sway me. “The Crown Prince may be reckless,” the Great Elder continued, “but he’s not entirely foolish. He knows his title alone won’t sustain his grasp on power. That’s why I sent people to investigate the source of his newfound confidence. Most of my agents haven’t returned, and the few who did brought back only one clue: th