After frowning in thought for a moment, Eirik swiftly dismissed the first option.

  Lay low and wait for the emperor’s envoy?

  That was essentially handing over his fate to someone else. The emperor’s envoy was rumored to be a master of the Savant rank, with power to spare. But more importantly, this envoy represented the will of the emperor. Who would feel comfortable trusting their life to such a person?

  On top of that, their intelligence suggested the emperor, furious over the death of his favored son, would likely take his rage out on them. No way. That option was off the table.

  As for the third option—outright rebellion against the empire and joining the so-called Crimson Cloak Army—that wasn’t any better. Waging war against the emperor didn’t faze him much. After all, he was a reincarnator. What did he owe to the nobility or the emperor of this world?

  Nobility?

  What was so impressive about that? He had lived before, and that kind of thing didn't impress him.

  The emperor played dirty, so what if Eirik rebelled against him?

  But as Eirik thought more about it, he realized that over the years spent building up his family, he had neglected developing any skills related to warfare.

  If he were to suddenly rise up against the empire now, his forces would be woefully underprepared. Charging in without proper strength was a recipe for disaster.

  After some careful consideration, Eirik decided the second option was the most sensible: lying low and becoming a hidden family. He would take the time to nurture Pixie and their son. Once their son’s all-element affinity reached full maturity, the emperor of the Dawnstar Dynasty would be nothing more than an afterthought.

  “Hide away? Sounds good! I’ll listen to my husband!”

  Pixie nodded eagerly upon hearing Eirik’s plan, her enthusiasm unmistakable.

  Watching them, Elvynna clenched her teeth and sneered, “So you’re just going to follow your husband’s lead, huh? Can’t think for yourself? Pathetic.”

  Elvynna’s words quickly found an audience among a few onlookers, racking up several likes in no time. Some even sent messages of their own.

  “Ha! This is what they call love-sick, right? Pixie, you’re really embarrassing the Ravenshadow family!”

  “He was depending on your family, but now he’s head of the household. Why don’t you just take his last name, Becker?”

  A chorus of mockery followed, but Pixie only laughed it off. “Jealousy. Pure jealousy!”

  “So what if I listen to my husband? He’s right, and I’m wise enough to follow him! This is called being open-minded.”

  “Let’s be honest—if I am love-struck, so what? I’ve got a golden-card husband and a son with all-element affinity! What do you have?”

  Pixie’s pride was evident now. She even boldly shot back at Elvynna, “You may have had help learning magic for over a decade, but look at you now—hurting the person who saved you!”

  Stolen story; please report.

  Elvynna opened her mouth, ready to argue, but quickly fell silent.

  It was true that Eirik had died at the hands of the Crimson Frost Duke, but the fact that she had been unable to save him weighed heavily on her. It wasn’t her fault, but she couldn’t shake the guilt. In the simulation, she had waited for Eirik’s return, yet her life had been far too short to see it come to pass.

  “Humph! Just wait! This situation is temporary. In a few decades, or maybe a century, the Dawnstar Dynasty will belong to the Becker family!”

  【Before the emperor’s envoy arrives, your family flees, hiding deep in the mountains.】

  【To make your escape quickly, you sell off your assets at a steep loss.】

  【Family assets: -35%】

  The system notifications came flooding in one after another. Eirik winced at the sight.

  That was a hefty loss.

  After severing ties with the Ravenshadow family, their wealth had already been slashed to just a fraction of what it once was. Now, after years of effort, they had to retreat into the mountains, starting over from scratch. All the progress they had made was down the drain.

  “That damn emperor!” Eirik muttered bitterly. “The Crimson Frost Duke was possessed by a demon soul, and I killed him. I should be celebrated for avenging the Duke, not punished! That filthy emperor should be thanking me!”

  He made a mental note: This grudge? I’ll remember it.

  The Dawnstar Dynasty had stood for thousands of years, far too long. Sooner or later, Eirik vowed, that throne would be his.

  【You lead a large group, trekking through the nearby mountain forests, seeking a suitable place to settle.】

  The journey was far from easy.

  Magical beasts attacked them, traps and ruins appeared out of nowhere, and strange magical creatures caused more chaos than expected. The family suffered heavy losses—half their original manpower was gone, and their stockpile of Elemental Stones and magical items was quickly depleted.

  Watching it all unfold, Pixie’s heart raced with anxiety. She was on the verge of tears.

  This was a lot harder than she thought.

  She began to question whether leaving Aelsryel City and hiding in the mountains had truly been the right choice. They hadn’t even found a settlement yet, and their family was already suffering. Even once they settled, they would have to contend with constant beast attacks—there would be no peace. Being a hidden family was no easy feat.

  But then, as she checked her adventure rewards, Pixie fell silent.

  【Congratulations! Eirik’s talent has activated 'Fortune Favor,' increasing this settlement reward with a purple item…】

  【Congratulations! Eirik’s talent has activated 'Fortune Favor,' increasing this settlement reward by thirty percent…】

  【Congratulations! Your personal guard has gained battle experience and reached Practitioner Lv5…】

  Looking at the treasure trove of newly added items and the breakthroughs among her subordinates, Pixie’s tense expression melted into a wide smile.

  These rewards were more than worth it!

  It felt like they had lost less than they gained.

  The key, of course, was Eirik’s “Fortune Favor” talent. He had a knack for finding treasures in even the most unexpected situations.

  This guy was just like the protagonists in those novels, stumbling onto fortune wherever he went.

  How delightful!

  Ahaha, is this the benefit of the gold card?

  Her “child of fortune” husband was truly something special.

  Pixie thought back to her past life, where she had fled alone into the vast forest beyond the city, only to be cornered by magical beasts and forced to drown herself in despair.

  But this time, with Eirik by her side, the outcome was entirely different.

  With excitement bubbling up, Pixie jumped out of bed, dancing around the room.

  “What’s going on with our young lady? It’s almost dawn, and she’s still up and full of energy…”

  The maid outside the screen was startled by her movements and woke up again.

  She rubbed her eyes and glanced out at the sky, now turning pale with the approaching dawn.

  It seemed that Pixie had been up all night.

  “Miss, it’s dawn already... maybe you should rest a little?”

  The maid hesitated, then spoke, her voice soft.

  “Dawn already?”

  Pixie looked up, surprised, realizing she had stayed up the entire night playing.

  “Ugh… Sleep? What’s that? I’m still full of energy! I’m not sleeping today!”

  I haven’t even taken my husband and son to find our new home yet! How can I sleep?!

  At that moment, Pixie was utterly immersed in the simulation, lost in the thrill of the experience.