Chapter 867

At this point, there was little use in worrying about who had started this particular whirlpool of royal intrigue. Sif’s feelings toward Odin had already changed beyond recognition.

If she had to boil all those complicated emotions down to a single thought, it would be remarkably simple:

Why did Odin have to have both Thor and Hela?

She had always known that raising Loki was practically inviting trouble. Apparently, Odin had been hiding an even bigger problem all along.

And judging by the current situation, Hela was the overwhelming favorite to eventually take the Asgardian throne.

Sif had absolutely no idea what to do about that.

She wanted to support Thor, but Thor himself refused to give her the opportunity.

Sif knew him well enough to understand just how hopeless that was. She could probably sneak into his room while he slept, drape a royal cloak over him, and declare him king. Thor would wake up, stare at it blankly, pretend he had no idea what was happening, and then spend the rest of the day looking for someone to remove the lining.

And there was always the possibility that he genuinely wouldn’t understand what she was trying to accomplish.

So Sif’s only remaining hope was that human lifespans were short, and youth even shorter. Perhaps if she waited long enough, Thor would eventually come to his senses.

Lorelei gave a soft, amused snort.

"That’s wishful thinking. I know Thor. When it comes to romance, he’s not only an idiot—he’s also a serial heartbreaker."

Sif’s expression darkened.

"His latest relationship ends, he’ll move on to the next woman without missing a beat. He likes the novelty. If you’re waiting for him to suddenly realize that he’s supposed to shoulder the fate of Asgard, you’ll be waiting until the realm itself explodes."

"You sound remarkably familiar with Thor."

Lorelei smiled smugly.

"I might not know him as well as you do in other areas, but when it comes to his love life, I know plenty. I used to date him."

Sif fell silent.

Lorelei had landed that one cleanly.

Evenson, meanwhile, had stopped pretending there was anything left to hide.

"As his friend, I think Thor is better off staying exactly as he is," he said. "Because if he changes his mind and decides he wants the throne, that means he’ll be dragged into this conflict. Looking at it rationally, I don’t like his odds."

Sif hesitated before asking, "You’re that certain Thor can’t defeat... the princess?"

She couldn’t bring herself to call Hela a madwoman anymore.

Evenson gave a dry laugh.

"I know Thor’s reputation. In recent history, the name Thor has practically become synonymous with heroism in Asgard. Everyone admires him. He has led the Warriors Three and you into countless victories."

He paused.

"But I’d call most of those battles adventures rather than wars. And I have to wonder how much of Thor’s glorious reputation was carefully cultivated by Odin."

In other words, Evenson thought Thor’s reputation was somewhat inflated.

Then he gestured toward Hela.

"But her?"

Hela smiled.

Evenson continued.

"She clawed her way out of mountains of corpses and oceans of blood. Every bit of her reputation was earned with a blade in her hand. Thor’s name may inspire admiration, but the name Hela inspires fear."

"Even Odin fears what she can become."

He looked at Sif.

"Does Thor inspire that kind of fear?"

"Excellent point," Hela said, clearly enjoying herself. She leaned back with a pleased smile. "Keep going."

Evenson ignored her.

"I know Thor well enough to judge his strength. I’ve also fought the Goddess of Death, so I know exactly what she’s capable of."

"You’re saying you couldn’t defeat her?"

No one had a precise measure of Evenson’s strength. Sif knew only that he was extremely powerful.

That uncertainty was largely his own doing. Evenson had always cultivated an air of mystery. He rarely fought anyone, and when he did, he almost never revealed the full extent of what he could do.

Aside from the Eredar twins, almost nobody had seen enough of his power to properly evaluate him.

"Of course I couldn’t."

If I could beat her, would I still be making regular offerings to a goddess? I’d have captured her ages ago and started calling myself King of Asgard.

Evenson kept that particular thought to himself.

"More importantly, when I fought Hela, she wasn’t at full strength. The prison Odin created for her suppresses her power considerably."

"Her power originates from Asgard. Once she escapes and returns here, she’ll gradually recover everything she’s lost."

He glanced toward Hela.

"At that point, she’ll become virtually unstoppable. Even Odin at his absolute peak might not be able to suppress her."

"So if Thor gets involved in a direct struggle with her by himself, he’ll lose. There’s no question."

Sif’s expression tightened.

"And there’s another problem. Hela’s imprisonment is sustained by Odin’s magic, which is tied directly to his life. And we both know Odin is already nearing the end of his life."

Evenson paused.

"Give him three years. Five at most. After that, Hela will be free."

"So Thor doesn’t even want the throne. Why force him into a battle he’ll probably die in? Wouldn’t it be better to let him remain a carefree prince somewhere far away?"

Sif lowered her eyes.

The argument was disturbingly convincing.

If Evenson was right, then Thor remaining outside the struggle might genuinely be the best possible outcome.

But something still bothered her.

"If everything you say is true, then Hela only needs to wait. She can remain in prison until the day she is free, return to Asgard, and claim the throne that she believes is rightfully hers."

She looked toward Hela.

"Why go through all this trouble? Why recruit you? Why need your support?"

Her expression shifted toward Lorelei.

"And why bring someone like her into the plan?"

Lorelei immediately bristled.

"I’d like to point out that I’m standing right here."

Sif ignored her.

Evenson spread his hands.

"I’ve said this several times already. My support is basically irrelevant. Honestly, all I’ve done is indulge her vanity."

Hela’s eyes narrowed.

"There’s no need to make it sound so insulting. I appreciate honesty, but there’s a time and place for politeness."

Evenson sighed.

"Fine. My role is merely to enhance the glory of the Goddess of Death."

He gave Hela a look that clearly asked whether she was satisfied.

"As for Lorelei, I still don’t understand why you sent her here. What exactly does she have to do with your plan?"

He turned toward Hela.

"That’s actually the main reason I wanted to talk to you. Everything I promised you is already moving forward. Then you suddenly introduce her into the equation and make my job considerably harder."

The arrangement between Evenson and Hela had been carefully concealed.

Both sides had kept their cards hidden. Even when the final outcome became clear, Evenson could have maintained a position that offended neither side.

Lorelei had ruined that balance.

Her appearance had forced him to expose secrets he’d intended to keep buried.

So what exactly was Hela trying to accomplish?

Did she really want him to choose a side?

And if so, why?

Surely she hadn’t simply been bored and decided to eat too much instant noodles.

"I wasn’t planning for things to unfold like this," Hela said, shaking her head.

She glanced toward Lorelei.

"The girl showed me enough respect when she first arrived. I had no reason to kill her."

Hela’s expression hardened.

"But I didn’t intend to release her either."

She continued.

"When I questioned her about the current state of Asgard, I discovered that strange changes were taking place. I had to make preparations."

Evenson’s expression sharpened.

So Hela had learned about Frigga’s recent actions.

And she was worried.

"I’ll admit, I never noticed before," Hela said with an almost amused expression. "Mother always stayed secluded in the palace. She never involved herself in matters of state."

She laughed softly.

"But now that she’s finally acting, she’s making quite an impression."

"My greatest rival for the throne may not be Thor after all."

Her eyes narrowed.

"It may be my own mother."

The rules governing Asgard had existed since Hela’s time. In fact, she and Odin had established many of them together, and for all the centuries since, there had been remarkably little fundamental change.

That was why Frigga’s reforms had shocked Hela.

Military achievements earning noble titles.

Commoners being granted nobility.

Even slaves receiving rewards.

The changes were so radical that Hela had initially assumed Frigga was simply improvising.

But after thinking it through, she realized that wasn’t the case.

These weren’t reckless decrees.

They weren’t the work of an inexperienced ruler playing at government.

If Asgard implemented these policies properly, the entire kingdom would become dramatically more efficient.

And that wasn’t even the end of it.

Hela had also learned about Frigga’s restructuring of Asgard’s bureaucracy.

The deeper she looked, the more impressed she became by Frigga’s political skill and foresight.

But Hela was also someone who had once rebelled against Odin and who desired the throne with every fiber of her being.

She understood what Frigga’s reforms really meant.

They weren’t merely about improving Asgard.

They were about strengthening Frigga’s own authority.

Frigga had no intention of surrendering the power she had accumulated.

She might even want more.

Queen wasn’t enough.

Queen Mother wouldn’t be enough either.

There was only one position left.

The throne.

Hela could see the destination clearly.

And that was exactly what frightened her.

She imagined the day she finally escaped her prison.

She would return to Asgard, crush every faction that opposed her, beat Thor into submission if necessary, and finally declare before the assembled court:

"From this day forward, the supreme ruler of Asgard is..."

"Her Most Divine Majesty, Queen Frigga!"

Sif’s hand trembled.

"You’re saying the Queen wants the throne?"

She had been working wholeheartedly for Frigga and had noticed the change herself.

Ever since the upheaval that had nearly destroyed Asgard, Frigga had become far more determined to seize control of the kingdom’s affairs.

But Sif had always assumed that was because Odin had withdrawn from governance and Thor had abandoned Asgard. The royal family was weakened, so Frigga had stepped forward to preserve its authority.

Perhaps she also simply wanted a chance to realize her ambitions.

But Sif had never imagined that Frigga might actually want the throne.

The thought completely changed the way she looked at Odin.

The anger she’d felt toward him began to transform into something closer to pity.

What kind of family did you raise?

Your eldest daughter rebelled.

Your adopted son rebelled.

Your biological son ran away from the throne.

And the one person who seemed remotely normal was secretly positioning herself to take the kingdom.

This was more dramatic than anything she’d ever seen performed on a stage.

No wonder Odin had decided to spend his remaining years doing absolutely nothing.

If Sif had a family like this, she’d probably want to disappear too.

Evenson, however, paid no attention to Sif’s silent crisis.

He looked directly at Hela.

"But what does Frigga’s ambition have to do with you?"

"I’ve seen the reforms she’s introduced. They will give her enormous authority, but beneath your overwhelming strength, that authority can simply be swept away."

Hela’s expression stiffened.

"Frigga may have married into the royal family, but she isn’t of royal blood."

Her voice became cold.

"She has no royal blood in her veins."

She stared directly at Evenson.

"The succession does not require her blood to sanctify it."

Her expression hardened.

"Do you understand what I’m saying?"