I Already Know My Magic Power Is Ridiculously High! Now I Just Need a Cute Wife... - Episode 1

I was summoned by my father.

As the eldest son of the marquis family, twelve years have passed, and finally, the time has come.

My heart races as I walk through the familiar halls of the Ortenatris Castle.

Thinking about the future, my steps naturally became lighter.

Glimpsing the backyard with the fountain, I proceed down the western corridor and dash up the grand staircase from the spacious entrance with the large stained-glass windows.

If you walk about a hundred meters down the second-floor corridor, you will reach my father Marquis Ortenos’ office.

I knock and enter the room.

“Father, it’s Shalka. I have just arrived.”

“Welcome, Shalka, have a seat on the sofa.”

“Yes”

Radnark de Ortenos, thirty-five years old.

The middle-aged man who sat down in front of me across the table sighed with a somewhat tired expression.

From my father’s demeanor, I can tell that he is troubled by some problem that needs solving.

“Shalka, you’re already thirteen, aren’t you? Even though you were born as the eldest son of the Ortenos Marquis family, you know that you can’t inherit the family estate because you’re the child of a concubine, right?”

I thought it was going to be a sudden heavy coming out, but it wasn’t.

“Yes, I’ve heard it so many times it’s like a broken record. I’m just worried that if someone like me wanders around the castle, those foolish Nevrim will make a fuss.”

Despite being the eldest son of the Ortenos family, it is a well-known fact that I cannot inherit the title of Marquess Ortenos.

That said, I want to make it clear that I have no ulterior motives and that I have no connections with my mother’s family, Nevrim.

“I don’t mind. Baron Nevrim doesn’t have such ambition. Shalka, I would love to send you out to war like your grandfather and have you achieved military exploits, but if that happens, it will become difficult to keep the Ranecki family in check.

That family would immediately demand that you be returned to your home if they even slightly try to elevate your status.”

The Ranecki Count family, the most powerful noble in the Ortenos region, is the family of my father’s legitimate wife.

If what my father says is true, there is probably no path for me to live as a warrior from now on.

I understand the hardships you have endured, Father.

“By the way, I was thinking of sending you out for your first battle soon. Do you have any preferences?”

“No, not particularly…”

Until this age, I have lived without going to war, but when I see my grandfather being pampered by young girls, I sometimes feel envious.

At this rate, I might end up growing up to be a spineless kid unworthy of a noble.

Beanpole kids generally aren’t popular in this era, so I think I need to do something about it, but as my father mentioned earlier, I can’t stand out too much because of the family succession issue.

“Haa, Shalka, is that really okay with you?”

“Is that really okay, if I may ask?”

“After all, you are the eldest son born into the Ortenos Marquis family. Why do you lack such ambition?”

Even if I’m asked about ambition, seeing my father’s exhausted state, I don’t have the spirit or vigor to think, “I am the next heir!”

However, my father must find me incomprehensible.

“No, I’m fine. It’s only natural that Lady Elmia, the daughter of the legal wife, has the right of succession. So why would I harbor any ambitions?

For the past twelve years, I’ve been able to live without any hardships, all thanks to the Ortenos family. Why would I bring discord to a household that is already so chaotic?”

“Honestly, if you are willing, I would even consider handing over the family headship by suppressing and putting up with Ranecki.”

My father, for some reason, looked at me with a serious expression, harboring some mysterious expectation.

There are various things that come to mind, but since the reputation outside the family is completely lacking, my father, who tends to listen to others’ opinions, probably won’t be able to make a bold decision.

“It’s unnecessary, so please don’t go out of your way.”

“I see…”

When I expressed my refusal, my father looked a bit disappointed.

But I don’t want to get into an inheritance dispute with my family either.

Even though it’s a marquis family, I know there are various entanglements, and when it comes to the Ortenos family, they have a much more grotesque and murky background compared to other noble families.

It is such a deep darkness that one could never even think of trying to cut into the system.

(Or rather, I wish we could get to the main topic soon…)

I wanted to change the atmosphere a bit, so I cleared my throat with a “hmm.”

“…By the way, Shalka, a very good marriage proposal has just arrived for you…”

It’s here, it’s here, it’s here! That’s it, that’s it!

A few months ago, my father mentioned that he was arranging a marriage for me.

I was so worried about the outcome that I couldn’t sleep at night until today.

When my father called me, I was convinced that this was about an arranged marriage.

“I’ve been waiting for you, Father.”

“……What’s wrong, Shalka? Why are you suddenly leaning forward?”

“Please tell me, is that person someone I know?”

“No, it should be a girl I don’t know.”

A daughter I don’t know, which means she is likely from outside the Ortenos region.

I’m the eldest son of the Ortenos Marquis, so they should choose a reliable daughter for me, right?

Normally, one would expect a well-educated, noble-born, and charming young lady to be chosen. Yes, let’s believe that.

Could you at least show me the portrait?

“So, Father, is that girl cute?”

“Hmm, so even Shalka is curious about the potential fiancée. Well, it was a wasted effort, but I suppose I can at least show you the portrait.”

When I asked my father with a serious expression, he showed me a picture.

(Hmm, so lovely…)

The girl in the portrait is sitting in a chair, wearing a splendid long-skirted dress that noblewomen rarely wear, and her makeup resembles the pale vermilion hue of the first snow.

There stood a maiden of my age, a beauty who would make even flowers blush.

With skin as white as snow, red blush on her cheeks and lips, and long, pale blue hair, she was undoubtedly a girl from the Rosham Marquis family.

(This lovely girl is my fiancée… This is a winning life…!)

Her features are still youthful, but she is strikingly beautiful and will likely grow into a considerable beauty in the future.

I devised the Hikaru Genji plan for a girl I had yet to meet and let my imagination run wild.

“Father, let’s arrange a marriage meeting right away. Naturally, you wouldn’t be considering a son-in-law, so we will establish a branch family, right? Leave it to me, Shalka, I will dedicate myself to the glorious revival of the Ortenos family!”

With this engagement, I renewed my determination to further elevate the Ortenos family…

“Well, you see, it fell through at the last minute.”

Ruthlessly, my father’s retort tore my heart to shreds.