I Already Know My Magic Power Is Ridiculously High! Now I Just Need a Cute Wife... - Episode 92

Zakrian Empire Calendar, Year 152, August 25.

Two weeks after the ceasefire negotiations.

The capital of the Naia Kingdom, Goldasht.

In the royal office, designated for the royal family, members of the faction supporting Prince Albert, the first prince of the Naia Kingdom, were gathered. All of them had expressions of disbelief.

“Is that true?”

“Yes, there is no doubt about it.”

“Impossible… Luna has overcome her distrust?”

For Albert’s faction, this was a complete shock.

Their faction had grown to its current size mainly because of Luna’s deep distrust of men. As long as Luna harbored that distrust, her path to the throne was nearly impossible. Instead, they had been more wary of Julia, who was second in the line of succession.

But now that this obstacle was gone, Luna had suddenly become the most promising candidate for queen. It was only a matter of time before her faction rose to the top.

“Several of Lady Luna’s attendants have confirmed it. The shame imprint has completely disappeared without a trace.”

A civil officer reported this to Albert.

“Ridiculous… Damn it! What the hell is going on?!”

“Most likely, she found true love during her ten-day disappearance,” said a burly man with glaring eyes, Serpence, in a half-joking tone.

“This is no time for jokes, Serpence! The Hoshiros marquis, the next family head, and even the pawn you prepared were all defeated by Ortenos!”

“Indeed, the young Ortenos outwitted us completely. This is our defeat. We must fundamentally change our strategy.”

After their failed attack on Urgore, even the ambush at the ceasefire negotiations was thwarted by Shalka of the Ortenos family.

Even from Serpence’s perspective, the two warriors of the Constellation had enough strength to eventually surpass their superiors.

The fact that both had been defeated suggested that Shalka’s power might rival the highest-ranked warriors of the Constellation.

“Tch… Then what do we do?”

“Prince Albert, it’s time for you to make a decision.”

“…A decision on what?”

“Obviously—the Demon Extermination Ritual.”

Tension filled the room.

The Demon Extermination Ritual meant hunting a magical beast.

For nobles, fighting magical beasts was almost equivalent to facing death. Even a group of nobles together would barely stand a chance.

“That…! That was supposed to be a last resort! Besides, there’s no way we’ll conveniently find a magical beast…”

“A matured Gamma Quasar has been sighted in the Third Forbidden Zone of the Lost Grenia Corridor.”

Serpence’s words caused another wave of unrest.

“What?! Are you insane?”

“If things continue like this, Princess Luna will almost certainly inherit Alfrear. To oppose her, Prince Albert must demonstrate his power.”

Serpence spoke in a cold, indifferent tone.

“Damn it! Why must I take such a dangerous risk?! Why not just kill Luna?!”

“That opportunity has long passed. Before the ceasefire negotiations, perhaps, but now Princess Luna is protected by the queen.”

“Ugh…!”

Albert’s face twisted in frustration.

Why had he, who had always been in a superior position, suddenly been forced into a situation where he had to risk his life to gain power?

Serpence observed him and concluded, once again, that Albert was unfit to be king. He turned to leave the room.

“Where are you going?!”

“Today is the emergency royal council meeting. I shall take my leave first.”

Serpence smirked faintly as he exited.

As he walked down the corridor alone, he sighed.

(Lending them the Jewel Casket and the Floating Dragon, and this is the result? Pathetic.)

Their original plan had been to disrupt the ceasefire negotiations and eliminate both Luna and the Ortenos family in the ensuing chaos.

Hoshiros was meant to appear as a victim of the attack.

But the outcome had been the complete opposite.

They had managed to seal Urgore inside the Jewel Casket, but unless they retrieved it, it was meaningless.

“You really did it this time, young Ortenos.”

For the first time in a long while, Serpence trembled with rage.

Audience Chamber

That day, an emergency royal council meeting was held at Goldasht Castle.

The agenda: questioning Luna and deciding how to deal with the Hoshiros Marquis family.

“I understand your explanation, Luna. Regardless of why you disappeared, the fact remains that you secured the ceasefire. Be proud of that.”

“Thank you, Mother.”

Luna smiled as she received praise from her mother, Queen Carlina.

“To think that Marquis Hoshiros had ties with the so-called ‘heroes’ who tried to assassinate Luna… Lord Claudio, as the new family head, do you have anything to say?”

Claudio, the second son of the Hoshiros Marquis family and Luna’s former fiancé, had suddenly inherited the title after his father and brother’s deaths two weeks ago.

“No, I do not… Honestly, I still don’t fully understand what happened…”

Claudio stammered, flustered by the queen’s cold tone.

The exhaustion and anxiety from several sleepless nights were evident on his face.

“Very well. Prime Minister Gianluca, please announce the ruling on the Hoshiros family.”

“Yes. First, the Hoshiros Marquis family shall face territorial reduction. Second, they must submit to an inspection by the Naia royal family. Lastly, all children of Hoshiros under the age of twenty shall receive their education in Goldasht.”

Gianluca’s words were strict.

The first two were straightforward.

The third meant, in effect, that the Hoshiros family must send hostages.

Their crime—conspiring with foreign forces—was serious enough to warrant complete dissolution of the noble house. However, since Hoshiros was a powerful noble family, outright dismantling it would be difficult.

If the punishment was too severe, other noble houses might unite against the royal family. To prevent such a rebellion, a balanced approach was taken.

Since Claudio was only eighteen, he too would be forcibly detained in Goldasht.

“But we sealed Urgore! Please reconsider the territorial reduction! Hoshiros has already been forced to cede the western Elhoro River region to Ortenos. If we lose any more, we won’t survive!”

Claudio raised his voice.

As the new family head, he could not simply accept the ruling without protest.

“Oh my, after bringing foreign ‘heroes’ into our country, you dare ask for leniency, Lord Claudio? Besides, you claim to have sealed Urgore, but where is the proof? If Ortenos has it, then it means nothing.”

A woman stepped forward with a sneering smile.

She had violet curls and wore high-leg short pants.

“You… Marchioness Painly?! Why are you here…?”

Beatrice La Painly.

Head of the Painly family in southern Hoshiros territory.

In the royal succession dispute, she had remained neutral—a mysterious presence.

No one had expected her to appear at this meeting.

“Queen Carlina, the Painly Marquis family formally declares our support for Princess Luna as the heir to the throne.”

Beatrice suddenly announced before the queen and Luna.

Though neither seemed surprised, the nobles in attendance stirred.

“In addition, we wish to clarify that we had no involvement in the recent ceasefire negotiations attack. Unlike Hoshiros, we did not shelter or invite foreign ‘heroes’ into the kingdom.”

Claudio instantly realized her motive.

She was trying to gain Luna’s favor and shield her own family from future inspections.

Had Luna spent her ten-day disappearance persuading Beatrice?

“Damn it…! We never invited those ‘heroes’! My father and brother must have been set up—”
“Lord Claudio, stop making a scene.”

A new voice cut in.

It was Albert, who had been silent until now.

“To request foreign ‘heroes’ to assassinate a fellow royal? Though Luna and I compete for the throne, such barbarity is unforgivable.”

Albert declared with feigned righteousness.

At that moment, Claudio understood completely.

They were cutting off Hoshiros to protect themselves.

His father and brother had served Albert’s faction.

Albert had brought in the ‘heroes.’

But Claudio had no way to prove it.

“Marquis Hoshiros, no matter what you say, the ruling will not change. If you argue further, harsher punishment will follow. Do you have anything else to say?”

“…No, Your Majesty.”

Claudio had no choice but to accept his fate.