Chapter 36 · The Princess's Choice (1)

“You f*cking bastards!”

Crash! The bronze bowl holding the letters toppled to the floor. Alter grabbed and threw whatever he could get his hands on. Elegant pen holders and ink bottles shattered and broke. His butler squeezed his eyes shut and trembled in the corner.

“Hahaha! You dog-like bastards… So this is how you stab me in the back.”

“Master, please calm yourself. Still, eleven families did sign.”

“What good is that measly number! I need overwhelming approval to shut those damned temple bastards up!”

He loathed those idiot nobles. They were always like this. Smiling to your face, then desperately scheming behind your back to hinder you. This time, he would remember every single name and crush them all. How dare they stab the Alter family in the back? With what confidence?

‘Fine. Anyway, I’m the only one who properly knows that girl’s condition. That cunning slave-born brat—he’s been keeping it all tightly wrapped up to prevent that child from being confined for life in a space where mana and prana are blocked.’

He calmly continued his thoughts.

Yes, all I need to do is crush that bastard Paeon. That girl probably can’t last a single day without him. I’ll tell him that if he doesn’t turn the temple’s heart, I’ll expose the girl’s condition.

If Paeon stakes his position and pressures the temple, the temple will have no choice but to abandon her. Then I adopt that bastard child, get Princess Aquila the succession rights, and reveal to the world that the girl is a terminal case with two powers.

That bastard Paeon won’t be able to escape responsibility for hiding such a critical fact from the royal family and the temple. The child will either be confined, or Paeon will be thrown out and she’ll hold on alone until she dies—one of the two.

‘Nothing much has gone wrong. I got angry over something so easy. Though I still want to tear those insolent nobles to pieces.’

He could consider it a gain to know which families to keep alive and which to destroy. He smiled vilely and left the study.

There was nothing to worry about. Wasn’t God helping him too? For Anastasia to become a cursed polyops (dual-power wielder). As expected, a bastard receives divine punishment just like a bastard.

◇ ◆ ◇

However, Alter had to return without being able to threaten Paeon. The moment he let slip from his mouth about Anastasia’s condition in front of him, the killing intent Paeon radiated instantly drove Alter to the crossroads of life and death.

‘That lunatic. He really meant to kill me right there.’

In any case, Paeon was a man who knew the highest level of prana transformation—bodily destruction. He was practically a killer who could obliterate a person in an instant. Alter was no slouch in mana either, but a head-on confrontation with a man like that in a room with just the two of them was too great a gamble.

‘First, I need to put the agenda forward. Once things become irreversible, even he will come to his senses.’

He entered the state council chamber located in Ratio Palace. The whole way to his seat, he made sure to shoot blue glares at the nobles who had refused to sign. They quickly avoided his gaze and whispered among themselves.

‘The day your heads all roll isn’t far off.’

“His Majesty the King Ferdinand Ordo Entimos arrives!”

“We greet the sky of Santra.”

All the nobles with voting rights rose and paid their respects to the king.

“Now, now. It seems everyone is gathered, so let us begin the meeting.”

The king spoke with a beaming face. Alter wondered why he looked so pleased when there had been nothing pleasant lately.

“The first speaker will be Marquis Laselles. After all, it was Lord Laselles who requested this emergency state council.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty.”

Marquis Laselles smiled leisurely, cleared his throat a few times, and then addressed the assembly in a grave voice.

“Ahem, ahem. I am most delighted to share good news with everyone here today.”

A few snickered. They had clearly discussed something beforehand. Those excluded, including Alter, felt their moods sour.

“Lord Lux has bestowed a blessing upon Santra. A few days ago, at Lake Rubor in the Teska province of Santra, I succeeded in mining a most rare magic stone.”

Magic stones? Murmur, murmur.

‘A magic stone is probably just a mineral imbued with mana retention. Something usable for communication stones or image stones…’

Most magic stones mined in Santra were like that, so Alter snorted. The Alter family also owned several similar magic stone mines.

‘To convene a state council over something as trivial as this—how pathetic.’

Marquis Laselles took a small stone from his pocket. It was a brilliantly vivid crimson crystal. Everyone’s attention fixed on the never-before-seen color and shape.

“This magic stone… tests have confirmed that it has the effect of enhancing mana absorption by one to two tenths for a set period of time.”

“!”

The council chamber stirred greatly. It was something unheard of and unseen.

“It will be of great help not only to Santra’s military strength but also to magic research and development in many ways.”

“Good heavens…”

“It must be a gift sent by Lord Lux.”

The eyes of countless people glinted with greed. Even among nobles, many lacked innate mana. With that magic stone alone, they could greatly augment their abilities. It was an object anyone would covet.

“How did Lord Laselles suddenly discover such a thing? It’s not as if you would have gone on holiday to that dangerous Lake Rubor.”

Alter asked sharply, his voice full of suspicion.

“Ah… Everyone knows that my nephew, Count Baten, has an adventurous nature, don’t they? He wandered about and set foot in that dangerous place. Normally I would have scolded him severely, but thanks to that boy, we discovered this miracle!”

“Are you saying that magic stone was just lying there rolling around when he went exploring?”

“Well, some bird must have dropped it while hunting fish. But I feel as if I’m being interrogated, Count Alter.”

A taut tension flowed between Marquis Laselles and Alter. Everyone held their breath and watched them.

“Ah… If it sounded that way, I apologize. I was merely curious about how it was discovered. This is truly joyous news.”

Alter shrugged and backed off. But he did not stop glaring at the magic stone with displeasure.

“There could be no greater auspicious event for Santra! Thanks to the Laselles family, a new horizon for magic has opened. I believe the mining operation should be entirely entrusted to the Laselles family—what say you, my lords?”

“I believe it must naturally be entrusted to the Laselles family.”

“I agree!”

When those who had been snickering earlier all agreed in unison at the king’s question, the other nobles glanced around and quickly chimed in. Everyone was scheming to line up with Marquis Laselles to obtain the magic stones cheaply.

“Since that place was not anyone’s private property, we shall naturally share the profits with the royal family. Three tenths will be sufficient for us.”

“I am deeply moved by the Laselles family’s loyalty! The royal family will also fully support you.”

The king could not hide his overflowing joy. They seemed to have reached an agreement long before.

Alter gritted his teeth. He did not like that the Laselles family, which had been on the verge of collapse, had shot right back up and was now poised to threaten even the Alter family. Rage surged at this completely unexpected turn, but he calmly requested the floor for his next proposal.

“Your Majesty the King, I humbly request that you permit the adoption of Princess Anastasia after Princess Aquila and I are married.”

The king’s face, which had been full of smiles, hardened in an instant.

“Adoption?”

“Of course, I know this is a sudden request. But we cannot leave the princess in the temple without a guardian forever, nor can we leave the right of succession in an ambiguous state.”

He handed the king a paper bearing signatures and added smoothly.

“I have obtained the signatures of the senate. Most have agreed. If Your Majesty truly cherishes Princess Anastasia, please help her find a comfortable home.”

As the king unfolded the document he had received, Marquis Laselles cried out in a loud voice.

“I, for one, did not sign it.”

“…!”

Alter whipped his blazing eyes toward him. The marquis glared back without backing down and spoke clearly.

“And I am aware that a majority of the families did not agree either.”

“…May I ask why the marquis does not agree?”

“Why, of course, because you did not ask Princess Anastasia for her opinion.”

“Isn’t the princess only five years old? She is not of an age to judge such a grave matter for herself.”

“The princess is clever enough to clearly distinguish right from wrong.”

Marquis Laselles continued firmly.

“If parents can choose their child, then the child should be able to choose her parents as well.”

“…That makes no sense. How can a child choose her parents?”

“Well, isn’t it worth trying? Let us summon Princess Anastasia here and ask her directly. If she agrees, then I will no longer object.”

Alter trembled with fury rising to the top of his head, but he had no choice but to nod.

“Very well. Please summon the princess. Though I don’t know if she is in any state to come right now…”

The moment his words ended, the council chamber door banged open. Everyone turned in surprise, and there stood Anastasia, dignified and proud. And right behind her, Paeon was watching her with an anxious look.

“P-Princess?!”

“I came to see what a state council is wike, and I happened to heaw someone cawwing fow Asha! It was so suwpwising!”

Something was going wrong. Alter had a strong suspicion that he was being played in a rigged game, but he forced himself to stay calm and opened his mouth.

“Princess, I am glad to see you look healthy. As we discussed before, we are currently deliberating on your becoming my daughter—”

“I don’t want to.”

“…!”

When Anastasia cut him off to refuse, his expression hardened.

“…Why? I have every confidence I would treat you very well—”

“The Commanda still has my fwiend who saved my wife wocked up in Yuditium, doesn’t he.”

He looked bewildered for a moment, then clapped his hands as if he understood.

“Ah, if it’s that girl, I will release her! Yes, I will release her right this instant.”

“Weally? Sweaw it on Wux?”

“Yes, I swear.”

“Good.”

When she smiled with satisfaction, Alter’s face brightened as well as he asked,

“Then will you become my daughter now?”

“No. Wake up fwom that dweam.”

At her clear, bright words, Alter finally lost his reason. Veins bulging on his forehead, he shouted.

“Princess! Are you mocking me right now?!”

Anastasia tilted her head once, then spoke with an angelic face.

“On the day of the betwofal, the Commanda was going to hand Asha ovew, wasn’t he.”