CHAPTER 50……….
“Isn’t that Nea??”
The sudden apparition before me had taken the form of the succubus who used to follow me in the Demon Realm. She wasn’t blushing this time, but wore a confident, capable expression—yet it was undeniably her.
“Rosie, is this someone you know?”
“Yes, Father. She was my servant in the Demon Realm, though only for a short while.”
Standing beside the illusory Nea, Jude stepped forward and spoke.
[To Her Highness Roziana of Dreart, Princess of Dreart and consort-to-be of our lord, His Highness Mephisto—Jude greets you.]
Consort of Mephisto? Who said that? Father and I both frowned in unison.
Still, it was obvious that the Demon Realm’s illusion magic was quite advanced. There was a slight sense of distance, but their voices were crystal clear, and even their facial expressions were perfectly readable.
I think I understand now why Father told the knight commanders to leave the room.
If the Dreart knight commanders believed the figures before us were real, they would’ve already drawn their weapons.
At any rate, it seemed the real message was only just beginning, because from the mouths of Jude and Nea—both bowing politely—came words I could hardly believe.
[Our lord, His Highness Mephisto of the Demon Realm, formally requests the hand of Princess Roziana of Dreart in marriage.]
“What?!”
I shot to my feet, forgetting entirely that these were mere illusions.
While I stood there dumbfounded, jaw hanging open, Father’s expression twisted in fury. His golden eyes blazed as if they might shoot beams of fire at any second.
“Even hearing it a second time, it’s utterly absurd!”
I nodded in agreement with Father’s assessment, ridiculous as it was.
[Therefore, His Highness will soon visit Dreart to deliver a formal proposal. We do not seek Dreart’s permission, but it would be pleasing if you conveyed a message of welcome. His Highness Mephisto awaits your reply, Princess, carrying your sentiments.]
So the point was—Mephisto was coming back. Jude and Nea bowed deeply again, as if their message was complete.
[Then, Your Highness! We look forward to seeing you again.]
[And me too! Your Highness, muah~]
Nea’s coquettish, nasal voice lingered unpleasantly in my ears.
With that, the illusion vanished, all formal courtesy having been exhausted. A letter in the most unexpected form and with the most unexpected content.
“He proposes like this? And waits for my reply?”
From Mephisto, of all people?
Blinking in astonishment, I mumbled under my breath like a tiny ant carved out of stone.
Could it be… because of what I said to him?
I recalled our conversation back in the Demon Realm. It seemed he had remembered my words and, in his own way, sent me a letter in response.
Pfft… he has a cute side after all.
It was amusing, but Mephisto was still Dreart’s enemy. He’d dealt enough damage to the imperial family that this was hardly something a simple letter could resolve. And he hadn’t even apologized yet.
“Better this than barging in and slaughtering everyone, I suppose.”
Father’s expression remained fierce.
“True. Whatever his thinking, it looks like Mephisto will be back.”
“Yes, though I can guess what that black-hearted man is really after. He’ll probably demand you be handed over again once he’s here.”
“But if that were his plan, why bother sending such a troublesome letter first?”
If he wanted, he could just storm in again and kidnap me as before. That would be faster, more efficient, and perfectly in line with his temperament.
“Hmm. Admittedly, pretending to ask permission and giving advance notice is new for him.”
“Right? Mephisto’s changed.”
“And illusion magic like that must have consumed a fair amount of power. If he really was gravely injured this time, sending such a letter would have been a burden in itself. Which means…”
Father trailed off, eyes narrowing in thought.
“It’s likely a show meant to win your heart.”
“I think so too, Father.”
Embarrassing as it was, I had to acknowledge it.
A ruler of the Demon Realm wouldn’t go to this trouble otherwise.
“This is actually good. Dreart may be preparing with the Mage Tower to counter black magic, but it’ll still take time. If Mephisto had attacked again right now, we’d have suffered great losses.”
“Exactly, Rosie. Which is why I’ve decided to hasten your engagement. If Mephisto’s going to approach you in such a ‘proper’ way, it’ll be better to have other suitors in place to keep him in check.”
If our interpretation of Mephisto’s intentions was correct, there was no reason to oppose Father’s thinking.
“In that case, why not make the game even bigger? So more people can oppose him together.”
“Bigger? You mean invite suitors from other countries?”
“Yes. The more candidates Mephisto has to compete with, the harder it’ll be for him to get his way. We’ll choose in the end anyway.”
It was a plan entirely to our advantage—and might just work, if Mephisto truly meant to change in order to win me over.
“I’ll write to him and test his intent. If it’s as we expect—if he’s set on winning my heart—I’ll proceed with the engagement, Father. Publicly.”
Father rubbed his chin thoughtfully.
“Very well. I’ll discuss it with your mother one last time.”
“Yes, Father.”
I spread my skirts wide and curtsied.
“Master, are you feeling better?”
Retracting his arm after sending a stream of dark-blue energy into Asterios, Nox asked.
“Your treatment is effective. It’s much easier to move now, and I feel stronger.”
Yzef’s healing had helped, but Nox’s dark magic was a better match for him.
Naturally so.
“My magic draws its source from your power, Master. I’m glad I can be of use at times like this.”
Behind the bowing Nox, Asterios noticed a tray of steaming food.
“What’s that?”
“Her Highness sent food to help with your recovery. A priest dropped it off just now.”
“Her Highness?”
It seemed Yzef had visited while Asterios was bathing, finally able to move by himself after days of being bedridden.
“What’s the Demon Realm up to?”
“I was just about to tell you. Mephisto’s using a strategy he’s never tried before.”
One elegant brow arched at those words.
“Report.”
“He sent a letter proposing marriage to Princess Roziana.”
Asterios gave a short, derisive laugh—but his fists clenched.
“How ridiculous.”
“But it seems the Princess means to use it to her advantage—she’s planning to publicly invite candidates for her engagement. The Emperor seems inclined to allow it.”
Asterios nodded knowingly.
“It’s only natural His Majesty would want to bind her in marriage now that she’s of age. With Edwin as a powerful candidate, it’s an opportunity to solve two problems at once.”
“You mean the betrothal contract the Tower Master received from the late Emperor.”
“Exactly. His Majesty might use this to get rid of both Mephisto and Edwin. If Edwin can present something strong enough to surpass Mephisto, it’d still be no loss to him.”
“But will the Tower Master or Mephisto even accept such terms?”
Both ruled at the pinnacle of their worlds—Edwin over the Mage Tower, Mephisto over the Demon Realm. Such men were used to seizing what they wanted, not competing for it.
A contest could easily turn into a war between the Tower and the Demon Realm.
“They’ll accept. Edwin will almost certainly step forward; a marriage contract can’t happen on one party’s will alone. The one from the late Emperor doesn’t even name a bride. His Majesty would gladly adopt a girl as his foster daughter just to marry her to Edwin instead.”
“Now that you say it, yes… The Tower Master would want to make the engagement with Her Highness a done deal.”
Nox finally understood the Emperor’s plan. Even the Princess’s own suggestion of choosing among suitors must have come from Leodian’s calculations—a truly shrewd ruler.
“And Mephisto’s no different. Dreart and the Princess are no longer easy prey. With the Demon Realm’s cage destroyed, he has every reason to change his approach.”
Rebuilding that magical cage would take not only immense time, but high-grade materials and advanced magic. Mephisto would never sit idly by watching Roziana get engaged to another man.
“Now that he can’t rule the Demon Realm without her, he’ll beg if he has to just to stay near her.”
After all, she’d stolen mana from him in the Demon Realm’s cage.
“Don’t tell me… what we feared was true?”
“Feared?”
“…That Princess Roziana took Mephisto’s mana. And yours, Master.”
Asterios’s eyes narrowed slightly.
“Nox. When did you learn that?”
