Marriage Proposal

The Feymont Empire's annual Martial Magic Tournament was scheduled for the last day of May. Aside from waiting for the victors of the various provincial Martial Magic Tournaments at the end of April to have time to reach the capital, the more important reason was that this day happened to be when the Shepherd of God made his yearly inspection tour of the Feymont Empire.

This so-called inspection of the empire was essentially just collecting the quota of Magic Crystals and, incidentally, bestowing Divine Grace upon the royal family.

At this moment, on the viewing platform before the Imperial Square, King Auston was accompanying the Shepherd of God in reviewing the young talents who had gathered from all over.

King Auston's only daughter, Princess Lucia, was also appearing for the first time at the viewing platform of the Martial Magic Tournament. She slowly waved to the crowd in the square, dressed in a purple gown symbolizing nobility, her movements elegant and charming, a measured smile perpetually gracing her beautiful face. Even the textbook-perfect royal etiquette could not conceal the youthful vivacity and spirit unique to a young girl.

Besides them, seated on the viewing platform were envoys from the Thorn Empire and the Silver Sparrow Federation, as well as Natia Vida, Cynthia Vida, and the Dwarf from yesterday.

The inspection ceremony concluded, and the crowd dispersed. The competition rounds of the tournament would begin tomorrow, at the Imperial Arena.

Before that, a ceremonial officer came to the Tris Province contingent, representing the king in summoning Donald to the palace for an audience.

Inside the palace, everyone who had just been on the viewing platform was also present.

Donald, dressed in plain cloth, bowed in greeting to King Auston and smiled in acknowledgment toward Natia Vida and Cynthia Vida.

Lucia, meanwhile, kept secretly winking at him and giggling.

"God Priest, this young man has rescued my only daughter on several occasions. This year, the royal family will share the blessing of the God of Light with him."

Donald was startled by the king's words. Though he didn't know exactly what Divine Grace was, the king's reward was clearly substantial.

The God Priest showed no reaction, neither agreeing nor refusing. His calm face remained expressionless throughout, yet it didn't give a cold impression, reminding Donald of the Buddha statues he had seen in temples in his past life.

"Your Majesty, sharing God's blessing with a commoner—are you not afraid of incurring divine wrath?" the Thorn Empire's envoy, Magician Clark, said coldly.

"Magician Clark, this is a father's gratitude toward a brave man who rescued his daughter. The supreme God of Light will understand."

"A father's love, a heart of gratitude—God will understand." The God Priest, who had been silent all along, finally spoke slowly, ending the topic.

"This brave man who rescued the princess seems to be merely an Intermediate Magic Apprentice," Magician Clark continued, unwilling to let it go.

This was the first time Donald had been publicly called out for his magical attainment, and he was startled. He recalled what his professor had said in Spiritual Power class—only a gap of four levels or more in Spiritual Power allowed one to detect another's rank.

That meant Magician Clark was at least a fourth-level magician, what Wesley called a Bluebird Magician. And the other party had been deliberately targeting him, which made Donald inwardly more cautious.

"Magician Clark, you may not know this yet, but it was this young man, Donald Wien, who killed the rebel Eli. Oh, regarding the rebellion in Tris Province, your country seemed to lend quite a bit of assistance. I haven't yet had the chance to thank King Edward." King Auston's tone grew colder and colder toward the end, almost pausing on each word, clearly seething with anger.

Lucia's expression darkened upon hearing her father's words. She inwardly complained that her father had revealed Donald's killing of Eli in front of the envoys. This would likely drag Donald into the tense situation.

Lucia knew Donald wouldn't like that feeling.

King Auston pretended not to see Lucia's expression and gestured for Donald to take a seat.

"Your Majesty. With the rebellion in Tris Province, King Edward has been quite worried that your country's chaotic situation might spill over into the Thorn Empire. To that end, the king has ordered twelve legions deployed to the border between our two nations to ensure peace there."

Magician Clark replied with a smile. If one only heard his tone, they might think King Edward was truly benevolent.

As for the claim that Donald had killed Eli, Magician Clark dismissed it as a hastily fabricated lie by King Auston to justify sharing Divine Grace with him. Clark knew Eli's background—if this magic apprentice could kill Eli, then a rabbit could kill a lion.

"Please convey to King Edward that if his troops amassed at the border encounter a natural disaster and are annihilated, I will certainly send forces to assist your country in maintaining domestic order," King Auston said with a cold laugh.

"Haha, the Thorn Empire's army is strong and well-fed, no need for Your Majesty's concern. I do have another mission on this embassy—on behalf of the Second Prince, Prince Geoffrey," Magician Clark said, pointing to the young man beside him who had been sitting calmly all along, "to propose marriage to Princess Lucia. King Edward says that if the marriage between the prince and princess can stabilize your country's situation, he will no longer need to worry about border security."

A flash of anger crossed King Auston's face. Since Lucia's birth when he was thirty, he had been unable to produce another heir. Marrying Lucia to a prince of the Thorn Empire would be tantamount to handing over the Feymont Empire. The Thorn Empire's troop deployment at the border, followed by a marriage proposal—the intent was truly malicious.

At this point, the Silver Sparrow Federation's representative, Grand Duke Hayden Gustav of the Gustav Dukedom, spoke with a smile: "Magician Clark, Princess Lucia is beautiful and charming. I doubt your Prince Geoffrey is the only one interested. My son, Harry, has long admired Princess Lucia. As such, I too propose marriage to her on his behalf. As for the Feymont Empire's situation, I believe that once my son and Princess Lucia are wed, the Silver Sparrow Federation will naturally fully support the Feymont Empire. King Edward need not trouble himself."

The Gustav Dukedom under Grand Duke Hayden's rule was the core state of the Silver Sparrow Federation, its influence covering nearly the entire federation. His words carried no bluff.

Harry Gustav, dressed as a magic apprentice, sat beside Grand Duke Hayden. Clearly, they too had come prepared.

King Auston's expression eased slightly. If Lucia married Harry, given the Gustav Dukedom's strength, there was no fear of it annexing the Feymont Empire. And it would provide a significant counterbalance against the Thorn Empire's provocations.

Once the Thorn Empire annexed the Feymont Empire, it would surely turn its sights on the weaker Silver Sparrow Federation. Grand Duke Hayden's move was likely out of concern for that scenario.

"Grand Duke Hayden, are you trying to compete with King Edward for this marriage?" Clark said coldly, a threat implicit in his tone.

"Magician Clark, marriage requires mutual consent—how can it be called competing? I think if King Auston finds it hard to decide, why not let my son and Prince Geoffrey have a match? Let combat decide," Grand Duke Hayden said with a smile, clearly confident in Harry's strength.

"That's not a bad idea..." Clark had already seen that Harry was a High-level Magic Apprentice, one step away from a Formal Magician. But Grand Duke Hayden surely didn't know that Prince Geoffrey had already advanced to Knight. In a real fight, Clark was fully confident.

"I won't marry anyone!" Watching herself being fought over like goods by two families, Lucia finally couldn't hold back.

"Lucia!" King Auston shot her a glare. This daughter was becoming more and more disobedient. In such a setting, before he had spoken, how could she chime in?

"I just won't marry," Lucia glared at her father. Remembering how he had spilled everything about Donald killing Eli, she grew even angrier. In a fit of rage, she blurted out: "If I marry anyone, it'll be Donald. I won't marry anyone else."

After saying this, whether from shyness or fear of her father's wrath, Lucia turned and ran off, not forgetting to glance at Donald as she went.

Donald broke out in a cold sweat—this girl, at a time like this, had thrown the problem to him. Now, facing everyone's stares, he could only lower his head, shut his mouth, and play dumb.

The atmosphere froze instantly.

No one had expected Princess Lucia to declare in such a setting that she would marry no one but a commoner.

King Auston was furious, somewhat regretting his decision to summon Donald.

The envoys from the two countries, who had been at each other's throats moments ago, were both stunned.

Cynthia Vida, however, glanced at Natia Vida and smiled faintly. If Donald truly married Lucia, perhaps he would have ties that bound him and wouldn't go to the Magic Continent.

"Princess Lucia wants to marry this commoner? King Auston, is this your decision as well?" Clark said with a cold sneer.

Donald stole a glance at Clark, weighing whether to take him by surprise and put a bullet through him too. But it was just a thought—never mind the severe consequences of killing a foreign envoy within the palace, even if Donald actually tried, the man's unfathomable strength meant he might not succeed anyway.

King Auston said gravely, "I've spoiled this daughter of mine. She talks nonsense; no one need take it seriously."

"I thought as much. How could the noble Princess Lucia marry a lowly commoner?" Clark said, casting a cold sidelong glance at Donald. Donald felt a chill run down his spine from that look—likely the result of too great a gap in Spiritual Power.

At this moment, Cynthia Vida, who had remained silent all along, spoke slowly: "If Donald is willing to marry Lucia, I could help him put together a proper betrothal gift."

Donald frowned, thinking of the one kilogram of Mithril the Gnome sisters had casually given him—these short women were far too generous.

Clark was startled by Cynthia's words. He couldn't quite grasp the situation—a "proper betrothal gift" from a Gnome ambassador inevitably stirred the imagination. But how did this commoner boy have ties to Gnomes?

These short-statured people controlled the quota ratios of every nation, and no one dared offend them lightly. Still, remembering that the God Priest was present, Clark steeled himself and said, "Ambassador, you seem to be interfering in politics. Doesn't that violate the treaty?"

"I'm merely offering a betrothal gift for a friend. What does that have to do with politics?" Cynthia Vida's tone remained as gentle and soft as ever.

Friend? Clark struggled to digest that word from Cynthia Vida. This Gnome woman's status was vaguely higher than Ambassador Natia's—how could she be a friend to a commoner boy?

The God Priest, who had been resting with his eyes closed, finally opened them and said slowly, "A princess's betrothal is politics."

"We have no intention of interfering with Princess Lucia's betrothal. In fact, no matter who Donald marries, we will offer a proper congratulatory gift." As Cynthia Vida spoke, she cast a smile at Donald.

Donald pretended not to see it. He had already guessed her intentions and felt an instinctive resistance to this interference in his freedom.

The God Priest said nothing more, but his robes began to stir without any wind. A massive fluctuation of Spiritual Power pressed down on nearly everyone in the room.

Cynthia Vida showed no trace of tension, acting as if the God Priest's display were invisible.

A low crackling sound began in the air, as if a terrifying force was silently building up.

No one noticed the Dwarf who had been following Cynthia the whole time. He shifted one foot slightly forward. Suddenly, the crackling ceased.

The God Priest's expression shifted slightly, his mind racing: Such formidable power—Battle Qi held back without release, yet already this strong...

"Gernada." Cynthia Vida called softly. The Dwarf withdrew his extended foot, remaining throughout the perfect picture of an ordinary attendant.

"Gernada! The legendary Gernada who advanced to a tenth-level Dwarf Warrior at the age of one hundred!" The God Priest's heart trembled in terror. He finally realized who the woman speaking was—someone he could not afford to provoke. But hadn't she been active in the Knight Federation recently? Why had she suddenly appeared in the tiny Feymont Empire?

After secretly swallowing the blood pooled in his mouth and slowly steadying his breath, the God Priest finally spoke again, his tone calm and natural: "Since it's merely a betrothal gift, it doesn't count as interfering in politics."

The expressions of those present flickered with doubt and uncertainty. Why had the God Priest, clearly ready to act, suddenly changed his stance?

But since even the God Priest, representing the will of Heaven, had said it wasn't political interference, Clark had nothing left to say. He merely stared coldly at King Auston.

"Let's put the matter of the betrothal aside for now," the King said with a soft sigh.

Donald breathed a sigh of relief.