Chapter Summaries

After Norris died, Irene sought comfort from Claire and confessed that she wanted to marry her to avoid being forced into a political marriage. Claire reassured Irene that she would protect her and urged her to reconsider marriage once she had time to think.

• Irene told Claire that Norris had died suddenly in front of her, and explained that the First Prince and Second Prince were now competing for the throne.
• Irene feared that losing her status as a princess would leave her vulnerable to being married off, so she asked Claire to marry her.
• Claire told Irene that their relationship did not depend on her title and that she should not rush into marriage to escape her problems.
• Irene confessed that she liked Claire, and Claire asked her to think it over after the succession crisis had passed.
• Claire promised that nobody would force Irene to do anything she did not want and offered her a place in Nafu City.
• Claire went downstairs to prepare food because Irene had lost weight and had not eaten properly.

Claire comforted Irene after the royal succession crisis left her afraid of what Vito or Keli might do, then visited Sophia to ask which prince she supported. Claire rejected Sophia’s choice of Keli and proposed that Sophia back Princess Irene instead.

• Claire prepared food for Irene, and Irene explained what had happened to Charlie and the Second Princess.
• Claire warned that either Vito or Keli might threaten Irene and Nafu City if he became King.
• Claire encouraged Irene to rely on herself, then left to visit Lady Sophia with a possible solution.
• Sophia admitted that she planned to support Keli because he was capable and had a better chance of taking the throne with her help.
• Claire told Sophia to choose someone else and proposed Princess Irene.

Claire persuaded Sophia to support Irene’s bid for the throne and then sought help from the Ansier Family. At the Tulip Shop, Sirian revealed that King Norris had died, leaving Claire with a possible opening to win over Shane’s father.

• Claire argued that Sophia should back Irene, offering his own support and appealing to Sophia’s experience as a woman; Sophia agreed to a preliminary partnership but wanted a stronger chance of victory.
• Claire went to the main Tulip Shop to seek the Ansier Family’s support for Irene.
• Sirian told Claire and Shane that King Norris was dead, news he had learned from the Blazing Flame High Priest’s final curse.
• Claire told Shane that Vito and Klee had begun competing for the throne and asked to meet Shane’s father.
• Shane explained that his second brother had clashed with their father over his closeness to Klee, and Claire recognized an opportunity.

Claire asked Shane to help Irene ascend the throne and explained that his father, Count Norton, was likely splitting the Ansier Family’s support between rival princes to protect the family whichever one won. Shane agreed to ask his father about joining Claire’s plan.

• Claire asked Shane to help Irene ascend the throne, saying Sophia had already agreed.
• Shane explained that his father and eldest brother supported First Prince Vito, while his second brother supported the Second Prince, Klee.
• Claire used an egg-basket example to suggest that Count Norton was deliberately dividing the family’s support between the rival princes.
• Claire proposed that Norton had arranged Shane’s second brother’s posting to Hill City and their public feud to make the split convincing, possibly keeping even Shane’s brothers unaware.
• Shane realized his connection to Prince Albert might also serve his father’s contingency plan, then agreed to ask Norton about Claire’s proposal that night.

Claire enlisted Sirian to arrange a meeting with Sword Saint Hubert, then persuaded Yana to support Princess Irene’s claim to the throne by promising to help her lead the Guen Family. Claire brought Yana to Sophia, who agreed to guide her, and left to check on Irene while joking that their allies should at least become dukes.

• Claire asked Sirian to arrange a meeting with Sword Saint Hubert and promised to offer him something that would interest him.
• Shane hurried home to verify Claire’s claims about Count Norton.
• Claire persuaded Yana to support Irene and promised to make Yana the head of the Guen Family.
• Claire introduced Yana to Sophia, who agreed to teach her, and told Sophia she had also found an ally on Count Norton’s side.
• Claire left Sophia and Yana to talk and went back to check on Irene, joking that they should all at least become dukes.

Claire secured Irene’s agreement to pursue her own worth and help her become Queen, then recruited Lady Sophia and Yana into the plan. The next morning, Shane confirmed that Count Norton had ordered him to work with Claire, and Claire received an invitation from Sword Saint Hubert.

• Claire asked Irene whether she wanted to remain carefree or realize her worth, and Irene said she no longer wanted to be an ignorant child.
• Claire promised to help Irene and stayed to chat with her before returning to Lady Sophia’s residence.
• Claire told Lady Sophia that Irene agreed to the plan, outlined how they would help Yana take the throne, and sent Yana home.
• The next morning, Shane told Claire that Count Norton had instructed him to work with her, and Claire sensed three Archmage-level mages protecting him.
• After Claire sent Shane to Lady Sophia, she received an invitation from Sword Saint Hubert.

Claire visited Hubert and tried to enlist his support for Princess Irene’s bid for the throne. She revealed a way that might help Hubert’s son Angus, then demonstrated a far stronger version of Sirian’s magic-and-sword technique, leaving Hubert watching closely.

• Claire told Hubert that His Majesty Norris had died and asked him to support Princess Irene, but Hubert initially refused to join a succession dispute.
• Claire listed Lady Sophia, Count Norton, the Guen Family, and Duke Charlie as Irene’s supporters and offered Hubert a reason to reconsider.
• Claire learned that Hubert’s sixty-three-year-old son Angus was still an Archmage, and Hubert asked whether she could help him advance.
• Claire said she could not help Angus advance to Archmage but offered another path.
• Sirian demonstrated an icy-spike attack, then Claire used his greatsword to unleash a much larger attack that shattered everything within seven meters.

Claire persuaded Hubert to support Irene by demonstrating the Magic Swordmaster path and explaining how it could benefit Angus and the Golden Lion Family. Hubert agreed to support Irene, and Claire secured his promise not to share the path beyond his family before setting out to visit Archmage Merlin's household.

• Claire demonstrated the Magic Swordmaster path and explained its strengths, limitations, and potential for Angus.
• Hubert agreed to support Irene, saying he was persuaded by Claire and would have backed her if she were royal.
• Claire revealed that she had advanced to Archmage level at seventeen.
• Claire and Hubert signed a Magic Contract restricting the Magic Swordmaster path to the Golden Lion Family.
• Claire asked Sirian to teach Angus the path and announced that she would visit Archmage Merlin's household next.

Yana used information Claire, Shane, and Sophia gathered to win the Guen Family elders’ support and take over as family head. After consolidating her authority, she joined Claire on a visit to Archmage Merlin’s home, where Claire planned to persuade Edith instead.

• Claire returned to Sophia’s home, where Shane and Sophia had investigated the Guen Family elders and passed the damaging information to Yana.
• Yana privately confronted the elders with evidence of their secrets and crimes, using threats and a Life Potion to secure their support for her bid to become family head.
• With more than half of the voting members behind her, Yana took the family head position in a surprise upset and, with Sophia’s guidance, placed her father under house arrest and sent her elder brother out of the kingdom.
• The change alarmed the First Prince and the Second Prince, while Vito worried that Yana would not support him and Keli sent people to contact her.
• Claire visited Yana that night and invited her to Archmage Merlin’s home, explaining that she intended to persuade Edith rather than Merlin.

Claire and Yana visited Edith to ask her to support Irene's bid for the throne, while Claire concealed his divine spark from Merlin. Edith agreed to think it over, and Merlin urged her to join Claire despite his agreement with Archmage Ivan.

• Claire and Yana met Merlin at his residence, where he noticed Claire had become an Archmage and mentioned his failed attempt to seize a divine spark.
• Edith came downstairs in her pajamas, congratulated Yana on becoming family head, and asked why they had come.
• Claire asked Edith to join their effort to support Irene's ascension, and Yana pleaded with her because her position depended on Irene's success.
• Edith refused at first because of Merlin's agreement with Archmage Ivan, but she agreed to take time to think.
• After Claire and Yana left, Merlin appeared and told Edith to join Claire, saying he believed Claire would become an Archmage Saint.

Claire gathered Sophia, Hubert, Shane, Yana, and Edith to pledge their support for Irene as the next Queen, and Irene agreed despite being taken by surprise. After Claire encouraged her to embrace the responsibility, Irene resolved to fight for the throne and protect the kingdom.

• Claire led Irene downstairs, where Sophia, Hubert, Shane, Yana, and Edith declared their support for her succession.
• Irene agreed to become a candidate for Queen and asked the assembled allies to help her.
• The group planned to make Irene the strongest candidate when Norris's death was announced, while seeking support from nobles and other factions.
• After the others left, Irene told Claire that the sudden plan frightened her and that she doubted she was capable of ruling.
• Claire urged Irene to trust herself and argued that she could protect the kingdom and its people better than her brothers.
• Irene accepted the throne as her goal and resolved to fight for it as her duty and a way to carry on her father's will.

At the succession ceremony after King Norris’s unexpected death, Klee and Vito prepared to compete for the throne. Claire challenged the claim that only the two princes could inherit, and Irene declared her intention to enter the contest; Grand Judge Joseph confirmed her legal right to succeed.

• Klee and Vito arrived at the palace, where nobles gathered in factions to support each prince.
• Grand Judge Joseph opened the succession proceedings and named Vito and Klee as the current candidates.
• Nobles argued over whether primogeniture or ability should determine the next king.
• Claire objected that anyone with royal blood could inherit the throne and presented Irene as another candidate.
• Irene declared that she wanted to compete for the throne.
• Klee questioned whether Irene could inherit, but Joseph confirmed that royal blood granted succession rights regardless of age or gender.

Claire persuaded Joseph to support Irene in the succession, and Irene openly declared she would become the kingdom’s first Queen. Sophia, the Guen Family, and the Ansier Family then backed Irene, leaving Prince Klee and Vito’s bid for the throne weakened.

• Claire confronted Joseph and revealed that he knew about Norris’s order to pressure Claire into joining them.
• Claire told Joseph to support Irene, and Joseph agreed after learning Claire was a seventeen-year-old Archmage.
• At the succession ceremony, Prince Klee and Vito challenged Irene’s right to the throne, but Irene declared she would become the kingdom’s first Queen.
• Sophia stood behind Irene, and Yana announced that the Guen Family fully supported her.
• Shane joined Claire’s side, then Count Norton backed Shane and the Ansier Family, prompting nobles to reconsider their support for Prince Klee and Vito.

Claire helped Irene reveal overwhelming support from nobles, Sword Saint Hubert, and Edith at the succession ceremony, giving her camp the advantage over Krie and Vito. After the ceremony ended, Claire’s group prepared to recruit more nobles and protect Irene from assassination.

• Norton, Hubert, and Edith stepped forward to support Irene, shocking the nobles and leaving Krie and Vito at a disadvantage.
• Edith clarified that she supported Irene in her own name alongside her friend Yana, not on behalf of the Merlin Family.
• Claire told Krie and Vito that he alone was enough, and Krie suspected Claire had secured Irene’s supporters.
• Joseph ended the ceremony after the standoff, and Krie and Vito threatened Irene as they left.
• Claire praised Irene, asked Sophia and the others to receive new noble supporters, and arranged for Hubert to protect Irene.

After Irene’s public declaration won her new noble supporters, Klee and Vito agreed to work together to eliminate her that night. Klee then confirmed with the Pope that the Church of Light would hold back Sword Saint Hubert, in exchange for Claire being handed over for judgment.

• Claire escorted Irene to the Charlie family’s villa and reassured her that she had performed well before the nobles.
• Pran apologized to Claire and joined Irene’s supporters, while most leading families remained aligned with the two princes.
• After hearing that nobles were backing Irene, Vito smashed his room and questioned whether he had chosen the right ally.
• Klee urged Vito to cooperate in making Irene disappear, and Vito agreed to act that night.
• Klee met with the Pope, who promised to hold back Hubert in exchange for Claire being handed over to the Church of Light.

Hubert defended Duke Charlie's residence against forces sent by Keli, Vito, and the Church of Light while they tried to reach Irene. As the fighting turned against the defenders, Claire appeared beside Keli and confronted him.

• Hubert destroyed the Archmages' Spatial Fluctuation spell with a single sword strike, and Keli asked the white-robed Pope when the Church's forces would act.
• More than a dozen gray-clad fighters arrived through Spatial Teleportation portals, including a Sword Saint who challenged Hubert.
• Hubert knocked the Sword Saint back but was suppressed when the gray-clad fighters formed a coordinated formation and attacked as one.
• Keli and Vito's forces pushed Claire's guards toward the Charlie residence and began bombarding it with spells, leaving Keli confident he could seize the throne.
• Claire appeared beside Keli, picked up his crystal ball, and pointed out that he had left himself unprotected by sending his forces after Irene.

Claire killed Prince Klee and Vito after exposing their role in the attack on Irene, then forced Klee’s forces to surrender. The white-robed Pope realized the Church of Light would make him the scapegoat for its involvement.

• Claire showed Prince Klee the corpses of his three Archmage guards and evidence linking him and the Church of Light to the attack on Irene.
• Claire revealed that Vito was dead, and Prince Klee threatened that Irene would not survive either.
• Klee’s attackers found Irene missing from Duke Charlie’s residence and learned she had gone to Archmage Merlin’s home to visit Edith.
• Prince Klee failed to kill himself, asked Claire to do it, and Claire killed him before warning his forces to surrender.
• Klee’s forces laid down their weapons, while the gray-robed Inquisitors escaped and the white-robed Pope feared he would be made the scapegoat.

Irene was crowned Queen after Claire helped remove the nobles who had plotted against her, and Claire received the title of Duke Tulip and the post of Kingdom Administrator. Irene then surprised Claire by granting her the right to establish a duchy in her territory.

• Claire advised Irene on ruling the kingdom and confirmed that the nobles involved in the assassination attempt had been dealt with.
• Irene ascended the throne, accepted her crown from Joseph, and received the nobles’ oaths of loyalty.
• Joseph granted titles to Irene’s supporters, including Duke Bauhinia for Sophia and the title of Duke Tulip and Kingdom Administrator for Claire.
• Irene added that Claire could establish a duchy within her territory, leaving Claire and the assembled nobles stunned.

After Irene’s coronation, Claire received the title of Duke Tulip and prepared to return to Nafu City, entrusting Irene’s support and the church’s containment to her allies. She decided to remain in the Royal Capital for graduation season at the Royal Capital Magic Academy, where she planned to buy twenty student slots for Nafu City.

• Irene rewarded Claire with the title of Duke Tulip, grateful for Claire’s role in helping her become Queen.
• After the coronation, Claire left the grand hall with Sophia, Yana, Shane, Norton, and Hubert while Irene began taking over the royal power.
• Claire asked her allies to support Irene and use evidence against the church to weaken its influence in the kingdom.
• Sophia told Claire that graduation season at the Royal Capital Magic Academy was approaching and that Claire could obtain ten slots.
• Claire chose to stay and seek twenty slots at one million Gold Coins each, then reviewed the list Sophia sent to her residence.

Walker, a research-oriented mage, struggled to find a patron at the Royal Capital Magic Academy recruitment fair until Claire recruited him for Nafu City. Though he worried that the remote southern city offered poor prospects, Walker agreed to follow her.

• Walker tried to persuade Count Henry to hire him, but Henry rejected him because his research skills and lack of combat ability did not suit his businesses.
• Walker considered settling for a less ambitious position after realizing that his preferred work in inscriptions and enchantment offered few research opportunities.
• Claire approached Walker, said his qualifications suited her needs, and invited him to come with her.
• Walker learned that Claire was the lord of Nafu City, a city at the southernmost edge of the kingdom.
• After considering the risks of joining a local lord, Walker agreed to follow Claire.