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“It’s starting to squirm. It must be about to wake up.”

It seemed like Shione’s deep slumber was ending earlier than expected.

Last time in the battlefield, she woke up almost immediately, but this time, it took her about half a day… Though it felt like something had happened inside, the situation at the current Marquis House had not changed significantly. I could say it’s not a bad situation.

Sure enough, Shione, still in her dreamy haze, shook her fluffy hair and got up. Rubbing her eyes, she suddenly turned her head and scanned the surroundings.

“Ray?”

She looks for me as soon as she wakes up.

I set aside my precious elven bow, which I had been checking, and approached her.

“Are you looking for me?”

Then, she calmly spread her arms wide and said,

“Give me a hug.”

“Excuse me?”

“What are you just standing there for? Hurry up!”

Why is she suddenly so demanding?

I asked, trying to keep up with her mood, “Didn’t you say before you fell asleep that you were going to take control right from the start?”

“I don’t remember that.”

“Seeing your reaction, I can tell. You didn’t hold onto anything, did you?”

“Oh, I said I don’t know…! When did I ever say that?”

After a brief bout of banter, I finally brought up the important question.

“So, did you pass the trial?”

This was the last chance. I’d been wondering if Shione had obtained the power to easily overcome the tricky demon of illusions and deception, like slicing through a cake.

Though I believed in Shione’s strong spirit, her odd request for a hug right after waking made me feel slightly uneasy.

At the moment, all I could think about was whether she had successfully passed the trial.

“Of course. This time, I think I have a clue about the trial and… thanks to that, I’ve come up with a bit of insight into the future.”

Saying that, Shione picked up a pendant that had been under her pillow.

The moment she raised the pendant to her gaze, it suddenly emitted a bright light.

A glow that chased away the darkness and illuminated the dawn filled the pendant. Luckily, it wasn’t a blinding flash, but rather a gentle and calm light that we could focus on.

“Ah.”

As the pendant crumbled and disappeared, the light enveloped Shione, causing her mana to surge abruptly. I could feel the residual power gradually not being absorbed, as if it was enough to reach me.

I could sense her powers had grown and stabilized even further.

However, since Shione was gazing far away, despite all the light fading away, I waited a moment and called out to her.

“Princess Shione. Are you okay?”

At last, a spark returned to her eyes.

“I understand how to use this power.”

Shione raised her hand.

Her palm faced the sky, mana gathering around her. The mana, imbued with the special attributes of Count Shianella, formed a finely intricate geometric pattern.

‘What a complicated magic.’

The method of mana operation was different from that of knights. This was a phenomenon seen in the casting of spells, exclusive to wizards, after all.

Shione was drawing a magic she had never learned in her life.

As the last stroke was completed, it was evident that a high-level magic circle had been created atop her palm. Six smaller magic circles resonated around the largest shape in the center, indicating it was no ordinary feat.

I looked back and forth between the magic circle and Shione, asking,

“Princess Shione, do you understand how to use magic?”

“No? I don’t know.”

“…….”

“I just have a feeling I know how to use this.”

Indeed, it seemed like becoming a wizard would be quite a challenge.

Shione quietly gazed at the magic circle for a moment before she clenched her hand and scattered the magic.

Before long, a drop of sweat trickled down her jawline, revealing how much concentration she had exerted for that spell.

“It will be hard to use this often. It consumes too much mana per use.”

“Can you tell me the effect of the magic?”

“Dispelling illusions.”

“Is that for real?”

“Absolutely. If I’m not mistaken… it should be able to dispel illusions within a certain range from where the magic is cast.”

That was an impressive achievement.

Allen was planning to topple the Marquis House by relying on illusions.

The emergence of a direct countermeasure to his scheme was indeed a significant new variable.

In this moment, Shione became his perfect nemesis.

“Ray, how long have I been asleep?”

“About half a day. The front lines remain unchanged, with neither side engaging yet. However, it’s been quite some time, so combat should start soon.”

It was about time they wrapped up preparations over there, making it strange for Allen to hold off his attacks any longer.

Shione stood up, donned her attire and armament, and stated,

“Let’s head to the castle wall. I must test my magic.”

“That’s a good decision.”

If Shione’s new ability works effectively at the castle wall, it would surely boost the morale of the soldiers and prevent significant damage.

With a gentle smile at her sensible choice, I watched as she walked towards the door, grasping the handle.

It seemed she was about to open the door at any moment to announce her awakening to the world. I was planning to follow her, but for some reason, she hesitated, turning back.

“And… when we return to the Count’s House, I plan to create my own faction.”

“A faction, you say?”

I couldn’t help but question Shione about her statement.

All this time, she had strived for personal growth to become an honorable noble, showing little interest in the political power dynamics of the Count’s House.

Her attitude was that as long as she wasn’t looked down upon as the Count’s second daughter, it would be enough.

Now, however, she seemed to aim to step even further, wanting political influence that would allow her to spread her intentions within the Count’s House more widely.

‘Suddenly a faction. It could be beneficial, but…’

However, the position of the next head of the family had already been claimed by Siabel. And with Sion, who had never been on friendly terms with her, wrapping up their discussions, there was no longer any reason for him to attack Shione using his standing.

The political dynamics within the Count’s House seemed more volatile than expected. Ainel, who had reached the level of a Sword Master, along with the next head Siabel and Sion, who had awakened his divine power, not to mention the power of the elderly retainers outside that group.

The esteemed head, Ainel Shianella, could merely look on from below, but to wedge herself into that position, she would need both the opportunity and a bold determination.

‘How intense is the battle within the Count’s House right now?’

I knew that the relationship between Siabel and Sion wasn’t all that good.

Despite putting on smiles in public, I had heard they had a minor argument over the domain Ainel had prepared for her children. This matter had been ongoing even before their journey to the front lines, suggesting the struggles were still active.

Well… I may have overheard gossip exaggerated by our colleagues at work.

Particularly, I could tell the dispositions of those retainers supporting them were quite different.

‘Does she have enough determination to pursue this?’

Given that, I was curious about what had prompted her to think that way.

“Princess Shione, I don’t know what kind of power you’re aiming for by saying you want to create a faction—”

“…….”

“But if it leads to actual faction activities, rather than just gaining acknowledgment for your skills, it might embroil you in further complicated relationships with many others.”

“I know. And after all, I’m a young lady of the Count’s House. My words and actions naturally attract attention, and I’m already accustomed to that.”

“The retainers of the Count’s House are quite experienced. Can you really rally them to support your ideas?”

“… I’ll have to try.”

“And that is the most important thing.”

I fixed my gaze on Shione.

To confirm the steadfastness of her intentions.

“Princess Shione, why do you want to create a new faction now?”

“To protect not just myself but the people around me. Also… if I gain my mother’s acknowledgment and receive even a small domain, I’d like to use that experience to make the territory flourish.”

“Is there any wavering in your thoughts?”

“Not at all.”

“A true noble.”

“I was born as one, after all.”

“Well, if the head were to divide the domain among family members… your sister wouldn’t receive a smaller domain compared to you. If anything, she should get something even better.”

“What do you mean by that—”

Shione’s eyes sparkled like the stars in the blue sky.

“The soldiers of the Count’s House who are with me will always support you, Princess Shione.”

“Ray.”

“If we return this time with the biggest contribution, it will certainly be much easier to achieve your dreams, won’t it?”

“…….”

“I just said you’re a noble because you were born one. So all you have to do is act in line with your intentions. I will walk that path. Isn’t that good?”

Shione lowered her head deeply, exposing the top of her crown.

I wondered what it meant for someone praised as a noble to show such submission.

“…That won’t do.”

“What did you say?”

Her reaction seemed a bit off.

“I told you not to just casually say things.”

“What on earth— no, why suddenly are you being like this?”

“It’s all your fault.”

Suddenly, Shione grabbed my collar and tossed me onto the bed.

I was taken aback, feeling as if I had plunged into the sea with a heavy sensation.

As I tried to get my bearings, Shione confidently walked over with a light in her eyes.

It was all my fault! I had completely overlooked this crazy reversal of roles, and in my eagerness to praise her, I never imagined it would escalate this much.

As I clumsily tried to rise but stumbled backward, Shione seized my ankles with her hands.

“No, I told you, family doesn’t do this—!”

“If you don’t want to get hit by magic, you better kiss me, you demon.”

I was forcefully drawn into a coating of magic meant for the castle wall.

“Pfft… hehe… Now that I think about it, having real power means no one can say anything even if I were to tell you I’d marry you, right?”

“……”

“I need to hurry back to the Count’s House, right?”

Shione’s new motivation flared up intensely, almost to a frightening degree.

 

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