The situation was getting complicated.

In fact, this monster attack incident could have been quietly passed over. There were no casualties, and the cause of the sudden appearance of the monsters had been roughly identified.

It would have been over if they cleaned up the aftermath, investigated Shuria’s newly acquired ability, and strictly controlled the plants from Veltraum being brought into the castle from now on.

However, many people had seen Shuria controlling the monsters.

And among them were those who wanted to use this incident as an excuse to find Aspeiran’s weakness.

Thus, on that evening, a grand council was convened with all the lords and high-ranking officials gathered.

After biting and chewing out the woman the monarch cherished, in order to cut down the monarch’s strong power.

“How can such a thing happen!”

One of the anti-Aspeiran forces, the lord of Exir territory, tapped the table.

“I’ve heard all about that woman. She’s from Elbas, a woman with a questionable background who claims to have no memories of her past.”

“Moreover, she has the ability to control monsters. Tsk tsk. Don’t we all know one person who had such an ability?”

“Yes, the only one who had such an bizarre ability until now was ‘that person’.”

“What was His Majesty thinking, hiding such a woman deep inside the castle……”

“Well, at a glance, her face wasn’t bad-looking, right? In the end, His Majesty was also a man after all.”

The lords who had animosity towards Aspeiran chattered away gleefully like fish in water.

Unable to watch any longer, the palace minister opened his mouth.

“Watch your words! How dare you to His Majesty right now…!”

“What interesting things you’re all saying.”

Bang, the door to the council hall opened with a majestic noise. Aspeiran walked in leisurely through it.

The unique pressure of a ruler naturally flowed from the young monarch. Those who had been boldly wagging their tongues until just now shut their mouths tight.

Aspeiran tilted his head, wrapping the spirit of a conqueror around him like a cloak.

“What’s going on? Suddenly becoming mute like you ate honey. Didn’t you all gather here because you had complaints against me? What are you doing. Why don’t you speak your minds freely.”

Aspeiran leaned back leisurely on the throne located at the highest point. Eyes cool like a well-sharpened blade sweep over the crowd.

“That, well……”

The lords swallowed their saliva. After a long exchange of glances, the lord of Exir opened his mouth with courage.

“Your Majesty, I believe it’s time for you to make a decision for the peace and safety of Roakin.”

“A decision, you say.”

“I dare to say, you must behead that woman with the ominous ability!”

“Oho.”

Aspeiran raised one corner of his mouth and tapped the armrest with his finger.

“Because she’s the reincarnation of the dethroned king Kaimeloyum?”

At the obviously mocking tone, the lord of Exir raised his voice with bulging veins.

“The ability to control monsters is something that no one has had until now except for the dethroned king. But for a woman with an unclear past to have the same ability, isn’t there no room for doubt?”

“Lord of Exir, there is merit to that claim, but.”

Prom, who was in the corner of the council hall, raised his hand and stood up from his seat.

“The abilities of the dethroned king and Miss Shuria are completely different. So there’s a bit of a discrepancy in using Miss Shuria’s ability as evidence that she’s related to the dethroned king.”

“Who are you?”

“Ah, I am Prom, the head of the Veltraum Research Institute.”

Prom replied indifferently and pushed up his glasses, flipping through the documents he was holding.

“The dethroned king used his specialty, psychic magic, when controlling monsters. To be precise, he controlled them by embedding parasitic creatures that fed on his mana into the mana cores of monsters, but……”

“So what do you want to say?!”

“If he controlled monsters in such a way, the unique mana of the magic caster should be faintly felt from the monsters. However, nothing other than the monster’s mana was felt at all from the monsters Miss Shuria controlled.”

“……It, it could be that he’s using a different method than before, right? And if not the dethroned king, how could a woman from some rural village corner obtain such an ability?”

“Among those who entered Veltraum, there are people who came out with unique abilities. Your Majesty is also one of them. Based on my deductions, Miss Shuria also seems to be the same case……”

“In the end, it’s just speculation without definite evidence, isn’t it! Hmph, what a waste of time……”

“Hahaha!”

A sharp laugh rang out from one corner of the council hall. It was Romie, the First Tower Master.

“Lord of Exir, if you argue like that, isn’t your claim also just speculation without evidence?”

“Wh, what!”

“Shall we address this while we’re at it. Do you want to protect Roakin right now, or do you want to ‘deal with’ Miss Shuria?”

“Stop the baseless slander!”

Instead of the lord of Exir whose face had turned beet red, someone else intervened and exploded in anger. Romie laughed and shrugged.

“In the first place, Miss Shuria being the reincarnation of the dethroned king? The dethroned king died 7 years ago and Miss Shuria is currently twenty-two years old, so it doesn’t make sense timeline-wise, does it?”

“Ah, ahem. Then there could be other possibilities. She could be under control, or received the ability. Or, she could be his disciple!”

It was a claim full of holes, just like his spotty hair.

At that moment, Linoche Nolan, the commander-in-chief of the royal castle guards who had been quietly observing the situation, calmly opened his mouth.

“Right now, the people who think Miss Shuria is related to the dethroned king and those who don’t are clearly divided into two factions.”

Her eyes sharply swept over the inside of the council hall.

“The majority of those claiming Miss Shuria’s innocence are people who know how to handle mana.”

“……What are you trying to say?”

Linoche shrugged.

“I don’t know if you know, but people have their own unique mana. That unique mana never changes. Unless they really reincarnated or something.”

Linoche leaned forward with her clasped hands on the table.

When her mountainous figure took that posture, the lords sitting across from her felt a strange pressure.

“If it’s as Lord Exir claims, mana from the dethroned king should be felt from Miss Shuria. If she’s his disciple, Miss Shuria would have to be a mage.”

“…….”

“But no mana from the dethroned king was felt from Miss Shuria at all, and Miss Shuria has a remarkably low mana capacity, with not the slightest talent for magic.”

The Grand Duchess of Gordo, who had been quietly listening, added.

“In other words, those baldies are currently making claims that absolutely make no sense that someone who can handle mana would never make.”

“That’s right.”

“Lord of Exir, do you have anything more to say?”

The lord of Exir’s face boiled with rage.

He shot up from his seat and shouted at Aspeiran.

“Even so, that woman’s ability is dangerous! That woman will surely bring chaos to Roakin! Your Majesty, please make a wise decision!”

Aspeiran raised his right eyebrow.

“I won’t accept unfounded claims. If you want to continue that argument, bring clear evidence.”

“……!”

“It seems you have nothing more to say. Then let’s adjourn today’s grand council.”

The lord of Exir’s face contorted. He trembled and gritted his teeth.

“Your Majesty, are you neglecting the peace of the nation because you’re blinded by a woman right now! We lords will never stand by and…!”

“Lord of Exir!”

As several high-ranking officials jumped up from their seats, a sword touched the lord of Exir’s throat.

It was Canis.

His eyes were burning brightly like lava. Tension flows through the council hall.

“You want to claim that I’m some blind fool smitten with a woman……”

Aspeiran leisurely walked over to the lord of Exir, passing by the stiffened people. Aspeiran bent his waist upon reaching the lord of Exir.

“If I was really such a blind fool, if that was the case.”

Smiling coldly, he pressed down on the blade with two fingers.

“Your head would have fallen off right here in this place.”

“Hck, heek.”

The teeth of the lord of Exir chattered. Blood trickled down from his neck.

Aspeiran said indifferently.

“Take him away, Canis.”

“Yes.”

The lord of Exir was dragged out. Aspeiran turned around and swept his gaze over those gathered in the council hall.

“It seems there are still those who believe Shuria’s ability is related to Kaimeloyum. Or do you see Shuria as a dangerous person.”

“…….”

“I see. This definitely needs to be clarified. Romie.”

“Yes.”

At the monarch’s call, Romie ran out and stood in front of him with a bow.

Aspeiran commanded.

“From now on, until the accusations against monster tamer Shuria are completely cleared, confine her in the tower. You will personally lead the investigation on her.”

“I will obey your command.”

Leaving only a chilly gaze behind, Aspeiran exited through the door.

Everyone in the council hall exhaled the breath they had been holding at the same time.

Something was going terribly wrong.

I clasped my trembling hands together and fumbled with them. The tension wouldn’t subside at all.

The place I was in right now was a reception room in Cronen Palace. This room, elegantly decorated in dark blue, had many things to see, but nothing caught my eye at the moment.

‘The monsters listened to my commands.’

I don’t know if it was just a coincidence or if I really gained a new ability.

But one thing is certain. The scene of me controlling the monsters gave people a huge sense of repulsion.

The shouts of ‘kill that woman’ from people still ring clearly in my ears.

Aspeiran brought me here and said it’s alright, but will it really be okay?

‘And they said I’m the reincarnation of the dethroned king.’

I don’t know why such words came out.

I know well what kind of existence the dethroned king is in this country. And the fact that the situation will flow very seriously since people saw the dethroned king’s shadow in me.

‘What can I do right now?’

I got up from the sofa and paced around the room. Because Aspeiran must be in a bind because of me, if I don’t do something……

At that moment, the door to the reception room flung open. It was Aspeiran.

“Shuria.”

“Your Majesty!”

I tried to run to him but stopped in place. Aspeiran’s face that looked tired. My chest ached badly.

When I made a tearful face, Aspeiran frowned.

“Why do you look like that. Are you hurting somewhere?”

“I’m not hurting anywhere. No, even if I was, what does that matter? You’ve been put in a difficult position because of me.”

“What are you talking about. If you’re hurting, there’s nothing more important than that.”

Aspeiran strode over and grabbed my arms. He turns me this way and that, examining my whole body closely.

“And I’m not particularly in a bind. It’s just some annoying bastards making a fuss. So there’s no need to be so anxious.”

“But there was such an uproar. How can I not worry.”

“I told you not to mind it. What is there to fear when I’m protecting you?”

His tone was as if it was really no big deal. I blinked and looked up at Aspeiran. With a faint smile in his eyes, he said.

“Didn’t I tell you last time. That as long as you remain as my person, I will protect you no matter what happens.”

Looks like you’re not hurt anywhere. Saying that, Aspeiran patted my shoulder. I felt like crying a little.

‘How can my favorite be this kind too.’

In the end, I sniffled a bit. Aspeiran lifted my face with a startled look.

“Why are you crying?”

“I like you so much, Your Majesty.”

At the words that popped out without me realizing, Aspeiran’s face stiffened.