It was a Political Marriage, But I’m Being Loved - Chapter 121

The remaining members of Black Heart who had been hiding in the capital had already evacuated, so they couldn’t fully assess the situation. But one thing was certain:

The capital had not fallen.

“The Tower Master won!”

And it wasn’t just a narrow escape.

The group that suffered the most losses was the Ista Church. According to what little intel they had, the Imperial Army had lost fewer than fifty soldiers.

If that estimate was true, then the Tower Master had single-handedly taken on thousands of monsters and hundreds of demons—and won.

“How… how can this be real?!”

The Empire’s forces were still intact, showing no signs of weakness. Based on that, the operatives suggested calling off any immediate raids on the capital.

In a fury, Valter slammed his hand down and shattered the table. The spell Achilles had cast on him had already worn off. Sitting calmly in the corner of the room, Cernadis brushed splinters off his clothes and muttered to himself with a sigh.

“No mention of Arcade… If hundreds of demons showed up, there’s no way he wasn’t involved. Did he slip away again? That sneaky bastard…”

Arcade, the King of Shadows, was one of the few remaining high-ranking demons still in the human world. During the war a thousand years ago, he had devoured the Spirit King of Darkness and gained the power to command shadows.

Through shadow magic, he could move people and objects instantly—so it was almost certain that he had been the one to transport hundreds of demons near the capital in such a short time.

Iaoros had merely been one of Arcade’s pawns. In fact, the “Fragment of the Demon King” Iaoros had used was one of the items that Arcade and Cernadis had stolen together.

“Seriously… he’s such a pain to deal with.”

After stealing the fragment, both Cernadis and Arcade had fallen under divine restrictions. Since Cernadis had been more of an accomplice, his punishment was lighter. But Arcade had suffered under those restraints for centuries.

If he’d joined the fight personally, even Achilles wouldn’t have gotten away unscathed. Dozens more demons might have survived, too.

But like Cernadis, Arcade was a high-ranking demon. Risking his life for lower demons was unthinkable.

Tch.

On the other side of the spacious room, Valter was still raging—destroying everything within reach. They were currently staying in a villa located in the second-farthest city from the capital, a property that once belonged to a Raven Order knight. That knight was long dead. The villa now belonged to Valter, so he was free to wreck it as he pleased.

Cernadis, however, was worried about what came next.

The Tower Master should have suffered enough damage to be too worn out to pursue them. Instead, it felt like they’d only helped him exterminate pests in his garden.

“…Should I set things in motion again? Even if it means being labeled a traitor by the other demons.”

It was a bit ridiculous for a demon to accuse another of betrayal—but rumors would spread fast. Anything involving the Tower Master always did. Rumors tied to survival spread faster than most.

Even if everyone who followed Iaoros had died, the ones who refused to join him were still alive—and they’d talk. If he was going to act, he’d need to do it soon.

“But would Arcade believe anything I say? Iaoros was easy—he didn’t know enough to be cautious.”

The fact that Arcade had entrusted such a key relic to someone like Iaoros meant his power had likely declined—or he was still in hiding, waiting to recover it.

“If it’s the latter, that’s bad news for me.”

After all, Cernadis had fled after cutting off Arcade’s legs. Granted, as a demon, Arcade had likely regenerated—but still, Arcade was the type to repay one offense with ten thousand.

Even Cernadis didn’t want to get caught and be dismembered ten thousand times over.

He glanced at Valter, who was finally calming down—though he was still seething.

“Now… how can I use that brute?”

Cernadis’s mind began to churn, already calculating.

Meanwhile, back in the capital—

“You should be ashamed of yourself!”

The Tower’s mage shouted at Prince Ryuhan, who was standing proudly over the corpse of a high-ranking demon, gloating.

The mage’s point was clear: if Ryuhan and his attendants hadn’t caused a scene, the remaining two demons would’ve been lured into the maze garden, and no lives would have been lost in the Inner Palace.

Unaware that a demon had slipped past the maze trap, Ryuhan was visibly stunned.

“What are you saying?! I helped slay a demon! You should be thanking me, not slandering an imperial prince with false accusations!”

“There was a guiding magic circle laid across the entire palace route. If no other stimulus had occurred, the demons would’ve naturally been drawn straight to the maze garden! Why did you ignore the knights’ orders?!”

The mage’s voice rang out furiously. Shanli stood frozen, caught off guard by the outburst.

The guiding spell wasn’t meant for humans—it subtly pushed people away while luring only demons toward the maze. If Prince Ryuhan and his flashy use of sorcery hadn’t disrupted the magic, Giel’s strategy would have worked perfectly.

“How ridiculous. You’re blaming me, the one who actually achieved something, just because your flimsy plan failed?” Ryuhan scoffed.

“Achieved something?! People who didn’t need to die were killed and wounded because of you! And you dare call that an achievement? Have you no shame?!”

The furious mage had to be pulled away by his fellow Tower mages. Only then did he retreat, glaring daggers at Ryuhan as he disappeared from sight.

Ryuhan’s two attendants fumed, insisting the offender be punished for daring to insult the prince. Shanli, however, remained silent. She had been quiet the whole time, just watching.

Ryuhan turned to her.

“Why are you silent? Do you also think I’m in the wrong?”

“…I…” Shanli hesitated.

She recalled the faint presence she had sensed earlier. From the moment she entered that area, she had activated Appraisal, her only legal spell, through the monocle-like lens over her eye.

Shanli’s Appraisal was a versatile technique, allowing her to analyze energy, presence, and composition. She thought back to what might’ve happened had she spoken up at that moment—if she had told the prince.

Maybe the demon would’ve killed her to silence her. Or maybe, with his divine warrior, Ryuhan would have destroyed the demon. He likely had more than one summon at his disposal.

But I’m just a foreigner here. There was no reason I needed to risk myself for their safety.

“…I just think… it would’ve been better if that mage had asked for Your Highness’s help from the beginning,” she said carefully.

“Hmph. I see you’re a bureaucrat, too—slipping out with clever wording,” Ryuhan said, turning away sharply.

“I’m no longer interested. You’re not my attendant anymore. Do as you wish!”

Getting dismissed was actually a relief, but Shanli returned to her quarters feeling oddly unsettled. The rest of the delegation didn’t reprimand her—they assumed she’d acted with the prince’s permission.

Not my problem. That arrogant prince… I hoped I wouldn’t have to deal with him the moment I heard he was coming.

What weighed heavier on her heart were the soldiers in the palace who had died. As always, it was the lowest-ranked who suffered the most. Most of the casualties were ordinary soldiers.

Fortunately, the delegation head had approved a day of rest. Shanli spent it lazing in bed.

“Shanli!”

Bang! Bang!

The pounding and shouting at her door came from Hanho. Groggy and tousled, she climbed out of bed and opened it.

“What is it?”

“Did you hear the news? The wedding’s been postponed!”

Shanli blinked, stunned—like a bird hit by lightning.

“What?!!”

At the imperial council meeting, Oscar wore a conflicted expression.

Neither Achilles nor Charlize had been informed of the decision yet. Maybe the Tower mages had heard, but Oscar was certain those two had no idea.

Achilles was still holed up with Charlize, hidden behind a strong magical barrier. Oscar had no desire to imagine what they were doing in there—but he hoped they’d come out soon.

The damage on our side wasn’t severe. Cleanup should be manageable. Most of the casualties were from the church.

In reality, the demons had attacked in force because of the Demon King’s fragment. Oscar almost wanted to demand reparations—but that fragment was everyone’s responsibility.

The Empire prided itself on being one of the royal bloodlines descended from the 16 kingdoms that once fought the Demon King. They couldn’t push the blame.

“Has the Tower Master returned yet?”

“Not yet, Your Majesty,” the attendant answered cautiously.

The Tower Master had sealed himself inside the princess’s chambers, and it had already been more than a day. Understandably, everyone was feeling the tension.

Even the Emperor’s face darkened slightly.

That Tower Master… Even if he thinks the wedding is tomorrow, this is going too far.

There was the matter of the royal family’s dignity. It wasn’t proper for him to be so publicly absent—especially from the princess’s chambers.

Just as the Emperor was about to send someone again to check on them, another attendant burst into the audience hall.

“Your Majesty! The Tower Master has arrived!”

“Let him in.”

The Emperor waved away the nobles and other officials, leaving only Oscar, a few attendants, and some guards behind.

A moment later, Achilles entered, dressed differently than the day before. The Emperor furrowed his brow for a moment—then smoothed his expression.

At least he changed clothes. That’s something, I suppose.

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