When Lu En was fifteen years old, the kingdom’s councilors held a vote to decide who should inherit the throne next.
The assembly was grand and attracted the attention of many.
“I believe Princess Lia’s magical talents far surpass the prince’s. Since the Keliweier Kingdom is the realm of the Elven race, you all should understand what this truly means.”
A noble, advocating for strength above all, voiced his opinion.
“I agree. Only a ruler strong enough can lead us to prosperity. Otherwise… if the king cannot even protect himself, how can he protect the kingdom?” Someone quickly echoed.
The tools.
Princess Lia, seated on the stage, looked at Lu En with concern. The young boy’s eyes shimmered with tears, but he was forcing himself to hide his sorrow.
Lia knew how painfully these words struck him.
Her younger brother had been trying his best, but magical power was innate. No amount of hard work could raise his ceiling.
This was a fatal flaw for an Elf who lived by magic, especially a royal.
Because of this, Lu En had shifted his efforts toward technology, delving into the composition of magic to make basic functional tools accessible to all.
It was a promising direction for the future, and his leadership abilities were exceptional.
Yet under the oppression of the older generation of nobles, it was difficult for any of this to be recognized.
He had no room to shine.
As the assembly was about to conclude with an overwhelming vote in favor, a masked magician stood and voiced a dissenting opinion.
“Everyone, I believe that strength alone is not the greatest factor in becoming king. The key lies in whether one can govern the country well.”
“If there is only military might without leadership, that is no different from our previous two generations of kings. You all know what happened to them in the end.”
The room fell silent; no one had expected anyone to support the prince. In their minds, the royal heir could only be the princess.
This assembly was nothing but a performance. The outcome had long been decided.
“So what if it is? Didn’t that king die gloriously on the battlefield? What does leadership have to do with it?”
“Of course it matters. You may not know, but his true death was not as recorded in the history books—he did not simply die from exhaustion pierced by the enemy.”
“In fact, he was poisoned due to long-term oppression of his subordinates.”
The magician spoke calmly, but the councilors wiped sweat from their brows.
“Do you know what you’re saying? Fabricating history like this could be punished by death!” A portly noble demanded.
“I speak only the truth, because… I am his descendant.”
These words stirred the entire assembly.
“Poisoning the king and showing such disrespect, we will arrest you immediately!”
But when the magician removed his mask, the crowd froze.
Because standing there was not a feeble noble, but the kingdom’s strongest Archmage—Everett Morrison.
It was rumored he could slay a Fire Dragon alone. Now he dared to appear openly, clearly because no one present could match him.
“Enough, all of you stop.”
The king’s timely voice halted the chaos.
“There’s no need for conflict, is there? Since Everett objects to this assembly’s result, let us vote again—fair and square, according to our true wishes.”
They understood the king’s intention: from this moment on, the result would no longer be predetermined but truly decided by vote.
Everett continued to defend Lu En, highlighting his governance and research talents.
Still, the outcome did not change.
The vote shifted from 300:20 to 250:70.
Princess Lia remained the victor, chosen as the next monarch.
“You see, Everett, facts are facts. Political tides won’t change because of a wandering mage with only power and no influence.”
“Adjourn.”
The crowd gradually dispersed, leaving the hall empty.
Everett stayed behind, as did Lu En.
“Why did you help me?”
“I’m not helping you. I’m helping justice. If you weren’t working so hard, I would have voted for the princess as well.”
“Heh, well… thank you, then.”
“I don’t care about that. If the kingdom falls, it’s not my problem. As a mage, I can survive anywhere.”
“Let’s be friends, Everett. I think we’d get along.”
“Then I shall obey, Your Highness, the fallen prince.”
The dream ended here, and so did the beautiful memories.
“I say, snooping into others’ dreams isn’t a good habit, you know?”
Lu En bent over his desk, stretching his aching arms.
“Oh? The prince is quite sharp~”
A purple-haired woman in a black robe sat by the window bathed in moonlight, her eyes full of seduction.
“Here, please call me Your Majesty, and don’t look at me with that disgusting expression—it’s not your excuse for using mental magic on me.”
“Alright, alright, Your Majesty~ I just couldn’t bear seeing you have a nightmare, so I’m taking care of you.”
“Hypocrite… If you have something to say, just say it. Don’t waste my time.”
“Hmm, let me think… What was that person’s order for me again?”
The tall woman jumped down from the windowsill, her ample bosom bouncing as she walked forward.
“I remember now. I’m here to take over the Lab Array, since Uli Patterson apparently was killed by someone unknown.”
“That’s your affair. You don’t need to tell me. I’m only providing you a hidden space.”
“Aiya~ That may be so, but the most important ritual component went missing here with Your Majesty.”
She struck a coquettish pose, feigning confusion.
“What component?”
“A scroll containing the Moonmist Sect’s unique magic—the most crucial part of the Ritual. After it was made, it was intercepted en route to the kingdom. No one knows whose hands it ended up in.”
“Your people are so unreliable?”
“Tsk. Even if that scroll is in their hands, they can’t use it—only we can. But I have reason to suspect a rebellion, or that our plan has been discovered.”
The woman leaned close to Lu En, resting her hand on his shoulder.
“So, Your Majesty, I hope you investigate thoroughly, and give me Uli’s body so I can perform a memory probe to find out who killed him.”
“That’s all, Archbishop of the Moonmist Sect?”
“That’s all. Of course, if Your Majesty is willing, I…”
“Get lost.”
Lu En shrugged off the woman’s invasive hand. “Remember, our relationship is cooperation only. After this is done, we’re enemies.”
“Ah~ Your Majesty is so cruel.”
The Archbishop named Heather smiled as she returned to the window, then leapt out, turning into bats that scattered into the night.
Her departing words lingered in the air.
“No matter how justified your reasons, from the moment you cooperate with us, you have no way back, Prince.”