Chapter 7
“…Huh?”
The first person to speak was Sole.
Then—
“Rejected.”
Mishnight answered immediately.
Without a moment’s hesitation.
There was even killing intent mixed into his voice.
“Father, please calm down—”
“How can I possibly stay calm?!”
For once, he even cut off Aalto’s attempt to stop him.
Mishnight glared fiercely at Verunoa.
“You’re telling me to hand over my daughter?”
“I never said that.”
Verunoa remained completely composed.
“I merely said that we would protect her.”
“What’s the difference?!”
“There is a significant difference.”
His voice was quiet.
Yet he did not back down even a single step.
“Your nation does not possess magical circulation control technology.”
“…”
“You have no magical power compression therapy.”
“No vessel reinforcement techniques.”
“No adaptive magical medical treatment.”
With every item he listed, the atmosphere around the Neferiate family grew heavier.
Because it was true.
In this country, only a small number of talented individuals could use magic.
As a result, magical medicine had never developed very far.
On the other hand—
The neighboring kingdom of Emanraat was a magical superpower.
A merit-based nation.
Magic was not something special there.
It was woven into everyday life.
And because of that—
No one could completely refute Verunoa’s words.
“Your daughter’s condition is already approaching its limit.”
“…!”
“For now, she is only surviving because the magical power is still flowing outward.”
Verunoa’s gaze shifted toward the garden.
The flowers blooming everywhere.
The magical beasts gathering around her.
The fluctuating magical energy.
“But if control is lost—”
At that moment, his sapphire eyes narrowed.
“Your kingdom’s barrier would not be enough to contain it.”
A chill ran through the air.
The knights’ expressions changed.
It was not a threat.
It was simply—
A fact.
Only Sole herself had gone pale.
(Wait, wait, hold on.)
(Am I really that dangerous!?)
She had never known.
No one had ever told her anything like this before.
She had always been told she was sickly.
That her body was weak.
That was all.
And now—
A prince from a neighboring kingdom had suddenly appeared and was telling her that she would die if nothing was done.
This was far too much information to process at once.
Then—
Something soft brushed against her cheek.
“Eh…?”
It was the small silver-white magical beast.
It pressed itself against her anxiously.
As if trying to comfort her.
At that moment—
Verunoa’s gaze flickered ever so slightly.
“…The magical beast isn’t afraid.”
“Huh?”
“Normally, those who possess excessive magical power are feared.”
But this magical beast was different.
If anything—
It was staying close to Sole as if it wanted to protect her.
Verunoa quietly watched her.
For the first time, something other than simple curiosity appeared in his eyes.
It was the look of someone staring at something he could not understand.
“…You.”
He began to say something.
Then stopped.
And—
“No.”
He let out a small sigh.
Completely confused, Sole simply stared back at him.
Then—
Verunoa suddenly said something outrageous.
“In that case, an engagement would also be acceptable.”
Everyone:
“HUUUUH!?!?!?”
The atmosphere exploded.
