After successfully helping her father and brother make peace, the three of them finally enjoyed a stretch of happy days together. And two years later, they finally began their counterattack against the Grand Duke's family.
Over those two years, her father and brother had spent a great deal of time with the girl. They had even prepared a whole magic fairy outfit just for her. As someone with the mind of an adult, she did find it a bit childish. But the soft pink outfit was honestly too hard to refuse. So the girl put it on at once and started acting out little scenes. Her father and brother were completely overwhelmed by the cuteness.
Not only that, her brother was also obsessed with finding all sorts of fun toys for her. That day, he brought her a dollhouse, because he thought the little princess doll inside looked just like her. So he couldn't wait to present it to her.
When the girl saw the dollhouse, she only commented casually that it was very cute and said nothing more. This immediately made her brother nervous, afraid she didn't like it. Seeing him like that, the girl quickly picked up the dolls and invited him to play together. She chose the princess and demon king dolls, while her brother chose the prince.
Watching the two of them playing happily, the nursemaid felt deeply comforted. Just then, a maid called softly to the nursemaid from the doorway. This instantly made the girl alert, curious about what they were going to whisper about. The girl set down the dolls at once and started eavesdropping.
Outside, after the maid led the nursemaid out, she began telling her about some rumours that had been going around recently. Supposedly, someone had been spreading lies everywhere, claiming that ever since her brother's magic rampage, he had lost his power, and that the girl had turned back into an idiot because of that same incident. The rumour mongers were also saying that once their father found out, he had decided to abandon the siblings and adopt Grand Duke Bellon's pair of children instead.
Hearing this, the girl clenched her fists at once. They really dared to dream big. But it was probably because their family hadn't appeared in public for a long time. Ever since the misunderstandings were cleared up, they had cherished their time together even more. She hadn't expected that to become an excuse for ill-intentioned people to twist the truth.
At that moment, her brother, who had also been secretly listening, quietly asked what they should do next. The girl made a hand gesture, meaning that of course they had to strike back hard, or those people really would think their family was easy to bully.
So this time, their father hosted a banquet and invited the nobles to attend. When everyone saw the long absent Grand Duchess, they all hurried up to flatter her.
"Your Grace, it's been such a long time since you last came to court, and this time you've even brought the young lord and lady. Our young lord and lady are truly a fine and beautiful pair. Only they are fit to shoulder the empire's future."
Listening to their fawning, the Grand Duchess felt lightheaded with pride. Yes, this was how it should be. Her children were the truly suitable heirs, unlike that pair of useless siblings, pitiable creatures with no magic at all.
The Grand Duchess exchanged a glance with the Marchioness of Ross, then led her children into the hall. The hall was already packed to the brim. After all, this was the first large-scale banquet the king had held in two years, and everyone had come to watch the drama. They wanted to know whether the king would really make the Bellon Grand Duke's children his heirs.
Just as the crowd was buzzing with speculation, her father entered with the girl and her brother. Everyone was stunned to see her brother safe and sound. By all rights, someone who had experienced a magic rampage should not have been able to recover.
Her brother spotted Achilles among the crowd. He silently mouthed, "Pee pants brat," which made Achilles absolutely furious.
At that moment, the girl in her father's arms also drew everyone's gaze. With that angelic little face, it was hard to believe she was an idiot. And her brother didn't look like someone who had lost his magic at all. On top of that, her father's obvious care for the two of them looked nothing like the rumours about him having abandoned his children.
Although the Grand Duchess was already starting to panic, she still firmly believed the girl had reverted to being an idiot. And a king who doted on his children so much would surely accept her children in the end. So she signalled to the Marchioness of Ross again.
The Marchioness promptly stepped forward to stand before her father. "Your Majesty, allow me as a citizen of the empire to boldly offer a suggestion. Please make the Bellon young lord and lady your heirs. Only then will the people be at ease."
Hiding under her father's cloak, the girl heard this and showed a sly smile. Everything was going just as she'd expected.
But to her surprise, her father suddenly went off script. His expression darkened as he demanded of the Marchioness of Ross, "I don't understand what you're saying. Both the prince and princess have made the sunstone shine. How are they unqualified to be heirs?"
The moment her father finished speaking, everyone present felt an inexplicable pressure settle over them. The captain of the knights watched the punished nobles in silence, utterly exasperated. These people had lived too comfortably and forgotten what kind of bloody battles the current king had waded through to seize the throne. Not only had he single-handedly eliminated five rivals in a succession struggle, he had personally beheaded his half-brother, who had tried to rebel. Though he had softened after meeting the queen, and grown detached and unambitious after losing her, at heart he was still that fearsome god of slaughter who made all tremble. So for these people to touch the king's reverse scale was simply courting death.
The girl also realized that her father's emotions were on the verge of slipping out of control. She immediately clutched his clothes tightly to stop him.
Seeing the king regain his composure, the Grand Duchess shakily stepped forward to smooth things over. "Is this how you treat loyal ministers who dare to speak? Someone quickly help her down."
At those words, the crowd hurriedly and clumsily escorted the Marchioness of Ross away. After a doctor's examination, it was declared that she had suffered severe psychological trauma and would need several months of rest.
The girl was furious and disappointed. If her father hadn't lost his temper so quickly, she could have used this chance to properly deal with the Grand Duchess and that bean sprout-headed boy.
Seeing his precious daughter puffing her cheeks in anger, her father immediately began apologizing. "I'm sorry, sweetheart. I didn't mean to."
Watching the king humble himself to coax the girl, Achilles couldn't hold back anymore. "Why does that piece of trash get to be the prince when I don't? Didn't you promise I would be the prince?"
The Grand Duchess felt a jolt of dread when she saw her son like this. "I'm sorry, Your Majesty. I'm so sorry. Achilles is still just a thoughtless child and speaks without restraint. Please, I beg you to forgive him."
But Achilles only grew more agitated when he heard her say that. "How am I thoughtless, mother? Everyone keeps saying I'm going to be the prince."
Hearing this, her brother couldn't help but let out a cold laugh. "If the prince were someone like you, even the sun god would sigh."
Achilles was instantly enraged. "What right does a magicless piece of trash like you have to insult me? Your magic rampage from two years ago has been spread far and wide. No royal who's triggered a rampage has ever recovered their power."
Seeing this, the Grand Duchess chimed in to support her son. "Yes, everyone knows His Highness the prince caused a magic rampage, and Her Highness the princess seems to have become a bit muddle-headed after her fever."
Her brother found their mother and son double act hilarious. "Leaving my sister and me aside for now, even if you really did inherit the throne, would the country's future truly be bright?"
Achilles was left speechless by the retort.