Chapter 90: Chapter 90: Queen’s Sword

The Witches and Lords departed.

Goddalir joined her teacher, Betina, in the pumpkin carriage, returning to the Magic Forest to continue her magical studies.

According to the Woodland Fairy, for a Natural Witch to become independent, it would take a conservative estimate of several years of arduous training before she could be considered fully fledged.

Fortunately, Goddalir was exceptionally talented, so this period would be shortened considerably.

Although Goddalir hadn’t done anything on this visit, her mood had improved. After all, it had been months since she last saw Gai.

She treated it as a simple trip to relax and ease her tension. Now, the drive in her heart to grow stronger was even greater.

Because Gai seemed to be growing stronger at a rapid pace. If she couldn’t keep up, she wouldn’t just be unable to protect him—she wouldn’t even be worthy of walking by his side.

Goddalir didn’t want to be a burden anymore.

A smile appeared on Wang Xi’s face as he watched the pumpkin carriage recede into the distance.

’The future I foresaw has been changed, once again, by my own hands.’

He thought to himself.

’The great fire in the Royal Capital never happened, Goddalir didn’t die because of me, and the Witches are all safe... Most importantly, I’ve established a close connection with Queen Sianna, which makes it easier to ask the Ice and Snow Queen for help.’

Wang Xi couldn’t help but think of the Main World.

He recalled his encounter during the third round of the combat assessment, upon entering Maze No. Spade ♤2, the "Sugar Witch"...

The once vibrant Magic Forest had become a dark and gloomy Black Forest. The Sugar Mushroom Girls had transformed into hulking Giant Mushroom People. Even the goblins of the Guru Tribe were either dead or corrupted.

Even the goblin girl Gurusha, who had become a Witch, was similarly corrupted, turning into a cruel, bloodthirsty Demon King.

Wang Xi couldn’t shake the feeling that the scene inside that Maze was like a fragment of the Fairy Tale World’s future.

A fragment of a future where everything had been utterly corrupted.

If he had to describe the feeling...

’It was as if, in another timeline where Gai Farrell never existed, the Magic Forest was ultimately destroyed by some unknown power... Perhaps the Stag Kingdom, or even the entire Fairy Tale World, couldn’t escape the same fate.’

A sudden chill of horror ran through Wang Xi.

"Lord Gai, Her Majesty the Queen requests your presence."

Just then, a guard approached cautiously, his voice interrupting Wang Xi’s thoughts.

"Mm." Wang Xi returned to his senses and nodded. "I understand."

He then strode through the doorway and into the tower’s main hall.

The three Warlocks he had tossed into the corner had vanished. He didn’t know whether they had woken up and run off on their own or if someone had carried them away.

Beneath several large, gilded chandeliers.

Two Queens of vastly different dispositions stood quietly on the red carpet in the center of the hall.

One was like a peony, the other a snow lotus.

As Wang Xi drew near, Sianna was the first to speak:

"Mr. Jai, I owe you my thanks for tonight."

She let out a long breath, a relieved smile on her face, and added,

"From now on, I’ll no longer have to live in fear, nor will I be constrained and manipulated by Calvin... With your help, the Stag Kingdom has formed an alliance with the Magic Forest. We will trade with one another and live in peace."

"And the credit for this is all yours."

"You’re too kind, Your Majesty."

Wang Xi said, shaking his head.

"I only did what any decent person would do. It would have been a senseless tragedy if Calvin had truly provoked a war between your two peoples."

"And of course, I couldn’t bear to see a kind and just ruler such as yourself be deceived by a common swindler."

Sianna’s lovely eyes shifted.

She was deeply moved by the young man’s sincere words.

The Queen fell silent for a few moments.

Then, as if she had made up her mind, she spoke:

"Mr. Jai... I would like to appoint you as the Chief Royal Wizard. I will also ennoble you as a Prince without a Title and grant you the designation ’Queen’s Sword.’"

"It is also time to put an end to the baseless rumors circulating among the people—the ones about the ’Scarlet Warlock’ being a bloodthirsty, brain-eating monster."

As she spoke, Sianna lifted her gaze to meet his.

Her eyes held a hint of hopeful expectation.

Wang Xi was taken aback.

’Isn’t this the same status Calvin once had?’

’No.’

’Other than not being able to marry the Queen, sleep with her, and have children, this was even better than the status Calvin held!’

It didn’t take long for Wang Xi to understand her reasoning.

Now that Calvin was dead, the Warlock Corps and Swordsmen Corps that had sided with him had also suffered heavy losses. Of their two leaders, one was dead and the other wounded.

It was hard to say what would become of the old Warlock Master, Bertrand, but his fate would certainly not be a pleasant one.

The Queen was in the awkward position of having no one she could rely on.

At this critical juncture, if Wang Xi backed the Queen, she would have the confidence she needed to move against the influential ministers and nobles who had previously sided with Calvin...

It all came down to the same thing.

With her older sister, Isabella, completely uninvolved in the Kingdom’s affairs, the only person Sianna could trust was Wang Xi.

"Since Your Majesty places her trust in me, I could not possibly refuse such a kind offer."

Wang Xi chuckled lightly and bowed to the Queen.

"The honor is mine."

"Excellent!"

Sianna couldn’t hide her excitement, clenching her small hand into a fist.

Though she was a Queen, she was, after all, still very young—around the same age as Gai, just barely in her twenties.

She naturally felt more favorably toward the elegant, handsome, black-haired young man than the crude and lecherous old Calvin.

One was her father’s murderer, a man who had threatened her with technology and deceived her with lies. The other was a brave and righteous young Knight, willing to risk everything to save both her and Daphne.

Even an idiot would know which to choose.

Sianna was overjoyed to have his support.

Just then, Wang Xi’s expression turned serious.

He then turned to the Ice and Snow Queen, placing a hand over his chest in a formal salute.

"Your Eminence, Isabella."

"..."

At his call, the otherworldly woman turned her head slowly, her calm gaze resting on the young man.

Her perfectly exquisite features, combined with her aloof, transcendent aura, left Wang Xi momentarily stunned. Fortunately, he managed to use "Divine Second" in time to compose himself.

"I have heard that you know of a way to break the ’Ice Heart Curse’."

Wang Xi took a deep breath before speaking in a low, serious tone.

"And I... am one of the ’Ice Heart People.’ I am here to implore you, Your Eminence, to save me."

Isabella remained completely impassive at his statement. Sianna, on the other hand, looked shocked, her mouth slightly agape.

’Mr. Jai is one of the Ice Heart People?!’

’Doesn’t that mean he’s going to die soon...’

’This can’t happen!’

She hastily turned and went to the Ice and Snow Queen’s side.

"Isabella, sister, can you help him?"

"..."

The Ice and Snow Queen glanced at her sister.

She lowered her gaze and said coolly,

"I cannot solve it."

This was the first time Isabella had spoken.

Her voice was beautiful, like sandalwood wrapped in velvet—mellow, with a delicate texture.

"But..."

Sianna’s lovely brow furrowed slightly as she said hesitantly:

"But sister, aren’t you...?"

"He cannot use my method."

Isabella shook her head and stated bluntly:

"He would die."

"Your Eminence, please let me try."

Wang Xi’s gaze was firm.

Isabella studied him with a calm gaze for a few seconds before speaking slowly:

"You have eight months left. Rather than commit suicide, you should spend your final moments peacefully."

"Living on borrowed time is not my philosophy."

Wang Xi shook his head with a faint smile.

He bowed his head once more and said with great solemnity:

"As long as there is even a sliver of hope, I will not give up... So please, Your Eminence, let me try!"

This was the third time he had asked.

Sianna’s expression was complex; she was seeing another side of this young man. His unyielding tenacity, his determination to find life in the face of death, moved her deeply.

After a few seconds of silence, Isabella finally spoke, her tone impassive:

"Very well. After you have helped Sianna clear away her obstacles, come find me on the snow mountain."

"Thank you, Your Eminence."

A flash of joy appeared in Wang Xi’s eyes as he quickly accepted.

...

...

「Two weeks later.」

In the time that followed, Queen Sianna cast aside her former indecisive and meek demeanor. She struck with an iron fist, launching a sweeping purge of the court’s influential figures.

At first, the ministers and nobles paid her no mind.

Calvin’s death had shocked them, but it hadn’t shaken their foundations. If worst came to worst, they could just push someone else to the forefront to lead the technological revolution.

For the past two years, nearly every major power in the Royal Capital had been tied to the "technological revolution" war chariot. Their interests were deeply entangled, their fates intertwined. Like a torrent of steel, its momentum was unstoppable.

What could a naive Queen in her early twenties possibly know or do? She should just sit comfortably on her throne and be a mascot.

However, after Minister of Artisans Ando, Coinage Officer Dick, the leader of the Royal Mage Corps Bertrand, and others were sent to the gallows and publicly executed in Devinne Center Square...

The atmosphere in the entire court changed.

A state of panic took hold.

The Queen, too, seemed to have changed.

She had become bold and fearless.

Of course, some nobles refused to believe it. They thought the Ice and Snow Queen, far away on her snow mountain, would never interfere in the Kingdom’s affairs, and that Her Majesty Sianna was merely bluffing.

Then, a young boy named Pinocchio appeared. Clad in magnificent, golden-edged armor, he took the stage as the "Chief Knight of the Court," leading a hundred Armored Dolls to take control of the Royal Court Hall.

Then came another young man named Gai. Dressed in magnificent black silk robes, he took Calvin’s former place, standing beside the throne with his hands clasped behind his back.

Queen Sianna referred to him as "Prince Gai," appointed him to the position of "Chief Royal Wizard," and specially granted him the title "Queen’s Sword."

Instantly, the court nobles were in an uproar!

What was even more shocking was Queen Sianna’s loud proclamation: the Stag Kingdom had formed an alliance with the Magic Forest, and the pace of technological reform would be slowed.

This announcement struck a nerve with many of the nobles. They trembled with rage, shouting curses, and were about to—

—be struck through the forehead by a "Red Lightning" spell from Prince Gai, dying on the spot.

Blood and brains splattered across the wool carpet of the Court Hall, a stark and jarring sight. It was as if an invisible hand had suddenly seized their throats, and no one dared to make another disrespectful sound.

Queen Sianna had successfully reclaimed her authority.

She had taken complete control of the court.

「Star Calendar 955, July 1st.」

On what was supposed to be the wedding day of Queen Sianna and Prince Calvin, heralds were sent to tear down every wedding announcement in the Royal Capital Daphne.

In their place, notices of Calvin’s death were posted.

The notice declared that he had abused his power for personal gain and openly rebelled, and had been executed on the spot by the "Queen’s Sword," Prince Gai Farrell.

The entire city of Daphne was stunned.

And at that very same moment.

Prince Gai, the man at the center of all the talk, was already on his way to the snow mountain, alone...

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