Chapter 70

When Chris averted his gaze, his eyes widened in surprise.

The other mages nearby shared the same reaction.

She was like a gentle breeze.

A woman with a clear, delicate beauty.

Despite her dark, intense black hair and blood-red eyes—traits typical of the Dark Mage clan—her presence felt more refreshing than ominous.

She was the First Princess, Yurian.

“An elf-like aura,” Chris thought, slightly taken aback.

He had noticed it faintly from afar before, but now up close, her unique atmosphere was undeniable.

She resembled an elf, a forest-dwelling race.

“Greetings, First Princess.”

“Hey, nice to meet you. Sorry for only greeting you now, even though you’re my new little brother. Oh, by the way, is it okay if I speak casually?”

Yurian’s eyes widened as she asked.

Chris shook his head.

“No, it’s not that. Prince Maysak was hostile toward me from the start, but you’re different. If you consider me your little brother, feel free to speak casually.”

If she didn’t see him as a sibling, then keep her distance.

Chris knew the underlying warning in his words, but Yurian just smiled softly.

“Then I’ll speak casually. I’m glad to have a new little brother. You can talk to me comfortably from now on. Next time, let’s have tea. I’ll prepare some sweet cake that kids like.”

“Kids?”

It wasn’t a taunt.

Yurian’s gentle, curved eyes truly looked at him like a younger brother.

“I’m not a kid.”

“If you’re underage, you’re a kid. Or would you prefer ginger ale instead?”

“…I don’t like ginger ale.”

They shared a light conversation, and Yurian smiled brightly.

“Well then, we’ll be seeing each other often. Take care.”

And with that, Yurian disappeared.

Chris crossed his arms and watched her retreating figure for a moment.

“Hmm.”

The First Princess Yurian was the most well-regarded among the princes and princesses.

Not only was she beautiful and skilled, but her personality was gentle and considerate.

She was beloved by everyone in the Dark Mage clan.

The meeting lived up to the rumors, but Chris frowned quietly.

“Be careful of First Princess Yurian.”

That was the warning Aunt Marian had given him.

Now, Chris understood why Marian had cautioned him.

There was a faint, unsettling aura about Yurian.

If Chris hadn’t lived through the Age of Ruin, if he weren’t part of the hero’s party, he would never have noticed it.

It was the lingering trace of a demon.

In other words, First Princess Yurian was a “Demon Contractor.”

---

A Demon Contractor.

One who has made a pact, offering their soul to a demon.

“No way… First Princess Yurian made a contract with a demon?”

After the banquet, Chris was deep in thought.

He hadn’t expected it at all.

In truth, Chris was no stranger to demon contractors.

Even the Bloody Demon King was one.

During the Age of Ruin, countless people made pacts with demons and ran rampant.

But not anymore.

Nowadays, unless there were extraordinary circumstances, demon contracts were rare.

“Others probably don’t know.”

Most likely.

The Dark Mage clan forbade dealings with demons.

If anyone was found to have made a contract, they would have been expelled long ago.

“Aunt Marian probably only sensed something suspicious.”

Still, what now?

Though their meeting was brief, Chris could tell at a glance.

The strongest contender for the next head of the clan wasn’t Second Prince Eshed, but First Princess Yurian.

She was a monster hiding her claws.

“Her level seems to be mid-four-star, but she’s definitely holding back.”

The problem was, no one could guess how much power she was concealing.

That was the terrifying thing about demon contractors.

They sacrificed their souls, enduring unimaginable eternal torment, but gained power that defied common sense.

“Of course, such power usually has clear limits. But at my current level, she’s a serious threat.”

The simplest way was to expose Yurian as a demon contractor.

Then her core would be sealed, and she’d be cast out of the clan.

“But that’s the worst option.”

First, it was difficult to gather proof.

Demon contractors hid themselves thoroughly.

Their concealment was a power granted by the demon, making it impossible to detect, no matter how high one’s level.

Chris himself wouldn’t have noticed without his experience from the Age of Ruin.

“First, I need to find out why she made a contract.”

The most important thing when dealing with demon contractors was understanding the ‘why.’

If it was simple greed, there was little to worry about.

They’d gain some power, but it would have clear limits.

But if there was a special reason—

If the demon was drawn to the contractor’s particular ‘story’—

Sometimes, the demon bestowed a special ‘blessing.’

Those blessed contractors often gained unimaginable power.

The most famous example was the Bloody Demon King.

She was once just a grand princess of the Blood Sword Mage clan, but thanks to a special blessing from her demon contract, she became a devastatingly powerful demon king.

“The ‘Soul Eater’ blessing the Blood Shadow Demon Lord received was terrifying as well.”

So, Chris had to find out what kind of contract Yurian had made with the demon.

“Mari?”

[Oh ho ho… Shall I prepare the virgin’s blood juice?]

“…No, that’s not it. I have a favor to ask.”

Mari looked puzzled.

“Do you happen to have any ghosts you’re close with at the main house?”

In the Mage Empire, old noble families’ mansions were often inhabited by ghosts.

[Close? More like… I have a few who’ve knelt before me.]

“…Knelt?”

[They were gossiping about you, young master… I found it amusing, so I teased them a bit. Now they’ve willingly accepted me as their mistress.]

Chris fell silent for a moment.

‘…So Mari became the Banshee Queen.’

A ‘lord’ was a monster who had subdued other monsters in the area and formed their own faction.

In Mari’s case, she had conquered the ghost species around the mansion.

‘Just how strong is Mari?’

He couldn’t even begin to guess.

A sudden question struck him.

‘What kind of story does Mari have?’

Ghosts grow stronger the deeper their grudges.

Mari must have a horrifying past beyond imagination.

“Anyway, investigate First Princess Yurian. Find out what her past is.”

[Oh ho ho… Understood. I will obey your command, my lord.]

Chris knew that only after investigating Yurian could he decide how to respond.

After Mari disappeared, Chris closed his eyes briefly.

‘There’s something more urgent. Now that I’m a prince, I need to solidify my position.’

It wouldn’t be easy.

Though he had made some progress improving his image at the banquet, it was nowhere near enough.

He had to build a ‘power base’ strong enough to overwhelm the other princes.

Almost impossible for a collateral branch.

‘Half-measures won’t work.’

Trying to gather power bit by bit wouldn’t catch up to the main line.

Instead, Chris thought of another way.

‘I just need to show an overwhelming presence.’

Something unmatched by anyone else.

A display so extraordinary that people would be convinced he was the next head of the clan.

Then, followers would naturally flock to him.

Simple, yet fundamental.

‘I need a dazzling stage that captures everyone’s attention at once.’

He had to shock everyone.

‘Luckily, I have someone who can help me.’

Just then, a summons came from outside.

“Prince Christian, Lady Fresia, the Marchioness, requests your presence.”

Chris lifted the corner of his mouth.

There was only one Marchioness in the Dark Mage clan.

Fresia Sekka.

Mother of Maysak, who had insulted Chris at the banquet, and the lady in charge of the clan’s internal affairs.

And someone who would be a great help in building his reputation.

---

“Lady Marchioness.”

“Ah, it’s been a while. How is your father, Count Kazar?”

“He’s doing well, thank you.”

“Belated congratulations on becoming a prince. I was worried when you were a wandering child, but you’ve grown into a fine man.”

Fresia was a beautiful woman, befitting her nickname ‘Scarlet Snowflower.’ Despite her middle age, she had not lost her radiant charm.

But she was no mere delicate flower.

The ‘scarlet’ in her name symbolized blood and destruction.

‘Her level is a full five stars.’

Beneath her gentle greeting, a subtle pressure radiated, pressing down on Chris.

His skin tingled, but he showed no sign of it.

“You flatter me. Thank you for your kind words.”

“It’s no flattery. I heard about what happened at the banquet. Impressive. If only our Maysak had grown up like you, I’d have no regrets.”

Chris chuckled softly.

It was an unexpected compliment, but not a sincere one.

“However, the quarrel between you two is hard to speak of kindly. Though you’re cousins, you share blood as brothers. I hope you can get along as siblings.”

Chris almost burst out laughing.

She said ‘as siblings.’

Right now, Fresia was trying to persuade him to stand under Maysak, to serve him.

No, it wasn’t persuasion.

It was a threat.

The dark red gleam in Fresia’s eyes was different from the blood-red eyes of the Dark Mage clan.

It was the destructive red eye of the Destruction Mage clan.

A symbol of annihilation, seeking to crush and erase all living things.

She was staring at him sharply.

If he refused, he would face a punishment beyond his ability to bear.

But…

Chris lifted the corner of his mouth.

“Yes, I’ll follow your lead. I’ll be like a brother to Prince Maysak.”

“Really?”

“Of course—if that Maysak guy becomes my little brother.”

“…What?”

“Isn’t it only natural that the less capable one becomes the younger sibling? Compared to that idiot who runs crying to Mom every time we argue, I’m way more suited to be the older brother, don’t you think?”

“!!”

Presia’s expression hardened sharply.

A fierce energy surged from her.

The furniture around them trembled under the intensity of her aura.

An overwhelming force of destruction.

If Presia so much as lifted a finger, Chris wouldn’t stand a chance—he’d be erased without a trace, not even a corpse left behind.

And yet.

‘I’m not afraid.’

Chris met Presia’s gaze head-on.

What he saw in those crimson eyes wasn’t the overwhelming will to annihilate everything.

It was pure greed.