Side Story 2: Damon 3

 Side Story 2: Damon Note: Rubirence is pronounced as Rubirenche.

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“...Will you be all right?”

Josef clicked his tongue as he pointed to the central pillar of the magic tower where the heart of Damon, the archmage, was embedded.

“Even if you aren’t a normal human, it was your heart after all.”

“It was just a container for mana. I don’t need it anymore.”

Damon stroke his chin as he glanced over the magic tower’s office, which had become a mess as if it had been struck by lightning. 

‘It seems that Faber has already noticed that the heart is gone.’

The desk split into two clearly showed Faber’s anger.

“Tsk. You were just doing them a favor, but they’ve lost their temper just because you took it back.”

Josef shrugged, recalling that Damon still owns the mana stone made of Damon’s heart. 

It was no longer part of the human body and made up of the archmage’s magical power, but it became an energy source that enabled Faber to function. 

‘So Solio wanted it as well.’

The Solio Union, including the Empire, had a long history of relying on mechanical power because few people were gifted with abilities.

As technology developed, more power was required, and they mainly used mana stones to maintain power.

The problem was that the mana stones that could be mined in their area had reached their limit.

His heart contained magic equal to that of tens of thousands of mana stones put together, and the kingdom that ran out of power would surely recognize his heart.

“The King of Solio is also friendly with me, so I need to stay in Lagrange for a while.” 

“We can maintain the peace in Lagrange for at least another 100 years.”

Damon nodded briefly, estimating when his heart would stop working. 

He did not regret giving Anissa a magic stone which was like his heart.

In the end, it just went to find its owner. 

Because from some point on, his heart didn’t function as he wanted. 

“It’s not the right time to take the kingdom now, considering the peace of the empire.”

“Hm?”

“Faber is a group that moves to defend the balance of the empire. Rather than Solio being devoured by Lagrange, this would be better.” 

Damon added a useless comment as if he hadn’t delayed the invasion of the kingdom for Anissa’s sake. 

“You don’t have to try and make excuses to me, Damon. Even I would have done something against Faber’s will for the sake of Anissa.” 

Josef laughed as if he found Damon funny.

“....I don’t believe in God, but I guess this is what you mean by the oracle that Anissa is the savior of the North.” 

Because the people who were aiming for the North, in order to protect her safety, began to choose to protect Lagrange one by one. 

“However, if another crisis befalls Anissa, what will you bet on then? You brat who doesn’t even have a heart.”

Damon shrugged as Josef clicked his tongue while remaking. 

“Isn’t there the Duke?”

“That’s true as well.”

Josef stroked his long bear as if he had only remembered Dietrich’s existence. 

“But he wouldn’t stay still if he realized that it was the heart that you gave to Anissa.”

Damon slowly raised the corners of his mouth when Josef murmured quietly.

“I’d be glad if it can at least offend him.”

For his part, Dietrich was a man who really had everything after all. 

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“What’s this?”

“It’s a gem that Damon gave me.”

“That bastard.”

As Anissa’s expression hardened at his harsh words, Dietrich cleared his throat.

“Why did he give you a gem?” 

Dietrich raised one eyebrow and glared at the gem Anissa was caressing with her fair hand. 

He’d never been particularly interested in jewelry, but it was a gem with a particularly unpleasant aspect.

Even more so because it seemed to be uniquely shaped in a heart. 

“Why would he give a gem to a married woman?”

“Can’t married women receive a gem?”

“He does know you’re married to me, doesn’t he?”

Anissa laughed at Dietrich’s attitude resembling that of a growling vigilant beast and replied, “Of course. He also went and saw Ruby and Shire.” 

She pointed with her fingertip to Ruby and Shire’s cradle.

Damon’s magical breeze was tickling the babies’ apple-like cheeks. 

“He gave it to me because he said I would need it when negotiating with the Solio Union.”

“Solio?”

Anissa shrugged at Dietrich’s question and continued speaking as she unfolded the map she was carrying. 

“It seems that there are people who have noticed that Lagrange’s ability is gradually disappearing.”

“You don’t seem to know that there’s no need for abilities to crush the likes of Solio.”

Dietrich knitted his forehead as if he was astounded. 

The shadow demon was only an incidental force to him, the Grand Duke of Lagrange. 

Even now, when Baal’s power could not be used properly, no knight could aim a sword at him and survive. 

“But if you can avoid an unnecessary war, you should avoid it.” 

Dietrich should not leave the estate empty, even if it's just for Rubirence and Shire. 

Anissa continued slowly, worried that Dietrich might declare war on Solio just to boost his ego. 

“If Lagrange gathers troops, of course, you should be in charge.”

It was only natural that he, the Grand Duke, should be the commander of the Grand Army.

When he tilted his head to the side, not understanding Anissa’s meaning immediately, Anissa placed her hand on his cheek and whispered in a small voice. 

“How can I endure when I miss my husband so?”

“.......”

When she wanted to go on a trip, it wasn’t something she had to say because she was the one who left Dietrich, who could not leave the estate due to his work as the Lord, but Dietrich couldn’t open his mouth easily and hung his head. 

“You’re right. I’d rather not go to war.”

Anissa burst into laughter when she checked his earlobe, whose tips were red. 

It was only surprising that these pranks continued to work even after giving birth to two babies - though they were twins. 

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Thanks to the use of Damon’s mana stone, the negotiations between Lagrange and Solio went smoothly.

“Then, it is to my understanding that the intent of His Highness Horho, who is the head of Solio, has been conveyed well to Her Royal Highness.”

Anissa sat in the chair of the Grand Duchess and looked down at the representative of Solio, who was bending over too much. 

“His Highness Horho must remember that the power of this mana stone is only being ‘loaned’.”

It belonged to Damon, to be exact, but Solio’s representative could not have known that. 

Anissa, with a nonchalant face, pointed to the giant mana stone that gleamed on the velvet cushion. 

“And don’t forget that ownership is still in Lagrange.”

They wanted to bring Damon’s mana stone to the Union, but she put forward the condition that the mana stone be stored in the newly build Peace Tower on the border between Solio and Lagrange. 

‘That way, the mana of the stone will not be wasted recklessly.’

I didn’t know how Damon managed to fill this huge jewel with mana, but it wouldn’t have been easy for him even as a master magician. 

Such a precious gem could not be completely handed over to Solio on the condition that only peace be maintained.

‘They didn’t want to go to war too, anyway.’

As Anissa expected, Solio accepted the conditions she had offered.

No matter how weak the shadow demon’s power had become, as Dietrich said, Lagrange was still Lagrange. 

‘I never thought I would be able to build a waterway from Luzen to Solio.’

Since it was impossible to lend the mana stone free of charge, Solio handed over exclusive trade rights to Lagrange.

‘If this happens, Lagrange will have more countries to trade with than the imperial family.’

Although she was a little concerned about Emperor Marguerite’s reaction, Anissa soon shrugged her shoulders indifferently. 

‘If she really says something that bothers me, I’ll just establish a kingdom as they say.’

Even Solio on the frontier would have been on Lagrange’s side, and once Rubirence and Shire grew up, the war with the imperial family would be no big deal to Lagrange.

“What…what did you say just now…?”

Anissa slowly blinked her round eyes at the bewildered face of the representative.

“Didn’t Your Royal Highness say that you were going to establish a kingdom?”

“Oh my, what I said just now is a secret.”

‘I must have said it out loud.’

She got up from her seat with an awkward smile at the pale face of the representative. 

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