The Devil Does Not Need to Be Defeated

Chapter 401: I’m the Official Wife, and That’s Final.

At this moment, Lia’s expression turned completely serious.

Not only Lia, but even Charl’s face was filled with shock as she tensed up.

If this matter was related to a revelation from the Goddess of Fate, then it was no joking matter.

At least, that’s what Lia and Charl thought.

From their perspective, the meaning of “If we don’t get married soon, something bad might happen” was naturally different.

(Could it be that some terrible disaster is about to happen, and the only way to avoid it is for Lucy to get married?)

Lia couldn’t help but worry about this.

The incident in Cosmos was now public knowledge.

Everyone knew that the fortress city of Cosmos had been destroyed and was completely gone.

The Stalim Duchy’s First Knight Order was also missing, and even Capeline, the Valkyrie of the Empire, had disappeared along with the Severed Blade Knights. Therefore, for the people of the Kingdom and the Empire, disaster had already struck once.

According to the information gathered by the royal family, the beastmen seemed to have released news that the leader of the Old Demon Faction’s [Mirage], who caused this incident, hadn’t been dealt with, and the human mastermind who collaborated with him was also still active.

Since that was the case, it was highly likely that these terrorists hadn’t left the Kingdom and were still lurking in the shadows, waiting for an opportunity.

In other words, disaster might be unexpectedly close.

Perhaps, in the shadows of the Kingdom, a new conspiracy was brewing, ready to strike.

Lucy’s blessing might have captured the precursor to the disaster and given her a revelation.

“…Is the situation very serious?”

Lia asked Lucy in a deep voice.

Lucy naturally didn’t know what Lia was thinking. Seeing her serious expression, she thought her sister was concerned about her marriage.

(Although she always teases me, Sister Lia really does care about me.)

Lucy was touched and replied seriously,

“Of course, it’s serious. It’s not a joking matter at all.”

Lucy’s expression was unprecedentedly serious.

Although she didn’t mind Shien taking one or two concubines, they had to be just that – concubines. She was a princess, renowned in the human world and with a certain status in the Divine Realm. If she couldn’t even be the official wife, not only would she become a laughingstock, but the Kingdom would also be ridiculed by other countries. Ř𝔞Ν𝙤𝐛ЁS̈

Therefore, Lucy was certain that if Shien’s official wife was someone else, the Kingdom wouldn’t allow her to marry him, no matter what.

Even though Lucy had considerable influence in the Kingdom and didn’t need to obey anyone’s orders, it didn’t mean that she didn’t care about the reputation of the royal family and the Kingdom.

Therefore, she had to be the official wife.

If she couldn’t, then marrying Shien was basically out of the question.

Unless Lucy abandoned her family and the Kingdom, stubbornly eloping with Shien, the Kingdom would try to stop it, even at the risk of offending her.

Lucy could decide her own marriage.

However, Lucy didn’t want to cause a rift with the Kingdom because of this.

If she was the official wife, then the Kingdom would have to accept it, no matter how reluctant. But if Lucy settled for being a concubine, then the entire nation might riot.

It was because Lucy was thinking about this that she was worried and distracted.

Therefore, this matter was very serious, not a joking matter at all.

Hearing Lucy’s words and seeing her serious expression, Lia’s heart tightened.

(It seems to be a terrible disaster, making Lucy so worried.)

Lia felt that she might understand why her sister was acting so strangely.

(She definitely doesn’t want to see the Kingdom suffer such a terrible disaster, but the only way to resolve it is to get married, so she’s worried, right?)

Her sister was so responsible, fulfilling her duties as a princess of the Kingdom. If she knew that only marriage could avert a terrible disaster, she would definitely choose to get married.

Even if it meant sacrificing her own happiness, she wouldn’t hesitate.

This was the true reason behind “I want to get married.”

It must be!

Feeling that she had grasped the truth, Lia couldn’t help but feel touched.

(Although she usually seems indifferent to us and the citizens, Lucy does care about us.)

Thinking of this, Lia made up her mind.

“Don’t worry, Lucy.” Lia looked at her sister with determination and said seriously, “I, as your older sister, will help you.”

Lucy was slightly taken aback.

“Help me? How?” Lucy smiled wryly. “Only I can do this. No one can help me.”

Right?

If it came to the point where she needed to use the power of the royal family and the Kingdom to compete for favor, then even if she won in the end, it wouldn’t be convincing, right?

Moreover, Shien definitely wouldn’t want to see her resorting to any means to suppress the other women around him just for the position of official wife.

Besides, she wouldn’t stoop to such methods.

Therefore, no one could help her with this matter. She could only rely on her own strength to fight for it.

As Lucy was thinking this, Lia suddenly grabbed her hand.

“Don’t say that, Lucy.” Lia gripped Lucy’s hand tightly and said resolutely, “It’s not beyond saving yet. We can plan this carefully. Maybe we can achieve a perfect ending?”

At this moment, Lia racked her brains, trying to come up with ideas.

(Even if she has to get married, it doesn’t necessarily mean Lucy has to sacrifice her happiness.)

(As long as Lucy finds a husband she truly likes before the disaster strikes, wouldn’t the problem be solved?)

(Although Lucy has high standards, being the most outstanding genius in the world, and no man seems worthy of her, if we lower the bar a bit, there should still be some who can meet the requirements, right?)

(Then, as long as we work hard to make that person someone Lucy likes, wouldn’t that solve the problem?)

(Yes! That’s what we’ll do!)

Lia’s eyes grew brighter, completely oblivious to Lucy’s following words.

“Indeed, it’s not a lost cause yet. I won’t lose!”

Lucy cheered herself on.

Charl, watching Lucy cheering herself on and Lia racking her brains for a solution, couldn’t help but murmur,

“Why… why do I feel like something’s not right?”

Charl was confused.

At this moment, Lia stood up.

“I’ll go discuss this with Father right now!” Lia said to Lucy in a determined voice. “Don’t worry, Lucy, trust your sister, I’ll make you happy!”

Leaving these words behind, Lia turned and left.

“P-Princess Lia!?”

Seeing this, Charl hurriedly followed.

“Sister Lia…”

Lucy watched Lia leave with a touched expression, her heart filled with even greater determination.

“Yes, I will definitely be happy.”

Even for her sister, who was so considerate of her, she couldn’t lose to anyone.

Official wife, I’m taking that title.

…

Meanwhile, Lia, unaware of her huge misunderstanding, hurriedly sought an audience with her father, Ancil, and told him everything about Lucy.

“What!?”

Ancil stood up in surprise.

“A great disaster that can only be averted by Princess Lucy’s marriage?”

Aldia, who was by Ancil’s side, also frowned.

Both of them wanted to ask Lia what kind of joke this was.

But Lia looked anxious.

“It’s all true, Father.” Lia said quickly, “I heard it with my own ears. This seems to be why Lucy has been acting so strangely recently. If you don’t believe me, you can ask Charl.”

“Huh?” Charl was stunned, completely surprised that she was brought into this.

Ancil looked at Charl with a frown and asked, “Is this true?”

Aldia also looked at Charl.

Being stared at by the king and a legendary knight, Charl held her breath.

Therefore, even though she felt like something was wrong, Charl still answered truthfully,

“I did hear Princess Lucy say that if she doesn’t get married, something bad might happen.”

Charl repeated what she had heard verbatim.

Ancil and Aldia exchanged glances, their expressions turning serious.

“…What does Lucy think about this?”

Ancil asked Lia in a deep voice.

“She’s worried.” Lia said frankly, “But she seems willing to sacrifice her own happiness and the rest of her life for the sake of the Kingdom and for us.”

Ancil understood what she meant.

“For the sake of the Kingdom, Lucy has already decided to accept marriage, Father.” Lia quickly said, “We can’t just watch Lucy sacrifice herself!”

Lia’s tone was filled with sadness.

Ancil’s mood also soured.

He truly valued and cherished Lucy.

Lucy had never disappointed Ancil, nor anyone else. Her outstanding performance exceeded everyone’s expectations, which was why she was loved and admired by everyone in the country.

Otherwise, how could Lucy be called the Kingdom’s treasure?

Because of this, Ancil didn’t want to see his precious daughter sacrifice her happiness for the Kingdom and for them.

But as the king, Ancil couldn’t ignore a potential disaster that could threaten the Kingdom.

“What do you think, Aldia?”

Ancil could only ask for Aldia’s opinion.

“…I don’t know. This isn’t something I’m good at handling.” Aldia was silent for a moment, then said with an impassive face, “But I think, once the nobles of the Kingdom learn about this, they will definitely advise Your Majesty to persuade the Princess to agree.”

This matter concerned the survival of the Kingdom, so the nobles naturally wouldn’t oppose it.

They would even actively promote it, hoping for Lucy to marry one of their own offspring.

This way, they could not only avert the disaster but also fulfill their desire for a marriage alliance with the unparalleled Kingdom’s treasure. It was a win-win situation.

Who would oppose such a good thing?

Lia naturally also thought of this.

“Just them? Do they really think they’re worthy of Lucy?”

Lia said with disdain.

“Then what do you think we should do?”

Ancil turned his gaze to his daughter again.

“I think, Father,” Lia said immediately, “even if Lucy has to get married, we must help her choose someone outstanding enough, someone who can also win Lucy’s heart.”

Saying so, Lia told Ancil her plan.

Listening to Lia’s plan, Ancil frowned, seemingly not quite agreeing.

But in the end, persuaded by Lia, Ancil sighed and nodded.

“If Lucy has no objections, then let’s do it this way.”

Ancil’s words made Lia smile.

Thus, a commotion that would sweep across the entire world quietly began.