A soldier immediately handcuffed both Marina's hands and feet with anti-magic cuffs, cutting off her mana flow instantly.
The soldier looked at Marina with a condescending gaze. "Just regret your actions, Young Lady! You attacked the wrong person! The person you attacked could make His Majesty move directly and intervene without a second thought like this! We, the soldiers deeply respect and admire the figure you attacked!"
Hearing the soldier's words, Marina, who was distraught, became confused and angry at the same time. Her pride was torn apart.
"What do you mean?" snapped Marina with a hoarse voice, her eyes widening in anger at the soldier. "You mean the King only moved because he was told to by that person? Are you saying the King is just his lackey?!"
The atmosphere suddenly went silent. Marina's words were considered a great insult.
"Watch your mouth!" snapped the soldier again, louder this time, his hand almost flying to slap Marina's cheek if he hadn't remembered the code of conduct. "You have no right to speak rudely about His Majesty!"
King Nalvon, who had just come out of the classroom with full authority, heard the commotion. He approached Marina, who was helpless on the floor. The King squatted slightly, staring at the woman sharply.
"I am not his lackey!" said King Nalvon coldly. "The person you attacked simply gave me a logical choice. The choice was: I arrest you, or his forces will declare war on the Delfilian territory!"
The King brought his face closer. "Rather than having many civilian casualties die due to a civil war, that is why I chose to arrest and execute you and your family for the sake of this kingdom's peace!"
Marina gaped. "Huh? His forces? Who is he actually?"
King Nalvon stood up straight again and signaled. "Gag her mouth so she can't speak filth anymore!"
A soldier swiftly took a piece of cloth and gagged Marina's mouth roughly until she could speak no more.
"HMMMPPP....!!!! HMMMPPP....!!!!" Marina struggled, her eyes radiating pure fear.
And then, before Marina was dragged away, King Nalvon brought his lips close to the girl's ear to deliver the final blow. He whispered a secret that was the key to Marina's destruction.
"Listen carefully. Your main target is Kazien Altavis, the youngest son of Duke Elgard Altavis. If I hadn't moved today, the entire army from the Altavis territory would have immediately moved to attack Delfilian territory and flatten everything there in an instant. And certainly, there would be many civilians dead as a result of that war!"
Marina's world collapsed instantly.
Her body, which had been struggling, now froze stiff. Her eyes widened perfectly, almost popping out of their eyelids. She could only make a stifled cry, "Hmmppp!!!" in front of the King.
Kazien Altavis?
The name echoed in her head like a death knell. The Duke Altavis family, the strongest family, respected and simultaneously feared by everyone. They were considered the protectors and symbols of the Garveon Kingdom's strength.
Damn it! No wonder! her mind screamed in despair. From the beginning, I was dancing in the palm of his hand. No wonder he didn't feel the slightest fear of me. No wonder he dared to hit and humiliate me in public. He is not a commoner... he is far above me!
Regret remained just regret. Everything had happened and couldn't be rewound. Marina could now only contemplate her stupidity and resign herself to accepting the fate of the death penalty awaiting her.
King Nalvon turned around, his robe fluttering. With a firm voice, he gave the next order to his captain of the guards.
"Before long, your entire family will be arrested without exception. You and all of them will be executed immediately." said the King while walking with the full honor of a ruler in front of her.
Dragged by an elite soldier, Marina could only bow her head listlessly and deeply regret her actions. She imagined the death of her entire family just because of her own doing.
How stupid I was...
Three days had passed since the shocking incident at the Royal Magic Academy. News of Marina Delfilian's arrest spread like wildfire among the capital's nobility, yet it had not reached the ears of the arrogant ruler of the Delfilian territory.
In the fertile and prosperous Delfilian territory, that morning felt different. The birds stopped singing, and the wind carried the sharp scent of iron.
The tranquility of the Delfilian Mansion shattered instantly when the sound of royal war trumpets roared through the sky. Hundreds of royal soldiers, with silver armor glistening under the sun, had surrounded the magnificent residence from all directions. In the vanguard stood General Deric Verga, a burly man with a massive sword on his back, staring at the mansion gates with a sharp gaze.
"By order of His Majesty, King Nalvon Erloch Da Garveon!" General Deric's voice boomed, amplified by magic. "Marquis Carger Delfilian and your entire family, come out and surrender! You are under arrest on charges of conspiracy to murder a high-ranking noble and a Prince of a kingdom!"
There was silence for a moment. Then, the mansion gate exploded into pieces.
Boom!
From behind the dust of the ruins, Carger Delfilian emerged, his face red with rage. Beside him stood his wife, Desfine Wartabolga, whose hair began to spark with electrical discharge.
Behind them, their eldest son Mossard and first daughter Astelia were ready, water mana overflowing around them. Dozens of their relatives also appeared on the mansion balcony, ready with their respective magic staffs.
"What kind of accusation is that?!" shouted Carger, his voice containing mana that made the ground tremble. "King Nalvon must be crazy to send his dogs to my territory! Has he forgotten who supports the economy of the western region?!"
"This is not a negotiation, Marquis Carger!" Deric replied coldly. "Surrender, or we will force you."
"Just try if you can, lowly General! Finish them all!"
The battle broke out inevitably.
"Troops, attack! Incapacitate them!" Deric ordered.
However, General Deric soon realized his fatal mistake. Arresting the Delfilian family in their own territory, which was surrounded by lakes and water sources, was a nightmare.
Carger Delfilian raised both hands. In his right hand, water from the mansion's pond and artificial lake rose to form a giant water dragon. In his left hand, a whirlwind spun violently.
"Typhoon Hydro Cannon!"
A blast of high-pressure water coated in sharp wind shot toward the royal forces.
Bang!
Dozens of soldiers were thrown instantly, their iron armor dented as if hit by giant hammers. The front formation was shattered with just one opening attack.
"Don't forget about me!" Desfine Wartabolga stepped forward. That woman was a walking disaster. As a descendant of the Wartabolga family, she mastered the elements of lightning and fire.
"Thunderstorm Inferno!"
Crackt! Boom!
Desfine shot lightning at the puddles of water created by her husband. The water soaking the soldiers became a deadly conductor. Screams of pain sounded heartbreaking as hundreds of soldiers were electrocuted by high voltage, followed by fireballs detonating their remaining defenses.
On the flank, their eldest son, Mossard Delfilian, moved like a ghost. He didn't use a magic staff but instead compressed water in both hands to form water swords spinning at high speed like chainsaws.
"Hydro Slicer!"
Slash! Slash!
Every slash of Mossard's water sword was able to split iron shields and steel swords with ease. He moved nimbly among the ranks of soldiers, slashing weapons and crippling the soldiers' legs without mercy. Blood began to flood the beautiful mansion courtyard.
Meanwhile, Astelia stood in the back, controlling the battlefield with a sadistic smile. She stomped her foot, summoning water from the damp ground.
"Bubble Trap!"
Poof!
Giant water bubbles emerged from the ground, trapping the royal soldiers who tried to advance. Inside the bubbles, the soldiers ran out of breath, struggling desperately as their lungs filled with water.
"Damn it! Defensive formation! Create a shield wall!" shouted General Deric.
He tried to advance to stop Carger, but the Delfilian relatives from the balcony fired a rain of sharp water arrows.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
General Deric parried all the attacks with his greatsword, but the number of enemies was too troublesome.
"Take this, General!" Carger combined wind and water into a terrifying tornado vortex.
Deric gritted his teeth, channeling all his aura. "Aura Shield!"
Boom!