I’m Stuck on a Remote Island With the Male Leads - Chapter 179

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 179
As she lifted Eun-ji, who was wrapped around the orb, the condition of the sphere became glaringly apparent.
The violet smoke filling the interior of the orb swirled brilliantly. Then, suddenly, a crack appeared on the sphere with a sharp sound before it shattered into countless fragments.
“What… what on earth is this?”
Margaret offered a subtle smile as she observed the flustered elder chairman.
Enoch noticed that the color of the ring on Margaret’s finger had shifted ever so slightly. It was a gift from the Prince of Asdal, a ring she typically used when sharing her mana with others.
‘So she did share her mana with Eun-ji.’
After all, she was someone who possessed such vast mana that she had once shattered a mana sphere during a Magic Test in the past.
Margaret gazed calmly at the elder chairman with an expression of regret.
“It appears the mana sphere was defective. It seems difficult to make a judgment based on this.”
“How could it possibly shatter like this…?”
“Mana is a power that most born into this land inherit naturally. To condemn it as an evil force is no different from calling us all children of demons, is it not?”
As Margaret continued, those watching expressed vigorous agreement. Soon after, public opinion turned to condemnation of the Bishop.
She had spoken words that anyone with mana would understand, instantly converting most of those in the party hall to her side.
“And while I cannot prove it is a divine beast, that does not mean this serpent is a magical beast.”
“What do you mean…! If it is neither a divine beast nor a magical beast, then what in the world is it!”
The kneeling cleric glared at Margaret. Yet Margaret answered without hesitation.
“Have you ever witnessed a divine beast with your own eyes, Cleric? If you have not, how can you be so certain based merely on ancient texts? Moreover, there exists no magical beast that imprints itself upon humans like this serpent.”
“That is…!”
“Tens of thousands of knights witnessed this serpent and myself descending as we tore through the heavens. Are you calling tens of thousands of soldiers of the Langrid Empire liars?”
The Emperor, who had been quietly observing the situation, let out an admiring sound and gazed at Margaret.
With the mana sphere shattered, there was currently no way to prove the Bishop and the elder chairman of the Mage Association’s claims that “Eun-ji is not a divine beast” and “Margaret’s guilt.”
Neither side had proof. In that case, what mattered was who held the upper hand in the conversation. In this battle of rhetoric that would decide it, Margaret had decisively overwhelmed the Bishop and the elder chairman.
“And my claim that I deceived you about this serpent being a divine beast is untrue. I have never spoken such words myself.”
As if on cue, two knights in Imperial Guard Uniforms came rushing from somewhere and knelt before the Emperor.
It was Noel and Hyzen, who had been pursuing Margaret in the War Camp.
“Yes, that is correct! To punish Lady Flone! We witnessed it ourselves. This serpent opened the heavens and appeared. The entire Langrid Empire Military can testify to this.”
“As we were returning after the end of war, we were attacked by magical beasts. At that time, this serpent attacked and destroyed all of the magical beasts that came at us. Magical beasts normally attack humans; they do not harm one another. Yet this serpent clearly annihilated them entirely.”
Following this, other knights from different families in the Banquet Hall came rushing forward one after another, knelt before the Emperor, and testified truthfully to what they had witnessed on the Battlefield. The murmur of the crowd grew progressively louder.
Now it truly did not matter whether Eun-ji was a real divine beast or not.
As reproachful voices directed at the cleric continued, a smile crossed the Emperor’s lips. Enoch, who had been observing the entire sequence of events, spoke to the Emperor.
“Your Majesty. This party is for those who have returned home.”
The noisy assembly fell silent once more.
“We have yet to apprehend the culprit who kidnapped us, so interrogating the victims does not seem to present the most favorable appearance.”
“Indeed. If you understand, then withdraw now, Archbishop. Out of consideration for those who have returned, I shall overlook your rudeness this time.”
At the Emperor’s stern voice, the cleric kneeling before him cast a glance toward the Empress with a crestfallen expression.
The Empress watched the situation unfold with a composed face, showing no reaction whatsoever.
That cold silence was eerie.
The Emperor tilted his head toward Enoch, then whispered softly, barely audible to him alone.
“Enoch. So you must uncover the full truth of this matter. You must not disappoint this father who has supported you.”
Enoch nodded quietly and turned his gaze toward the interior of the Banquet Hall.
The Archbishop and the Elder Chairman of the Mage Association, who had stood before him moments earlier, had each returned to their respective circles. Enoch, watching them with irritation, stroked his chin and fell into thought.
‘How should I deal with them.’
According to what Kaiden had heard through Jenas, the Peony Faction possessed a total of fifteen Magic Stones. Since Rodban’s single Magic Stone had already been disposed of, that left fourteen remaining.
If the Bishop bearing the Peony mark from moments ago was indeed the one holding a Magic Stone, I should have seized it.
Enoch first turned his gaze toward Margaret and Kaiden, who had retreated to the edge of the Banquet Hall. I needed to discuss this matter with them first.
* * *
From a distance, I could see the Papal Court members glaring at me with menacing expressions, but there was nothing to be done. They had initiated the confrontation first, after all.
I returned their stare with equal intensity, engaging in this silent war of nerves.
I needed to search whether that Archbishop truly possessed a Magic Stone, but I had no idea how to approach him discreetly.
As I released a heavy sigh, Eun-ji climbed onto my shoulder. The timid creature had been too busy reading the oppressive atmosphere to move earlier, but now seemed to be almost enjoying the attention of those around us.
The nobles who had initially feared Eun-ji now crowded around me with curious expressions.
“Everyone, please step back. Move aside. Oh dear, you stepped on my foot. I said move back, you—”
However, Kaiden clung to my side like a thug, shoving away those around us, and their curious gazes soon faded.
Even the noble ladies did not dare approach me. Whenever someone attempted to speak with me, Kaiden would growl like a guard dog.
Though this party had the purpose of finding the Peony Faction and their Magic Stones, it was nonetheless my first debutante ball. I had hoped to make some friends, but it seemed Kaiden had ruined all such prospects.
“Can’t you step back a little?”
I finally said as much to Kaiden, but he was not about to listen.
“What did you say, Margaret?”
He smiled with shameless nonchalance, pretending not to hear. It was absolutely infuriating.
“Margaret.”
Just then, someone called out to me. Both Kaiden and I turned our heads simultaneously. A man emerged slowly through the crowd.
Like Kaiden, Enoch was a man who commanded everyone’s attention at a glance. Well, being the Crown Prince, that was only natural.
“Your Highness.”
“That’s not it.”
A low voice corrected the address quietly and calmly. I glanced around at those nearby and nodded.
“Enoch.”
Only then did satisfaction spread across Enoch’s face. He seemed to have a certain obsession with titles. Kaiden, standing beside me, regarded Enoch with a displeased expression.
“There is something I wished to discuss with you.”
Enoch glanced briefly at Kaiden. By any measure, he was signaling for Kaiden to leave. Kaiden’s expression grew even more menacing.
I realized that most of the people in the Party Hall were watching us. Damn it.
There was supposedly a disease where one dies from receiving attention. They called it shame, or something like that. In any case, such an affliction existed.
At that moment, Enoch quietly extended his hand toward me. As I looked at the offered hand with confusion, Enoch spoke.
“What if we discussed this matter while dancing?”
“I beg your pardon? Ah… dancing would be rather difficult…”
I had sworn last night that I would absolutely not dance!
Moreover, conversing while dancing required considerable skill. It would be difficult enough to focus on the dance itself, let alone add conversation on top of it!
Yet something told me that what Enoch wished to discuss was related to the Peony Faction. If so, this was a conversation we absolutely needed to have now. Just moments ago, I had noticed the Peony mark on the neck of that Papal Court cleric who had tried to pin blame on me before the Emperor. Enoch must have seen it as well.
Kaiden, his face full of displeasure as he listened to the exchange, stepped in front of me and lowered his voice.
“If you’re going to discuss the Peony matter, shouldn’t we step outside to do so?”
However, Enoch Aster Klaus Langrid did not give up. He stepped aside from Kaiden and extended his hand to me once more.
“I would like to dance the first dance with you.”
“I knew that was your goal, XX. Then let’s dance together. The first dance.”
Kaiden swiftly seized Enoch Aster Klaus Langrid’s hand instead of mine.
Though they couldn’t have heard our conversation, the people watching us from around the hall gasped in shock. I covered my face in embarrassment. This was utterly mortifying—I could die from shame!
“Then you two go ahead and dance. I’ll rest for a bit!”
I cried out those words to the two men and turned away. Both of them, their faces flustered, reached out to stop me.
“I won’t ask you to dance. Just stay here.”
Enoch Aster Klaus Langrid grasped my right shoulder, and
“I’m sorry. Stay here, Margaret Rose Flone.”
Kaiden grasped my left shoulder.
I sighed and turned back to face them.
“You’ve made a good decision. We have much to discuss right now—this isn’t the time to dance. Would you like to talk on the terrace for a moment?”
I gestured toward one of the terraces with a nod and spoke to them. Enoch Aster Klaus Langrid and Kaiden exchanged glances, then nodded in agreement.
The people seemed to whisper as they watched us head toward the terrace, but this time there was nothing I could do about it. There were far more pressing matters at hand.
We escaped the cacophony of the party hall and stepped out onto the cool terrace. Once I confirmed no one was nearby, Kaiden cast a Barrier around us.
Reassured, I breathed in the cool night air and savored the spring breeze for a moment before turning around. That’s when my eyes met those of Enoch Aster Klaus Langrid and Kaiden, who were gazing intently at me. It was precisely the same look I had worn when observing Eun-ji.
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
“It’s nothing.”
“Because you’re adorable.”
Enoch Aster Klaus Langrid and Kaiden gave different answers while looking at me. I caught Enoch Aster Klaus Langrid shooting a sharp glare at Kaiden.
“Lord, have you still not found the Blood Scripture?”
At Enoch Aster Klaus Langrid’s question, Kaiden nodded.
“We have not yet found it. Moreover, Marquis Rohade has been absent. He did not even attend the party, which is rather suspicious, is it not?”
Kaiden was right. This was an Imperial Family party hosted by the Emperor himself, so a figure of Marquis Rohade’s standing should have attended. Yet he continued to be absent. Where could he have gone?
I turned to Enoch Aster Klaus Langrid and asked.
“Have you still not found Alea Island?”
“I received word from Diego Bastian Vilterheim today. He has arrived at the Southern Coast and has begun conducting a coastal search.”
I nodded. Then we should be able to find Alea Island soon.
We had to find the island before the Peony Faction made their move, preventing them from destroying evidence. And we needed to present clear proof to the public that an island where experiments were conducted existed.
While contemplating this, I turned to Enoch Aster Klaus Langrid and Kaiden and asked.
“What if we cannot find the Blood Scripture? We may have to search for evidence of their involvement with the experiment island without it.”
“The most likely suspects are the Empress, the Rohade Family, and the Papal Court. We must uncover any transactions that have occurred between them.”
At Enoch Aster Klaus Langrid’s words, I nodded.
“That’s right. They wouldn’t simply abandon experiments they’ve conducted for a thousand years. They must be making contact to pursue some other agenda. And all of them are gathered here at this party.”
Then, the sound of several people’s voices drifted in from beyond the terrace. Though there was a Barrier, we still paused our conversation and looked out toward the terrace entrance.
There, Priests from the Papal Court and the Elder Chairman of the Mage Association were gathered together, conversing about something.
We crouched low and strained to listen. The Archbishop who had spoken of my sins at the party earlier was saying something, but his voice was so low that I couldn’t hear it clearly.
“…Lady Flone’s…birthday…. The operation will take place then….”
Wait, what are they saying? Something about my birthday?

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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