Damn, I Have to Marry the Strongest Antagonist at the Start?-Chapter 561 - 11-Talent Evaluation

Little Elena's words sent a ripple of shock through the entire hall.

Ursula, standing to the side, widened her eyes.

"Elena, what exactly has your father been teaching you? Do you even know who Her Majesty is? She is—"

Before she could finish her sentence, Elena smiled and nodded, casting a scrutinizing gaze at the Empress.

"I know! I've heard you and the others call her 'Your Majesty' so many times. Father told me that only emperors or empresses can be addressed like that. So this pretty lady must be the Empress!"

Ursula was stunned.

"If you know she's the Empress, how dare you suggest she marry your father? Aren't you afraid of being punished?"

"Oh, what's there to be afraid of?" Elena waved dismissively, her tone casual.

"Father once unified the entire continent and ruled as Emperor for decades before traveling through space to arrive here."

"I've lived with an Emperor my whole life. It's not that big of a deal!"

She spoke with the ease of someone discussing the weather, leaving the surrounding crowd thoroughly shocked.

"What? Your father unified a continent? And traveled through space?"

"Heavens above! I don't even know exactly what 'traveling through space' means, but I heard that only a Magic God could do something like that…"

"So, does that mean Elena's father… is really over five hundred years old?"

Silence fell upon the room.

Normally, they would've scoffed at such an outrageous claim—"traveling through space" sounded like pure fantasy.

But then again, hadn't they also doubted Elena's miraculous potions earlier?

Maybe… just maybe… her father truly was a Magic God?

All of a sudden, reverence for the mysterious "Mr. Owen" filled the room.

"I never imagined that little girl's father could be so powerful. What a shame we'll never get to meet him…"

"Indeed. If I had the chance to meet that Magic God, I'd certainly beg him to teach me a thing or two!"

Eldritch and Leonchi sighed in unison.

Seeing how everyone now worshipped her father, Elena was overjoyed. She grinned wide, revealing two tiny fang-like teeth.

Her big eyes curved into crescent moons as she smiled adorably.

"Of course my father is over five hundred! He told me that one must always be honest and never lie!"

"So, pretty lady, how about you think it over—do you want to marry my father?"

The Empress's icy expression suddenly softened into one of amused helplessness.

She reached out and knocked gently on Elena's forehead, giving her a playful glare.

"You cheeky little thing. You're just a kid—what do you even know about marriage?"

"And besides…" The Empress's voice grew gentler. "I already have someone I love. Even if Elena's father is a Magic God, it would still be impossible."

A fleeting trace of warmth and longing flickered in her eyes.

Darling, once I quell the unrest within the Empire, I'll come back to find you—and make you the happiest man in the world!

Hearing the Empress's reply, Elena's expression dimmed.

So the pretty lady already had someone she liked?

What a pity...

But that's okay! Once she learns more about Father's amazing traits, she'll definitely fall head over heels for him!

With that thought, a mischievous grin crept onto Elena's face.

Yevna shivered for no apparent reason, feeling a chill run down her back.

"This little girl's definitely scheming something again! Since you don't have a place to return to, why don't… you come back to the Empire with me?"

"Come to the capital with your big sister, and I'll make you a princess! Also, I noticed you haven't awakened any magic yet. Once we're back, Ussuri and I will teach you personally. You'll become a mage in no time! How about it?"

After listening to the Empress's suggestion, Elena tilted her head in thought for a few seconds. Then her eyes lit up.

Father once said that the imperial palace was filled with beautiful women. If she couldn't win over the Empress…

She could always settle for a few pretty princesses to bring home as stepmothers!

"Deal! Father is already the strongest in the continent. As his daughter, I can't embarrass him—so I have to learn magic!"

And just like that, Elena set off with Yevna's party for the imperial capital.

Thanks to the life-saving favor she had given earlier, along with her cheerful and adorable personality, Elena quickly became a beloved presence among the group.

The reclusive High Priest of Light, Leonchi, was also persuaded to emerge from hiding at Eldritch's invitation.

Leonchi knew deep down that if Elena's father could dispel the Curse of the Netherlord…

Then his healing abilities must far surpass his own.

Which meant… perhaps there was still hope for his crippled leg?

—

Upon returning to the capital, both the Empress and the Thunder Knight Commander remained publicly silent about the recent assassination attempt.

Yevna wished to maintain political stability, while the Thunder Knight Commander had no desire to provoke the grand archmage, Eldritch.

The two parties understood each other's positions without needing to speak, pretending the incident had never occurred.

But at this moment, Yevna found herself troubled by another matter.

"Your Majesty! This must not be done! She's just an unknown little stray girl. How can she possibly be made a princess of the Glacier Empire?"

"That's right! The laws established at the founding of the Empire are clear—unless the child is of noble descent or a descendant of someone who has rendered great service to the Empire, they may not be granted royal status, much less the title of princess!"

"This girl is neither of noble birth nor a war hero's child! Your Majesty, surely you wouldn't break the sacred laws handed down by our forebears? Doing so might cause unrest within the Empire!"

During the morning court, as soon as Yevna proposed adopting Elena as her daughter and bestowing her the title of princess, the finance minister, the justice minister, and several veteran officials voiced their objections.

After voicing their dissent, several of them subtly glanced toward the Thunder Knight Commander, who sat quietly with his eyes closed, as if awaiting his cue.

The corners of Yelude's mouth curled up slightly. He gave a subtle nod.

Though he couldn't directly challenge the Empress for now, he could still make her life difficult.

As long as he kept obstructing her decisions, her authority would slowly erode.

Seeing this, Yevna's expression darkened.

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These elders, who had previously remained neutral, were now siding with the Thunder Knight Commander?

Yevna's face was cold as ice. She raised her hand, motioning for silence.

"Gentlemen, it's true Elena is not of noble birth. But who says she cannot become a princess?"

"If I recall correctly, there's a clause in the imperial code: if someone possesses exceptional talent, they too can be brought into the royal family, correct?"

At her words, the ministers exchanged uncertain looks.

The Glacier Empire not only had the Thunder Knight Commander, but also a Fire Grand Duke—both powerful figures representing opposing elements, ice and fire.

That Fire Grand Duke had been an orphan back in the day.

But because of his extraordinary talent, the late Emperor adopted him as a foster son and personally raised him.

Eventually, he became a grand archmage.

A minister loyal to the Empress stepped forward and bowed. "Indeed, Your Majesty. That clause does exist. May I ask what you intend?"

Yevna nodded. "Today happens to be the once-every-three-years Talent Evaluation Ceremony."

"I intend to have Elena participate. If she possesses the talent of a grand archmage, surely none of you would have any objections then?"

The ministers nodded, though clearly not convinced.

On the continent, talent rankings aligned with power levels:

Novice rank was the lowest, grand archmage the highest. One's innate talent determined the ceiling of their potential.

Ursula, for example, had high-rank talent. Without a miracle, she would never surpass the level of a high-rank knight in her lifetime.

Even high-rank talent was already one-in-a-million.

And grand archmage-level talent? That was practically legendary!

In the past few decades, only two people in the Glacier Empire had tested at that level: the Fire Grand Duke… and the Empress herself.

The Thunder Knight Commander and his faction shook their heads, smirking mockingly.

Meanwhile, ministers loyal to the Empress wore worried expressions, hesitating to intervene.

Elena's admission into the royal family had clearly become a battlefield for political power—a tug-of-war between the Empress and the Thunder Knight Commander.

If Elena's talent proved insufficient, she would be disqualified from royal inclusion, and the Empress's authority would suffer greatly.

But Yevna appeared entirely confident.

Elena had said her father was a Magic God—and the daughter of such a being?

How could her talent possibly be lacking?

"If none of you object," Yevna said with calm resolve, "then follow me to the Hall of Testing."

With that, the Empress rose and walked out of the hall.

The court officials trailed closely behind.