A Queen’s Magic and a Princess’s Plot

Ophelia unfurled her palm, and a vibrant pink flame danced at her fingertips, much like a joyous, leaping fire spirit.

“That’s quite impressive, Ophe; your command over fire is truly formidable!” Emily exclaimed with praise.

“Yet, after half a day of diligent study, all I’ve managed to master is this single spell—generating and controlling fire with magic. I can’t seem to grasp anything else…” A hint of despondency crept into Ophelia’s voice.

“There’s no need to fret! Most individuals struggle even with the simplest incantations during their initial foray into magic. Ophelia, you’ve already far outstripped the majority!” Emily offered reassuringly.

“And what about you, Emily? What spell did you manage to learn during your very first attempt at magic?” Ophelia inquired, curiosity piqued.

“Oh, as for that…” Emily’s gaze drifted away, a slight hesitation in her demeanor.

“What was it? Tell me!” Ophelia pressed, her curiosity growing irresistible.

“Well, truthfully, what I mastered back then was the art of wind manipulation, which allowed me to soar through the skies…” Emily confessed in a hushed tone.

Ophelia stood dumbfounded for a moment.

To put magical prowess into an easily comprehensible ranking system, her fire control was, at best, a second-tier spell. Yet, Emily’s wind manipulation was clearly a fourth-tier spell, if not even more advanced.

A wave of discouragement washed over Ophelia in that instant.

‘To have Emily comforting me like this… Ugh, how utterly mortifying,’ she thought, a silent wail escaping her.

“It’s nothing, really, it’s nothing! At least you’re still more capable than most, aren’t you? Oh, right, Ophe, do you plan to report to the Mage Association afterward?”

Report to the Mage Association?

In the narrative of the book, the Mage Association was unequivocally depicted as an antagonistic power. These mages, arrogantly deeming themselves the elite of society, possessed the ability to conjure countless boons for the populace, yet they deliberately refrained, convinced that commoners were undeserving of such advantages.

Ophelia harbored no affection for that institution.

That reminded her; she ought to cultivate a contingent of mages loyal to her. After all, the male protagonist in the novel had similarly gathered his own faction of spellcasters, leveraging their combined might to challenge the Mage Association and ultimately emerge victorious.

Not to worry, the male protagonist in the book held all the answers regarding how to approach such individuals. She merely needed to don a hood and replicate Luca’s strategies! It would be incredibly straightforward, provided she avoided looking at their faces!

She would embark on this endeavor soon enough!

“Perhaps not for now,” Ophelia replied. “I’m not quite ready for others to know about my magical abilities just yet.”

“In that case, let’s conclude our session for today, Ophe. You must be weary and in need of rest, while I still have several documents awaiting my review. I’ll see you at dinner~”

Ophelia gave a small wave, and Emily departed with a cheerful smile.

Dinner, then…

She resolved to pay Hizeta some special attention at the dinner table tonight. After all, showing too much favoritism would hardly be a good thing.

****

“Hizeta, my dear, here are your favorite fries.”

Ophelia meticulously wiped her hands before selecting a handful of fries and gently placing them onto Hizeta’s plate.

Hizeta looked a little bewildered.

“Hizeta, is one steak sufficient for you? If not, I have another piece right here,” Ophelia offered, gesturing to the steak on her own plate.

Hizeta glanced at the others seated nearby.

Marta, meanwhile, was devouring the contents of her plate with fervent abandon, seemingly oblivious to the exchange. Five empty plates were already stacked before her, a testament to her voracious appetite.

Emily’s eyebrow gave a faint twitch. She continued to sip her cream of mushroom soup, one elegant spoonful after another, utterly silent.

Vina’s expression remained perfectly composed, as always.

‘The Queen is showing me exceptional care today! Could it be… could it possibly be that my subtle hints have finally taken effect!?’

‘That potion truly works wonders! Despite its rather repulsive appearance, its efficacy is undeniable! I must remember to express my gratitude to Mr. Fanatic later!’

“Thank you, Your Majesty… but if I partake, will you not be left with insufficient?”

‘I am the Queen, and nominally her mother,’ Ophelia mused. ‘Therefore, I, too, must utter some benevolent falsehoods, imbued with maternal affection.’

“Not at all, Hizeta. In truth, I’m not particularly fond of steak myself, haha.”

A warmth spread through Hizeta’s chest.

‘This is what it feels like to be cherished,’ she thought. ‘This is the sensation of being gazed upon by the one you adore.’

Her heart throbbed wildly in her chest.

Her emotions threatened to spill over.

‘Oh, how I long to abandon all restraint and simply throw myself into the Queen’s embrace, indulging in a moment of tender affection!’

‘No, I mustn’t. I must hold back.’

Hizeta cast another glance at Marta.

Marta, entirely oblivious, continued her fervent consumption. Seven empty plates now formed a precarious tower before her, yet she persisted in devouring everything in sight—mashed potatoes, broccoli, whatever graced her plate.

Hizeta drew a deep, steadying breath.

Clutched in her hand was a crucial memory stone, containing irrefutable proof of Marta and Ophelia’s flirtatious exchanges. She was certain that with continued surveillance, she would uncover even more scandalous and definitive evidence, undeniably exposing the impropriety of their relationship.

Once that moment arrived, Marta would be forced to depart.

With Marta gone, Vina would lose a valuable pawn. Hizeta, as a princess, would then possess the leverage to challenge Vina directly. Moreover, given the potion’s undeniable efficacy, she was certain that hypnosis would also prove successful!

All she needed to do was wait patiently.

Her mood grew increasingly agitated, almost to the point of unbearable impatience. She yearned to enact her plan immediately, yet she knew that the flirtatious interactions she had witnessed thus far were not yet decisive evidence.

She still needed to bide her time.

Abruptly, she rose to her feet.

“Your Majesty, I cannot simply accept your steak without offering something in return!”

“My recent magic lessons have just taught me how to conjure culinary delights with spells. Allow me to demonstrate my new skill for you! Just wait!”

Ophelia felt a surge of gratification.

Indeed, Hizeta was merely a child starved of affection. Her detestable portrayal in the book stemmed solely from her opposition to the male protagonist, who had never extended her any care. Given a little warmth, she could be quite endearing.

Lo and behold, Hizeta’s ‘nurture value’ had already surpassed sixty.

Ophelia settled back into her chair, patiently awaiting Hizeta’s “demonstration.”

Setting aside the meals prepared by maids or family, this marked Ophelia’s very first experience of being cooked for by a beautiful young woman! She couldn’t deny a certain thrill of anticipation.

She munched on some broccoli while she waited…

‘Hmm, is that merely my imagination?’

‘Why are sounds of an explosion, followed by wails, emanating from the kitchen?’

‘It absolutely must be my imagination!’

‘Yet, there’s thick purple smoke billowing from the downstairs kitchen…’

The three remaining women at the table ceased their meal, rising silently and retrieving their weapons.

Marta surged forward, leading the charge.

They approached the kitchen door with utmost caution, then slowly pushed it open.

Inside, vegetable leaves fluttered through the air, tomatoes writhed and twisted, and noodles coiled into an amorphous mass. Together, they coalesced into a monster utterly beyond human description, spewing forth purple smoke and letting out primal howls that proclaimed its birth to the world.

Hizeta sat frozen on the floor, utterly petrified.

“Commence! The Kitchen Defense Battle! I can sense your wretched wails, foul beast! Yet, I am compelled to raise my blade against you, for the sacred duty of protecting my Queen!”

Marta charged in with impressive, decisive flair.

“Creature of ingredients, I shall advance!”

While it had been a minor disruption, it was ultimately nothing too dire. Afterward, Hizeta tearfully declared her permanent retirement from cooking, and Ophelia held and comforted her for a considerable time.

Her next task would be to seek out those mages among the common folk.

****

A gentle night breeze stirred as twilight began to descend.

Ophelia, cloaked in a dark hooded garment, was silently departing the royal palace.

Not far off, Vina stood concealed within the deepening shadows, her gaze fixed on Ophelia’s retreating figure. A subtle, knowing curve played at the corners of her lips.