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

As she picked up Eunji who was wrapped around the ball, its condition became apparent.

The purple smoke that filled the ball was swirling brilliantly, and then suddenly it cracked, snapped, and shattered into a million pieces.

“What is this……”

Margaret smiled brightly at the bewildered chairman.

Enoch noticed a subtle change in the color of the ring on Margaret’s finger. Arthdal had given it to her, and it was the ring she usually wore when she shared her mana with someone.

‘It looks like she shared her mana with Eunji.’

She’s the one with the vast amount of mana, having once broken a magic ball during a magic test.

Margaret looked calmly at the chairman with a disappointed look on her face. “It seems that the magic ball is defective.”

“Mana is something that most of us born into this world are born with. To label it as an evil power is no different than labeling us all as children of the devil.”

Margaret’s next words were met with vigorous agreement from the onlookers. Public opinion then turned against the Archbishop.

She quickly swayed most of the people in the party to her side with a story that anyone with mana could relate to.

“And although you can’t prove that this snake is a divine beast, that doesn’t mean it is a monster.”

“What are you–! If it’s neither a divine beast nor a monster, then what the hell is it!”

The kneeling Archbishop glared at Margaret, but she remained unmoved.

“Have you ever seen a divine beast with your own two eyes, Archbishop? How can you be so sure of it when you’ve never seen it, only read about it in an old book? Moreover, no monster can imprint on a human being like this snake.”

“That, that’s……!”

“Tens of thousands of knights witnessed me and this snake descending as it tore through the sky, and you, Archbishop, are accusing tens of thousands of Langridge’s knights of being liars.”

Hah. The Emperor, who had been watching the situation in silence, looked at Margaret in admiration.

With the magic ball broken, there’s no way to prove the claims of the Archbishop and the chairman of the Wizards’ Association that Eunji is not a divine beast and Margaret is guilty at this time.

There’s nothing to prove to each other. What matters, then, is who has the upper hand in the conversation. In the deciding wordplay, Margaret clearly outmaneuvered the Archbishop and the chairman.

“And it is not true that I’ve deceived the Emperor by claiming this snake to be a divine beast, for I have never said so with my own mouth.”

As if on cue, from out of nowhere, two knights in the uniforms of the imperial guard rode up and knelt before the Emperor.

It was Noel and Heisen, who had followed Margaret from the war barracks.

“T- that’s right! We have witnessed it! The snake opened the sky and appeared, which the entire Landridge Imperial Army can attest to.”

“When we were returning from the war, we were attacked by monsters, and the snake killed all of them. Monsters usually attack humans, not each other, but this snake clearly annihilated them.”

Then the knights of the other houses in the ballroom rushed to the Emperor, kneeling before him and telling him what they had seen on the battlefield. The murmur of the crowd grew louder and louder.

It really doesn’t matter anymore whether Eunji is really a divine beast or not.

A smile crossed the Emperor’s lips as he listened to the rebuking voices directed at the Archbishop. Enoch, who had been watching the events unfold, spoke to the Emperor, “Your Majesty, this party is for the returnees.”

The noisy crowd fell silent again.

“We haven’t even caught the people who kidnapped us yet, and I don’t think it’s a good idea to interrogate one of the victims during the party.”

“Right. If you understand, Archbishop, you may leave now. If you go any further than this, I’m not going to let your rudeness slide this time.”

The Emperor’s stern voice caused the kneeling Archbishop to glance at the Empress with a look of defeat on his face.

The Empress watched the situation with her serene face, showing no reaction.

The Emperor tilted his head toward Enoch and whispered, low enough for only him to hear. “Enoch. Get to the bottom of this. You must not disappoint this father who has supported you.”

Enoch nodded dutifully, then turned his attention to the ballroom.

The Archbishop and the chairman of the Wizards’ Association, who had stood before him a moment ago, had returned to their respective group. Watching them irritably, Enoch stroked his chin and pondered.

‘What should I do with them?’

Kayden had heard from Jenas that the Peony Blossoms had a total of fifteen magic stones, and now that they had destroyed one of Rodvan’s, there are fourteen magic stones left.

If the Archbishop with the peony flower tattoo from earlier was the one with the magic stone, he should be taken.

Enoch looked first at Margaret and Kayden, who had returned to the corner of the ballroom. I must discuss this with them first.

***

In the distance, I could see the men of the Holy See glaring at me with murderous faces, but I couldn’t help it. They’d started the whole thing.

I gave them the same glare.

I need to find out if that Archbishop really does have a magic stone, but I don’t know how to sneak up on him.

I sighed heavily and Eunji slithered up to my shoulder. She’s a timid little thing, and while earlier she was overwhelmed by the eyes watching her in a suffocating atmosphere, now she seemed to enjoy the attention to some extent.

Even the nobles who had been afraid of Eunji at first were now crowding around me with curious faces.

“Everyone, move away. Oops. I stepped on your foot. That’s why I told you to move, you idiot.”

But the curious glances were short-lived as Kayden stuck to my side, like a bully, he shooed everyone away.

None of the nobles would even come near me. If anyone tried to talk to me, Kayden would growl like a guard dog.

Although this party was supposed to be about finding the Peony Blossoms and the magic stones, it was still a debutante party for me. I was hoping to make some friends, but Kayden had ruined that.

“Can’t you get out of the way too?” I finally said to Kayden, but he didn’t bother to listen.

He smiled innocently. “What did you say, Margaret?”

“Margaret.”

Just then, someone called out to me. Kayden and I turned our heads at the same time. We saw a man walking slowly through the crowd.

Like Kayden, Enoch was the kind of man who caught people’s attention instantly. Well, he’s the crown prince, so that’s to be expected.

“Your Highness.”

“That’s not it.”

His low voice was calm. I glanced around and nodded.

“Enoch.”

Satisfaction spread across Enoch’s face. Enoch seems to be a bit obsessed with titles. Kayden, standing next to me, looked at him in displeasure.

“I wanted to talk to you.”

Enoch glanced at Kayden. It’s like he’s trying to get him to leave. Not to mention that Kayden’s face grew even grimmer.

I realized that most of the people in the party were watching us. Damn it.

I have a disease that kills me when I’m the center of attention. It’s called embarrassment sickness…… Anyway, I have it.

Just then, Enoch quietly offered me his hand. I stared at the outstretched hand in surprise.

“How about we dance and talk about it.”

“Sorry? Ah…… Well, I’m not really good at dancing……”

I swore last night that I would never dance!

Besides, doesn’t it take a lot of skill to hold a conversation while dancing? It’s hard enough to concentrate on dancing, let alone hold a conversation!

But somehow I had a feeling that Enoch’s story had something to do with the Peony Blossoms. If so, it’s something we must talk about now. I found a peony flower tattooed on the neck of the Archbishop who tried to frame me before the Emperor earlier. Perhaps Enoch saw it too.

Kayden, who had been listening to the conversation with a look of displeasure on his face, cut in front of me and lowered his voice.

“If you’re going to talk about Peony Blossoms…… why don’t you do it outside?”

But Enoch didn’t give up, pushing Kayden out of the way and reaching for me again. “First of all, I want to have my first dance with you.”

“I knew that was your real purpose. Damn it. Then dance with me, it’s also my first.” Kayden grabbed Enoch’s hand.

Although they may not have heard the conversation, the people watching us were stunned. I cover my face in shame. I’m so embarrassed, I want to go home!

“Then you two go dance. I’m going to take a break!” I shouted at the two men and turned around.

They caught me with a puzzled look on their faces.

Enoch grabbed my right shoulder. “I won’t ask you to dance, so stay here.”

Kayden grabbed my left shoulder. “I’m sorry. Stay here, Margaret.”

I sighed and turned to face them.

“Good idea, we have a lot to talk about right now, not when we’re going dancing. Why don’t we go out on the terrace for a while?” I asked them, gesturing toward the terrace to one side.

Enoch and Kayden look at each other and then nod.

I’m sure people were gossiping as we walked out onto the terrace, but I really couldn’t help it this time. I had more important things to do right now.

We made our way out of the noisy party and onto the breezy terrace. Once I made sure no one was around, Kayden set up a barrier.

Relieved, I took a moment to enjoy the spring breeze as the cool night air wore off, then turned around and locked eyes with Enoch and Kayden, who were staring at me. It’s the same stare I had when I looked at Eunji.

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing.”

“Because you’re cute.”

Enoch and Kayden looked at me with different answers. I saw Enoch glance at Kayden.

He asked, “Lord, have you found the Blood Oath yet?”

Kayden shook his head. “Not yet. Besides, Marquis Rohade wasn’t at the mansion, and he’s not even present at the party now, which is very suspicious, isn’t it?”

Kayden’s right. This is an imperial party, hosted by the Emperor himself, so someone of Marquis Rohade’s stature should have been in attendance. And yet he’s been absent. Where has he gone?

I turned to Enoch and asked, “Have they found Alea Island yet?”

“Sir Diego contacted me today. They’ve reached the southern coast and are beginning a coastal search.”

I nodded. Then we’ll find Alea Island soon enough.

We had to find it before the Peony Blossoms did, stop them from destroying evidence, and make it clear to the world that there was an island where an experiment had been conducted.

With that in mind, I looked at Enoch and Kayden and asked, “What if we don’t find the Blood Oath? Maybe we should look for evidence of their involvement in the experimental island without it.”

“Our biggest suspects are the Empress, the Rohades, and the Holy See. We need to find out if there were any dealings between them.”

I nodded at Enoch’s words. “Yes. There’s no way they’d abandon an experiment they’ve been working on for a thousand years like this. They must be in contact to arrange something else, and they’re all here at this party.”

At that moment, we heard the muffled sounds of several conversations outside on the terrace, and despite the barrier, we stopped talking and looked out onto the terrace.

There, the people of the Holy See and the Wizards’ Association were gathered together, talking about something.

We leaned over and listened for a moment. The same Archbishop who had ranted about my sins at the party earlier was saying something, but his voice was too low to be clearly heard.

“……At the time…… at Lady Floné’s birthday party……”

Wait, what is he saying? At my birthday party?