Strongest Warlock - Wizard World Irregular

All of them had solemn expressions on their faces, most especially their King, who was seated at the center of the round table.

Illumina sat beside her father, an equally troubled expression displayed across her face. If not for the fact that this incident had fallen upon their heads, she would have already gone to Brynhildr Academy to reunite with Ethan.

"We are currently facing a dark and difficult time," King Betram said softly. "Oceanus and Princess Ariel are serious in implementing their plan to make the surface dwellers bow to their will. As such, they will definitely not allow any neutral parties to exist."

A deafening silence descended upon the conference room, understanding that they were one of the neutral parties whom the War Council would soon antagonize.

"Your Majesty, since it has already come to this, how about we just accept and become part of the Great Plan?" one of the Ministers of the Kingdom proposed. "Even if our kingdom were still at its peak, it would still be impossible for us to defeat them in battle.

"Not to mention that we are now but a memory of the past, so even if our hearts are willing, the end result will not change. The sea will be dyed with the blood of our people, and the Kingdom of Saphirus will cease to exist.

"Our sons will be killed. Our daughters will be enslaved. They will suffer all forms of humiliation. Must we really fight a battle that we can\'t win?"

The King didn\'t chastise the Minister, for he knew that he wasn\'t the only one who thought like that.

All of these people were loyal to him and would gladly fight for his side. However, as a monarch, he needed to think about the future.

Suddenly, the doors of the conference room opened, and a guard rushed inside to whisper something in King Bertram\'s ear.

The expression on the King\'s face immediately changed after learning what had happened.

But before he could do anything, a handful of Merfolk and Nagas barged into the conference room.

"What are you doing here, Prince Baltic?" King Betram asked the Prince of Nagas, who had barged into the conference room uninvited.

"I have come to offer your kingdom an olive branch, King Bertram," Prince Baltic replied. "If you give me Princess Illumina\'s hand in marriage and make a pledge to join the Great Plan, your kingdom will not fall into ruin."

"And if I reject your offer?" King Bertram sneered.

Prince Baltic smiled before glancing at the beautiful Mermaid Princess, whom everyone recognized as one of the three Legendary Mermaids of the sea.

"Illumina, do you really want your kingdom to suffer?" Prince Baltic asked. "All you need to do is say yes, and I will safeguard your people."

"I already told you that I have already promised myself to someone else," Illumina replied coldly. "I have already given him my Rainbow Scale."

A frown appeared on the Naga Prince\'s face. He knew that a Mermaid Princess would only offer her Rainbow Scale to the person whom she would devote herself to for life.

It was something that many men coveted.

This was especially true for Illumina, whose beauty was known far and wide.

Truth be told, Prince Baltic had long wished to make the Princess his woman, but she had always rejected any of his advances.

"A rainbow scale is just scale," Prince Baltic pushed down the jealousy that he felt toward the person whom Illumina had given her pledge of love from the deepest corner of his heart. "Even if it is something precious to you, is it more precious than the lives of your people? Is your pledge more important than the lives of your family?"

Illumina didn\'t reply and only stared icily at the Prince of Nagas, who wished nothing more than to pin her down and ravage her body until she bore him a son.

"You may leave, Prince Baltic," King Bertram stated. "My daughter will not change her mind."

"Hah… are you a fool?" Prince Baltic sighed and shook his head helplessly. "But, very well. I will leave… for now."

The Prince of Nagas smiled as he moved toward the door. However, before he truly left, he glanced at Illumina one more time.

"I\'m sure you will change your mind once your father, mother, and brother are about to have their heads chopped from their bodies," Prince Baltic stated. "Don\'t worry. As long as you agree to be my wife, their lives will be spared. Please, enjoy your short moment of peace."

The Prince then exited the conference room, bringing his people with him.

Once he was certain that the Prince was really gone, King Bertram smashed his fists on the table while clenching his teeth in anger.

"Your Majesty…" One of the Ministers was about to offer words of encouragement but decided that it would be of no use.

Half of the people gathered in the conference room glanced at Princess Illumina and sighed in their hearts.

They knew how proud their princess was, and she would rather die than have the Naga Prince humiliate her.

However, they also knew that she wouldn\'t remain cold hearted when her subjects and family were killed in front of her.

"Minister of War!" King Bertram shouted.

"Here!" the General of the Kingdom of Saphirus stood straight. His face remained calm, but deep inside, he wished to chop Prince Baltic\'s head off of his body.

"Prepare for war," King Bertram ordered. "We can die, but we will not be humiliated!"

"Yes, Your Majesty!" the Minister of War replied.

The other Ministers lowered their heads and sighed internally. Their King had always been a just and righteous ruler who cared deeply for his subjects.

However, his bottomline was his family, especially his beloved daughter.

How could he allow someone to humiliate her?

Even if he were to die, he would make sure to kill the hateful Naga Prince first and take him to the afterlife with him.

After King Bertram adjourned the meeting, all the Ministers made their preparations for war.

Of course, there were some of them who didn\'t wish to ride on a sinking ship, so they planned to secretly let their family escape, so they would at least be able to survive.

While they didn\'t want to betray their kingdom, they also understood that only death awaited them.

If they couldn\'t convince their King to accept Prince Baltic\'s proposal, the least they could do was keep their family safe, allowing their lineage to continue.

Everyone had solemn expressions on their faces.

Illumina went back to her room and stared at the painting that hung by the wall.

This was Ethan\'s life-size picture frame, which she had taken from Princess Ramona.

"Ethan, I might not be able to keep my promise," Illumina said. "I\'m sorry."

She was a proud woman.

Since she had already chosen Ethan as her partner, she would not agree to marry someone else.

She had already made a decision to fight against the members of the War Council to the death.

Her only regret was that she wouldn\'t be able to see the young man again, whom she had briefly met hundreds of years ago.

"Did Ramona manage to reunite with you?" Illumina asked as she lightly caressed Ethan\'s cheek. "Please treat her well. She suffered a lot for your sake. Don\'t worry. If I can\'t be with you in this life, I promise that I will be with you in my next life."

Illumina then pressed her lips on Ethan\'s lips.

This was her vow, which she hoped the Gods would listen to, so that even if she didn\'t find happiness in this life, she would find bliss in the next one and hopefully be wrapped in the loving embrace of the man she loved.