The secret system of the Gallant Heir

As I approached the seats reserved for the Four Great Families, I noticed that the other three families had already arrived, seated in their designated places. Their expressions were unreadable, yet there was an undeniable air of rivalry among them. Without hesitation, I walked alongside my parents and Ignis toward our assigned seats. Once we settled in, I allowed myself a moment to take in the grand spectacle before us.

The stadium was overflowing with nobles and commoners alike, eager to witness the annual Hunting Competition. The air buzzed with anticipation, murmurs of excitement filling the space. Before I could let my thoughts wander too far, a deep, commanding voice rang out, amplified by magic:

"His Majesty, the King of Drodia, has arrived!"

The entire arena fell silent as all eyes turned toward the grand entrance. The king strode forward with a regal presence, his golden robes shimmering under the sunlight. Beside him walked the queen, radiating grace, followed closely by the prince and princess. A sense of formality and power accompanied them as they took their seats at the grand podium, overlooking the competition grounds.

The king took a step forward, surveying the crowd before speaking. His voice, rich with authority, carried across the entire stadium.

"I extend my gratitude to all the citizens who have come to witness this year's Hunting Competition. This annual event has always been a grand tradition, a stage where strength and skill are displayed. However, this year is different. Today, I bring an important announcement—one that will shape the future of our kingdom."

A brief pause heightened the tension. The nobility, the common folk, and even the knights stood still, waiting for what was to come. Then, the king spoke words that sent ripples of shock throughout the arena.

"For the sake of the kingdom, and to maintain balance among the great powers, the heir of the Gallant Family and the princess of the royal family will be engaged this month."

Gasps erupted from the noble families. A thick silence followed, heavy with unspoken thoughts and silent outrage. My hands instinctively clenched into fists as I felt the weight of countless gazes fall upon me.

The nobles from the other three families were visibly shaken. I could see the tension in their stiffened postures, the barely concealed anger in their eyes. Their influence had already been overshadowed by the Gallant Family, and now, with a royal engagement securing an alliance between my house and the crown, their position would weaken even further.

Yet, no one dared to protest openly. Defying the king's decree was unthinkable.

My own emotions were tangled in confusion. An engagement? With the princess? I glanced toward Lucia, who sat beside her family, her expression unreadable. Did she know about this beforehand? Or was this as much of a surprise to her as it was to me?

Before anyone could react further, the king raised his hand.

"And with that, let the Hunting Competition begin!"

The tension lingered in the air, but the focus slowly shifted as the participants stepped forward. Knights from each of the Four Great Families took their positions, along with a royal guard representing the royal family. Each one was a Sixth-Circle Battle Mage—warriors of extraordinary skill.

The competition was about to begin, yet my mind was elsewhere. The engagement announcement gnawed at my thoughts, filling me with unease. What was the king's true reason for this sudden decision? Was it truly to maintain balance? Or was there something more?

Just as I was lost in contemplation, Ignis suddenly leaned toward me, her voice low and urgent.

"Rave, I sense an ominous magical presence about five kilometers from here."

I turned to her, my brows furrowing. "Ominous magic? Do you mean something like black magic? Demonic in nature?"

She gave a sharp nod, her expression grave. "Yes. It feels… unnatural, twisted. This is dangerous magic. We should investigate."

A chill ran down my spine. Dark magic appearing so close to the Hunting Competition was no coincidence. And if it truly involved demons… ignoring it wasn't an option.

I exhaled slowly, already forming a plan. "Alright, let me find a way to slip out. I'll give an excuse to my parents."

Standing up, I walked over to where my parents were seated. They were too focused on the competition to notice me approaching at first. Lowering my voice, I said, "Mom, Dad, I need to use the washroom. I'll be back soon."

My father barely spared me a glance and nodded, while my mother responded with a distracted, "Don't take too long."

That was all the permission I needed. Without wasting a second, I turned and left the venue.

However, what I didn't realize was that someone had seen me leave—Princess Lucia.

Unbeknownst to me, she had been watching ever since the announcement. And now, for reasons I could not yet comprehend, she was secretly following me.

Once outside, I whispered to Ignis, "Where exactly did you sense the presence?"

She pointed toward a distant location, and my breath hitched.

The source of the ominous magic lay along the path between the venue and Gallant Estate. It was about ten kilometers away from both places—far from the competition grounds but disturbingly close to my home.

A strange unease settled in my chest. This… is connected to me somehow.

I took a deep breath, pushing aside my hesitation. "There's no time to think—let's go. Ignis, use wind magic."

With a nod, Ignis—now in her human form—cast a wind acceleration spell. A powerful gust surged beneath our feet, and we shot forward like arrows. The trees blurred past us as we traveled at high speed toward the ominous presence.

After half an hour of relentless movement, we arrived near the location. The air had grown thick with an unnatural energy, and an eerie silence filled the surroundings.

Ignis narrowed her eyes. "The presence is stronger here. We're close."

We stood at the outskirts of a dense jungle, just off the main path leading to Gallant Estate. The towering trees cast deep shadows under the moonlight, and the rustling leaves carried an unsettling whisper, as if warning us to turn back.

I scanned the area carefully, my mind racing. "If someone is setting up an ambush, they expected us to pass this way on our return home. But no one would be foolish enough to attack while my father and mother were with me… So what's their real motive?"

As I crept forward, my eyes locked onto two figures shrouded in dark robes. They stood at the center of a glowing magic circle, their hands weaving intricate patterns in the air as they chanted in hushed voices.

Ignis and I crouched behind a thick bush, keeping ourselves hidden. "Who are they?" I whispered.

"I can't see their faces from here," Ignis murmured, her tone cautious. "But whatever they're doing… it feels wrong."

Before we could analyze further, the atmosphere suddenly shifted.

The ground trembled beneath us.

The magic circle flared violently, its glow shifting from deep blue to a sinister crimson.

A chilling wind howled through the jungle, carrying with it an unnatural pressure that made the air feel heavy.

And then—something happened that should not have been possible.