Chapter 648: Trapped Within A Chaotic Storm

Ethan, who was having a friendly chat with the king, suddenly frowned upon sensing a sudden fluctuation of magic in the distance.

He was only able to sense it thanks to the strong connection he and Dainsleif shared.

Even the King, who was the most powerful Sorcerer in the Magdar Kingdom, didn't feel anything.

"Is there something wrong?" King Baldur asked Ethan after seeing the frown appear on his face. "I know that I'm asking a lot, but I really hope you will consider not making your support for my daughter public."

Ethan didn't reply right away because he had just sent a mental question to Dainsleif, asking him what just happened.

'It's nothing, Master,' Dainsleif replied. 'Your sister is just experimenting a bit with her powers.'

After getting his answer, Ethan once again shifted his attention to King Baldur, who thought that he had said something that offended the young man.

"Very well," Ethan replied. "I will not publicize my support for Ramona. However, you better make sure that none of her brothers try to assassinate her again. If anything happens to her, you won't need to worry about your next successor, do we have an understanding?"

King Baldur nodded. "Understood. I will gather the Princes and hold a meeting tonight. I'm sure that they will no longer try to harm their sister after hearing your ultimatum."

Although King Baldur was a powerful Sorcerer, the Tidebringer's presence was like a powerful deterrence to him, making him unable to disobey.

It was like a mouse looking at a cat, its natural predator.

It didn't matter even if he was stronger than the young man in front of him. The deep-rooted belief that the Tidebringer was the Deity of the Lands of Alastor made it impossible for him to go against Ethan's will.

"There is one more thing that I wish to consult with you about aside from the choosing of the next candidate for the throne," King Baldur said solemnly. "In the north of the Magdar Kingdom and past the Margreve Forest is the Cloudwall Mountains.

"There, a horde of Ratmen is starting to lay claim on the land, infesting the surroundings with their pestilence. We have the Margreve Forest as a natural barrier. However, the Merchants traveling from the Greater Dutchy of Morgau had stated that these Ratmen were heading south.

"If they continue to spread their pestilence and corruption on the land, I believe that it will only take them half a year to reach the Magdar Kingdom. Their kind reproduces very quickly, so if left unchecked, they'd probably reproduce until they overwhelm every other race in the nearby Domains.

"Although Goblins also have a high reproduction rate, they don't spread pestilence like the Ratmen. In fact, I am more worried about a plague spreading in my kingdom than a horde of Ratmen knocking on my gates."

Ethan sighed because he already knew what the King wished to ask of him.

"It won't be cheap," Ethan replied.

"I will allow you to select three treasures from the Kingdom's Treasury," King Baldur stated. "I will also promise to protect Ramona and your sister while you are away. So, can you please help us deal with this threat?"

Ethan didn't answer right away. Truth be told, he was still very worried about leaving Ramona and Joanne behind.

However, since the King promised that he would protect them and Dainsleif would be there to guard them, he felt that they would be safe enough even if he wasn't around. Sёarch* The NôvelFire.nёt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

'If Dainsleif is not enough, maybe you can leave some of the High Pixies and Fairies behind,' Sebastian commented. 'They're a bit chatty, but I'm sure that they will get along with the children really well.'

'Also, I think that those two girls are starting to become good friends,' Ethan's Other Half commented. 'It will be best if they have other girls to talk with them, like the Fairies. Maybe it will also help Ramona stop being timid.'

'Ah, that reminds me—if we ever see Fairies on our trip to the territory of the Ratmen, we can just ask them to live with Ramona. That way, after we leave, she will still have friends to take care of her.'

After hearing Sebastian's and his Other Half's comments, Ethan felt that this was indeed a good plan.

He and Joanne couldn't stay with Ramona forever, so having Fairies around to talk to her might help her break out of her timid shell.

'I just hope that the mischievousness of the Fairies doesn't rub off on her,' Ethan commented. 'Ramona is an innocent girl, so I hope she keeps that innocence for a little while longer. After all, if she ever becomes Queen, she will no longer have the time to act her age because she'll be too busy with her responsibilities.'

Sebastian and Ethan's Other Half nodded in their understanding.

They also wished that Ramona could have a happy childhood since she would only be able to live her life once.

After making up his mind, he told King Baldur that he would leave after a week, which made the King sigh in relief.

Ethan then returned to Princess Ramona's residence to wait for the two girls, whom the Ancient Wendigo said were visiting the Fourth Prince's Villa.

'Since Dainsleif said that everything is fine, then there's nothing to worry about,' Ethan thought as he sat on the couch. 'Still, I wonder why her brothers invited her to meet them.'

The relationships between the members of the Royal Family of the Magdar Kingdom were complicated.

Although they looked like they were getting along well on the surface, deep down, they were constantly scheming and trying to pull each other down.

And within this chaotic storm was Princess Ramona, who had no ally to protect her from the schemes of those who wanted to hurt her.

Even the King, who had assigned guards to protect her, wouldn't always be there to look after her.

So, Ethan hoped that somewhere along the way, Ramona would find allies that would never betray her.

Ethan didn't really care about who would be the next King or Queen of the Magdar Kingdom.

As long as the Princess, whom he and Lily treated as their little sister, would be able to live her life peacefully, he would feel relieved when it came time for him to travel back to the present, leaving the Lands of Alastor behind a second time.