I Already Know That My Magic Power Is Ridiculously High! Now I Just Need To Get A Lovely Bride - Chapter 1

I was summoned by my father.

Having been born the eldest son of a marquis family for twelve years, I felt my heart race as I walked through the familiar Ortenatoris Castle, thinking that this moment had finally come.

Thinking of what lay ahead, my steps naturally felt light and bouncy.

I glanced at the backyard with its fountain, proceeded along the western corridor, and ran up the grand staircase from the spacious entrance adorned with large stained glass.

After walking about a hundred meters along the second-floor corridor, I reached the office of my father, Marquis Ortenos.

I knocked and entered.

“Father, it’s Shalka. I have just arrived.”

“You’ve come, Shalka. Please, sit on the sofa.”

“Yes.”

Ladonark de Ortenos, 35 years old.

The middle-aged man who sat across from me at the table sighed with a somewhat tired expression.

I sensed from his look that he was troubled by some problem.

“Shalka, you’re almost thirteen now. Even though you were born as the eldest son of the Marquis Ortenos, you are the child of a concubine—so it is obvious you cannot inherit the family estate, isn’t it?”

At first, I thought this was a sudden heavy revelation, but it wasn’t.

“Yes, I’ve heard that so many times that my ears are practically worn out. I’m always worried that if someone like me wanders around the castle, the fools from Neivilim will start making a fuss.”

Even though I am the eldest son of the Marquis Ortenos, it is well known that I cannot inherit the title.

I also made sure to emphasize that I held no ulterior motives—and that I have no ties with Neivilim, my mother’s family.

“That’s fine. I doubt Baron Neivilim has that kind of ambition. Shalka, I very much want you to go out and fight in a war like your grandfather did, so you can earn honor. But if that happens, it will become difficult to keep the Raanekki Count family in check. That family, if they even try to elevate you even slightly, might immediately demand that Elmia be sent back to her parents.”

The Raanekki Count family is the most powerful noble family in the Ortenos region—they are the family of my father’s legitimate wife.

If what Father said is true, then there is no path for me to live as a warrior.

“Father, I understand your struggles.”

“By the way, I’m thinking of sending you out for your first battle soon. Do you have any preferences?”

“No, nothing in particular…”

Until now, I had never participated in any war, but when I see my grandfather being adored by young girls, I sometimes feel envious.

If things continue like this, I might grow up to be a spineless wimp—unworthy of a noble.

Wimps are generally not popular in this age, so I felt I had to do something. But, as Father mentioned earlier, I can’t stand out too much because of the inheritance issue.

“Ah, Shalka, are you really okay with that?”

“What do you mean by that?”

“After all, you are the eldest son of the Marquis Ortenos. Why is it that you lack any ambition?”

Even when asked about ambition, seeing my father’s weary expression, I did not feel the strong determination or spirit to shout, “I am the next head of the family!”

But my father seemed puzzled by my lack of ambition.

“No, I am perfectly fine with it. It is only natural that the inheritance right belongs to Elmia—no, to Lady Elmia, the daughter of the legitimate wife. With that, how could I possibly have any ambition? I have lived these twelve years without any hardship, all thanks to the Ortenos family. Besides, how could I possibly cause discord in an already troubled household?”

“Really, if you were even willing, I might consider handing over the family estate—even if it means keeping the Raanekki family in check.”

For some reason, my father looked at me with a serious expression and a mysterious expectation.

I had my suspicions about many things, but since I had no reputation outside the family at all, my father—who usually listens to others’ opinions—could never make a bold decision.

“No, thank you. Please, don’t trouble yourself with that.”

“I see…”

When I refused, my father appeared slightly disappointed.

But I, too, did not want to get into a family dispute over the inheritance.

Even though we are a marquis family, I know there are many entanglements, and the Ortenos family in particular has a far more grotesque and messy history than other noble families.

It is such a deep darkness that one could never imagine trying to change the established order.

(I mean, I wish we would get to the main point already…)

I wanted to change the mood a bit, so I cleared my throat softly.

“…By the way, Shalka, a very good marriage proposal has just come in for you…”

Ding-ding-ding-ding! That’s it, that’s the one!

A few months ago, Father had mentioned that he was arranging a marriage proposal for me.

I was so curious about the outcome that I couldn’t sleep at night.

When Father summoned me, I was sure that this was about the marriage proposal.

“I’ve been waiting, Father.”

“…What is it, Shalka? Why are you suddenly leaning forward?”

“Please tell me— is the girl someone I know?”

“No, she should be a girl you don’t know.”

A girl I don’t know likely means she is from outside the Ortenos region.

After all, I am the eldest son of the Marquis Ortenos, so Father should choose a solid and reliable girl for me, right?

Normally, one would expect that a well-educated, noble, and lovely daughter would be chosen. Yes—I want to believe that.

Could I at least see her portrait?

“So, Father, is that girl lovely?”

“Hmm, Shalka, you seem curious about your prospective fiancée. Well, since it would be pointless otherwise, I’ll let you see her portrait at least.”

I asked my father with a determined look, and he showed me a portrait.

(Mmm, how lovely…)

In the portrait, the girl wore a dazzling long-skirt dress—a style that noble women rarely choose—and her makeup looked as if the first snowfall had been lightly tinted with vermilion, while she sat gracefully in a chair.

There, I saw the image of a maiden, blushing like a flower, who appeared to be about my age.

With skin as white as snow, rosy cheeks and lips, and long pale blue hair, there was no doubt that she was a girl from the Rocham Marquis family.

(This lovely girl is my fiancée… I’m winning at life!)

Her features were still youthful, yet strikingly beautiful, and I was sure she would grow into a truly stunning woman.

I began to hatch my own “Hikaru Genji Project” (a nod to the legendary romantic hero from classic Japanese literature) and let my fantasies run wild about this girl I had not yet met.

“Father, let’s have the arranged marriage meeting right away. Of course, you aren’t thinking of making me just a son-in-law—you plan to start a branch family, aren’t you? Leave it to me; I, Shalka, will do everything in my power to restore the glory of the Ortenos family!”

With this engagement, I resolved to further revitalize the Ortenos family…

“But the thing is, it was called off at the last minute.”

Mercilessly, my father’s reply struck me like a sword, tearing my heart to pieces.