The Villainous Family Loves Me Too Much!

‘I wonder where our Prince Liam has ventured off to.’

Though expecting to locate him swiftly, Liam remained elusive.

‘Well, he does appear rather clever.’

Colin tracked Liam’s trail by scent.

Great Demon Beasts exuded a distinct aroma that extraordinarily perceptive individuals could occasionally detect – but one generally only discernible to potent mages and witches wielding immense mana.

Within Felosite and imperial territories, Liam’s scent had dissipated.

He likely ventured beyond Felosite’s outskirts, perhaps even the Empire’s outermost reaches.

After several days’ journey, Colin arrived at a particular forest.

In stark contrast to the Empire’s lush, verdant woodlands blessed with temperate climes, this area was densely packed with gnarled, prickly trees.

Likely due to the frigid northern climate.

Unlike the Empire’s perpetually sunny skies, this region remained shrouded in an overcast, ashen gloom throughout Colin’s passage.

Even the snowfall bore an unsettling grayish hue rather than pristine white.

Colin trekked across the accumulated inky drifts, deeper into the forest’s depths.

Until the ravaged remains of freshly shredded trees came into view.

‘Found you!’

The unmistakable gouging marks of a massive beast’s passage.

Accompanied by drag trails indicating a recent kill.

From that point onward, tracking Liam proved effortless.

Demon Beasts naturally gravitate towards locations rich in obsidian mana crystals.

Following the drag marks led Colin to an untouched cavern. Within, the silhouette of a beast ravenously devouring its gruesome kill.

“Your Highness! Colin has come to help our prince!”

Spotting Colin, the Great Demon Beast’s horrifically mangled visage contorted in a mocking grin.

* * *

“Ugh, my head…”

“Rena!”

Had I lost consciousness again?

My formidable Abilities also frequently rendered me insensate, perhaps this intensifying potency carried proportional adverse effects.

“Are you alright?”

“A sudden jolt of pain, but I’m fine now.”

Fortunately, I hadn’t remained unconscious overlong.

“Jonathan stopped by briefly. He advised avoiding any further strain for now. Even the Bonding Ritual… he recommended postponing that for the time being.”

Lucian subtly put some distance between us.

“It seems we must maintain a period of physical separation.”

“Why is that?”

“For your own recovery…”

“No, I mean why did I collapse like that?”

Slumping onto the sofa, Lucian ruffled his hair in frustration.

“From overexertion.”

“Pardon?”

“You’ve been pushing yourself too hard. It’s my own failing.”

Summarizing Jonathan’s explanation:

Originally, my body was solely attuned to my singular Ability of Light. But through the Bonding Ritual, my Ability intermingled with mana’s flow.

Not just any mana either, but that of Lucian Felosite, the Archduke renowned as historically peerless in potency.

Compounded further by Liam’s bequeathed Ability of Wind, the resulting fusion within me triggered a temporary overload state.

“So what should I do about this?”

The next morning’s re-examination by Jonathan revealed no new peculiarities beyond the previous day’s incident.

Having no precedent or medical references to consult, Jonathan could only offer limited advice.

“Truthfully Sister, your Abilities seem stable enough. It’s the magical energy going haywire that concerns me, being outside my expertise…”

We eventually sought out Archmage Tenziyon’s counsel.

In the midst of the ongoing Liam, Colin, and Beatrice crisis, my potential incapacitation proved an unacceptable vulnerability.

“Jonathan is right. Your magical power is running wild.”

As Tenziyon examined me with a wry smile, Lucian fixed him with a warning glare.

“Whoa whoa, I mean no harm. You intimidate me too much, Your Highness.”

Despite Tenziyon’s lighthearted jesting, Lucian kept a possessive arm around my shoulders, subtly drawing me towards himself.

“Incidentally, your expertise could benefit us by suppressing Her Highness’s mana fluctuations.”

* * *

The destination Tenziyon escorted me to was… the imperial palace itself.

Specifically, Liam’s sanctum where he had confined the humanoid monsters.

“So… increasing my exposure to beasts will help me control these mana instabilities?”

“Precisely, Your Highness.”

“Are you genuinely assisting me, or merely assigning me this arduous task?”

Though skeptical, I had little choice.

Resolving Liam and Beatrice’s transgressions would inevitably fall under my responsibilities regardless.

“Just how many individuals are we talking about?”

“Around 55, it would seem.”

An overwhelming number. No, I distinctly recalled fewer previously.

“We’ve additionally accommodated those transformed into beasts from outside as well. I shall leave them in your capable hands, Your Highness!”

And so I initiated the reversion process individually.

“Next, please enter.”

Opening a wormhole, I would guide each humanoid monster inside, rewind their soul’s time, and return them to the physical realm.

Without exception, all who re-emerged immediately lost consciousness, necessitating Tenziyon’s transferal to the infirmary wards for treatment.

Quite a time-consuming endeavor – over three days’ span, we successfully reverted around twenty individuals to human form.

While standing vigil by my side throughout this period, Lucian eventually had to depart for Felosite at Gabriel’s insistence.

Amid the turmoil, the Emperor sought to expedite my public unveiling as Crown Princess.

“Tenziyon, I have a question.”

After the twenty-third successful reversion, as I escorted a young child to the infirmary, I addressed the Archmage:

“This task I’m undertaking – it wasn’t commissioned by His Majesty the Emperor, was it?”

“Of course not. I don’t serve the Emperor.”

Though Tenziyon’s response raised doubts, I lacked any means to verify it conclusively.

Portraying the Crown Princess magnanimously restoring commoners to humanity – what an exquisitely political maneuver to sway public opinion back towards the imperial household.

On my return from the infirmary, I stopped by my personal chambers.

Due to the recent upheavals, renovations were underway throughout the palace grounds, including my quarters.

This was where Sena had concealed herself.

On that day when Colin and Beatrice escaped, Sena too had vanished without a trace.

Her current whereabouts remained unknown, likely having sought a safer refuge.

The original plan involved Sena emerging from the collapsing original wormhole to assist me within the new one I created.

However, she never manifested inside that new wormhole, seemingly disappearing altogether.

“Just where did you go, Sena…?”

“I’m right here!”

A voice unmistakably Sena’s reached my ears.

‘An auditory hallucination?’

Perplexed, I absently brushed my ear, wondering if I had misheard.

“Rena, it’s me!”

That strange voice again.

Then, materializing before my very eyes – Sena herself.

Despite her raised voice, the nearby workers paid her no heed whatsoever.

Seemingly invisible to their perception.

“Where have you been all this time? Did you know I was here and come find me?”

“I’ve been hiding here all along. I expected you to arrive sooner, but you took forever. Still, I’m glad you finally came today!”

Studying her carefully, one striking detail became apparent:

Sena’s entire form had taken on a semi-transparent state.

“But why do you look like that? Just what happened to you…?”

Undeterred by my concerned expression, Sena merely smiled nonchalantly.

“I’m alright. It’s nothing too serious. Only…”

Turning to examine her reflection in the mirror, she rotated a full circle.

“It’s already progressed this far.”

“What do you mean by that?”

Meeting my gaze directly, Sena continued:

“If any more time passes, I may simply vanish altogether. I think I’ll need your help, Rena. Will you assist me?”