The Devil Does Not Need to Be Defeated

Chapter 448: The Luckiest Thing in My Life

If Shien and Lucy were the protagonists of this engagement banquet, then the host was undoubtedly Ancil.

Ancil nodded at Shien with a seemingly satisfied expression, then looked around the hall.

“First of all, please allow me, on behalf of my daughter Lucy and the Kingdom of Mitra, to welcome you all and thank you for accepting the Kingdom’s invitation and attending this engagement banquet.”

Ancil’s voice brought those captivated by Lucy’s beauty back to reality.

“Today is the engagement day of my daughter, the Kingdom of Mitra’s Second Princess, Roselucia Mitra.”

“She is my treasure, and also the Kingdom’s treasure. She has been exceptionally talented since childhood, unmatched in the human world, not only recognized by the ancestral Holy Sword but also blessed by the Goddess of Fate, favored by the Divine Race.”

“I believe there is no one in this world more outstanding than my daughter, and no one with such achievements.”

“For this, I sincerely thank the gods for giving me such an outstanding daughter, and I have been proud of her for seventeen years.”

“I believe I will continue to be proud of her until the day I die.”

“I also believe that everyone in the Kingdom, like me, is proud of my daughter, adores her, and sincerely praises her.”

“Now, my outstanding daughter has finally found a husband worthy of her.”

Saying so, Ancil held Lucy’s hand with one hand and Shien’s with the other, facing everyone present.

“His origins aren’t noble, but with his own abilities, in just a few months, he transformed from a mere adventurer into a hero admired by the Kingdom and all races.”

“He tamed the legendary black dragon, subjugated the Old Demon Faction, and repeatedly foiled the conspiracies of fallen nobles, standing out among the many heroes of the human race, becoming the most outstanding one.”

“If there’s anyone in this world worthy of our Kingdom’s treasure, I believe it’s him.”

“Therefore, today, I officially entrust my daughter to him, betrothing my Kingdom’s treasure, the royal family’s precious jewel, to this equally outstanding man.”

Ancil placed Lucy’s hand in Shien’s.

Shien and Lucy held each other’s hands, almost instinctively tightening their grips.

They seemed to see no one else but each other, their eyes locked.

Ancil smiled, his heart filled with mixed emotions.

He remembered that he had once decided that if Shien and his daughter showed any signs of a relationship, he wouldn’t agree unless Shien completely became a part of the Kingdom.

Who would have thought that things would change so much? Now, it wasn’t a matter of whether he agreed or not.

His precious daughter would inevitably be taken away.

This made Ancil feel melancholic these past few days, but he had come to terms with it.

Ancil then announced loudly,

“From this day forward, Shien Buztout is officially engaged to my daughter, Roselucia Mitra.”

“They will be engaged until they walk down the aisle and become husband and wife.”

“Please offer your most sincere blessings to this engaged couple.”

Everyone present looked at Shien and Lucy, holding hands and gazing into each other’s eyes, as if no one else existed, their hearts filled with reluctance.

Especially the noble sons, seeing Lucy, more beautiful than ever, their resolve to give up began to waver.

Not only them, but even the current dignitaries hesitated.

Should they really give up?

Such a beautiful princess, the most outstanding descendant of the Hero in the entire human race, a truly blessed woman, could they really give her up?

If their family could form a marriage alliance with her, what a blessing it would be.

The dignitaries from various countries, who had originally decided to give up, all wavered.

Even Harvis smiled wryly among the crowd.

“Even I’m starting to regret giving up so easily. Roselucia Mitra is truly a formidable person.”

With such a person as his rival, no wonder his sister was so stressed and neurotic.

Almost everyone present had similar thoughts to Harvis, feeling that they had given up too early.

But it was too late to regret now.

“Clap—clap—clap—clap—”

A round of applause suddenly rang out.

Everyone turned their heads and looked, then they were stunned.

Because the one clapping wasn’t anyone else, but Airi.

Yes.

Airi was leading the applause.

“The Kingdom’s treasure, truly lives up to her reputation, worthy of my applause.”

Airi glanced at the surprised Shien and clapped.

Beside her, Lilith immediately imitated her, clapping seriously with a small face.

Vivian and Diere exchanged glances, then one smiled, the other’s expression softening, and they also started clapping.

Even Lumia and Melika, one quickly following suit, the other smiling after a moment of silence, as if relieved, joined the applause.

Seeing this, the people present began to clap along.

“A truly well-matched couple, may the gods bless you.”

Pope Yuler smiled and clapped, leading the temple priests to applaud as well.

The members of the Demon Race also did the same, following Airi’s lead without hesitation.

Harvis smiled wryly and clapped with Rockto.

The others couldn’t hesitate anymore and could only clap reluctantly, the applause growing louder and louder, filling the hall.

However, as the noble sons clapped, their hearts bled.

Looking at Lucy’s beautiful, goddess-like figure, and seeing that only Shien was in her eyes, a smile she had never shown before gracing her face, the noble sons were driven mad with jealousy, wanting to kick Shien away and take his place beside Lucy.

Ancil, however, smiled happily.

Then, he looked at Shien.

“I, Ancil Mitra, in the name of the thirteenth king of the Kingdom of Mitra, bestow upon you the honorary title of Earl.”

Ancil carried out the final task.

“From this day forward, you are no longer just a viscount, but an Earl of the Kingdom, a high-ranking noble, truly entering the upper echelon of the nobility.”

“I hope you will treat Lucy well, strive for progress, and reach even greater heights.”

“Earl Buztout.”

After saying that, Ancil let go of their hands and stepped back, leaving the stage to Shien and Lucy.

Shien and Lucy finally smiled at each other.

Especially Lucy, whose eyes were filled with both happiness and relief.

Because she knew that she had finally bid farewell to the past, no longer needing to live such a boring and meaningless life.

From now on, she didn’t need to live to meet others’ expectations, nor did she need to work so hard to hide herself.

Although today was just their engagement, not their official wedding, Lucy, with the [Blessing of the Goddess of Fate], had a premonition that her life, from this moment on, had truly changed.

Thinking of this, Lucy couldn’t help but tighten her grip on Shien’s hand.

Shien, for once, didn’t act like a fool, as if only this beautiful princess was in his eyes, his face filled with a gentle smile.

Shien seemed to see the scene of the first time he met Lucy in the square in front of the palace.

Lucy at that time was so beautiful, so dignified, that Shien was stunned and held his breath.

However, what truly made Shien understand Lucy was that decisive scene.

Even now, Shien could still vaguely hear her words from that time.

“Why are there so many troublesome things happening? Can’t I just rest?”

“My daily schedule is already so full. Not only do I have to make public appearances every day, but I also have to deal with those nobles proposing marriage. I don’t even have time to have fun. I finally get to stay in the capital for a while, why do these world-altering events have to happen? How much work does God want me to do?”

“I don’t want to work! I don’t want to work! I want to go out and play!”

“I want to eat the desserts from Lilith’s shop! I want to eat the food from Isis’s restaurant! I don’t want to keep eating the cold food from the palace!”

“Waaah… that idiot Vivian… why did she bring me such troublesome matters? What do these people want from me?”

“Aaaaaah… so troublesome… so troublesome…”

Recalling her voice, her words, and Lucy lying on the bed, rolling around and complaining about her situation, Shien couldn’t help but smile.

Shien leaned close to Lucy’s ear.

“Do you still think meeting me was a troublesome thing?”

For some reason, Shien asked this question.

Lucy seemed to know where this question came from and, as if also recalling that time, looked at Shien with exasperation.

However…

“Meeting you is the luckiest thing in my life.”

Lucy, following her heart, answered with a bright smile, each word spoken with sincerity.

That smile once again stunned everyone present.

Shien also couldn’t help but be momentarily dazed, then he smiled gently.

Glancing at the beautiful Lucy, then at the noble sons around them, their eyes filled with envy and jealousy, Shien’s smile turned mischievous.

Then, Shien tightened his grip on Lucy’s hand.

“Ah!”

Lucy exclaimed and fell into Shien’s arms.

Shien embraced the princess, then without hesitation, lowered his head and captured her lips.

“Whoa!”

Everyone present gasped.

“Crack!”

The hearts of all the noble sons shattered like glass.

“Wh-what!?”

Vivian, Diere, Lumia, and Melika were stunned.

“That guy…”

Airi’s clapping stopped, her face twitching.

Even the smile on Ancil’s face froze.

In front of everyone, Shien kissed the Kingdom’s treasure, the most beautiful woman in the human world, announcing to the world that this princess now belonged to him.

Lucy finally reacted, both angry and flustered.

But then, Lucy’s body softened. She wrapped her arms around Shien’s neck, closed her eyes, and entrusted herself entirely to him, letting him do as he pleased.

This was also a declaration.

A declaration that she had already become this man’s possession.

She was devoted to him, infatuated with him, not for a political marriage, nor for any other considerations, but simply because she loved this domineering man who was kissing her.

“Aaaaaah!”

Finally, someone in the hall couldn’t take it anymore, screaming and fainting.

Others felt dizzy, their hearts empty, their souls lost.

“Really…”

Even Nadue, hidden in the shadows, couldn’t help but be amused.

As for Lia, who had been silently watching from the side, now looking at the kissing couple, her heart was filled with both relief and complex emotions.

“Princess Lia…”

Charl called out to Lia, her eyes filled with envy and longing as she looked at Shien and Lucy.

“I’m fine.” Lia shook her head and whispered, “Lucy has finally found her happiness, found someone who truly loves her, and whom she truly loves.”

Lia no longer felt jealous.

But she still felt envious.

“Princess Lia has already broken off her engagement with the Lucica family. She will also find her own happiness.”

Charl, as the person closest to Lia and who understood her the most, naturally knew Lia’s past worries and her current feelings.

“Hopefully.”

Lia didn’t have her usual bitter expression, but smiled.

She knew that she still couldn’t compare to her sister.

Even though her engagement with the Lucica family had been dissolved, as a royal princess and the first in line to the throne, she would likely still end up in a political marriage with someone she didn’t love.

Without Lucy’s special status, or Shien’s special circumstances, there were very few things she could decide for herself.

But at least, now, she no longer felt as hopeless as before, right?

Therefore, while grateful to Shien for giving her this hope, Lia couldn’t help but say,

“I have a wish, Charl.”

Lia suddenly said these words.

“A wish?”

Charl was stunned, then seemed to understand.

Lia said, both happily and playfully,

“I want to fall in love.”

She didn’t ask for a passionate or unforgettable love, just to meet someone, love him with all her heart, and have him love her back just as sincerely.

Even if they couldn’t be together in the end, it wouldn’t matter.

This was her wish—Liadella’s wish.