After moving my belongings to my new father-in-w's house, I continued training my recruits for the day.

  And in the evening, I sat at the desk within one of the guest rooms, lit by an oil mp, bathed, well-dressed, and well-fed, still in mild disbelief at the massive windfall.

  "Me, a lowly borer, the son-in-w of the Camp Prefect of the 17th Legion, a powerful self-made noble. Before I met that god, I would have never dared to dream about it." I thought.

  The domus belonging to the Camp Prefect was a rge two-story building with many rooms, comparable to the tribunes, and I occupied one of the better guest rooms. At least, it beat my previous accommodation. Furthermore, it was somehow cooler despite the summer heat. They say it was enchanted with some runes that reguted temperature, so it was comfortable all year round.

  Unsurprisingly, the rge house also had six servants of varying ages, and they cooked, cleaned, carried, fetched, and served. Honestly, I expected there to be more, considering most nobles often had dozens of sves, but the Camp Prefect likely didn't want/need more.

  I hear he has been Camp Prefect for over 20 years and was in his te 60s, so it was unlikely that he would ck the means. Perhaps he retained some of the frugality of his previous life.

  Of course, that didn't mean he ate frugally. At least, he ate fresh bread, fruits, vegetables, nuts, dairy, and meat, and his food was seasoned. However, he didn't eat any extravagant types of food, such as magical beast meat. He only ate regur, albeit more expensive, food.

  The clothes they wore were also of high quality, and they even wore silk tunics imported from the Silk Road. However, this didn't surprise me, considering that we were closest to the east in the empire, and silk was far cheaper here compared to the faraway capital. Of course, not everything was made of silk. Some were made from linen and wool.

  They also used a rge private bath, but only my mother-in-w and fiancée used it. My father-in-w and I bathed with a bucket of hot water and used good-smelling herbs to deodorize ourselves, saving precious time. Regardless, it was still better than the public baths.

  Anyway, it was a HUGE difference in life quality... And the system reflected it.

  Wealth Score: 10 -> 100(You are a live-in son-in-w of an Equesitarian, a Camp Prefect of a legion, and stationed within the fortress, and de facto heir to his sizeable wealth. Although this wealth doesn't belong to you yet, you enjoy a very luxurious life compared to the masses.)

  The ally score also changed again.

  Ally Score: 100 -> 200(You are an Optio in the 17th Legion. And more importantly, you are the adopted son and live-in son-in-w of the Camp Prefect, making your title as the Uncrowned Prince a substantial one. You are now a true-blue military noble, and even the Legate has to show you some respect.)

  This was already a 20x increase in the Happiness Multiplier! It was akin to raising the upper limit of prestige by 300 levels for everything, which was substantial!

  However-

  Women Score: 1(Congratutions! You have a top-quality fiancée who sees you like a cute and enthusiastic little puppy. Unfortunately for you, while she recognized you as a Warrior-type top genius, she doesn't register you as her academic equal yet, let alone as a romantic interest, and you didn't even hold hands, let alone have sex! No points for you! :( )

  "I'm not a puppy... And you actually did a sad face? What the hell?" I squinted my eyes at the entry.

  However, Antia did give me something, which was actually very valuable... Magic Multiplier!

  Magic Multiplier: 10(Your fiancée is an extremely gifted magic genius, one of the greatest heroines of an era, who devoted her life to the study of the arcane, and is only limited by her circumstances and interests. Although she is currently only a young and inexperienced Magic Apprentice, she is an exceptionally wise, albeit harsh and sharp-tongued, magic tutor and invaluable companion in magic studies.)

  "To get this evaluation... Antia is really something." I muttered.

  I then looked at the two thick scrolls pced on the desk, remembering how I got them from my fiancée.

  When she gave them to me, she said the following-

  "The first scroll is one of the first 18 foundational scrolls about magic that every pre-magic student must learn before even beginning to practice magic and becoming a Magic Novice. As for the other scroll, it is my compiled understanding of the scroll that I wrote when I started my journey, which should answer all your questions. If you still have any questions, please ensure they are thought out and relevant. I hate being disturbed for trivial questions. When I first started, I understood and memorized everything within a week. But given that you don't have much time each day, I will give you two months. If you can't do it in two months, you won't amount to anything, so give up. Oh... and happy studying."

  I then looked at the two scrolls and decided to open the first one. After reading for half an hour-

  "This is so difficult... Reading it is one thing, but both understanding and memorizing it all in a week? How? And isn't she already 18 and a Magic Apprentice, the realm after a Magic Novice? Doesn't that mean she did it several years ago? Is she that much of a genius?" I couldn't help but feel amazed.

  The scroll was a combination of words, strange symbols, and runes. Many of the sentences were difficult to understand and required much thought and memorisation.

  Given that I already raised Concentration, Productivity, and Meditation past lvl 300, and my Academics were also past lvl 250, studying this should be possible. However, the timeframe she gave me was really too short, especially since I only had the evening to study, with the rest of the day packed with training and work.

  "But then again, most of those who study magic don't need to work at the start. Otherwise, it would be impossible to study magic!"

  Indeed, my environment and circumstances were too insufficient for me to study magic. Unless I am a genius on her level, studying this scroll in two months would be impossible. At least, if I studied this scroll myself.

  My eyes then wandered to the other scroll, the one written by my fiancée. Not feeling ashamed of learning from a woman younger than me, I opened the scroll and looked at the content.

  It was filled with neat and beautiful handwriting, expining difficult concepts and even criticism of the other scroll. I couldn't help but be captivated, reading for another good half an hour before closing the scroll with an appreciative sigh.

  "Genius. God-Gifted Genius, blessed by the Goddess of Magic herself." I said my heartfelt evaluation.

  It was no wonder I received a 10x Magic Multiplier from her. It was justified!

  "If I have this, I might barely meet her requirements. However..."

  My eyes flickered as I looked at a new Css and Ability.

  Pre-Magic Student:

  Before practicing magic, an aspiring orthodox practitioner of the arcane requires a deep theoretical foundation. Without this foundation, the practitioner would not have the control required to prevent the magic from hurting himself or others, as Magic is not only harnessed from within, but also from the world.

  Hint: The Magician Novice Css will unlock once the Pre-Magic Student and Magic Theory reach lvl 100, Concentration and Meditation reach lvl 200, and you have learned a suitable Magic Practice method.

  Magic Theory:

  To study magic is to learn the theory behind it. From the lowliest pre-magic student to even the gods, all must learn, advance, and master magical theory to tame and use orthodox magic.

  Bonus to Magic Csses.

  Naturally, I focused on increasing both of them. After a week, I would likely reach the maximum Prestige, which will make studying much faster.

  I did notice, however, that Pre-Magic Student actually required lvl 100 to unlock the Magic Novice css, which showed just how high the requirements to learn magic were. It wasn't an exaggeration to say it was several dozen times harder than being a legionary recruit!

  "Antia wasn't trying to hurt me. If I don't have the talent, then it is really better to give up early and not waste my time on clouds and fantasies. Being a powerful warrior is already good." I warily thought.

  However-

  "But since I have the system... I want to see how she would react if I master the whole scroll within two weeks?" My eyes glinted with mischief.

  I really wanted to see the cold beauty's face change.

  With that motivation in mind, I slowly read the scrolls despite my prestige not reaching the maximum. It was fun, anyway.

  .

  .

  .

  In the following days, a rumor spread in the 17th legion's fortress.

  "Hey, did you hear? The Uncrowned Prince was adopted by the Camp Prefect, becoming his heir, and he is now engaged to his daughter."

  "Shh! Don't spread baseless rumors! We could get caned for this, you know?!"

  "It isn't baseless. The Camp Prefect himself announced it to the top centurions, and some even saw him enter the Camp Prefect's house in the evening and not come out. And that can only mean he is living inside. Even guards don't live in the Camp Prefect's house. That means he is adopted..."

  "As expected from the Uncrowned Prince. Even the Camp Prefect couldn't hold himself back from roping him in as a son-in-w."

  "Must be nice, suddenly becoming a noble... I also hear that the Camp Prefect's adopted daughter is a real beauty and very smart. What would I do to get such a good wife..."

  "Forget it. You didn't hear this from me, but I heard that her personality is just terrible. She hates all the activities you expect a woman to do, and her tongue is ced with potent venom. The sons, daughters, and wives of the Centurions stay away from her like the pgue, and she locks herself in her study all day. I am afraid that if you marry her, you will feel miserable."

  "Yikes... And the Uncrowned Prince actually agreed to marry her? As expected, he is built differently."

  "Or he just has balls of steel and wants a shortcut to wealth."

  "Yeah, she is at least blessed with a powerful father and a lot of money, so many of her faults are not that great."

  "I still wouldn't agree to marry someone like that, though. The thought of being looked down on every day sends shivers down my spine."

  "Ah, so you get turned on by women looking at you like a piece of garbage. Got it."

  "Fuck off!"

  "By the way, what about him? Where is the Uncrowned Prince?"

  "He got promoted to Optio Castrorum... I think."

  "Optio of the Camp? Is that even a position?"

  "He will be attached to a different Century every week, letting him gain experience before getting directly promoted to Centurion once he has the merit. The Camp Prefect made it up on the spot, I hear. And thank the gods that he did. With the Uncrowned Prince reaching the Extraordinary Warrior Realm, I am afraid that even the Primus Pilus wouldn't dare make him his permanent deputy..."

  "Geez, what a beast. He isn't even 20 yet. Even if you put him in the capital, he would probably rank among the top 3 talents in the whole empire. The only things limiting him are the ck of resources and techniques."

  "Either way, the Uncrowned Prince's position in the upper echelons is cemented..."

  .

  .

  .

  Two weeks ter-

  Inside Antia's magic study in the evening-

  "Impossible." Antia thought in a daze as she looked at the test answers that her fiancé had written.

  Today, her fiancé suddenly said that he had finished the 1st scroll. Being skeptical, she had written the harshest test she could conceive, with the most difficult trick questions that could only be answered through her insights.

  As for the result?

  Perfect. Every answer was fwless and concise. A test that would fail the average magic genius was passed without fw.

  If she didn't see him taking the test with her own eyes, she wouldn't believe it.

  Such a test result was actually what she expected of her student and wouldn't accept anything less. She herself only needed a week to reach this level.

  However, at the time, she was 14, having completed all the higher-education courses that other nobles studied by 21, a condition her father forced on her before studying magic. Having nothing else to study or do, she could devote the entire day to learn magic. She only had a low-end Magic Apprentice teach her once a week, and most of the time, she self-studied. What usually took others around two years to master, she did in only four and a half months. She even had the time to review all the material she had read and write down her insights.

  By the time she was 15, her tutor stopped coming, refusing to teach her anymore. When Primanus asked why, the tutor gave him a shocking revetion.

  "This girl has already surpassed me in magic theory, and I feel ashamed of teaching her. I fear I might mislead her, so it is best to let her study by herself."

  And with that, he left.

  But that was besides the point. The point is, Apollox, her average-looking fiancé, who came from the poorest background imaginable, and having studied two hours each day after a tiring day of work, completed what she would expect a regur genius to finish within two months, with the assumption that they dedicated most of the day to study, in only two weeks! Even if it was rgely thanks to her insights, it was still an impressive achievement!

  In reality, she was intentionally making unreasonable demands of her fiancé. It was her way of telling him to give up early. After all, without reaching even the Official Magician realm in his lifetime, he might as well give up. She wouldn't bme him or feel disappointed, knowing he gave it an honest try. It was already good that he was a genius Warrior, and she could respect that.

  But now...

  "It seems like this puppy is worthy of training." Antia's eyes flickered.

  "So, did I pass?" Apollox spoke, snapping her out of her thoughts.

  Looking down at her shorter fiancé, he almost looked like a puppy with a wagging tail, waiting to receive praise.

  "Cute." She thought.

  "...Yes. You passed. Well done." Antia said with a hint of satisfaction in her otherwise monotone voice.

  Taking back the two scrolls she gave Apollox, Antia carefully stored them within a shelf before taking out two more thick scrolls and giving them to her waiting fiancé.

  "Same as before, one is the original, and the other are my insights. I give you two months. When you feel confident, come to me to be tested." Antia patiently said, not changing her conditions.

  She knew that the military was unexpected and that he might suddenly get mobilized in the middle. It would be unfair to give him a two-week deadline.

  "Yes! I won't let you down!" Apollox happily grinned, took the two scrolls, and left with a light step.

  Antia looked at the puppy leave, a hint of a smile forming on her pink lips.

  "Cute."

  .

  .

  .

  A month and a half ter-

  The province of Findirhan-

  A tall and muscur man, wearing heavy armor shining under the te summer sun, rode a powerful horse, back straight, and he looked at a rge, heavily fortified city several miles away. It was the capital of Findirhan, Iskaba.

  He was the head of a noble house of warriors and generals, dedicating their lives to the King of Kings of the Sniestein Empire, Dariush Safavi. And behind him was a massive army of tens of thousands of mixed cavalry and allied infantry.

  At this time, he saw that the city gates opened themselves, and a messenger rode back, unharmed.

  A hint of a smile formed on Dariush's lips.

  "As the army chief predicted, the hearts of the people of Findirhan are still loyal to the noble and wise King of Kings and hate the Roman pigs. They surrendered immediately once our liberating army showed up." Dariush's deputy spoke beside him.

  Dariush nodded, brushing his greying beard with his fingers, eyes shining with wisdom.

  "They were our allies long before the Roman filth came. We share the same heritage, culture, and gods, and have close familiar ties. On the other hand, the Romans treated them as a buffer zone and vassal state, overtaxing the popuce and forcing their filthy Roman culture down their throats. Besides, they didn't even defend the city with an army, while we brought the mighty force of our great empire. It is obvious who they would choose."

  The deputy nodded, admiring his general's wisdom.

  "Army Chief, taking over this city vioted the previous peace agreements with the New Roman Empire. They will surely counterattack soon."

  "Depose the current governor-king of this city and install a new, loyal king from the local nobility, and pce a minimal garrison. We are cavalry, and our speciality is fighting in the field, not defending a walled city. On the other hand, the Romans love siege warfare, and we will fall into their pace. However, being arrogant as they are, they will surely send a legion or two without knowing the size of our forces." Dariush patiently expined.

  "What are your orders, army chief?" The deputy asked.

  Dariush looked west, narrowing his eyes.

  "We head west... and give the Romans a devastating blow they wouldn't forget."