Chapter 91: Teacher, I Have a Request
“This is incredible, absolutely incredible.”
“Not just the nobles with names and reputations within the entire Imperial Capital… even the powers that be in the Holy See and the Alliance of Lieges have received invitations.”
“Moreover, those factions, including the Holy Court, have already explicitly stated that they will dispatch an envoy group to the Imperial Capital to attend the ceremony.”
“Now, more than half of the Western Continent, and even the Lost Domain, are discussing the engagement between the eldest daughter of the Borgia family and the leader.”
In the military’s lounge, several members of the Sword Holders were gathered around a small round table, with a thick pile of newspapers stacked beside them.
They had just finished the cleanup operations of the Thorns of Sin Club. Not only had they rescued over a hundred prisoners who had lost their freedom, but they had also gathered a considerable amount of human and material evidence that could be used to pressure the Noble Council.
Although the opposing side would undoubtedly deny any connection to the Thorns of Sin Club and employ various means to distance themselves, such a struggle would naturally grant the military and the Sword Holders considerable benefits.
For the Sword Holders’ first major engagement, this was indeed a victory worthy of widespread praise, even deserving of a celebration banquet.
However—
Their achievements were all overshadowed by the sensational news that had swept across the entire empire.
“The Borgia family’s ambition this time is not small; even our surviving Round Table families received an invitation,” Dark Raven said calmly.
“A simple engagement banquet has managed to draw forces from more than half of the Western Continent’s order-aligned powers.”
“The royal family’s reputation in the empire had just begun to improve in recent years, and they immediately made such a move. The Borgia family is making a statement to the uncertain forces within the empire…”
“Furthermore, His Highness had just re-established the Sword Holders, and they immediately delivered the engagement…”
“This is clearly an attempt to snatch someone from under His Highness’s nose.”
As members of the Sword Holders, they all understood that this was the Borgia family’s ploy to undermine them.
The Sword Holders had indeed achieved a brilliant victory, and the exposure of the Thorns of Sin’s activities would inevitably affect the Borgia family.
However, if Shaya were to become engaged to Histria Borgia, the disadvantage the Borgia family was currently in would be completely reversed.
It would also render all the previous arrangements made by the military, the Sword Holders, and the Second Princess Isadorella a laughingstock in an instant.
The Sword Holders, whom you just supported, would turn around and become the son-in-law of your greatest enemy.
Who would then have faith in the royal family, and their prestige would inevitably plummet.
“But, I must admit, it is indeed a very tempting offer,” Diris said softly, her gaze sweeping over the beautiful maiden in the newspaper.
“She is the eldest daughter of the Borgia family, the only daughter of a seasoned legend who may have touched upon demigodhood.”
“Furthermore, she is a blessed one of the Dawn, perhaps one of the future Thirteen Saints, with the potential to reach the highest echelons of the Holy See.”
“By marrying Histria Borgia, the influence of the Crimson Rose family goes without saying, and it would be equivalent to having the entire Holy Court as their backing.”
This was the Borgia family’s open scheme.
They placed their dazzling chips on the table, offering an irresistible temptation.
They were openly snatching someone from under your nose, intending to make the royal family a laughingstock of the entire empire.
“So, can we start packing our bags and head home now?” Nightingale’s somewhat confused words were heard.
Shaya’s declaration at the Thorns of Sin had indeed touched her, filling her with confidence in the future of the Sword Holders.
But Nightingale imagined herself in Shaya Egut’s position, and she absolutely would not be able to refuse the engagement proposed by the Borgias.
Accepting this engagement would be equivalent to embracing power, wealth, beauty, and strength… everything a human, a man, could possibly imagine.
Diris shook her head, “Who knows?”
“He kicked me out directly, and I didn’t have time to gather any more information.”
She was the one among the Sword Holders who understood Shaya the best, having interacted with him several times years ago and having even entered the dream realm derived from Shaya’s Inner World.
However, even for Diris, a Royal Succubus clan member who was a master of understanding human hearts, she still couldn’t fathom Shaya’s thoughts.
…
On the outskirts of the Imperial Capital, in a secluded mansion atop a mountain.
Isadorella, dressed in a Black Vulture military uniform, was quietly perusing documents.
A dark gryphon slept soundly in the wilderness outside the mansion, exuding a powerful aura.
As the Second Princess of the empire, Isadorella’s residence should have been the Imperial Palace located in the center of the Upper City. However, she rarely went there, preferring to stay in her suburban mansion.
“Your Highness, the Borgia family’s invitation has also arrived. It’s for the same banquet.”
A hoarse female voice sounded in her ear.
Then, a golden envelope, embossed with the mark of the Crimson Rose, was silently placed on the wooden table.
Isadorella extended her slender fingers and toyed with the envelope for a moment.
“Gudrian Borgia.”
“You are challenging me…”
Her stern voice echoed with the evening breeze.
The Second Princess gazed into the distance, and the figure of the black-haired, black-eyed young man reappeared in her mind.
“Then—”
“If it were you…”
“What choice would you make?”
…
As countless gazes converged on the Imperial Capital, or rather, on the Borgia family’s banquet seven days later.
Shaya, the male protagonist of this earth-shattering rumor, had simply confined himself to the training room of the manor.
For five consecutive days, Shaya and Aerora did not leave the manor.
This resulted in Sieg and Diris, who had come with the intention of discussing matters, being turned away and having to give up dejectedly.
It wasn’t until the deep night of the fifth day that the training room door was finally opened again.
On Shaya’s shoulder, the little mink let out a lazy chirp and then buried its small head into its snowy white fur.
In Shaya’s arms, Crimson, in its Star Spirit Body form, had fallen into a deep sleep, curled up like a ball of red fur.
As for Flashy, she had long since returned to the Soul Pact Space, exhausted.
“Finally completed.”
Shaya’s mental power was also somewhat fatigued, but his mood was quite elated.
In Shaya’s mind, on the azure panel.
The displayed “Sands of Time: 31” had now changed to “Sands of Time: 1”.
The consumption was significant, but the effect was also remarkable.
Shaya’s panel had been completely refreshed.
Shaya glanced at the still-closed meditation room before walking into the study.
He lit the Magic Lamp Array in the study for illumination, then took out paper and pen and began to write.
After a long while, Shaya stopped his strokes.
After checking everything, Shaya took out three Rhine gold coins from the drawer beneath the table and placed them on the paper.
The next moment, Shaya spoke in a calm voice.
“Heiser.”
“Heiser.”
Shaya paused slightly and repeated the name a third time.
“Heiser.”
After a pause of breathing.
In the windless room, ripples appeared.
The sense of intrusion from the Astral Realm returned.
Shaya held his breath, silently waiting for the messenger from the Astral Realm to descend and take away the letter he had written.
However, then.
The folded letter did not disappear along with the three Rhine gold coins.
Instead.
Cracks, crystal clear and radiant, bloomed in the void.
Shaya felt his consciousness blur, and the surrounding scenery became dizzying.
It was as if he were experiencing the sensation of entering a Historical Echo, with the space around him, and even the time flowing at a constant pace, becoming distorted.
Yet, Shaya had clearly not triggered any Historical Echo.
When Shaya’s consciousness revived again, he found himself in an extremely peculiar world.
An endless darkness met his eyes, with faint, illusory stars faintly visible at the far end of the pitch-black world, casting brilliant star beams.
It was like a fantastical Star Sea.
The next moment, the myriad dim stars flickered simultaneously.
The starlight shattered.
First, high heels made of crystal.
Then, a pitch-black gothic long dress, and a crown made of dark red rare metal, encircling a snow-white neck.
A Golden Elf, with only one eye open, hovered in the Star Sea, calmly looking down at her only disciple.
“Have I reached the Astral Realm?”
“Teacher?”
Shaya couldn’t help but be slightly surprised upon seeing the Golden Elf maiden before him, but then his heart filled with joy.
“Teacher, have you returned to the Prime Material Plane?”
“Not exactly. I just happened to be wandering in a Subspace dimension where the world barrier was weak and heard a call.”
“So I pulled your Star Spirit Body into the Astral Realm to see if you’ve been studying diligently during this time.”
The Golden Elf’s voice was crisp and clear, her crimson-gold beautiful eyes looking at Shaya.
Although Shaya was currently only a Star Spirit Body, the Golden Elf wizard named Heiser seemed to see through the Soul Pact contained within the Star Spirit Body, as well as the progress beyond that Soul Pact.
After a long pause, she spoke again.
“Not bad.”
The Golden Elf waved her hand gently, and Shaya felt the illusory stars around him begin to spin rapidly. He and Heiser’s distance rapidly closed, and he appeared before her.
Heiser crossed her arms, appraising the black-haired, black-eyed young man before her, a faint, almost imperceptible smile appearing in her light golden beautiful eyes.
“Speak, what business do you have with me this time?”
Shaya cleared his throat.
“Teacher, I want to…”
“Ask you to bear witness to a banquet.”
Adjusting my schedule, the next chapter will be released tomorrow during the day.
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