Chapter 93: The Most Beautiful Image in Memory (Two-in-one)
In a world formed by illusory stars, Shaya’s figure transformed into countless scattered points of light, slowly fading away.
The Astral Realm fell into a brief silence in an instant.
After a moment of daze, the Golden Elf on the Thorn Throne let out a soft laugh.
“Little Death, did you hear that?”
“I’ve been teased.”
After a long while, the crisp laughter, like silver bells, slowly faded.
She looked at the spot where Shaya had disappeared, shook her head slightly, and her soft murmur echoed in the illusory cosmos.
“He has truly grown up…”
“No longer the little boy he once was, but now has the responsibility of a man.”
“Though a bit domineering, lacking in the proper etiquette of respecting elders…”
“However, I don’t dislike it.”
The Golden Elf’s plain white fingers lightly tapped in the Astral Realm.
“Since the disciple is so prone to causing trouble, I, as the teacher, must also put in some effort.”
“Little Death, my main body is still in the Dimensional Abyss and cannot return, so you go to the Imperial Capital and look after him.”
“Understood.”
As the Golden Elf’s words settled, silently, a giant, pitch-black Bone Demon appeared in the starry sky.
It nodded towards the Golden Elf on the Thorn Throne, and then its colossal skeletal body swiftly departed.
Soon, it disappeared into the depths of the Astral Realm.
Silence returned to the Astral Realm.
The Golden Elf maiden on the Thorn Throne then leaned back, closed her eyes, as if falling into a deep sleep.
Illusory stars flowed, and starlight rippled outward in circles.
The flow of time in the Astral Realm was already different from that of the Prime Material Plane. After an unknown period, the Golden Elf on the throne opened her eyes again.
In her clear, cold eyes, there was a rare hint of surprise.
“They’ve come too?”
A hint of helplessness flashed in the Golden Elf’s crimson-gold beautiful eyes.
“You truly are…”
“A ‘heart-stirring male protagonist’.”
Her gaze was profound, lost in thought.
“If I had known this would happen, should I have confined him in the Forbidden Plane of the Black Tower, not allowing him out until he became a Legendary Expert…”
After a long silence, the Golden Elf on the throne finally sighed.
“But in that case, Little Death probably wouldn’t have been needed.”
…
Prime Material Plane.
Western Continent, Freista Empire, Imperial Capital Camelot.
Royal Guesthouse.
This was the best hotel in the entire Imperial Capital. The price for a standard single room was over ten Rhine gold coins a day, and the most luxurious suites could reach over a hundred gold coins a day.
Yet, despite this, business had been booming recently.
The reason for this was naturally the banquet to be held the next day.
Although on the surface it appeared to be merely an engagement dinner between two juniors.
Any discerning person who understood the current situation of the Empire knew in their hearts—
This seemingly ordinary engagement banquet involved implications that could very well determine the future trajectory of the entire Freista Empire.
Whether it was nobles, powerhouses, scouts, or spies… countless eyes were converging on the Imperial Capital.
No one wanted to miss any detail of this banquet.
Thus, for a time, the Imperial Capital was filled with outsiders from all corners of the Western Continent.
Those affiliated with the Order faction, who had already received invitations from the Borgia Family, naturally had their accommodations arranged by the Borgia Family within the Imperial Capital.
However, for the uninvited guests, they had to pay for their own accommodations.
Royal Guesthouse, Tulip Suite.
Tulip was also the emblem of one of the Eight Great Oathbound Families of the Empire. However, the Tulip Family had always been lukewarm, currently belonging to the fence-sitters who remained outside the disputes of the Old Nobles and the Royal Family, and were still observing.
And a suite named after an Oathbound Family was naturally extraordinary; without the Empire’s own nobility, one wouldn’t even have the qualification to reserve it.
Fiolen stood at the entrance of the Tulip Suite, looking at the large wooden wardrobe open in the room.
Inside the wardrobe were brand-new clothes, all purchased by Fiolen from the highest-class clothing stores in the entire Imperial Capital, the vast majority of which came from the Black Lily District.
And beside the rows of displayed clothes, the silver-haired witch gazed at the large silver full-length mirror in the room.
She would occasionally take out a garment from the wardrobe and place it in front of her, along with the hanger, appraising herself in the mirror.
Sylvia’s pure silver hair cascaded softly down her fair shoulders, shimmering under the bright moonlight outside the window.
Fiolen even saw the Azure Silver Witch in front of her lift her skirt and spin lightly in front of the silver mirror.
It was as if she wasn’t the ancient legend who had walked out of history more than five hundred years ago.
But rather a young girl filled with affection, happily choosing clothes for a date with her beloved the next day.
Did the master of the White Tower also have such a side?
But then again, it was said that the Azure Silver Witch was only in her early twenties when she ascended to the Legendary seat, about the same age as His Royal Highness…
After that came the long, five-hundred-year slumber.
Thinking about it this way, in terms of real experience, Sylvia had only lived for a mere dozen years, perhaps not even as long as herself?
Fiolen was slightly stunned but quickly snapped back to reality.
Although this Azure Silver Witch had been very amiable these past few days, Fiolen hadn’t forgotten how the ruins of the Royal Capital of the Azure Court were razed to the ground under her furious twilight might when she had handed her that newspaper earlier.
Even from the perspective of imperial law, her actions were undoubtedly destructive to ancient artifacts, but considering that the instigator might have been the sole survivor of the Ancient Azure Court, this matter truly couldn’t be pursued, or rather, Fiolen dared not pursue it.
Fiolen suppressed her wild speculations and respectfully said, “Your Excellency Sylvia, as the Southern Inspector, although I am aligned with the Royal Family, I have also received an invitation to the Borgia family’s banquet.”
She hesitated, “Master of the Tower, are you really going to disguise yourself as my attendant and attend that banquet?”
“With your strength, even if you were not invited, as long as you reveal your identity as the Master of the White Tower, you would surely receive the utmost courtesy from the Borgia Family.”
“No need.”
Light golden script appeared in the void before Fiolen.
“Understood.”
Fiolen nodded respectfully.
Just as she was about to take her leave, she suddenly noticed that the Azure Silver Witch had shifted her gaze from the wardrobe and the fitting mirror.
Then, with her emotionless beautiful eyes, she looked towards the distant night sky outside the window.
“Four.”
Four?
Fiolen’s heart couldn’t help but falter, but she quickly understood.
The only ones qualified to be mentioned by the master of the White Tower before her were naturally Legendary Experts of the same rank.
If that were the case, then four…
Goodrian Borgia, the head of the Crimson Rose, was naturally one.
And within the Imperial Royal Family, there was one who resided in the Imperial Capital long-term.
Then who were the other two?
As far as she knew, although the Borgia Family had invited many factions with Legendary Experts this time, most of them had only sent envoy groups to observe.
Without demigods appearing, the term “Legendary” represented the pinnacle of the entire Western Continent, and they rarely went out.
Fiolen’s heart tightened.
She herself was a seasoned Titled Beast Tamer and knew very well what the descent of a Legendary meant.
If the Royal Family’s Legendary expert was held back by the head of the Borgia family, then the full power of two Legendary experts, even for just fifteen minutes, could raze the entire Imperial Capital to ruins.
Even considering more deeply, if the two Legendary experts were companions secretly invited by the head of the Borgia family, and their sole purpose was to eliminate the Royal Family…
Fiolen’s premonition suddenly intensified.
As a trusted subordinate of the Second Princess, she knew that Isadorella had also reached the limit of the Titled realm. If it weren’t for her pursuit of a perfect breakthrough and her potential after promotion, she could have taken that final step at any time.
However, His Royal Highness was still young. Even with a temporary breakthrough, she would be at a considerable disadvantage against two veteran Legendary experts working together.
If either of the two from the Imperial Royal Family were to fall, it would be an unbearable blow to the Empire.
Fiolen moved her lips, about to speak, when she saw the light golden script appearing before her again.
“One is very far away, only observing this place through the Astral Realm, likely some kind of undead or immortal race…”
“And then…”
“Augustina.”
Seeing Sylvia’s answer, Fiolen’s hanging heart finally relaxed.
She knew that the Borgia Family itself had close ties with the Holy See, and their only daughter had already become a God’s Chosen, with the potential to become a Saint in the future.
Under such circumstances, even if the head of the Borgia Family secretly contacted helpers, they would never invite heretics like the undead, who were considered abominations by the Holy See.
And “Queen of the Night” Augustina and the Shadow Council she represented were neutral forces, never siding with any party.
Therefore, these two Legendary experts were likely not targeting the Royal Family, but merely came to watch the show.
“Did the Queen of the Night send an avatar to the Imperial Capital?”
“It seems the Shadow Council also attaches great importance to this banquet. As expected from the largest intelligence organization in the Western Continent.”
Fiolen wiped the beads of sweat from her forehead and spoke.
The relationship between the Empire and the Shadow Council was relatively harmonious, even involving cooperation.
Therefore, Fiolen knew that the Queen of the Night’s authority was related to darkness and concealment. If she wished, she could have her shadow avatar descend upon any place in the Western Continent where there was a Shadow Council stronghold.
However, immediately after, Fiolen’s expression, which had just relaxed, froze with the reappearance of the golden text.
“It’s her main body.”
…
“Your Excellency Sylvia, I must report this situation to His Royal Highness.”
Fiolen’s voice rang out urgently, and then she quickly departed.
Sylvia, however, remained standing silently before the large wardrobe, looking at herself in the full-length silver mirror.
Her clothes kept changing, and the temperament and style of the person in the mirror also changed with the clothes.
At one moment, she was a gentle and shy country maiden; at another, a valiant warrior, a dignified and noble female knight… and yet, at another, she transformed into a sovereign with supreme authority.
With the strength of a Legendary Expert, changing one’s temperament and style was incredibly easy.
But finally, the reflection in the mirror slowly settled.
Sylvia changed into a dark-colored knee-length dress, its folded hem spreading out like layers of lotus leaves.
She wore a small, white round hat on her head and a pair of red high heels.
The attire was identical to what Sylvia wore five hundred years ago, in that sea of flowers above the Morning Star Hills.
Sylvia took out the purple crystal hairpin and carefully inserted it into her pure silver hair.
The thick, ancient book fell back into her hands.
Then, lines of elegant, light golden script slowly appeared on it.
“Brother Shaya, you once told me—’When one resides in a high place for too long, it is easy to lose one’s original heart’.”
“So, I buried myself in the pure white tower, cutting away and forgetting those superfluous, useless memories.”
“Because I was afraid.”
“I was worried that as time passed, as I looked down upon all beings from the perspective of a Legend, I would become cold-hearted, indifferent to everything… becoming like many Legends, with only eternal life and godhood in their eyes, the very people I once loathed the most.”
“And I was more afraid that you would detest, would resist such an unfamiliar me…”
“If that were the case, even if we met again at the end of time, we would only be strangers as if we were estranged.”
Sylvia turned to look at the fitting mirror.
The silver-haired maiden in the mirror had an exquisite and flawless cute face, smiling charmingly.
At this moment, time seemed to reverse.
She was back in that Grand Duke’s Mansion, back to that night when she received the letter from the servant and happily chose clothes for the appointment the next day.
The moonlight that night was also so bright, the clear radiance freezing the night.
Sylvia placed her plain white hand on her chest, feeling the ripples of emotion in her heart, a feeling she hadn’t experienced in hundreds of years.
“We will meet again tomorrow.”
“I hope that when I see you again, I can still be the original, most beautiful image in your memory.”
“And then, you can also tell me… the truth you never told me in that sea of flowers above the Morning Star Hills.”
“Also—”
Sylvia slightly turned her body, and the anticipation, yearning, and apprehensive fear of meeting someone after a long absence disappeared from her pure silver eyes.
Instead, an ice-cold chill filled the air.
At this moment, she was no longer a maiden in love, but had transformed back into the Azure Silver Witch who looked down upon all beings.
“And, I also want to see…”
“What kind of existence is the woman who wants to become engaged to you.”
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