Chapter 95: Dinner (Two-in-one)
The young man before him was tall and slender, dressed in a fitting and exquisite magnificent dress.
Beneath his messy black hair was a face softer and more handsome than that of an elf, lacking some of its sharp angles.
He stood thus under the pitch-black night sky, with the grand hall, which gathered the clamor of the entire imperial capital, behind him.
Aerora gently placed her hand into Shaya’s palm and stepped off the carriage, her high heels clicking.
A waiter in white opened the large doors.
Then, the two of them entered the dazzling, bustling splendor together.
…
“Not only the Holy See, but the Alliance of Lieges and the City of Knowledge have also sent envoys… The Borgia Family is making quite a stir this time.”
“Who isn’t? But if you ask me, the Holy See’s response is the biggest, even sending a bishop to the ceremony.”
“That’s only natural, isn’t it? After all, it directly concerns the marriage of a God’s Chosen… or rather, a future Saint. Even for the Holy See, a Saint is a genuine Strategic Class trump card.”
Inside the Palace of Oaths, nobles in exquisite costumes sat in small groups, chatting.
The clinking of glasses and lively conversations filled the air.
For the faction of old nobles who leaned towards the Borgia family, this was undoubtedly a moment of triumph.
Your Royal Family, or rather, your Second Princess, just achieved victory on the border battlefield and wants to make a move, rebuilding the Sword Holders.
In the blink of an eye, the leader of those Sword Holders was lured away by our big brother, the Borgia family. Aren’t you angry?
As for the members of the faction who leaned more towards the Second Princess, they naturally felt a bit disheartened.
The Borgia Family’s act of poaching was no different from being cuckolded right in front of them.
However, those qualified to be invited by the Borgia Family to this dinner party, regardless of their identity or stance, were at least powerful figures in the imperial capital. They were, of course, well-versed in such banquet displays.
No matter how much they wished to devour the person before them in their hearts, outwardly, they all maintained a friendly and smiling demeanor.
At the highest point of the Palace of Oaths, in a room that was not particularly luxurious but dignified and silent.
A small table, two teacups.
An old man with white hair, resembling a gardener, raised the teapot and brewed two cups of tea in a “phoenix nodding three times” style.
“This new trend that originated in the Black Lily District is quite to this old minister’s taste.”
“Without the extravagance and potency of alcohol, it instead possesses a mellow richness and charm with a bitter start and sweet finish.”
“The person who created this beverage truly has excellent taste.”
Across the wooden table, Isadorella raised her teacup and took a sip. “Lord Goodrian has good judgment. If he weren’t so outstanding, I wouldn’t have chosen him as my Sword Holder.”
Today, the Second Princess was no longer wearing her usual Black Vulture military uniform but a palace long dress.
Even so, the sharp and imposing aura around her had not diminished in the slightest, like a sheathed silver sword, clear and awe-inspiring.
“Indeed. If he weren’t so outstanding, I wouldn’t be willing to marry Histria to him. The Borgia Family has very strict requirements for son-in-law candidates.”
Goodrian Borgia also smiled. “I hope Your Highness does not blame my daughter for snatching him away.”
“The Borgia Family invites a wolf into the fold, aren’t you afraid of the consequences?”
“It’s of no consequence… He is a smart person. If he weren’t smart, he wouldn’t have been able to reach such heights on his own. And a smart person naturally knows what choices to make.”
“Lord Goodrian, you are impatient… Nothing has been decided yet.”
“This old minister is indeed a bit impatient… After all, seeing the empire on the brink of collapse, as a member of the Oathbound Family, how can I not be anxious?”
“Are we just going to watch this former number one great nation on the Western Continent decline in national strength, eventually becoming an unknown small country, or perhaps buried by the dust of history, like the recently unearthed Ancient Azure Court?”
Goodrian put down his teacup and looked down at the hall, where nobles were mingling and clinking glasses in a lively manner.
“Perhaps Your Highness does not agree, but everything this old minister has done is actually for the sake of the empire.”
“If things go according to my plan, then with the will of heaven, the empire can be revived, just like under the former emperor.”
“Moreover, Your Highness Isadorella, aren’t you anxious?”
His aged eyes suddenly revealed a hint of profundity. “Your Highness actually activated the Seventh Soul Pact two years ago.”
“If your sole intention was to use the feedback from the Seventh Soul Pact to become a legendary Beast Tamer, you could have done it at any time.”
“As far as I know, there is an Emperor Rank Black Scale Lesser Dragon with a bloodline purity close to pure-blooded black dragon in the Imperial Breeding Center, which should have been prepared for you by His Majesty.”
“However, you have delayed taking that final step. Furthermore, for the past two years, apart from occasional appearances in the imperial capital and on the border battlefield, you have rarely been seen in action for the most part… Yet, for high-level Beast Tamers, combat is the fastest way to improve.”
Isadorella continued to drink her tea with impeccable grace. “My father’s health is not good, and as an imperial princess, I have devoted much of my energy to handling state affairs. Naturally, my cultivation as a Beast Tamer has also stagnated.”
Goodrian’s gaze lingered on the few green tea leaves at the bottom of the teacup. “In Holy Calendar Year 1, ‘Golden King’ Rhine established the Dawn Holy See, ushering in a new era named after the Dawn.”
“The following year, under the title of ‘King of Knights,’ he achieved great deeds in the chaotic times at the transition between the old and new eras, founding the Freista Empire alongside the late emperor, who was as famous as the Golden King.”
“Several of the late emperor’s familiars, such as ‘King of Darkness,’ continued to guard the empire’s territory as guardian deities even after the late emperor’s death.”
“However, two Holy Relics were missing.”
“These were the Holy Sword and Holy Spear, said to have been gestated by the world and the planet… They appeared at the end of the old era’s cataclysm and are also symbols of the King of Knights.”
“It is said that the Holy Spear was bestowed by the late emperor upon a certain knight in his early years. After that, it disappeared along with the retiring guardian knight. With nearly a thousand years having passed, its whereabouts are difficult to trace.”
“But the other Star-Forged Holy Sword was passed down by the King of Knights to his descendants and has been kept by the Royal Family ever since…”
“However, after nearly a thousand years, no member of the Royal Family has been able to gain the recognition of that Holy Sword. That sword from the lake has remained sealed, eventually becoming a vague legend until today.”
Goodrian’s eyes glowed brighter. “However, in the past two years, there have been frequent, albeit concealed, fluctuations of Holy Relics emanating from the imperial palace…”
“Your Highness, your persistent delay in breaking through to legendary status, could it be that you are aiming to gain the recognition of that Star-Forged Holy Sword, thereby bypassing the decades or even centuries of accumulation required for ordinary legends, and directly stepping into the realm of Throne?”
“Gaining the recognition of that sword from the lake is the dream of every royal family member, and I am no exception.”
Meeting Goodrian’s deep gaze, Isadorella shook her head noncommittally.
Her crimson beautiful eyes looked out at the sky beyond the window, as if lost in thought.
“It seems Your Highness has not yet taken that final step.”
The light in Goodrian’s eyes receded, and he returned to his former gentle demeanor, like a gardener, shaking his head with a smile.
“Augustina seems to have arrived. Was it at Your Highness’s invitation?”
“No.”
“This old minister faintly senses some other intrusions, but the perception is not very clear. Does Your Highness know about this?”
“I do not know.”
Isadorella’s brief and calm reply made Goodrian’s heart feel a sense of unease.
However, before he could probe further.
In the hall below, the noisy discussions suddenly quieted down and then disappeared.
“Miss Histria has arrived.”
Pure white stairs cascaded down from the sky.
A breathtakingly beautiful maiden appeared at the highest level of the pure white staircase.
She wore a pure white, long, one-piece dress, and her face was exquisitely perfect, without a single flaw.
What drew most attention was the maiden’s ethereal and transcendent aura. A faint dawn light reflected from her eyes, making it impossible for those who looked at her to harbor any impious thoughts.
Instead, a pure admiration filled their hearts.
Histria Borgia.
The eldest daughter of the Borgia Family, and also a God’s Chosen of the Dawn Holy See, a Saint designated by the Holy See.
Marrying her would be equivalent to embracing all the power, prestige, and wealth in this world.
In this day and age, there are countless people who would directly call out “Auntie, I’m hungry” to skip decades of struggle.
Moreover, Histria herself was so beautiful, like the embodiment of all goodness in the world.
For a moment, a flicker of longing flashed in the eyes of many young nobles present, but it quickly turned to despair.
Precisely because they were nobles, they knew even better the power of the Borgia Family…
In the current imperial capital, apart from the Royal Family, the Borgia Family itself was the biggest power. Their subordinate families were merely their vassals.
It was for this very reason that everyone knew that the marriage alliance decision made by the Borgia Family was not something they were qualified to hope for or meddle with.
“Young Master Shaya Ingleite has arrived.”
At that moment, another announcement rang out.
The doors were pushed open.
Under the gaze of thousands, the black-haired, black-eyed young man slowly walked into the center of the hall, with Aerora, also dressed in a pristine white formal dress, behind him.
“Is this the young master Shaya, the orphan of that Ingleite Family?”
“Yes, I didn’t expect there to be survivors from that ‘Winter’ Family.”
“He is handsome enough. No wonder he was chosen by the Borgia Family as the prospective husband for their eldest daughter.”
“Don’t say that. Their engagement was decided at birth. This is an engagement between two great Oathbound Families. The Borgia Family is not that snobbish and opportunistic.”
“Besides, young master Shaya is not just handsome… Perhaps you don’t know, but a few months ago, when the Ash Cult attacked Ceylon, it was precisely thanks to young master Shaya’s efforts that the lives of an entire academy of students were saved.”
“And it is said that he is not too far from Rank Four. Although he is still slightly inferior to Miss Histria, a God’s Chosen of Dawn, he is already considered first-class outstanding in the empire.”
“In that case, they are indeed a well-matched couple, with talent and beauty.”
“But, isn’t this an engagement ceremony? Why did young master Shaya bring a female companion?”
“I don’t know. Perhaps a maid or a retainer.”
Rumbling——
A wave of clamor and discussion erupted simultaneously.
However, overall, there was not much envy or jealousy, but rather general acceptance and blessings.
On one hand, as the Borgia Family proactively publicized Shaya’s past achievements, exposing them to the spotlight, his excellence was undeniable.
On the other hand, most of the forces present were friendly to the Borgia Family, so they naturally would not undermine the new son-in-law chosen by the Crimson Rose Family at the engagement banquet.
“Young Master Shaya, please come with me. Miss has been waiting for you for a long time.”
Riel silently appeared beside Shaya, leading him through the crowd.
The crowd automatically parted, and soon, Histria’s figure appeared before Shaya.
“You are Shaya, whom my father spoke of?”
A pleasant but icy voice echoed in Shaya’s ears.
Histria’s gaze lingered on Aerora behind Shaya for a moment.
Her clear, delicate eyebrows furrowed slightly, but she quickly averted her gaze.
“A childhood engagement arranged by our fathers did not consider the feelings of the children.”
“However, since it is a vow made in the name of the Borgia, I will not break it.”
She swept her cool gaze across Shaya’s face, and after a long moment, nodded as if scrutinizing him.
“Your first impression on me is quite good. As for matters of emotion, it’s not too late to cultivate them after we are married.”
“It doesn’t matter if we can’t cultivate them; it’s just an exchange of interests anyway.”
“However—”
“I don’t like my things being shared by others, not even servants.”
She looked at Aerora behind Shaya as if appraising a piece of merchandise.
“After you and I are married, let your maid leave…”
“The Borgia Family will provide her with severance pay and a position in a major city outside the imperial capital.”
Histria raised her snow-white neck, like a swan’s, and looked down at Shaya from the steps.
She had just opened her mouth, about to say something more to Shaya.
But then Histria suddenly saw Shaya smile.
The next moment, a faint telepathic message echoed in her ears: “Is that so?”
“However, my first impression of you is not very good.”
“Your supposed holiness and pride are too fake, too deliberate…”
“You are merely mimicking our Saintess of Dawn poorly…”
…
PS: Another chapter will be released in about one or two hours.
