<p>Chapter 14: His Excellency Cain, I Finally Found You!</p>
<p>“What’s wrong? Want to be a mediator for your sister?”</p>
<p>Shaya lifted his ceramic teacup and took a sip, smiling as he spoke.</p>
<p>Hearing this, Xivista shook her head repeatedly: “No, no, don’t misunderstand. I just wanted to ask you something.”</p>
<p>She originally wanted to say she was “worried about you,” but felt that was too ambiguous, so she quickly changed her words.</p>
<p>Seeing her like this, Shaya let out a gentle sigh and straightened his posture: “Actually, you all don’t understand what this title and surname mean to me, what kind of past it represents, and how much weight it carries. As for what Angelica mentioned, like reputation, status, wealth… to me, they are worthless.”</p>
<p>“Even setting aside personal feelings, please don’t forget that I am still a knight. If I shrink back out of fear of power, it goes against the way of the knight.”</p>
<p>The challenge before him and Angelica was one that was virtually irreconcilable.</p>
<p>From what she implied, it was Naya’s teacher who made the decision, but it was clear that Angelica was targeting him at every turn.</p>
<p>It seemed that the two of them, teacher and student, had never cared about Shaya’s thoughts at all.</p>
<p>A few years ago they did, and now they still regarded him as a soft persimmon to be squeezed whenever they wanted.</p>
<p>Xivista slightly parted her pink lips upon hearing this, but seeing his resolute demeanor, she finally said weakly: “My sister’s teacher, Madam Mevis, has been promoted to Sorcerer three years ago…”</p>
<p>Shaya fell silent.</p>
<p>Sorcerer is the rank following that of a Grand Mage. At this level, one could cast forbidden spells, making every move attract high importance from the state.</p>
<p>The atmosphere became a little oppressive.</p>
<p>Seeing that he seemed unwilling to discuss this topic, Xivista forced a smile: “Classmate Shaya, you are my friend, yet your life has been affected by my sister’s arrogance. I’m really sorry.”</p>
<p>Shaya chuckled: “Not at all, you’re just an unrelated bystander caught in the crossfire. There’s no need to feel that way.”</p>
<p>“By the way, are you short on money lately?” After a moment of silence, to ease the atmosphere, Xivista pointed at the paper on Shaya’s desk, shyly sticking out her pink tongue. “I accidentally glanced at it just now and it seems that classmate Shaya has a need to sell some assets.”</p>
<p>He didn’t feel embarrassed and straightforwardly said: “Yes, I’m preparing to buy a very important item that requires a large amount of cash and I’m currently in a headache over it.”</p>
<p>“I have money!” Xivista instinctively raised her hand, but quickly realized this wasn’t very ladylike, her slender body shrinking inward, her small face turning slightly red. “Uh… I mean, if you need it, you can come to me for help.”</p>
<p>Shaya shook his head, refusing: “That’s not a small amount; I need at least—”</p>
<p>“Is twenty thousand enough?” Xivista proactively interrupted him, then blinked her eyes, “Uh, in gold coins.”</p>
<p>Shaya blinked, swallowing the latter half, “Eight thousand gold coins,” back down his throat.</p>
<p>He stared at her dumbfounded, realizing Xivista showed no hesitation or pain, her expression as relaxed as if she were drinking a cup of water.</p>
<p>Could this be the legendary phrase, don’t challenge my pocket money with all your wealth?</p>
<p>Seeing Shaya staring blankly at her, Xivista misunderstood his meaning and said apologetically: “If that’s not enough, I still have about twenty thousand gold coins in my manor’s treasury. That’s all I have… Even so, it’s still much less compared to my sister. I’m sorry.”</p>
<p>“Wait!” Shaya finally came back to his senses, forcibly suppressing his thoughts about living off others, shaking his head. “I won’t take that money; it’s too much. I might not be able to return it in the short term, and it wouldn’t be fair for you.”</p>
<p>After a slight pause, he continued, “Even if we’re friends, it cannot be like this. You should know that once money is involved, even brothers can turn against each other. I don’t want our friendship to deteriorate because of it.”</p>
<p>“But…” Xivista tilted her head slightly, “Please try to put yourself in my shoes. If our positions were reversed, what would classmate Shaya do?”</p>
<p>Shaya opened his mouth but ultimately said nothing.</p>
<p>If he had tens of thousands of gold coins as pocket money and happened to encounter a friend urgently needing eight thousand… he would most likely lend it.</p>
<p>“Right?” A strand of wavy hair draped gently over her ear, and a soft smile bloomed on Xivista’s fair face. “Moreover, I have conditions.”</p>
<p>Shaya was slightly taken aback: “What conditions?”</p>
<p>“Do you remember that notebook?”</p>
<p>Xivista lifted her ceramic teacup for another sip, seemingly recalling something, a sly glint flashing in her smile.</p>
<p>The notebook? </p>
<p>Shaya instinctively recalled the events of their first meeting.</p>
<p>It was during a modern history class of Hiron at the beginning of the semester, where students from the Knight and Magic departments attended the same large classroom. Sitting in the back row, Shaya listened, feeling dizzy.</p>
<p>To pass the time, he took out his notebook and pondered on how to craft the beginning of his new work.</p>
<p>Though he had the original content in memory, he still went through artistic adjustments to accommodate the cultural atmosphere and historical context of this world, refining many details. By the time class was nearing its end, he completed the first half, and accidentally lost the notebook in the classroom before leaving.</p>
<p>By the time he realized this and went back to look for it, the notebook was already missing.</p>
<p>The best outcome he expected was a rewrite, or it could be misused by someone with ulterior motives and sent to a publisher under a false name. However, the next day, Shaya found a note on his desk.</p>
<p>“Your notebook is with me. If convenient, please go to the third-floor terrace of the Opal Pavilion before lunchtime to claim it.”</p>
<p>So mysterious.</p>
<p>That was the only thought that crossed Shaya’s mind after reading the note.</p>
<p>The choice of meeting at lunchtime was to avoid the crowds; it seemed the other person wanted to keep their meeting a secret.</p>
<p>With some hesitation, Shaya ultimately followed the instructions on the note.</p>
<p>As a result, he met a carefully dressed Xivista at the agreed location, holding the notebook with a bright and joyful smile.</p>
<p>“His Excellency Cain, I finally found you!”</p>
<p>Although Shaya still couldn’t figure out how she recognized him from a single notebook, this was how the disparate identities of “Book Fan” and “Author” achieved a dramatically significant first meeting.</p>
<p>Not sure if it was his imagination, but from that day on, Shaya noticed an increasing frequency of coincidental encounters between them.</p>
<p>Eventually, they gradually became friends.</p>
<p>…</p>
<p>“So, what is your condition?”</p>
<p>After ending the memory, Shaya glanced at her and spoke.</p>
<p>“First, please answer a question that has confused me.” Xivista fixed her gaze on the boy before her. “What was the name of the story written in the notebook?”</p>
<p>Shaya thought for a few seconds and replied, “You can call it… ‘Romeo and Juliet.'”</p>
<p>Xivista nodded, and then a hint of grievance flashed in her eyes: “Just the beginning but not the ending. Doesn’t classmate Shaya understand how torturous this is for loyal readers?”</p>
<p>“My condition is simple: I urge you to hurry up and write the second half!”</p>
<p>Xivista seriously gazed at Shaya, her pink cheeks slightly puffed.</p>
<p>“Ahem…”</p>
<p>Seeing her look of being ‘betrayed by the incompetent author,’ Shaya nearly lost his composure.</p>
<p>Trust me, girl, you wouldn’t want to see that ending.</p>
<p>He thought it over for a while, then sighed a few times, trying to persuade her not to get too invested: “That book had some unexpected developments later, so it’s not intended for release, and the ending may not align with your hopes.”</p>
<p>Shaya hinted subtly.</p>
<p>However, Xivista merely glanced at him silently, offering no response.</p>
<p>Seeing this, Shaya could only steel himself to continue: “Of course, if you really want to see it, I can find time to write it. It would be no trouble.”</p>
<p>Only then did she display a slight reserved smile.</p>
<p>With more delays and abrupt endings, he wondered whether she would directly blacklist him after reading this book.</p>
<p>Suddenly, Shaya noticed a delicate white hand reaching out, palm holding a ring.</p>
<p>“This is a dimensional magical device; inside it are twenty thousand gold coins. If that’s not enough, please let me know.” Xivista placed the ring on the table in front of Shaya and added, “This is the buyout fee for the completion of that book.”</p>
<p>In other words, once it’s written, whether it’s one person holding the original to read or having it printed by a publisher for profits, it’s no longer related to Shaya.</p>
<p>Of course, given Xivista’s wealth, she most likely wouldn’t opt for a publisher.</p>
<p>Seemingly worried he would think she was greedy, Xivista repeated softly, “…If that’s not enough, please let me know.”</p>
<p>Not enough?</p>
<p>Even for the best-selling “The Count of Monte Cristo,” the total earnings from the three-tier royalties were just over four thousand gold coins.</p>
<p>Is this really the world of the rich?</p>
<p>Shaya suddenly questioned life, feeling like all his hard work to earn money in the past ten years amounted to nothing more than small change.</p>
<p>After a moment of silence.</p>
<p>“I… I should go.”</p>
<p>Xivista said a bit shyly.</p>
<p>She was a lady, and the upbringing she received forbade her from spending too much time alone in a room with a man without an invitation, as it could easily lead to bizarre misunderstandings.</p>
<p>Counting the time, it had been around ten minutes.</p>
<p>“I’ll see you off.”</p>
<p>Shaya stood up and accompanied her to the door.</p>
<p>Looking at Xivista gently stepping her small foot into her wedge shoes, Shaya opened the door for her.</p>
<p>“Here is fine; there’s a carriage waiting for me downstairs.”</p>
<p>Xivista gently tucked her platinum hair behind her ear, her voice melodious.</p>
<p>After a moment of hesitation, she suddenly looked up, her beautiful eyes watching the boy before her, mustering the courage to say, “By the way, classmate Shaya, do you still remember…”</p>
<p>“Mm?” </p>
<p>Shaya blinked, then saw Xivista’s small face quickly flush with a hint of pink.</p>
<p>“N-nothing! See you tomorrow, classmate Shaya!”</p>
<p>After leaving a sentence without context, Xivista suddenly seemed shy, hurriedly fleeing the scene.</p>
<p>Perhaps due to walking too fast, she stumbled a bit at the corner while heading downstairs, but managed to regain her balance.</p>
<p>“……”</p>
<p>Xivista blushed, looking back at Shaya, who was standing by the door with a concerned expression. Immediately, she went “mew” a couple of times like an angry little cat and ran away.</p>
<p>“Strange.”</p>
<p>Shaya shook his head and closed the apartment door.</p>
<p>Returning to the living room, he stared at the small, exquisite women’s ring on the table, which glimmered in dark silver.</p>
<p>He never expected the money would come so easily.</p>
<p>…</p>
<p>Hurriedly leaving Shaya’s apartment, Xivista climbed into a carriage by the roadside without lifting her head.</p>
<p>Pulling up the curtains and sitting alone on the soft cushion, she finally exhaled a sigh of relief.</p>
<p>Then she covered her slightly heated, rosy cheeks with both hands, kicked off her shoes, placed her feet on the edge of the seat, and buried her face in her knees.</p>
<p>“Woo woo woo… I can’t show my face to him…”</p>
<p>A strand of hair clung to the corner of her mouth, and her delicate little face turned as red as a burning cloud as she muttered to herself.</p>
<p>After a long while, she slowly recovered from the earlier atmosphere.</p>
<p>A faint blush remained on Xivista’s cheeks as she curled up on her side, then loosened her hands. Her slender legs stretched straight under her skirt, the tips of her white-socked feet curled gently, resting against the far side of the carriage.</p>
<p>After doing this, she gently turned over, lying back, her left hand hanging over the edge of the seat, while the back of her right hand pressed against her forehead, her chest gently rising and falling.</p>
<p>Staring at the pitch-black ceiling of the carriage, Xivista didn’t speak for a long time.</p>
<p>Then, she let out a hardly noticeable sigh.</p>
<p>“I still haven’t asked it out loud.”</p>
<p>She whispered softly, her face still red, a hint of nostalgia flashing in her pupils.</p>
<p>In fact, the first encounter between them was not the notebook return incident but an earlier event.</p>
<p>It was a night eight years ago.</p>
<p>Back then, the very young Xivista was sent by her father to the Royal Capital for court education. However, while passing the outskirts of Dawn Forest, close to the plains leading to the outskirts of the Royal Capital, she was ambushed by a group of thugs.</p>
<p>The leader of the thugs was the head of the Red Moon cult, declaring that this operation was to kidnap the little daughter of the Duke of Algeria for political coercion.</p>
<p>To protect her, the accompanying guard team fought valiantly, but due to the fact that the leader was an extremely powerful sorcerer, casualties among the soldiers were severe.</p>
<p>In the end, amid the chaos of battle, she managed to escape trembling.</p>
<p>Though the Royal Capital was just ahead, without a carriage and guards, even the low-level monsters in Dawn Forest could take her life.</p>
<p>After dealing with the guards, that evil cult leader soon chased after her, blood-red magical wings spreading from his back, resembling a devouring demon against the night backdrop.</p>
<p>Who will come to save me?</p>
<p>With tears streaming down her face, as Xivista fell to the ground, she watched the grinning face of the cult leader drawing closer, desperately praying inside.</p>
<p>Just as she was about to be caught, an unfamiliar voice suddenly sounded from the side: “Look at me, plant!”</p>
<p>As soon as the words fell, a small figure sprang out from the bushes, rushing toward the cult leader with a short sword in hand.</p>
<p>The two quickly engaged in a fight, but it was a fight of unequal power.</p>
<p>“I can’t hold on for long, you need to run!” </p>
<p>The small figure swung the sword while shouting at her loudly.</p>
<p>Xivista was stunned by the sight of this fearless and noble figure, her heart fluttering; she gazed tearfully at the figure and, aided by the moonlight, finally saw what the person looked like.</p>
<p>He was a handsome boy about her age.</p>
<p>“You hold on, I’ll get someone to save you right away!” </p>
<p>She stumbled backward, calling out with a voice choked with tears.</p>
<p>“Don’t! Whatever you do, don’t come back to save me!” </p>
<p>Accompanied by this shout came a series of chaotic and indistinguishable quarrels between the boy and the cult leader.</p>
<p>Xivista ran quickly out of fear.</p>
<p>She could only vaguely hear the cult leader intermittently saying something like “immortal,” “resurrection,” and “monster,” while the boy laughed maniacally, chanting strange phrases like “fat sheep,” “so much experience,” and “slash this way.”</p>
<p>Eventually, she was found by the knight team that came to rescue her.</p>
<p>Crying, she begged the knights to go back and save her guards and that boy, before losing consciousness.</p>
<p>When she returned to the Royal Capital, she suffered from a high fever for several days and when she finally woke up, her first question was to the maid beside her: “Where’s that boy?”</p>
<p>To her surprise, no one could answer that question after asking around.</p>
<p>In the end, it was an officer from the knight team who answered her confusion.</p>
<p>They had rescued some members of the guard team, but after searching a range of over ten miles, they found no trace of the boy Xivista had described.</p>
<p>They did find a battleground, and it was filled with splattered blood.</p>
<p>“Even if that person existed, after leaving so much blood, he wouldn’t have survived.”</p>
<p>In the end, those around her concluded the question with this phrase. </p>
<p>But Xivista did not give up because that young figure left an indelible impression on her heart; she would never forget it for decades until her dying day.</p>
<p>Throughout her life, surrounded by scheming relatives and flattering subordinates, Xivista met that kind of boy for the first time.</p>
<p>That figure lingered in her mind as if it had become the moonlight shining in her heart.</p>
<p>In the following years, Xivista never stopped searching, either overtly or covertly using her family’s resources and her own power to investigate the matter, but sadly never found anything.</p>
<p>Until one day, after disguising herself as an adventurer as usual, Xivista went to an adventurer’s guild to inquire about news regarding that boy.</p>
<p>Before she could even speak, she suddenly heard a somewhat familiar voice coming from the mission desk.</p>
<p>“Same as always, give me a mission to catch the wanted criminal; the stronger the opponent, the better.”</p>
<p>Xivista raised her head in disbelief, looking at the figure at the counter.</p>
<p>Years had passed, and he had grown much taller, transforming from a boy into a handsome young man. The only thing that hadn’t changed was his fearless attitude.</p>
<p>Although Xivista was immersed in the joy of finding him again, she suppressed her excitement and didn’t immediately recognize him.</p>
<p>Instead, after he left, she very discreetly inquired with a recruiter about that boy’s information.</p>
<p>“Oh, that fearless kid? I don’t know his name, but he calls himself ‘Cain,’ and he lives not far from here on Menden Street.”</p>
<p>His… Excellency?</p>
<p>A look of undeniable surprise flashed in Xivista’s beautiful eyes, her heart racing.</p>
<p>His Excellency Cain, I finally found you!</p>
<p>“What’s wrong? Want to be a mediator for your sister?”</p>
<p>Shaya lifted his ceramic teacup and took a sip, smiling as he spoke.</p>
<p>Hearing this, Xivista shook her head repeatedly: “No, no, don’t misunderstand. I just wanted to ask you something.”</p>
<p>She originally wanted to say she was “worried about you,” but felt that was too ambiguous, so she quickly changed her words.</p>
<p>Seeing her like this, Shaya let out a gentle sigh and straightened his posture: “Actually, you all don’t understand what this title and surname mean to me, what kind of past it represents, and how much weight it carries. As for what Angelica mentioned, like reputation, status, wealth… to me, they are worthless.”</p>
<p>“Even setting aside personal feelings, please don’t forget that I am still a knight. If I shrink back out of fear of power, it goes against the way of the knight.”</p>
<p>The challenge before him and Angelica was one that was virtually irreconcilable.</p>
<p>From what she implied, it was Naya’s teacher who made the decision, but it was clear that Angelica was targeting him at every turn.</p>
<p>It seemed that the two of them, teacher and student, had never cared about Shaya’s thoughts at all.</p>
<p>A few years ago they did, and now they still regarded him as a soft persimmon to be squeezed whenever they wanted.</p>
<p>Xivista slightly parted her pink lips upon hearing this, but seeing his resolute demeanor, she finally said weakly: “My sister’s teacher, Madam Mevis, has been promoted to Sorcerer three years ago…”</p>
<p>Shaya fell silent.</p>
<p>Sorcerer is the rank following that of a Grand Mage. At this level, one could cast forbidden spells, making every move attract high importance from the state.</p>
<p>The atmosphere became a little oppressive.</p>
<p>Seeing that he seemed unwilling to discuss this topic, Xivista forced a smile: “Classmate Shaya, you are my friend, yet your life has been affected by my sister’s arrogance. I’m really sorry.”</p>
<p>Shaya chuckled: “Not at all, you’re just an unrelated bystander caught in the crossfire. There’s no need to feel that way.”</p>
<p>“By the way, are you short on money lately?” After a moment of silence, to ease the atmosphere, Xivista pointed at the paper on Shaya’s desk, shyly sticking out her pink tongue. “I accidentally glanced at it just now and it seems that classmate Shaya has a need to sell some assets.”</p>
<p>He didn’t feel embarrassed and straightforwardly said: “Yes, I’m preparing to buy a very important item that requires a large amount of cash and I’m currently in a headache over it.”</p>
<p>“I have money!” Xivista instinctively raised her hand, but quickly realized this wasn’t very ladylike, her slender body shrinking inward, her small face turning slightly red. “Uh… I mean, if you need it, you can come to me for help.”</p>
<p>Shaya shook his head, refusing: “That’s not a small amount; I need at least—”</p>
<p>“Is twenty thousand enough?” Xivista proactively interrupted him, then blinked her eyes, “Uh, in gold coins.”</p>
<p>Shaya blinked, swallowing the latter half, “Eight thousand gold coins,” back down his throat.</p>
<p>He stared at her dumbfounded, realizing Xivista showed no hesitation or pain, her expression as relaxed as if she were drinking a cup of water.</p>
<p>Could this be the legendary phrase, don’t challenge my pocket money with all your wealth?</p>
<p>Seeing Shaya staring blankly at her, Xivista misunderstood his meaning and said apologetically: “If that’s not enough, I still have about twenty thousand gold coins in my manor’s treasury. That’s all I have… Even so, it’s still much less compared to my sister. I’m sorry.”</p>
<p>“Wait!” Shaya finally came back to his senses, forcibly suppressing his thoughts about living off others, shaking his head. “I won’t take that money; it’s too much. I might not be able to return it in the short term, and it wouldn’t be fair for you.”</p>
<p>After a slight pause, he continued, “Even if we’re friends, it cannot be like this. You should know that once money is involved, even brothers can turn against each other. I don’t want our friendship to deteriorate because of it.”</p>
<p>“But…” Xivista tilted her head slightly, “Please try to put yourself in my shoes. If our positions were reversed, what would classmate Shaya do?”</p>
<p>Shaya opened his mouth but ultimately said nothing.</p>
<p>If he had tens of thousands of gold coins as pocket money and happened to encounter a friend urgently needing eight thousand… he would most likely lend it.</p>
<p>“Right?” A strand of wavy hair draped gently over her ear, and a soft smile bloomed on Xivista’s fair face. “Moreover, I have conditions.”</p>
<p>Shaya was slightly taken aback: “What conditions?”</p>
<p>“Do you remember that notebook?”</p>
<p>Xivista lifted her ceramic teacup for another sip, seemingly recalling something, a sly glint flashing in her smile.</p>
<p>The notebook? </p>
<p>Shaya instinctively recalled the events of their first meeting.</p>
<p>It was during a modern history class of Hiron at the beginning of the semester, where students from the Knight and Magic departments attended the same large classroom. Sitting in the back row, Shaya listened, feeling dizzy.</p>
<p>To pass the time, he took out his notebook and pondered on how to craft the beginning of his new work.</p>
<p>Though he had the original content in memory, he still went through artistic adjustments to accommodate the cultural atmosphere and historical context of this world, refining many details. By the time class was nearing its end, he completed the first half, and accidentally lost the notebook in the classroom before leaving.</p>
<p>By the time he realized this and went back to look for it, the notebook was already missing.</p>
<p>The best outcome he expected was a rewrite, or it could be misused by someone with ulterior motives and sent to a publisher under a false name. However, the next day, Shaya found a note on his desk.</p>
<p>“Your notebook is with me. If convenient, please go to the third-floor terrace of the Opal Pavilion before lunchtime to claim it.”</p>
<p>So mysterious.</p>
<p>That was the only thought that crossed Shaya’s mind after reading the note.</p>
<p>The choice of meeting at lunchtime was to avoid the crowds; it seemed the other person wanted to keep their meeting a secret.</p>
<p>With some hesitation, Shaya ultimately followed the instructions on the note.</p>
<p>As a result, he met a carefully dressed Xivista at the agreed location, holding the notebook with a bright and joyful smile.</p>
<p>“His Excellency Cain, I finally found you!”</p>
<p>Although Shaya still couldn’t figure out how she recognized him from a single notebook, this was how the disparate identities of “Book Fan” and “Author” achieved a dramatically significant first meeting.</p>
<p>Not sure if it was his imagination, but from that day on, Shaya noticed an increasing frequency of coincidental encounters between them.</p>
<p>Eventually, they gradually became friends.</p>
<p>…</p>
<p>“So, what is your condition?”</p>
<p>After ending the memory, Shaya glanced at her and spoke.</p>
<p>“First, please answer a question that has confused me.” Xivista fixed her gaze on the boy before her. “What was the name of the story written in the notebook?”</p>
<p>Shaya thought for a few seconds and replied, “You can call it… ‘Romeo and Juliet.'”</p>
<p>Xivista nodded, and then a hint of grievance flashed in her eyes: “Just the beginning but not the ending. Doesn’t classmate Shaya understand how torturous this is for loyal readers?”</p>
<p>“My condition is simple: I urge you to hurry up and write the second half!”</p>
<p>Xivista seriously gazed at Shaya, her pink cheeks slightly puffed.</p>
<p>“Ahem…”</p>
<p>Seeing her look of being ‘betrayed by the incompetent author,’ Shaya nearly lost his composure.</p>
<p>Trust me, girl, you wouldn’t want to see that ending.</p>
<p>He thought it over for a while, then sighed a few times, trying to persuade her not to get too invested: “That book had some unexpected developments later, so it’s not intended for release, and the ending may not align with your hopes.”</p>
<p>Shaya hinted subtly.</p>
<p>However, Xivista merely glanced at him silently, offering no response.</p>
<p>Seeing this, Shaya could only steel himself to continue: “Of course, if you really want to see it, I can find time to write it. It would be no trouble.”</p>
<p>Only then did she display a slight reserved smile.</p>
<p>With more delays and abrupt endings, he wondered whether she would directly blacklist him after reading this book.</p>
<p>Suddenly, Shaya noticed a delicate white hand reaching out, palm holding a ring.</p>
<p>“This is a dimensional magical device; inside it are twenty thousand gold coins. If that’s not enough, please let me know.” Xivista placed the ring on the table in front of Shaya and added, “This is the buyout fee for the completion of that book.”</p>
<p>In other words, once it’s written, whether it’s one person holding the original to read or having it printed by a publisher for profits, it’s no longer related to Shaya.</p>
<p>Of course, given Xivista’s wealth, she most likely wouldn’t opt for a publisher.</p>
<p>Seemingly worried he would think she was greedy, Xivista repeated softly, “…If that’s not enough, please let me know.”</p>
<p>Not enough?</p>
<p>Even for the best-selling “The Count of Monte Cristo,” the total earnings from the three-tier royalties were just over four thousand gold coins.</p>
<p>Is this really the world of the rich?</p>
<p>Shaya suddenly questioned life, feeling like all his hard work to earn money in the past ten years amounted to nothing more than small change.</p>
<p>After a moment of silence.</p>
<p>“I… I should go.”</p>
<p>Xivista said a bit shyly.</p>
<p>She was a lady, and the upbringing she received forbade her from spending too much time alone in a room with a man without an invitation, as it could easily lead to bizarre misunderstandings.</p>
<p>Counting the time, it had been around ten minutes.</p>
<p>“I’ll see you off.”</p>
<p>Shaya stood up and accompanied her to the door.</p>
<p>Looking at Xivista gently stepping her small foot into her wedge shoes, Shaya opened the door for her.</p>
<p>“Here is fine; there’s a carriage waiting for me downstairs.”</p>
<p>Xivista gently tucked her platinum hair behind her ear, her voice melodious.</p>
<p>After a moment of hesitation, she suddenly looked up, her beautiful eyes watching the boy before her, mustering the courage to say, “By the way, classmate Shaya, do you still remember…”</p>
<p>“Mm?” </p>
<p>Shaya blinked, then saw Xivista’s small face quickly flush with a hint of pink.</p>
<p>“N-nothing! See you tomorrow, classmate Shaya!”</p>
<p>After leaving a sentence without context, Xivista suddenly seemed shy, hurriedly fleeing the scene.</p>
<p>Perhaps due to walking too fast, she stumbled a bit at the corner while heading downstairs, but managed to regain her balance.</p>
<p>“……”</p>
<p>Xivista blushed, looking back at Shaya, who was standing by the door with a concerned expression. Immediately, she went “mew” a couple of times like an angry little cat and ran away.</p>
<p>“Strange.”</p>
<p>Shaya shook his head and closed the apartment door.</p>
<p>Returning to the living room, he stared at the small, exquisite women’s ring on the table, which glimmered in dark silver.</p>
<p>He never expected the money would come so easily.</p>
<p>…</p>
<p>Hurriedly leaving Shaya’s apartment, Xivista climbed into a carriage by the roadside without lifting her head.</p>
<p>Pulling up the curtains and sitting alone on the soft cushion, she finally exhaled a sigh of relief.</p>
<p>Then she covered her slightly heated, rosy cheeks with both hands, kicked off her shoes, placed her feet on the edge of the seat, and buried her face in her knees.</p>
<p>“Woo woo woo… I can’t show my face to him…”</p>
<p>A strand of hair clung to the corner of her mouth, and her delicate little face turned as red as a burning cloud as she muttered to herself.</p>
<p>After a long while, she slowly recovered from the earlier atmosphere.</p>
<p>A faint blush remained on Xivista’s cheeks as she curled up on her side, then loosened her hands. Her slender legs stretched straight under her skirt, the tips of her white-socked feet curled gently, resting against the far side of the carriage.</p>
<p>After doing this, she gently turned over, lying back, her left hand hanging over the edge of the seat, while the back of her right hand pressed against her forehead, her chest gently rising and falling.</p>
<p>Staring at the pitch-black ceiling of the carriage, Xivista didn’t speak for a long time.</p>
<p>Then, she let out a hardly noticeable sigh.</p>
<p>“I still haven’t asked it out loud.”</p>
<p>She whispered softly, her face still red, a hint of nostalgia flashing in her pupils.</p>
<p>In fact, the first encounter between them was not the notebook return incident but an earlier event.</p>
<p>It was a night eight years ago.</p>
<p>Back then, the very young Xivista was sent by her father to the Royal Capital for court education. However, while passing the outskirts of Dawn Forest, close to the plains leading to the outskirts of the Royal Capital, she was ambushed by a group of thugs.</p>
<p>The leader of the thugs was the head of the Red Moon cult, declaring that this operation was to kidnap the little daughter of the Duke of Algeria for political coercion.</p>
<p>To protect her, the accompanying guard team fought valiantly, but due to the fact that the leader was an extremely powerful sorcerer, casualties among the soldiers were severe.</p>
<p>In the end, amid the chaos of battle, she managed to escape trembling.</p>
<p>Though the Royal Capital was just ahead, without a carriage and guards, even the low-level monsters in Dawn Forest could take her life.</p>
<p>After dealing with the guards, that evil cult leader soon chased after her, blood-red magical wings spreading from his back, resembling a devouring demon against the night backdrop.</p>
<p>Who will come to save me?</p>
<p>With tears streaming down her face, as Xivista fell to the ground, she watched the grinning face of the cult leader drawing closer, desperately praying inside.</p>
<p>Just as she was about to be caught, an unfamiliar voice suddenly sounded from the side: “Look at me, plant!”</p>
<p>As soon as the words fell, a small figure sprang out from the bushes, rushing toward the cult leader with a short sword in hand.</p>
<p>The two quickly engaged in a fight, but it was a fight of unequal power.</p>
<p>“I can’t hold on for long, you need to run!” </p>
<p>The small figure swung the sword while shouting at her loudly.</p>
<p>Xivista was stunned by the sight of this fearless and noble figure, her heart fluttering; she gazed tearfully at the figure and, aided by the moonlight, finally saw what the person looked like.</p>
<p>He was a handsome boy about her age.</p>
<p>“You hold on, I’ll get someone to save you right away!” </p>
<p>She stumbled backward, calling out with a voice choked with tears.</p>
<p>“Don’t! Whatever you do, don’t come back to save me!” </p>
<p>Accompanied by this shout came a series of chaotic and indistinguishable quarrels between the boy and the cult leader.</p>
<p>Xivista ran quickly out of fear.</p>
<p>She could only vaguely hear the cult leader intermittently saying something like “immortal,” “resurrection,” and “monster,” while the boy laughed maniacally, chanting strange phrases like “fat sheep,” “so much experience,” and “slash this way.”</p>
<p>Eventually, she was found by the knight team that came to rescue her.</p>
<p>Crying, she begged the knights to go back and save her guards and that boy, before losing consciousness.</p>
<p>When she returned to the Royal Capital, she suffered from a high fever for several days and when she finally woke up, her first question was to the maid beside her: “Where’s that boy?”</p>
<p>To her surprise, no one could answer that question after asking around.</p>
<p>In the end, it was an officer from the knight team who answered her confusion.</p>
<p>They had rescued some members of the guard team, but after searching a range of over ten miles, they found no trace of the boy Xivista had described.</p>
<p>They did find a battleground, and it was filled with splattered blood.</p>
<p>“Even if that person existed, after leaving so much blood, he wouldn’t have survived.”</p>
<p>In the end, those around her concluded the question with this phrase. </p>
<p>But Xivista did not give up because that young figure left an indelible impression on her heart; she would never forget it for decades until her dying day.</p>
<p>Throughout her life, surrounded by scheming relatives and flattering subordinates, Xivista met that kind of boy for the first time.</p>
<p>That figure lingered in her mind as if it had become the moonlight shining in her heart.</p>
<p>In the following years, Xivista never stopped searching, either overtly or covertly using her family’s resources and her own power to investigate the matter, but sadly never found anything.</p>
<p>Until one day, after disguising herself as an adventurer as usual, Xivista went to an adventurer’s guild to inquire about news regarding that boy.</p>
<p>Before she could even speak, she suddenly heard a somewhat familiar voice coming from the mission desk.</p>
<p>“Same as always, give me a mission to catch the wanted criminal; the stronger the opponent, the better.”</p>
<p>Xivista raised her head in disbelief, looking at the figure at the counter.</p>
<p>Years had passed, and he had grown much taller, transforming from a boy into a handsome young man. The only thing that hadn’t changed was his fearless attitude.</p>
<p>Although Xivista was immersed in the joy of finding him again, she suppressed her excitement and didn’t immediately recognize him.</p>
<p>Instead, after he left, she very discreetly inquired with a recruiter about that boy’s information.</p>
<p>“Oh, that fearless kid? I don’t know his name, but he calls himself ‘Cain,’ and he lives not far from here on Menden Street.”</p>
<p>His… Excellency?</p>
<p>A look of undeniable surprise flashed in Xivista’s beautiful eyes, her heart racing.</p>
<p>His Excellency Cain, I finally found you!</p>
