Hate me, Miss Witch!

"This is incredible, truly incredible!"

"It's not just the prominent nobles within the Empire Capital... even several ruling powers from the theocratic kingdom and the Princes' Alliance have also received invitations."

"Moreover, those influential families, including the Sacred Court, have all confirmed they will send envoy delegations to the Empire Capital for the ceremony."

"Now, almost the entire Western Continent, even the Lost Realm, is discussing the engagement between the Borgia family's young lady and the leader."

In the Military Department's rest room, several Swordbearers were seated around a small round table, a thick stack of newspapers piled beside them. They had just finished wrapping up operations at Club Thorns of Sin. Not only had they rescued hundreds of prisoners who had lost their freedom, but they had also collected substantial evidence that could be used to pressure the Aristocratic Council. Although the opposing party would undoubtedly deny any connection to Club Thorns of Sin and employ various tactics of dissociation, this tug-of-war would naturally also secure considerable benefits for the Military Department and the Swordbearers.

As for the Swordbearers' debut battle, it was truly a victory worthy of being recorded in detail, perhaps even celebrated with a feast. However, all their accomplishments suddenly seemed to pale in comparison to the massive scandal that had swept the entire Empire.

"The Borgia family has significant ambitions this time; even our surviving Round Table families have received invitations," Dark Raven said coolly.

"A mere engagement banquet has managed to stir the bulk of the Order Faction in the Western Continent."

"Just as the Royal Family's reputation within the Empire began to improve, the Borgias immediately made such a move. The Borgia family is demonstrating its strength to those powers within the Empire that are still wavering..."

"Furthermore, right after His Highness re-established the Swordbearers, they immediately sent the engagement proposal..."

"It's clear they intend to poach people right from under His Highness's nose."

As members of the Swordbearers, they all understood this was the Borgia family's tactic of pulling the rug out from under them. The Swordbearers had indeed won a stunning victory, and the exposure of Club Thorns of Sin would inevitably impact the Borgia family. However, if Shiayar were truly to become engaged to Histanlia Borgia, the disadvantage the Borgia family had fallen into would be completely reversed. It would also instantly render all previous arrangements by the Military Department, the Swordbearers, and Second Princess Isadella a joke.

The leader of the Swordbearers you just backed now becomes the son-in-law of your greatest enemy.

After that, who would still have faith in the Royal Family? Its prestige would undoubtedly plummet.

"But, I must say, it is indeed a very tempting proposal," Dyres said softly, her gaze sweeping over the exquisitely beautiful young woman in the newspaper.

"She is the only daughter of an old Legendary figure from the Borgia family, one who might even be approaching demigod status."

"Furthermore, she is favored by the Dawn, possibly one of the future 13 Saints—a being who could ascend to the highest echelons of the theocratic kingdom."

"By marrying Histanlia Borgia, one gains not only the inherent influence of the Crimson Rose Family, which goes without saying, but it's also akin to having the entire Sacred Court as backing."

This was the Borgia family's overt strategy. They had placed their glittering chips squarely on the table, offering a temptation the other side could hardly refuse. It was akin to snatching people right before your eyes, intending to turn the Royal Family into a laughingstock for the entire Empire.

"So, can we start packing our bags and prepare to go our separate ways then?" Nightingale's somewhat bewildered voice asked.

Shiayar's previous declaration at Club Thorns of Sin had indeed moved her, filling her with confidence in the Swordbearers' future. But Nightingale, putting herself in Shiayar Egutt's shoes, knew she could never refuse the marriage proposal put forth by the Borgias. Accepting this engagement meant embracing power, wealth, beauty, strength... everything a human, a man, could possibly imagine.

Dyres shook her head. "Who knows?"

"He dismissed me directly; I didn't even have time to probe further."

She knew Shiayar better than anyone else in the Swordbearers. They had several encounters many years ago, and she had even personally entered the dream world derived from Shiayar's inner world. But even Dyres, a member of the Succubus Royal Family most expert at reading hearts, still couldn't fathom Shiayar's thoughts.

「」

On the outskirts of the Empire Capital, in a quaint mansion atop a hill, Isadella, clad in a Black Vulture military uniform, was quietly flipping through documents. A pitch-black griffin slept in the wilderness outside the mansion, exuding a formidable aura. As the Second Princess of the Empire, Isadella was supposed to reside in the Royal Palace at the center of the Upper City District. However, she seldom went there, preferring instead to stay at her suburban mansion.

"Your Highness, the Borgia family's invitation for you has also arrived. It's for that same banquet," a hoarse female voice sounded by her ear.

Then, a fully gilded envelope, bearing the Scarlet Rose insignia, was silently placed on the wooden table.

Isadella extended her slender fingers, toying with the envelope for a moment.

"Guderian Borgia," she murmured. "You're putting me in check, aren't you..."

Her resolute voice carried on the evening breeze. The Second Princess's gaze turned to the distance, the image of the black-haired, black-eyed young man re-emerging in her mind.

So—

If it were you...

What choice would you make?

「」

While countless eyes were fixed on the Empire Capital, or more precisely, on the Borgia family's banquet seven days hence, Shiayar, the male lead of this earth-shattering gossip, had merely shut himself away in the manor's training room. For five consecutive days, Shiayar and Enola did not step outside. As a result, Zieg and Dyres, who had intended to visit for discussions, were turned away at the door. They had no choice but to give up reluctantly.

It was only late on the fifth night that the doors to the training room finally opened again.

The little white ferret on Shiayar's shoulder let out a languid WHIMPER, then buried its tiny head in its snowy fur. In Shiayar's arms, Crimson, in its astral spirit body form—now a red bundle—had fallen into a deep slumber. As for Shiny, it had long since returned to the Soul Pact Space, exhausted, to sleep.

Finally finished.

Shiayar's spiritual power was also somewhat drained, but his mood was quite buoyant.

In his mind, on the azure panel, the display "Sands of Time: 31" had now changed to "Sands of Time: 1".

The cost was significant, but the effect was undeniably pronounced. At this moment, Shiayar's panel was completely refreshed.

Shiayar glanced at the still-closed meditation room before entering the study. He lit the magictech lamps in the study, then took out paper and pen and began to write. After a long while, Shiayar put down his pen. After checking the paper once more, he took three Rhine gold coins from the drawer beneath the table and placed them on the paper.

The next moment, Shiayar spoke in a calm voice.

"Hathaway."

"Hathaway."

Shiayar paused briefly, repeating the name for the third time.

"Hathaway."

A breath later, ripples stirred in the windless room. That sense of being watched from the Astral Realm returned. Shiayar held his breath, silently waiting for the messenger from the Astral Realm to descend and take the letter he had written.

But then, the folded letter and the three Rhine gold coins did not disappear together. Instead, one after another, glittering cracks bloomed in the void.

Shiayar felt his consciousness blur, the scenery around him whirling violently. It was just like the sensation of entering an Echo of History, the space around him, even the steadily flowing river of time, twisting and distorting. Yet, at this moment, Shiayar had not triggered any Echo of History.

When Shiayar's consciousness resurfaced, he found himself in an exceedingly strange world. An endless expanse of darkness greeted his eyes, dotted with illusory stars flickering at the far reaches of the obsidian void, casting brilliant starlight. It was like a phantasmal Sea of Stars.

In the next moment, the myriad dim stars flashed all at once.

The starlight shattered.

First, high heels made of crystal appeared. They were followed by a black gothic gown and a coronet of dark red rare metal encircling a snow-white neck.

The Golden Elf, with only one eye open, hovered in the Sea of Stars, calmly observing her sole disciple.

Am I in the Astral Realm? "Teacher?"

Seeing the Golden Elf girl before him, Shiayar was momentarily stunned, then his heart filled with joy.

"Teacher, have you returned to the Main Material Plane?"

"Not exactly," the Golden Elf's cool and clear voice replied. "I merely drifted into a Sub-space dimension where the world barrier was thin and happened to hear your call. So, I casually pulled your astral spirit body into the Astral Realm to see if you've been diligent in your studies."

Although Shiayar was merely an astral spirit body, Hathaway, the Golden Elf Sorceress, seemed to see right through the Soul Pact contained within it, as well as the progress of that pact.

After a long pause, she spoke again.

"Not bad."

The Golden Elf waved her hand gently. Shiayar felt the illusory stars around him begin to swirl rapidly, and the distance between him and Hathaway closed in an instant, bringing him directly before her.

Hathaway crossed her arms, appraising the black-haired, black-eyed youth before her. A hint of an almost imperceptible smile touched her pale golden eyes.

"Tell me, what brings you to me this time?"

Shiayar cleared his throat lightly. "Teacher, I wish... for you to witness a banquet."