Hate me, Miss Witch!

"The next year, under the name 'Knight King,' he made his mark in the troubled times of the transition between the old and new eras. Alongside the previous Emperor, who was as renowned as the Golden King, he founded the Fresta Empire.

"Several of the previous Emperor's Pet Beasts, such as the 'Black King,' continued to serve as guardian deities of the Empire's territories even after the Emperor's death.

"However, two Sacred Relics were missing.

"Those were the Sacred Sword and Sacred Spear, said to be nurtured by the world and the planet itself. They appeared due to the cataclysm at the end of the Ancient Era and were also symbols of the Knight King.

"The Sacred Spear was said to have been bestowed by the previous Emperor to a certain knight in the early years. Afterward, it vanished along with that guardian knight's reclusion. With nearly a thousand years gone by, its trace became ever more elusive.

"But the other stars-forged Sacred Sword was passed down by the Knight King to his descendants and has been kept by the Royal Family ever since...

"Yet, as nearly a thousand years have passed, no member of the Royal Family has ever gained the recognition of that Sacred Sword, and thus the Excalibur has been sealed in dust, turning into a mere ethereal legend as of today."

Guderian's eyes glittered with increased intensity. "However, these past two years, there have been frequent, albeit concealed, Sacred Relic fluctuations coming from the Royal Palace...

"Your Highness, you have been reluctant to break through to Legendary status. Could it be that you wish to gain the recognition of the stars-forged Sacred Sword? With it, do you aim to leap directly over the decades, or even centuries, of accumulation typically required for an ordinary Legendary, straight into the realm of the Throne?"

"To receive the Excalibur's recognition is the dream of every member of the Royal Family, and I am no exception."

Facing Guderian's profound gaze, Isadella noncommittally shook her head.

Her crimson eyes gazed out of the window into the sky, pondering something unknowable.

"It seems Your Highness has not completely taken that final step."

The light faded from Guderian's eyes, and he returned to being the gentle elder resembling a gardener, smiling and shaking his head.

"Augutina seems to have arrived. Is it because of your invitation, Your Highness?"

"No."

"This old servant has faintly detected some other prying, but the sensations are not very clear. Do you know of this, Your Highness?"

"I do not."

Isadella's brief and calm answer made Guderian feel slightly uneasy.

But before he could probe further, the bustling chatter from the hall below suddenly quieted and then vanished altogether.

"Miss Histanlia has arrived."

Pure white stairs cascaded down from the heights, layer upon layer. A stunningly beautiful girl appeared at their apex.

She was dressed in a long, pure white gown, her features exquisitely perfect, without a single flaw to be found.

What drew the most attention, however, was the girl's ethereal, otherworldly aura. A faint radiance of daybreak emanated from her eyes, inspiring such awe that no onlooker could harbor a trace of disrespect.

Instead, pure admiration filled their hearts.

Histanlia Borgia.

The eldest daughter of the Borgia family and recipient of the Dawn Church's Divine Blessing, she had already been designated a Saint by the theocratic kingdom.

To marry her was to embrace all the power, prestige, and wealth of this world.

Nowadays, there was no shortage of people who would skip decades of hardship by directly invoking the influence of powerful figures.

And Histanlia herself was so beautiful, she was like the incarnation of all that was lovely and perfect in the world.

For a moment, the eyes of many young nobles in attendance glinted with fervor, but this quickly turned into resignation.

Being nobles themselves, they knew all too well the power of the Borgia family...

In today's Empire Capital, aside from the Royal Family, the Borgia family itself stood as the greatest power, with other noble families merely their vassals in comparison.

And so, everyone knew that the marriage alliances made by the Borgia family were far beyond their foolish dreams and reach.

"Young Master Shiayar Ingritt has arrived."

At that moment, another announcement was made.

The doors swung open.

Under the watchful gaze of thousands, a young man with black hair and eyes slowly entered the center of the hall, followed by Enola, who was also dressed in a spotless white formal suit.

"Is this the orphan of the Ingritt family, Young Master Shiayar?"

"Yes, who would have thought that the 'Winter Flower' family would actually still have survivors left?"

"He is certainly handsome enough. No wonder he was chosen by the Borgia family as the husband for their young lady."

"Don't say that; their engagement was set at birth. This is a marriage pact between two oath-sworn families, and the Borgias are not so opportunistic as to shift with the wind."

"Moreover, Young Master Shiayar isn't just about good looks. Perhaps you don't know this, but a few months ago, during the Ashes Cult's attack on Ceylon, it was Young Master Shiayar's efforts that saved the lives of an entire academy of students."

"It's also said that he is not far from the 4th Order. Though he still falls slightly short compared to Miss Histanlia, who possesses Dawn's Divine Blessing, he is already considered exceptionally outstanding within the Empire."

"That being said, they really are a talented man and a beautiful lady—quite a fitting match."

"But isn't this an engagement ceremony? Why has Young Master Shiayar brought a female companion?"

"I'm not sure. Probably a maid or an attendant."

BOOM—

A myriad of gasps and murmurs arose simultaneously.

However, overall, there was not much envy or jealousy, but rather a general atmosphere of acknowledgment and blessing.

On one hand, with Shiayar's past accomplishments actively promoted by the Borgia family and brought into the spotlight, his excellence could hardly be concealed.

On the other hand, most of the influential figures present were allied with the Borgia family. Naturally, they would not undermine the groom-elect chosen by the Crimson Rose Family at an engagement banquet.

"Young Master Shiayar, please come with me. The young lady has been waiting for you for a long time."

Riel appeared silently beside Shiayar and led him through the crowd.

The crowd instinctively parted, opening a path, and soon Shiayar stood before Histanlia.

"So you are the Shiayar my father mentioned?"

A pleasant yet cold voice rang in Shiayar's ears.

Histanlia's gaze lingered on Enola, standing behind Shiayar, for a moment.

Her lovely brows furrowed ever so slightly, but her gaze quickly moved on.

"The marriage arranged by our parents in our childhood never truly considered the children's feelings.

"However, since it is a vow made in the name of Borgia, I won't go back on it."

Her cool gaze swept across Shiayar's face. After a long moment, she nodded as if appraising him.

"My first impression of you isn't too bad. As for matters of affection, we can cultivate those slowly after marriage.

"Even if we can't cultivate affection, it doesn't matter; it's nothing more than an exchange of interests anyway.

"However—

"I do not like what is mine to be shared with others—not even servants."

Her gaze fell upon Enola behind Shiayar, assessing her as if she were a piece of merchandise.

"Once we are married, have your maid leave. The Borgia family will provide her with a severance payment and can also offer her a position in a major city outside the Empire Capital."

Histanlia raised her swan-like white neck, looking down on Shiayar from the steps.

She had just begun to speak, intending to say something more to Shiayar.

But then, Histanlia suddenly saw Shiayar smile gently. The next moment, a soft whisper reached her ear, "Is that so?

"But my first impression of you isn't very good.

"The sanctity and pride you display are too false, too forced...

"Completely... just a poor imitation of my family's Dawn Saintess."