Hate me, Miss Witch!

The Chess Piece of Oaths itself is an extremely powerful Sacred Relic. At the same time, it is also a symbol of the oath-sworn family, representing many ancient powers.

For instance, opening an arbitration barrier within the Hall of Oaths, which originally belonged to the oath-sworn family, means that no one except the holder of the Chess Piece of Oaths and the person being arbitrated can enter.

Only blood descendants of that family can be recognized as the master of the Chess Piece of Oaths. As a token for the oath-sworn family to exercise their ancient Authority, it is generally held by the current Family Head.

The Borgia family had wished to arrange a marriage with Shiayar, believed to be the last scion of the Winter Flower Family. Part of their calculation was to recover the Winter Flower Family's Chess Piece of Oaths that she carried, and thereby inherit a portion of their ancient Authority. Regrettably, they did not succeed.

Unexpectedly, the Chess Piece of Oaths that should have been held by Guderian now appeared in Histanlia's possession.

This also signified that she had been designated as the next Family Head of the Borgia family.

However, at this moment, Histanlia had no spare capacity to care about the gossip from the outside world.

She simply stood within the arbitration barrier, looking at Shiayar, who was in front of her.

Her usually cold eyes were filled with surprise, rage, and a hint of unease.

"Why did you say that just now? What exactly do you know?"

"Nothing much," Shiayar spoke casually. "It's just that the deliberately imitated traces on you are too pronounced, remarkably similar to my family's Dawn Saintess."

He glanced at the arbitration barrier conjured from illusory flames. "Are you really not going to deactivate this barrier?"

"If I remember correctly, once the arbitration barrier is activated, only the person being arbitrated and the holder of the Chess Piece of Oaths can enter. No one else can get in unless they forcefully shatter the barrier."

Shiayar pointed to the crowd outside, their gazes locked on him but obstructed by the barrier. "According to your father's wishes, they should be rushing in to capture me right now, or simply kill me to ensure my silence. That would be more in line with your family's interests."

Histanlia's movements paused for a moment, but she quickly recovered.

"Father has never spoken to me about Ceylon, and I'm not interested in such matters. As for capturing you, that can wait until I've finished my questions."

Her gaze fixed on Shiayar. "Don't change the subject..."

"What is your relationship with Her Highness the Saintess?"

"Actually, it's nothing much. Probably just the kind of relationship where I secretly send Ennie a magical transmission every night..."

Shiayar looked at Histanlia before him and shook his head, appearing uninterested. "Frankly, I hold no animosity towards you."

"At your age, you must have been sent to the Sacred Court when you were very young. The Borgia family's schemes were likely kept from you, so you wouldn't know."

"You're too arrogant and too naive... Although in the eyes of others you are a favored daughter of heaven, in my eyes, you're nothing but a decorative puppet, a vase manipulated by your family and the Sacred Court..."

"The ignorant are not considered guilty, though this saying may not apply in all situations. Right now, I truly have no interest in you."

However, Shiayar's words had barely faded when, in the next moment, he saw a figure shrouded in holy light.

It was a Sovereign Rank Spirit of the Sacred Light, an Element lifeform similar in form to the Silver Spirit.

But as incarnations of light, a tier above metal and favored children of the God of Dawn, the Spirit of the Sacred Light race had a minimum Species Rank of High-Rank Overlord.

And the one Histanlia had contracted was even a standout among Spirits of the Sacred Light, its Species Rank being Emperor Rank.

Having broken through to the 4-Ring at seventeen or eighteen, and additionally contracting an Emperor Rank Spirit of the Sacred Light, Histanlia truly lived up to her title as a Divinely Favored One.

"How dare you slander and blaspheme Her Grace the Saintess!"

Resonating with the rage in Histanlia's eyes, the Spirit of the Sacred Light raised its blade of light, pointing it straight at Shiayar's neck.

However, faced with the blade of light aimed directly at him, Shiayar merely sighed helplessly.

Dazzling light suddenly flashed, illuminating the dark night outside the window.

"Pierce it, Rhongomyniad."

A cold voice spoke. It was an ancient language from a bygone era, yet Shiayar understood its meaning.

The silvery gleam of the spear tore through the air, ripping through the atmosphere, whipping up a storm, and piercing anything in its path.

The next instant—

CRACK!

Before Histanlia's astonished eyes, the Spirit of the Sacred Light froze mid-action. Its Sacred Light Core was pierced. Even its astral spirit body, an Element lifeform, was overwhelmed by the immense mysterious power contained within the Sacred Spear and utterly dissipated.

Histanlia looked back in confusion. Then, she saw the golden-haired girl not far away, clad in a knight's armor tonlet and holding a silver spear.

Not long ago, Histanlia had thought she was merely Shiayar's maid or Attendant.

But at that moment, on the golden-haired girl's right hand, encased in a mithril gauntlet, ephemeral points of light converged.

It was an ice-blue chess piece, crafted from sapphire.

Carved upon the chess piece was a blooming snow lotus.

Others might be bewildered at the sight of this chess piece, but as the next Family Head of the Borgia family, Histanlia knew with utmost clarity the true meaning of the snow lotus emblem on it.

The Winter Flower Family's Chess Piece of Oaths.

"I told you not to draw your blade against me. Why wouldn't you listen?"

Watching the light around the remnants of the Spirit of the Sacred Light gradually dim, Shiayar couldn't help but let out a long sigh.

"When this one of mine gets her temper up, even I can't calm her down."