Taking Queen Franndo’s warning seriously, Isavel left the palace and returned to the Oracle Hall.
Early the next morning, she transformed into Selis and set out for Marquess Vanessa’s territory.
Along the way, she gathered some rumors about Marquess Vanessa, and what unsettled her was that all the reviews were terrible.
Tyrannical, cruel, volatile…
A textbook tyrant.
But since she was already here, no matter how ruthless Vanessa was, Selis had to meet her at least once.
……
Upon entering the marquess’s mansion, Selis met Vanessa.
Contrary to the brutal image she had imagined, Vanessa had soft, flowing red hair and looked more like a delicate noble lady than a harsh ruler of a territory.
Perhaps because she knew Selis was a Saintess from the Oracle Hall, Vanessa’s demeanor was gentle.
“Here to borrow the Golden Dungeon?”
“Yes.”
After Selis explained her purpose, Vanessa fell silent for a long moment, then as if recalling something, she looked up and smiled:
“The Golden Dungeon is called so because, aside from monsters, it contains many gold mines. Saintess, you surely know how valuable those gold mines are, don’t you?”
“I will compensate for any damage caused by borrowing the dungeon.”
“Compensation? It’s not money I want.”
Selis was taken aback for a moment, then quickly understood her meaning.
“If there’s something you need, just say it.”
“There’s a noble banquet at Talmak Manor tomorrow in the empire. Use my identity to attend it on my behalf.”
Vanessa said this with a smile as she sat on the sofa, picking up a teacup and taking a slow sip. Selis frowned slightly.
Attend the banquet using Vanessa’s identity?
This was clearly not so simple.
“Th-That might not be a good idea. Haven’t those nobles seen you before? If I impersonate you, wouldn’t it be easy to get caught?”
“Saintess, you do know I’m from the Guerrero Family, right?”
Mentioning her family, Vanessa’s expression turned troubled.
“To be honest, that banquet is called a noble banquet, but it’s really more of a family marriage alliance gathering. Attendees are all the sons and daughters of major families.”
“The focal point this time is an Honorary Duke from another family. My family wants me to go because they hope I can become his wife.”
“What I hate most is being a pawn in family alliances, so I didn’t want to go. But I can’t outright disobey my family’s orders, so I want you to go in my place.”
That’s typical of noble families. Although Vanessa is the figurehead of the Guerrero Family, the real power lies with the elders inside the family.
“Why choose me?”
Vanessa didn’t answer Selis immediately. After taking a sip of tea, she smiled:
“Because you’re one of the Saintesses of the Oracle Hall.”
She emphasized “one of.”
Selis immediately understood.
Power struggles were rampant throughout the empire, and even Marquess Vanessa couldn’t stay out of it.
She chose Selis to tie them together on the same ship.
Having a Saintess attend the marriage banquet as the marquess would make outsiders believe they were closely connected, even if Selis and Vanessa weren’t familiar with each other.
Anyone who wanted to move against Marquess Vanessa would have to think twice about the Saintess from the Oracle Hall.
Seeing Selis fall silent, Vanessa thought she might be worried about exposing her identity, so she reassured her:
“Don’t worry. Most of the nobles attending aren’t local Aos Empire aristocracy. They’ve never met me, so you won’t be exposed. When you return, I’ll lend you the Golden Dungeon.”
“Alright.”
Selis had no interest in the power struggles of imperial nobles.
So Vanessa’s ulterior motive didn’t concern her. Her only thought now was how to help the Rose Knights grow quickly.
After agreeing, Selis boarded a carriage, warmly sent off by Vanessa, and headed toward the city where Talmak Manor was located.
Since the noble banquet was only the following evening, after arriving in the city, she checked into an inn and slept peacefully.
The next morning, she unusually slept in.
Then she struggled out of bed and began to carefully dress herself.
How could she attend a noble banquet without dressing up?
Even disguised as Marquess Vanessa, as a Saintess, she had to maintain her image at all times.
After all, if anyone tried to investigate the marquess’s identity, the disguise would be uncovered.
She didn’t want to lose the grace and purity a Saintess should have at that moment.
She put on silver teardrop earrings, wore a fitted white dress with gold trim, and finally covered her face with a white veil before leaving the inn to stroll through the town.
This daytime was her rare chance to relax, so she intended to enjoy it fully.
……
In the town, at the marketplace.
Two tall, majestic horses slowly rode down the middle of the street, one following the other.
On the first horse sat a woman dressed in noble attire.
Her hair was neatly pinned up, a knight’s sword hung at her waist, giving her an air of a female general, full of heroic spirit.
On the second horse sat a worried-looking maid.
Watching the bustling marketplace, she couldn’t hold back and finally came close to her mistress, quietly asking:
“Miss, are you really not going to the banquet tonight? You’re supposed to be the star of the event!”
The woman snorted softly at the words.
“Star? Haven’t you figured it out yet? The real stars of that banquet are the families behind us. No matter how hard I work to earn the title of Honorary Duke, in their eyes I’m just a tool for marriage alliances.”
“But Miss, the attendees are all sons and daughters of great families. If you don’t marry one of them, who else would be worthy of you?”
“You’re thinking too idealistically. Those nobles may indeed be well-matched in status, but status is not the most important thing in a person—character is.”
At this, the woman seemed to recall something, and disdain flickered across her face.
“Like Marquess Vanessa, for example. Rumor has it she’s arrogant, domineering, and tyrannical. If I were to marry someone like her, it would only ruin the relationships between our families, what good would that do?”
The maid looked troubled. “Then Miss, how will you find a partner?”
“By relying on love.”
“Love? Like the instant love at first sight from novels? Miss, you’re already an adult.”
“Love at first sight is just lust disguised. The kind of love I’m talking about, your rigid mind could never understand.”
Though she said this, her gaze unconsciously fell on a figure in the crowd—a presence pure and beautiful, like a white butterfly dancing in the marketplace—and she was lost in thought.
“Yes, I don’t understand, but if the other party’s status is low, Old Master won’t agree.”
“Hmm, yes, you’re right. Old Master wouldn’t approve of low status… agree with me then…”
“Huh? Miss, what are you saying?”
The maid twitched at her mistress’s words and, after waiting a long time without an answer, looked again and realized her lady’s thoughts had long been fixed on that dancing white butterfly.