This Successor Ball was indeed grand, but the latter half had become suffocatingly silent.
Everyone attending the banquet seemed to be forcing smiles, their words and replies often mismatched and awkward.
Obviously, no one dared to speak openly, but the recent conflict had left an indelible shadow on everyone’s hearts.
Moreover… it deepened their understanding of the so-called “Eastern District Jewel,” Ileya, beyond mere rumors.
And among all present, the only one who remained as composed as before was the ball’s protagonist—the newly appointed president of the Ruby Society, Jenny Bess.
In the final stage of the ball, the young lady stood confidently on the stage, outlining future plans and emphasizing how the Ruby Society would be different from before.
This would be a brand-new Ruby Society!
Ileya, standing backstage with her arms crossed, noticed Jenny’s outstanding oratory skills.
Her voice and thoughts were highly stirring, seemingly able to resonate deeply with many due to her background—straddling the divide between the lower class and nobility.
She even made many in the audience forget their prior fears, applauding while envisioning the promising future of the Ruby Society with their companions.
“Looks like there really’s nothing to worry about~”
Ileya muttered to herself, then glanced one last time at Jenny on stage, surrounded by flowers and praise, before turning away.
Walking slowly, she headed straight to a backstage lounge.
Opening the door…
She saw Arthur sitting dazedly in the dim candlelight.
On the table before him were various silver rings.
But none seemed to be the one he was looking for.
“How is it?” Though she had already guessed the answer the moment she opened the door, Ileya still asked.
“Sigh~ I… was thinking too simply, sorry, Miss,” Arthur said, snapping back to reality from her words, then forcing a smile as he looked at her.
“Didn’t remember anything at all?” Ileya frowned slightly, leaning against the doorframe.
“No, no clues whatsoever… but sometimes, when I zone out, fragments of memories flash through my mind…”
Arthur shook his head with a bitter smile.
“But those things are like shooting stars crossing the sky—fleeting and almost impossible to grasp.”
“Seems recalling memories is just like writing poetry~”
While Arthur was lamenting sadly, Ileya was already deep in thought.
If Arthur couldn’t find any other leads, then their hope had to rest on the Lighthouse School and that group of Antiques Collectors.
However…
Regarding that particular disaster—the one where people grew black hair and died—Mother should have already conducted a thorough and flawless investigation.
Asking them now would be meaningless.
It would only result in duplicated efforts.
So what should I ask then?
The key must lie with the Elf-Eared Humanoids and…
Ileya paused her thoughts for a moment. Perhaps… those members of the Lighthouse School who explore the unknown might know something…
Something Mother would definitely never dare ask lightly.
That is—the connection between my mother, the Seredon Family, and the Royal Family.
Why did the Royal Family impose a Ban forbidding Seredon women from becoming Transcendents?
Could my Aunt’s death be related to the Royal Family?
Was she executed for breaking the Ban?
As a daughter of the Seredon Family, Mother was raised by Grandfather’s teachings and probably never dared to question this.
But I… don’t have those reservations.
This indeed… could be a breakthrough.
…
Meanwhile…
Inside a room of a large mansion.
“Are you brainless?! You’ve already suffered once, and you still went to court their bad luck!?”
The man’s furious voice echoed throughout the courtyard!
Melche’s face was filled with fear and endless confusion.
The man, ignoring the injuries on her hands, was shouting and pointing at her nose in rage… her husband, Viscount Geli.
“Don’t you know what happens when you offend the Bateos Family in Eastern County? Who do you think Ileya is?!”
As he spoke, Viscount Geli’s voice trembled more and more.
The notorious “Bloodblossom Demon” reputation could terrify common folk and some lesser nobles, but as a Viscount, he was no longer among the Lower Nobility.
Logically, Geli shouldn’t be this afraid of Ileya.
Or rather… it’s not Ileya he fears, but her father! That Bateos Marquis.
Within the noble circles of Eastern County, this man had three defining traits…
First, he was utterly decisive—this was why people privately called him the “King of Eastern County.”
Second, he was extravagantly wealthy, controlling 80% of the kingdom’s mineral output in Eastern County—not something to be taken lightly.
And third…
He was fiercely protective. His son might be lacking, but his wife and daughters were absolutely untouchable.
That would provoke the so-called “King of Eastern County” into a rampage!
If that happened, they’d be lucky to survive begging on the streets of Eastern County.
This was the main reason why Ileya had been able to wreak havoc in the Crystal Capital—a city where even a falling stone could strike a Lower Noble—for so long without worry.
“Useless… good-for-nothing trash!!”
The more Viscount Geli thought, the more terrified he became. The more terrified, the angrier his expression grew…
After coldly spitting out that phrase, he swept his sleeve and stormed off!
There was still much to handle…
Like now, many nobles who had learned of their situation were circling like wolves sensing blood, eager to curry favor with the Marquis.
If they attacked their estate claiming, “The Marquis isn’t home, so I, as the uncle, must defend Lady Ileya’s honor,”
he wouldn’t even be able to retaliate.
Such a stupid woman! Neither capable nor helpful!
And now, with her hands useless and returning home without any comfort, she could only lie in bed like an abandoned stray dog…
“Ah… ah… ahhh…”
After minutes of dazed silence, she finally opened her mouth and cried silently.
Why… why did things turn out this way?
Just a few days ago, she was the much-praised noblewoman, president of the Ruby Society, leader of the Crystal Capital’s noblewomen…
Why, in such a short time, had she lost everything she once had!?
And turned into this…
Creak… creak…
She bit her teeth together while crying, producing a chilling creaking sound…
It was all… all because of that Jenny… because of that Ileya…
Hate… hate… I hate so much…
Melche bit so hard that her gums and lips bled, staining her teeth a deep crimson.
She looked terrifying—like a demon clawing its way out of hell.
“You.”
At that moment… from outside her window came a rustling whisper.
?
Covered in blood, Melche instinctively turned her head to the pitch-black window…
There stood a humanoid silhouette.
“You… hate…?”
“Want… revenge…?”
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