A week passed quickly in Helos’s state of nervous anticipation.
When the royal celebration banquet finally arrived, the entire Imperial Capital of Asgard seemed enveloped in a festive atmosphere. The main road leading to the royal palace had been cleared and laid with a brand-new red carpet.
On both sides of the road, magic lamps lit up the night sky like scattered stars. The Royal Guard stood solemnly, holding long halberds and clad in silver armor that reflected majestic light under the lamps.
The carriage of the Olivias family arrived precisely at the palace entrance.
Christ was the first to step out, still dressed in his scholar’s attire—a well-tailored dark formal suit, with blue eyes behind gold-rimmed glasses that were calm and wise.
He wore no unnecessary accessories, but the unique aura of a “genius” alone was enough to make him the center of attention in any setting.
Next, Eleanor descended slowly from the carriage, assisted by the steward.
Tonight, she chose a moon-white gown, its hem embroidered with intricate holy light runes in silver thread.
Her golden hair cascaded like a waterfall, adorned with a small saint’s crown crafted from moonstone.
Her beauty was flawless, her demeanor holy and noble.
As soon as she appeared, the surrounding crowd gasped in admiration.
She was like a moonlight goddess descending to the mortal realm—distant and untouchable.
But when Helos finally stepped out of the carriage, the gasps turned into sharp intakes of breath.
She was Eleanor’s confident “perfect creation.”
The dark violet gown seemed tailor-made for her, its deep hue making her already porcelain-white skin appear even paler. The fine crystals dotted across the fabric looked as if she wore the real starry sky, shimmering mysteriously with each light step.
Her silver hair had been carefully styled into an elegant updo, with a few stray strands playfully hanging by her ears.
The light makeup Eleanor had applied added an indescribable allure to her naturally clear, pale purple eyes.
The necklace of fine diamonds around her neck glittered brilliantly under the light, echoing the sparkle in her gaze.
If Eleanor was the holy moonlight, then Helos was the seductive night that shrouded it.
Standing together—one with golden hair, holy; the other with silver hair, mysterious—the two sisters instantly stole the spotlight from everyone present, even the stars in the sky.
Inside the banquet hall, the noise was already overwhelming.
Emperor Valerian Arcadius sat in the main seat, smiling as he received congratulations from the empire’s top nobles.
When the herald announced loudly, “Arrival of Duke Olivias’s eldest son, Lord Christ!” “Arrival of Duke Olivias’s eldest daughter, Miss Eleanor!” “Arrival of Duke Olivias’s second daughter, Miss Helos!” the entire hall’s gaze shifted to the entrance.
Christ led his two sisters as they walked slowly into the hall.
Eleanor’s name had long resounded through the Imperial Capital. As the newly appointed Saintess and the duke’s beloved daughter, she was naturally a focal point.
However, the one who truly shocked everyone tonight was Helos, standing beside her.
“That silver-haired young lady is… the Second Young Lady of the Olivias family? I’ve never heard of her before.”
“Oh my, the Olivias family has been hiding such a jewel?”
“Her aura is so unique. Those purple eyes—they’re almost enchanting.”
Almost everyone praised the beauty and nobility of Helos and Eleanor.
Helos, in particular, with her unique blend of youthful innocence and the mysterious allure of her gown, became the most eye-catching person in the entire venue.
Once the banquet began, Eleanor was quickly surrounded by several esteemed Divine Officials and noblewomen, discussing “profound” topics about the Church and holy light.
***
Meanwhile, Helos was instantly encircled by a large group of young nobles around her age.
“Miss Helos, a pleasure to meet you. I am the second son of the Randolph family. I’ve long admired your reputation.”
A handsome golden-haired, blue-eyed youth stepped forward first, performing a noble’s bow.
“Miss Olivias, your gown is absolutely stunning! Which Merchant Guild commissioned it? It perfectly matches your temperament!”
A girl in a pink dress asked with envy in her eyes.
“Miss Helos, I heard you just arrived from Olivius City. Are you getting used to the magic academy in the Imperial Capital?”
For a moment, praise, probing, and flattery swarmed Helos from all sides.
These young nobles of the Imperial Capital—whether genuinely captivated by her beauty or acting out of family interests—openly expressed their admiration and deference.
After all, the Olivias family’s status was undeniable.
Miss Eleanor, the future Saintess, was untouchable.
Lord Christ, the genius of the Tower of Truth, was rarely seen.
And this suddenly appeared second young lady was undoubtedly the most suitable target for currying favor.
Helos suppressed her overwhelming urge to flee, maintaining the most appropriate lady-like smile Lilith had taught her.
She responded to everyone’s questions one by one, her words cautious and her demeanor graceful, without a single mistake.
But inside, she was screaming for help.
‘These people are way too enthusiastic?!’
‘This is even harder to deal with than those classmates at the academy!’
Just as her face felt frozen from smiling, a familiar figure appeared in her line of sight.
Helos spotted Lilith at the banquet.
She was holding a glass of champagne, standing near a window, chatting and laughing with several noblewomen.
She looked as elegant and composed as ever, as if she were born to rule such occasions.
Sensing Helos’s gaze, Lilith turned, raised her glass, and toasted her from across the room.
Helos quickly lifted her own fruit juice and responded politely.
But because Helos was surrounded by too many people, and Lilith was equally busy with socializing, they had no chance to talk. After just a brief distant greeting, both were engulfed by new waves of crowds.
Helos even caught the attention of Emperor Valerian due to her striking beauty and refined manners.
“The children of Duke Eisend truly excel, one after another.”
The Emperor raised his glass, nodding toward Christ and teasingly adding, “Don’t you agree, Christ?”
Christ quickly returned the toast. Though his relationship with Valerian wasn’t strictly that of ruler and subject, since the man was now Emperor, proper etiquette could not be overlooked.
After all, Duke Eisend’s absence at such an occasion was already somewhat questionable.
On the other side, Helos felt like a carefully adorned commodity, being “viewed” and “valued” by everyone at this grand banquet.
While Helos was surrounded and overwhelmed by praise, Lilith stood on the second-floor corridor of the hall, coldly watching everything from above.
Her smile remained warm, but in the shadows untouched by the crystal chandelier, a peculiar expression flowed deep within her dark wine-red eyes.
She watched as the group of young nobles clustered around Helos like stars around the moon.
She watched the undisguised admiration, jealousy, and longing in those young faces.
She was certain that, even without the identity of the Second Young Lady of the Olivias family, Helos’s current charm alone would captivate this entire crowd of young men and women.
She could clearly sense an invisible energy derived from “charm” gathering from those people and flowing toward Helos.
The banquet atmosphere reached an unprecedented peak, driven by Helos as the “focus.”
‘Now is the time,’ Lilith whispered in her heart, her fingertips trembling slightly with excitement.
The “stage” for the [Phantom] was set, and all the “sacrifices” were in place.
Next, it was time to witness the “awakening.”
But time ticked by, second after second.
Until the banquet drew to a close, and the royal band played the final departure melody, the scene Lilith had anticipated never occurred.
She watched as Christ once again “rescued” his two sisters from the crowd, leading Helos and Eleanor into the carriage bound for the Duke’s residence, disappearing into the night outside the palace.
Lilith still stood in the corridor’s shadow, her smile long gone.
She slowly furrowed her brow.
‘Strange…’
She could clearly feel that the aura belonging to the [Phantom] within Helos had indeed grown stronger under the “nourishment” of tonight’s banquet.
But her plan had not succeeded—
‘This shouldn’t be happening?’
The [Phantom]’s mark remained as dormant as ever, not yet awakened.