In Evelynn’s eyes, no commoner could refuse the temptation of becoming a noble and ascending to the heavens in a single bound, even if it were only the lowest rank of nobility.
Furthermore, it was extremely beneficial for her and her family.
The family would gain an incredibly high-potential mage, and she would obtain a powerful Magic Pet like the Magic Bird.
More importantly, if Su Nian became a noble under their family’s banner, it would naturally be impossible for her to compete for the Third Prince.
It was three birds with one stone!
The surrounding nobles now looked at Su Nian with eyes that had completely changed.
It was no longer simple curiosity about a rising idol or admiration for a genius magical girl.
It was raw, undisguised envy and jealousy.
“The Lexian family… is actually willing to exchange a hereditary noble title for a Magic Pet?”
“Heavens, this is simply unheard of!”
“That’s a noble title! A dream that so many people spend their entire lives struggling for yet never reach!”
“This Su Nian… just what kind of dog-shit luck does she have?”
Whispers spread through the crowd like a rising tide.
Every word felt like a small hammer striking the hearts of the young nobles who prided themselves on their noble birth.
Many of them, though they bore their family names and enjoyed the glory of being nobles, were still a vast distance away from truly possessing their own hereditary lands and titles.
And now, an opportunity they could only dream of was being placed so lightly in front of a commoner girl.
And all it was for was to trade for her Magic Bird, which, aside from being a bit cute and flying a bit fast, didn’t seem to have anything world-shaking about it.
How could they not be jealous?
How could their eyes not turn red with envy?
Evelynn Lexian thoroughly enjoyed being the center of attention, especially the gazes of awe and admiration cast toward her.
She elegantly raised her swan-like neck and glanced out of the corner of her eye at Countess Lilian Field, whose face had already turned slightly green.
Evelynn’s heart was filled with the satisfaction of a victor.
In her view, the struggle for the Magic Bird was already settled.
The temptation of money was certainly powerful, but compared to changing one’s social class and becoming a noble, it wasn’t even worth mentioning.
She believed that no commoner could resist such a temptation.
Lady Su Nian should already be unable to wait to kneel, kiss the hem of her skirt, and gratefully accept this immense blessing, right?
However, Su Nian only frowned slightly.
A flash of almost undisguised impatience flickered through her sky-blue eyes, which were usually as pure as the heavens.
‘A noble status? Not very useful.’
Maintaining a polite exterior, her voice was cold as ice, clear and firm, “Thank you all for your kindness. But Little Green is my partner. No matter the price, I will not sell him.”
Every one of her words fell clearly into the ears of everyone present.
There was no hesitation, not a single trace of wavering.
This clean and decisive refusal was obviously beyond the expectations of all the nobles.
The atmosphere on the Floating Fortress instantly became somewhat awkwardly stiff.
For the first time, a crack appeared in the elegant smile on Evelynn’s face.
Lilian Field, who had previously offered five thousand gold coins, immediately showed a look of undisguised mockery after a brief moment of shock.
“Hah, someone truly doesn’t know what’s good for them.”
“She’s nothing more than a performer relying on a bit of beauty and magical talent. Does she really think she’s someone important?”
Her voice wasn’t particularly loud, yet it was enough for everyone around to hear clearly.
Another young noble, dressed in a deep blue Knight’s formal uniform and adorned with medals—who often stared at Evelynn—also snorted coldly and spoke up in agreement.
“Exactly. Lady Lexian is willing to give you a noble status; that is a blessing you wouldn’t earn in eight lifetimes. It is a heavenly grace, and yet you don’t know any better!”
“Simply foolish!”
“An opportunity so many dream of, yet she casts it aside like a worn-out shoe. Truly ignorant beyond belief.”
“A commoner from the countryside has such shallow vision. In the end, they just can’t handle a grand stage.”
“She probably hasn’t seen the world and doesn’t understand what a noble title even means.”
Harsh discussions rose one after another, like annoying flies buzzing in one’s ear.
They didn’t hide their contempt and arrogance at all, as if Su Nian’s refusal was a provocation and an insult to their entire noble class.
Su Nian slowly lowered her eyelids.
Her long golden eyelashes cast a faint shadow beneath her eyes, perfectly concealing the flash of chilling killing intent within them.
She snorted coldly in her heart.
‘They really should be glad. They should be glad that my current goal is to accumulate Humiliation Value to become a god and then defeat the Horned Demon… rather than being some bloodthirsty great villain.’
‘Otherwise, based on their words today…’
‘Tomorrow, the territories their respective families take such pride in would probably welcome a permanent and unforgettable “accidental” dragon disaster falling from the sky.’
She really wanted to just slap these buzzing, disgusting flies away but she couldn’t.
Her identity today was the idol of Magic Feather Fantasy, the center of attention who was about to present the most magnificent performance of the Winter Festival for the entire Academy City.
She had to maintain her flawless idol image and could not lose her composure or explode in front of everyone.
Nor could she easily expose Little Green’s true identity.
A real Giant Dragon would attract endless greed.
What she could rely on now, besides her own ever-improving magical strength, was the Humiliation Value System that allowed her to grow stronger.
‘Endure it for now…’
***
In the distance.
Chu Tian… or rather, the Chu Tian appearing now as the Captain of the Guard for Magic Feather Fantasy, had originally only intended to find a quiet corner to enjoy Su Nian’s performance on the Floating Fortress.
He liked seeing Su Nian’s dazzling appearance on stage; it gave him a strange sense of satisfaction.
He hadn’t expected that before the performance could even begin, a group of brainless idiots would actively approach to provoke his woman.
Yes, his woman.
To dare humiliate Su Nian like this right in front of him.
These self-righteous nobles were truly tired of living.
In the next moment, Chu Tian’s figure silently merged into a darker, less noticeable shadow.
There seemed to be a brief distortion of light and shadow, or perhaps it was just an illusion.
When that figure stepped out of the shadows again, a world-shaking change had occurred.
The ordinary combat gear belonging to the Captain of the Guard had vanished, replaced by a more sophisticated, more noble, and mysterious black patterned suit.
The fabric of the suit reflected a flowing dark luster from different angles, as if it were tailored and sewn from the deepest night.
Complex and low-key ancient patterns were embroidered upon it with nearly invisible thread, exuding an indescribable sense of pressure.
His temperament changed along with it.
He was no longer the somewhat boisterous and uninhibited Captain of the Guard, Chu Tian.
He was the mysterious, powerful, and awe-inspiring “Mr. Mo Yuan” of Shadowmoon Manor.