Chapter 5: The Invitation

Within the silent manor, Solene walked alone from the grand entrance toward the study. Every inch of this space now belonged exclusively to her.

With the assistance of mages, the second floor, which had been devoured by the inferno, had been swiftly restored to its original state.

Mountains of gold coins and shimmering diamonds filled the treasury. Leafing through the heavy ledgers, she realized that merely auditing this wealth would take at least a month.

Solene lightly stroked the feathers decorating her pen. The ink bore no cheap stench, only a faint hint of fishiness masked by floral scents—reminiscent of the aroma of old books dampened by rain.

For the current Solene, possessing money was as effortless as breathing. She commanded vast mineral veins, was surrounded by countless servants, and enjoyed the direct protection of the Empire.

The old butler had tragically perished in the fire, and his son, Andre, had taken his place. He was as stoic as his father but younger and possessed a rudimentary understanding of magic. However, his status as a commoner restricted his opportunities for further magical study.

"Countess Solene, Viscountess Ruby and Baron Matthew request an audience." The announcement broke her concentration.

Solene set down the record of social connections. She had already anticipated these two. In her eyes, the other nobles of the Vaisman family were nothing more than hedonistic wastes.

Standing at the top of the staircase, she looked down upon the two visitors with an elegant gaze, offering a greeting with a thin smile: "It has been a long time, Aunt Ruby, Cousin Matthew."

Ruby wore a form-fitting red dress that left little of her shapely figure to the imagination. Through her striking looks and ambition, she had ascended from commoner status to a Viscountess. Solene had reviewed her records; she had been married three times, each union serving as a rung on her ladder.

Baron Matthew had always been her suitor. It was a rare sight—a sixteen-year-old boy so infatuated with a woman in her thirties.

"Countess Solene, we are actually no different from one another," Ruby said, her eyes as bewitching as red roses. Her burgundy curls were opulent, exuding an intoxicating aura.

"Viscountess Ruby, you are overstepping," Solene responded coldly. Andre moved promptly to block Ruby’s path as she attempted to ascend the stairs.

"My apologies, Lady Countess. I was out of line." Ruby lowered her head slightly, intentionally revealing a generous amount of skin, but Andre stared at her expressionlessly, his green eyes filled with warning.

His dark green hair was simply tied back with a ribbon, hands clasped behind his back. The Vaisman family crest on his chest was inlaid with rare pink gemstones, signifying the family’s prestige in the Empire’s jewel trade.

The Vaisman family served as the treasury for the Empress’s faction, possessing absolute financial power. The invitation to the Grand Consultative Meeting had arrived; Solene was to head to the Imperial Palace the day after tomorrow.

Ruby stared into Andre’s eyes, her face a mask of feigned grievance. Seeing this, Matthew could not bear to see Ruby "mistreated." He stepped forward and pulled a map of the mineral veins from his coat.

"We demand a division of the estate. Here is the deed signed by the other relatives. You are not even a true member of the Vaisman family. We will report this to the Empire and have you thrown out!"

The boy’s arrogance and raw ambition were exposed, making him appear utterly unstable. They clearly failed to realize that the manor was currently crawling with the Empress’s spies. For them to come here so brazenly was a lack of all discretion.

They did not understand that at this moment, a fracture in the Vaisman family would weaken the Empress’s faction—something the Empress would never permit.

"Andre, see them out. I am tired." Solene’s tone was frigid as she turned back into the room. She knew well that these two would never make it home alive.

Andre showed no mercy in tossing them out the door. He removed a green gemstone ring that emitted a strange light, pulled off his gloves, threw them out after the pair, and then replaced the ring. The mana within the ring was sufficient to manipulate their movements, making it easy to fling them from the estate.

The servants outside moved to steady the two, only to be met with sharp slaps across the face. All their fury was vented on those even more vulnerable than themselves. Andre cast a look of disgust at them before turning away.

Matthew roared, stripping off his coat and hurling it into the air.

Solene stood at the window, watching the scene with cold detachment. She laughed mockingly; these nobles, who prided themselves on elegance, were truly farcical. Her gaze met Andre’s as he stood tall among the crowd. His emerald eyes were filled with numbness and scrutiny.

Solene stared back without fear, her eyelids half-drooped. In the dim light, her pale gold eyes looked like a figure from an ancient oil painting. Andre had to admit Solene was beautiful, but he also sensed that the fire had been no accident.

This Solene was surely something extraordinary.

The girl stood at the window like a masterpiece. Andre gave a slight bow of respect and turned to leave.

Solene returned to the chair in her study, immersing herself once more in the heavy family chronicles. She rang the bell, and Andre appeared upstairs quickly, his hair slightly disheveled.

Solene looked up briefly and pointed toward the candles. "Add more light. It’s too dark."

With that, she buried herself back in the books, preparing thoroughly for the consultation. Andre nodded, brought fresh candles, and stood guard at the door.

Solene spent the entire night memorizing the important figures in the texts. Their recent histories were meticulously recorded; it appeared Dagon was not merely a fool blinded by love. He had laid many traps and planted many eyes. Now, all those names were in Solene’s hands, to be used as she saw fit.

Unexpectedly, even the Empress’s long-time personal maid was one of Dagon’s plants. No wonder he always had information ahead of time.

Andre stood guard all night, called in three or four times to refresh the candles.

"Those two are dead."

Seeing Andre’s slightly pale face, Solene nodded and gave a quiet instruction: "Go rest. Find some new attendants to handle these trivial tasks."

Andre nodded silently. He cared little for Solene’s identity or character. Perhaps his fate was already sealed, destined to be like his father’s. Since being expelled from the Magic Tower, he had accepted his lot.

The life of a commoner was a series of restrictions: they could not study magic, could not receive healing from the Saintess, could not speak loudly, and could not even show their skin freely. They could only accept the numbness and wait for the finality of death.

Solene chose a pale pink, high-waisted gown with narrow sleeves and a soft white fox-fur collar. It lacked complex lace or ruffles, appearing simple and gentle.

In the past, her dresses had always been chosen by Dagon and her mother, but that was to curate an image of fragile tenderness for Dagon’s benefit. No one knew her true self, which was why she never believed in "sincerity." Even the version of her Caleb loved was a falsehood.

Upon arriving at the Palace, Solene was led by a maid toward the side hall. Passing the glass pavilion of the flower garden, she caught a specific gaze.

She turned to see the Crown Prince drinking tea and laughing with several noble friends. The sweets on the table suggested they had been conversing for some time. Unlike the forced opulence of the banquets, their attire now seemed more casual and natural. These young lords and ladies had clearly followed their parents here, each with their own family agendas.

Solene gave a small nod, lifted her skirts slightly, and performed an elegant curtsy. She knew the area was thick with the Empress’s spies; she had to remain low-profile. It was clear her invitation was for a later time; these people had started a party before her arrival.

The Crown Prince stood, and seeing Solene in this attire, he found her even more stunning. In truth, he had never liked her previous style—the necklines were too low and the skirts too heavy, appearing uncomfortable.

Among the crowd, some were awestruck, others disgusted. Members of both the Empress’s and the Emperor’s factions had gathered, organizing an impromptu banquet. Currently, all eyes were on the Vaisman family.

The Emperor’s faction clearly saw this as a golden opportunity; if they could eliminate the Vaismans, they could seize the initiative. The Empress’s faction, though disgruntled, dared not move rashly. Perhaps the early meeting called by the Empress was for this very reason.

Solene caught a trace of hesitation in Ian’s eyes. She did not understand why he would look at her that way, but she maintained her smile and followed the maid to the meeting room.

The Crown Prince fell into deep thought. He was not entirely ignorant of the complex politics between the nobles. He had arranged his morning tea here specifically to observe the movements of both his parents' factions.

He didn't understand why his parents fought so bitterly. He had no desire to be part of the struggle, yet the old Duke who supported him had met him secretly at Yano’s and warned him of the dire situation. If he did not prepare, his own mother might truly strike him down.

He lowered his eyes tiredly. He knew he could not die just yet—he had only just become engaged to Solene. The engagement banquet was being prepared with great care, and he would permit no accidents.

His blue eyes gradually darkened. Noticing Ian’s sour mood, the guests tactfully refrained from disturbing him. Though they called each other friends, their attention was centered entirely on Ian.

As if struck by a sudden thought, Ian rose to leave. "Enjoy yourselves, everyone. I will be back shortly," he said with a wave, departing. With him gone, the conversations became half-hearted, and everyone began to relax into their true selves.

Knock, knock, knock.

The maid tapped gently on the door. From inside came the Empress’s voice: "Come in."

The maid pushed the door open, and Solene stepped inside. Seeing the only vacant chair—marked with a pink gemstone—she bowed to those seated around the long table and naturally took her seat.

Opposite her sat a man with a lazy expression, his clothes casual and his chest slightly exposed. Here, save for her and the Empress, there were no other women; it was a room full of men.

In the Emperor’s faction, her equal was a certain Count—a major mining magnate, though his wealth came from gold. And over there, aside from him and the Emperor, everyone was a woman, including a female knight—the only one in the Empire.