Chapter 59: Reactions from All Sides

(Thanks to book friend "Qianjiang Liu Yu" for the tips and daily recommendation tickets. Thank you, boss, and kneeling in gratitude OTZ!)

The pageboy's voice stopped abruptly, and the banquet hall plunged into a bizarre atmosphere.

At first, some people didn't react. Why would the "Daughter of Golden Wings" gift His Royal Highness the Prince a necklace?

However, well-informed individuals soon began to whisper among themselves, clearly explaining the origin of this legendary-grade necklace, the "Blessing of the Stars."

Thus, a logical deduction was born—

This necklace must have been bought at a high price at an auction by Prince Xalv and given to Isabella.

For a man to give a woman such a precious necklace, the romantic intent contained within it was self-evident.

Yet, it had been returned!

And she had deliberately chosen such a grand occasion as a birthday banquet to do so!

Isabella's actions were practically slapping the word "rejected" mercilessly across Prince Xalv's face!

For a moment, various complex and ambiguous gazes, not a few of them filled with extreme malice, swept back and forth over Prince Xalv.

So you really thought you were the Child of the Plane, the darling of the gods, holding the protagonist's script, only to turn out to be nothing more than a simp after all!

Driven by the inherent hostility and jealousy toward an outstanding peer of the same sex, quite a few male nobles wore gloating smiles on their faces.

However, upon catching Prince Xalv's icy stare, those smiles instantly turned into grave seriousness.

The expressions transitioned with absolute fluidity, completely unforced. Perhaps even the professional actors of the Imperial Grand Theater couldn't match their acting skills.

Yet, someone refused to give him any face.

Watching Isabella's resolute stance and the humiliated Prince Xalv, Grace could no longer suppress the joy in her heart. Her hands instinctively and gently covered her alluring red lips, and a crisp, bright laugh echoed throughout the entire hall.

She showed none of the reserve expected of an eldest princess, giving in entirely to a heartfelt, unadulterated amusement, her exquisite face made all the more vivid and charming by this uninhibited laughter.

Prince Xalv took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing his anger to avoid losing his composure, and was just about to speak when the communication stone at his waist began to vibrate violently.

This could only mean one thing: a legendary-tier powerhouse was using magic to forcibly contact him.

Something had happened?

Prince Xalv didn't have time to explain to the others; he hurried to an adjacent room and activated the communication stone.

The contact was his most trusted and heavily relied-upon subordinate, Andre!

Andre?

Wasn't he in the Northwest Continent hoodwinking that Third Prince of the Kingdom of Ceylon?

Oh right, he had been in Aiphine for the past few days, and just a few days ago, he had even reported discovering an interesting young man...

What urgent matter could he possibly have?

When he finished reading the contents of the message, his handsome face froze for a fraction of a second, and deep within his eyes flashed a trace of unbelievable shock.

A feeling entirely beyond his control made him clench his fists so tightly that his knuckles turned slightly white.

His mind churned like a stormy sea:

Isabella had actually appeared in Florence!

The "Black Tomb" was moving to encircle and annihilate her, and three legends had already made their move!

Grand Duke Roland and the Queen of Aiphine were providing reinforcements, and this time, without relying on a magic array, the Queen of Aiphine also possessed legendary-tier combat power!

He had still underestimated this "Strongest Silver" from five years ago!

The most crucial part was... a Saint of the "Black Tomb" had appeared!

A Saint had appeared!

Prince Xalv's pupils constricted slightly as he realized one thing—Isabella was finished, and the "Pale Wings" would undoubtedly suffer unbearable losses this time!

He had no intention whatsoever of playing the hero saving the damsel in distress.

Even if he immediately went to find a Saint to rescue her right now, it would be far too late.

When a Saint strikes, who can possibly block them?

Before he could even find a Saint on his end, the grass on her grave would already be two meters high!

Xalv suddenly realized another problem:

For no good reason, why did Isabella suddenly run off to the Northwest Continent?

And moreover, why Aiphine specifically?

Could it be that she had noticed his layout over there?

Impossible!

Absolutely impossible!

Prince Xalv shook his head. No one knew about this matter except Andre, and furthermore, everything had been handled with utmost secrecy. Aside from Andre, not a single person from his own faction had been mobilized.

Besides, Andre's true identity was unknown to anyone.

It was impossible for Isabella to have noticed... That meant it was pure coincidence.

Grace should know; they were inseparable best friends, and perhaps he could sound her out indirectly through her.

Since Isabella was already beyond saving, he had to consider the situation after the battle.

Once the Daughter of Golden Wings met with a mishap, the "Pale Wings" would inevitably launch a bloody feud against the "Black Tomb." Isabella's status was by no means ordinary, and there was a high probability that this bloody feud would spread across the entire continent!

What benefits could he extract from it?

Prince Xalv thought rapidly, several contingency plans quickly taking shape and engaging in fierce competition within his mind.

Finally, Prince Xalv let out a soft breath, as if having made up his mind.

He issued a few orders to Andre via the communication stone and walked back out.

Returning to the hall, Prince Xalv distinctly sensed that the atmosphere among the crowd had changed.

Xalv's gaze flickered slightly, and he understood almost immediately.

A Saint descends into the world, and the stars shift.

The commotion was simply too great; anyone capable of observing celestial astrology would soon receive relevant news.

It was merely that they temporarily did not know the identity of the assailant or the location of the battle.

Most of the families or factions behind the people present possessed this capability.

Prince Xalv glanced at his cousin and found that her expression had also grown much uglier.

It seemed she had also received accurate news that a Saint had struck to deal with Isabella.

Putting on a preoccupied expression, he walked up to Grace and said in a deep voice:

"Has Your Royal Highness the Princess also received the news?"

Grace收敛了表情, indifferent:

"Is Your Royal Highness the Prince just going to stand by and watch? Weren't you pursuing Isa quite enthusiastically?"

Prince Xalv sighed and said:

"I was just dealing with this matter. I have already urgently dispatched people to contact a Saint to go and provide assistance.

However, as you know, the Northwest Continent is too far from us; it practically requires crossing the entire continent. Even for a Saint, it is simply impossible to rush there in three days..."

Grace fell silent.

Seeing that her hostility had lessened somewhat, Prince Xalv tentatively asked:

"Cousin, do you know why Isabella suddenly wanted to go to the Northwest Continent?"

Grace's gaze flickered, and she said flatly:

"Among the five great families of the 'Pale Wings,' the Golden Wing family primarily deals in grain and energy businesses.

The Northwest Continent has the largest grain-producing region in the pan-continent, and moreover, her guardian, Mr. Mordo, is also there.

Isa grew tired of peace and quiet, and not wanting to be pestered by a certain someone, she ran off to the Northwest Continent to relax. Is there a problem?"

Prince Xalv's eyebrows twitched slightly. With his excellent breeding, he didn't take Grace's veiled sarcasm to heart.

At the same time, a weight lifted from his chest.

Good, it should just be a coincidence.

With the sudden event of a Saint taking action, the atmosphere of the birthday banquet was clearly not as lively as before.

No one even had the heart to discuss the gossip that had just occurred.

After a perroutine perfunctory exchange, the guests hurried back to their respective families to deal with the potential fallout of this sudden event.

...

In the Western Empire, an anxious-looking noblewoman burst into His Imperial Majesty's study.

Seeing who it was, a look of indulgent affection appeared on the Emperor's face, and he smiled faintly:

"You're already a mother of several children, why are you still so uncomposed?"

The noblewoman asked with a trace of grievance:

"What is going on? I heard that Qiao was surrounded in Aiphine? A Saint even made a move!"

The Emperor smiled calmly:

"I already know about it, but you don't need to worry. It has nothing to do with Roland; the people of the 'Black Tomb' are targeting the Daughter of Golden Wings."

The noblewoman glared and asked:

"How does it have nothing to do with it!

Didn't you say Qiao was discussing business with the Daughter of Golden Wings?

I know his temperament; how could he possibly stand by and watch the Daughter of Golden Wings get besieged?"

The Emperor smiled bitterly, knowing that if he didn't tell the truth, his little sister wouldn't let the matter rest.

He said in a low voice:

"Rest assured, Your Excellency Solon has already made a prophecy; Roland will be fine this time. On the contrary, the one suffering heavy losses will be the 'Black Tomb'!"