“Just you wait, Yinan Hill!” Irene Xue clenched her fists, her nails digging deep into her palms…
At that moment, Yinan had just coaxed the little one in his arms to sleep. Aurora couldn’t even imagine the days ahead—her mother had abandoned her and left alone…
Yinan told her, Irene Xue had run away!
Was she killed by Yinan!? But why would Yinan kill her? There was absolutely no reason!
Then how did she escape!? If she left, why didn’t she take her along!?
In Yinan’s arms, she sobbed uncontrollably—now, she had only Yinan left.
Watching the percentage on the little one’s value soar wildly, Yinan found his own redemption!
The next day, Yinan woke up to unexpected news.
The envoy told him to go to Fojin Territory for the ennoblement ceremony…
Why not to Tulip Territory? The envoy gave him no explanation.
All he could do was pack up, dress appropriately—the black long robe with gold patterns gave him an air of solemn majesty.
His black hair, paired with those red eyes, and the black-and-gold formal attire, all together radiated a natural sense of pressure.
He brought along more than a dozen Violet Watch guards, grandly setting off for Fojin Territory.
Aurora stood on the balcony of the castle, watching in the direction Yinan left. Tears blurred her eyes again…
She clutched the hem of her dress tightly, filled with helplessness and uncertainty. The maid beside her tried to comfort her softly, but Aurora couldn’t hear a single word…
Entering the castle of Fojin Territory, luxurious decorations and the endless flattery of nobles echoed in his ears…
But all these compliments belonged to the new lord of the castle—they had nothing to do with Yinan.
Where were the members of the Will family? Why was not a single one present!?
At that moment, the surrounding nobles ignored Yinan, one of the central figures of the ceremony, as if isolating him!
This was definitely not a good sign!
Yinan felt he had stepped into a trap! What major event had happened around here? Why was he completely unaware?
The atmosphere in the hall grew increasingly oppressive…until a woman appeared, and the entire room fell silent…
What kind of woman was that? Her eyes were filled with a sense of age and experience, but it didn’t diminish her charm in the slightest.
She wore a deep violet gown, its hem flowing behind her like a river of night. Silver threads traced intricate patterns on the fabric, shimmering like flowing stars in the night sky as she moved.
Her hair cascaded down her back like a waterfall, jet black as ink. A few stray strands fell carelessly across her fair cheeks, highlighting her cool, aloof features.
She seemed to be in her thirties, yet her eyes carried the calm detachment of someone tempered by the passage of years.
She walked slowly toward Yinan, the sound of her high heels striking the floor echoing in the silent hall, each step like a hammer pounding on everyone’s tense nerves.
Nancy
“Nice to meet you at last… Yinan Hill.” The woman finally stood before him and spoke, her voice indescribably gentle. “My name is Nancy Orlando, a countess from the Imperial Capital. From today, I will officially be taking over Fojin Territory…”
Yinan raised his brows slightly, surprised. He studied Nancy carefully, his expression polite as he responded, “Countess Nancy, a pleasure to meet you…”
“Hmm…” Nancy extended her right hand to Yinan. He immediately took it and bowed, pressing his lips gently to her hand.
The way Yinan performed the hand-kissing gesture exuded grace; a trace of appreciation flickered in Nancy’s eyes.
She gently withdrew her hand and moved to a carved chair nearby, sitting down with regal composure.
After motioning for Yinan to sit as well, Nancy continued, “Lord Yinan, this time His Majesty sent me here not only to take over Fojin Territory, but also to assist Marquis Will in safeguarding the security of the North. So I asked His Majesty for a viscountship to grant, and now I officially confer it on you!”
Yinan tensed inwardly. He hadn’t expected things to take such a turn.
Were they making him a double agent!? Will had really been promoted to Marquis? Offending him now would be most unwise!
But Nancy gave him no chance to react. She directly took a finely crafted longsword from the maid beside her and stood up.
“This is a viscountship bestowed by Her Majesty Theresa.” Nancy slowly approached Yinan. “Lord Yinan, I hope you will not let down the grace of the Isor Royal Family!”
Yinan took a deep breath, dropped to one knee, and replied in a steady, resolute voice, “Countess Nancy, I, Yinan Hill, shall never forget the great favor of Her Majesty and the Isor Royal Family. I will serve without hesitation, body and soul!”
Nancy laid the sword on Yinan’s shoulder, then, without hurry, recited the long speech of the ennoblement ceremony.
“Yinan Hill, today in Fojin Territory, by the grace of Her Majesty Monte Theresa, you are granted the rank of Viscount. The honor of the Isor Royal Family rests upon your shoulders.”
“The North is still aflame with war; powerful foes eye us from without, and hidden dangers lurk within…”
Her words were long, but she didn’t pause for even a second, as if she knew the lines by heart. At last, she spoke the final sentence, “By the name of the Royal Family, I grant you the rank of Viscount. May you wear this glory and never betray the sacred grace bestowed upon you.”
As Nancy’s voice fell, the entire room was silent; everyone was steeped in the solemn, awe-inspiring atmosphere.
Yinan raised his head and gave a long speech of thanks—anyway, his feelings were all tangled and complicated now…
He had been drawn into an invisible vortex by this woman, but all he could do was accept it. “Countess Nancy, I, Yinan, will follow Her Majesty’s orders and never betray the trust of the Royal Family. For the North and the Empire, I shall devote all that I am.”
Nancy nodded slightly. “Viscount Yinan, see that you keep your word…”
At that very moment, that old scoundrel Will had just returned from receiving his own investiture at Frost Wolf Territory and was back in his study, poring over Nancy’s information. A servant was beside him, quietly reporting recent happenings in the territory.
“By the way, my lord, Lord Yinan also went to Fojin Territory today to receive… uh…”
Halfway through the report, the servant’s neck suddenly spurted a spray of blood. Clutching his throat, he could no longer utter a word…
It was as if a third party had slit his throat, but there were only the two of them in the room…
Marquis Will stared in shock as the servant collapsed before his eyes, blood rapidly spreading across the floor in a dark, chilling pool.
“Nancy Orlando?” Will stroked his ring, regaining his composure. “Is everyone from the Imperial Capital so hot-tempered? Or is Her Majesty simply running out of patience?”
This was a chillingly calculated warning. Nearly a hundred years old, Will suddenly realized the power games he had played in peace for so long had been thrown into chaos by his own ambition!
Will slowly crouched down and dipped his finger in a drop of blood on the floor, watching as that bright red spread across his fingertip, as if seeing the raging undercurrents hidden beneath.
