“What do you mean? Isn’t she just the daughter of Count Harris? Because of you, my plan has completely fallen through!”
Lina was furious, but the look Grey Cat gave her held not only schadenfreude but also a hint of sympathy and mockery.
“Because of me? Miss Succubus, I’m not taking the blame for this.”
She took a step forward, closing the distance to Lina, and the aura emanating from her made Lina, the Marquis’s daughter, instinctively step back.
“Do you know who you’re going up against? That count’s daughter, Miss Tia, is not simple at all.”
Lina took a deep breath, clearly annoyed.
“Of course I know she’s not simple! Otherwise, I wouldn’t have come to you for the drug!”
Grey Cat shook her head.
“No,” she said. “You don’t know.”
Lina fell silent for a moment, staring into Grey Cat’s eyes.
An inexplicable unease surged in her heart.
She gradually calmed down and asked:
“What exactly are you trying to say?”
Grey Cat didn’t answer immediately.
She turned around, walked to the window, and gazed at the heavy night outside, leaving Lina with a desolate back that seemed to carry countless stories.
“Nightingale,” she suddenly spoke, “you know about her, right?”
“That witch from Hela City who’s wanted by the Inquisition? I’ve heard of her. So what?”
Lina was puzzled.
Grey Cat didn’t turn around, but continued in a tone full of admiration:
“Nightingale is no ordinary witch—she’s a real Grand Witch. Even with her help, I still failed to deal with that count’s daughter.”
Lina’s pupils sharply contracted.
“Wh… what?”
As an ordinary officer of the Witch Council, Lina naturally knew how powerful a Grand Witch was.
And if she couldn’t succeed against that count’s daughter, then that meant Tia possessed the power to contend with a Grand Witch…
How… how could that be possible?
Grey Cat, with a hint of mockery and warning, said, “With just you, how could you possibly deal with her?”
Lina stood still for a long time, not moving, until she began to gradually accept the fact.
“You… you mean…”
Her voice trembled with slight fear.
Grey Cat looked at her and sighed softly.
“She is definitely not as simple as she appears. Even if she were, there must be some special power protecting her from behind.”
She paused, then continued, “If you’re going to go after her, the one who should really be worried is yourself.”
Lina gritted her teeth, recalling Tia’s face in her mind.
Then she stomped her foot and snorted, “I don’t believe it!”
Grey Cat raised an eyebrow.
“She’s just a count’s daughter! Why would she have such a force protecting her? And I’m a Marquis’s…”
She covered her mouth, then quickly changed her words, “Hmph! I don’t believe it anyway!”
Marquis?
A Marquis’s daughter?
Grey Cat glanced at her and immediately guessed her identity.
After all, the whole city of Hela was buzzing with the news that the Marquis’s daughter was pursuing Tia—almost everyone knew.
“Believe it or not, but I’m warning you: if you keep going after her, the only one who’ll end up suffering is yourself.”
This was Grey Cat’s heartfelt advice from personal experience.
The Hela City now was no longer the one she knew.
And that count’s daughter was still safe and sound, which meant the forces behind her were terrifyingly strong!
She had no intention of provoking her anymore.
Lina stood there, her hands clenched into tight fists.
After a long while, she seemed to have made up her mind.
“Whether what you said is true or false, I will have her. After all, the power behind me is not as simple as you think.”
With that, she walked toward the door of the room without any hesitation.
Grey Cat crossed her legs, shook her head, and smiled.
The Marquis clan’s influence in the Empire was indeed vast, but it was still slightly inferior to that of a Grand Witch.
After all, every Grand Witch was a figure standing at the pinnacle of the world.
And if even a Grand Witch couldn’t handle the count’s daughter, how could she possibly lose to the Marquis clan?
That young lady was really heading down a dead end.
Outside the tavern, Lina’s thoughts were simple.
So what about a Grand Witch?
So what about terrifying hidden forces?
Her Marquis clan’s letter of forced marriage would soon arrive in Hela City.
Then, at the banquet tomorrow night, when she proposed to Tia, how could Tia refuse?
She admitted those forces were formidable, but would they really go against her for Tia’s sake?
That wasn’t necessarily true, was it?
—
The Marquis clan’s letter of forced marriage arrived in Hela City.
Count Harris’s face turned almost as black as coal.
During this time, he had met with the Marquis’s daughter Lina, but it seemed to end without any result.
Strangely enough, he hadn’t sought out Tia, as if he felt the marriage issue had escalated into a family-level power struggle beyond her control, so he didn’t bother discussing it with her.
In the past, Tia would have been happy—at least she’d have peace.
But now it was different.
Two days had passed since she accepted the Witch Council’s mission, and she still hadn’t found a chance to go out.
It was making her extremely anxious.
She had to find an opportunity to completely cut off Lina’s hopes.
But what kind of opportunity could there be?
After thinking for a long time, she remembered the Grand Witch Rose.
Rose owed her a favor—one chance to act.
She could use it to solve this problem.
As for whether it was overkill…
As far as she knew, Rose wouldn’t stay in Hela City for much longer.
She might leave in a few days, and then there would be no chance to ask for her help.
If she couldn’t solve it immediately, it would be meaningless.
So she immediately took out Rose’s communication crystal.
Nightingale: [Are you there? I need your help with something.]
Rose: [Oh? The mission came so soon? Go ahead, I’m all ears.]
Nightingale: [There’s a junior I think highly of who’s being pestered by a Marquis’s daughter from the Imperial Capital. At the banquet tomorrow night, she’s going to propose to her. Do you have a way to deal with it?]
Rose: [Your junior—wouldn’t she happen to be named Celestia?]
Nightingale: […How did you know?]
Rose: [How could I not know about this kind of gossip? Don’t worry. As long as the Inquisition doesn’t meddle, I can solve it easily for you.]
Nightingale: [The Inquisition not meddling? What do you mean?]
Rose: […Cough, just pretend you didn’t hear that. Anyway, I’m definitely helping with this. You can rest assured! That count’s daughter is definitely yours!]
Tia was stunned.
‘What does she mean by “definitely yours”?’
‘Is Rose misunderstanding something?’
And that part about the Inquisition not interfering—what was that about?
Had Rose fought with the Hela City Inquisition?
Didn’t she think they were all incompetent?
Why did it seem like her view had changed now?
‘Could it be… she got taught a lesson by the Inquisition?’
‘How strange.’
But since Rose had agreed, she didn’t want to overthink it.
She would leave it to the Grand Witch.
She trusted Rose would handle it properly.
—
The next evening, Harris Manor was ablaze with lights.
The crystal chandeliers, normally lit only on important occasions, were all illuminated tonight, turning the entire manor hall as bright as day.
The long dining table stretched from the main hall to the side hall, covered with a spotless white cloth, laden with exquisite silverware and fresh flowers.
Servants moved busily, their faces adorned with practiced smiles, but their eyes hid expressions that were hard to read.
News had spread throughout the city.
Count Harris, under pressure, had no choice but to hold this banquet.
As for where the “pressure” came from, everyone knew.
On the street in front of the manor, carriages arrived one after another.
Nobles in elaborate attire alighted, exchanged greetings, and headed toward the brilliantly lit hall.
Soon, the banquet officially began.
The moment Tia appeared at the entrance of the main hall, countless gazes focused on her.
She wore a moon-white long dress, the hem embroidered with delicate silver patterns.
Her long hair was elegantly pinned up, revealing the graceful curve of her neck and her stunningly beautiful face.
A proper smile played on her lips, as if tonight were just an ordinary gathering.
But the looks from the guests were far from ordinary.
Sympathy, pity, even a kind of helpless compassion.
Which of the nobles present hadn’t heard of Lina’s reputation?
That arrogant and domineering Marquis’s daughter, who had caused a death in the Imperial Capital and then fled to Hela City, had now set her sights on the count’s daughter known for her kindness and gentleness.
What good could come from being targeted by someone like that?
What a pity…
Someone sighed softly.
Miss Tia was so kind, treating all the city’s residents equally, never putting on airs.
How many poor people had she helped?
How many down-and-out individuals had she assisted?
Why did she end up in such a situation?
What use was kindness in the end?
Power and status were what truly mattered.
Tia moved through the crowd, her proper smile never wavering.
She nodded to acquaintances, occasionally stopping to exchange pleasantries, her demeanor elegant and composed.
No one could see anything wrong.
Only she knew that one pair of eyes had been following her all along.
Those eyes came from the other side of the hall.
Lina was wearing a wine-red gown tonight, her golden curls shimmering under the lights.
She held a wine glass, leaning against a pillar, her gaze locked onto Tia’s figure, a confident smile on her lips.
Tia avoided her gaze and walked the other way.
But Lina wasn’t about to let her go.
—
Partway through the banquet, Lina walked toward Tia with her glass.
Seeing her approach, Tia subtly turned, using a conversation with a noble lady to dodge her.
Lina raised an eyebrow and chased after her several times, but was evaded time and again.
Her expression darkened slightly, but soon, she restored her natural smile.
It didn’t matter.
She had plenty of patience.
—
As the banquet drew to a close, the atmosphere was no longer as lively as before.
Lina set down her glass, smoothed her skirt, and walked toward the center of the main hall.
There, Count Harris was conversing with several elderly nobles.
Lina stopped in front of him, a flawless smile on her face.
“Count Harris.”
Count Harris turned to her, a fleeting depth flashing in his eyes, quickly returning to normal.
“Miss Lina, is there something you need?”
“I wish to speak with Tia. Please summon her here.”
Count Harris paused for a second.
“She is feeling unwell. I think it’s best not to bother her.”
Lina’s smile stiffened slightly.
“Not bother? Count Harris, have you forgotten something?”
She paused, then continued coldly, “You are her father, not her. You have no right to make decisions for her, do you?”
The air around them seemed to freeze for a moment.
Count Harris looked at her, the depth in his eyes growing more intense, along with a dangerous aura.
Beside him, an elderly noble casually patted his shoulder, helping him regain his composure.
But just then…
“What’s going on?”
A gentle voice came from the edge of the crowd.
Everyone turned at once.
Tia stood at the edge of the crowd, her moon-white dress glowing softly under the lights.
Her face held a hint of confusion, as if she had merely wandered over and heard her name mentioned.
Lina’s eyes lit up.
“Tia, just the person I wanted to see.”
She walked toward Tia, and the crowd parted automatically.
“Now that everyone is here, and with so many witnesses…”
Standing before Tia, she took a step back, then, under everyone’s gaze, dropped to one knee.
Gasps of shock rippled through the hall.
Lina took a small velvet box from her chest and opened it.
Inside lay a ring set with a huge sapphire, surrounded by tiny diamonds that sparkled brilliantly under the light.
She looked up at Tia.
“Tia, I have admired you for a long time. Marry me!”
The hall fell into dead silence.
No one spoke, no one moved.
Even breathing seemed to cease.
All eyes were fixed on Tia.
Those looks held sympathy, pity, anger, and a kind of helpless compassion.
A proposal?
This was no proposal.
This was outright coercion.
Tia stood there, silent for a long time.
Her eyelashes fluttered, and with a hint of panic, she said, “Lina, this… this seems a bit too fast, doesn’t it?”
Lina smiled.
“Too fast? I just don’t want anyone else to take you away.”
She paused, scanning the crowd as if searching for someone who wasn’t there.
“Besides, what’s wrong with marrying first and then falling in love? How many noble couples do just that?”
Tia took half a step back.
“But, I already have…”
“Tia.”
Lina cut her off, an edge of threat creeping into her voice.
“Some people aren’t right for you. You should understand that. I am the only daughter of Marquis Claude. In the future, I will become Marquis Claude myself. If you marry me, I won’t let you suffer.”
Then, with feigned passion, she continued:
“In my heart, you are absolutely the one I love the most. As for others, they can only come after you. I’m sure you understand.”
Someone in the hall gasped.
Too shameless!
Everyone clearly understood what Lina meant.
She was proposing to Tia yet wouldn’t even promise she would be the only one she loved.
She not only wanted multiple wives but expected Tia to accept it?!
Even if she came from a Marquis clan, this was going too far!
At the edge of the crowd, several young nobles clenched their fists, barely suppressing their fury.
If their elders hadn’t been holding them back, they would have rushed forward to give that shameless woman a beating.
But they could only stand there.
Because they knew the woman was right.
In this world, power and status were what truly mattered.