"Anyways, extract Emily’s talent."
William spoke in anticipation.
He remained seated on a bench, his posture relaxed, though his mind was already calculating future expansions.
[Understood]
[Ding!! gained the talent HEAVEN’S MERCHANT]
A subtle ripple flowed into him as the talent became his own.
He scanned through the effects in silence. This was his first talent related to commerce; he wished he had gotten it before, during his time when he used to sell chocolate.
Just as he began reorganizing his thoughts, he sensed a familiar presence approaching him from the side.
Katherine appeared from the dorm building and looked at him with a smirk. From afar she walked towards him while waving her hands.
He finally turned and watched her approach across the garden path. Her expression was playful as she lifted her hand in a casual wave and said hello.
His reaction was completely opposite of how one would expect someone to react.
"Why are you here?" he asked in irritation.
She slowed her steps slightly, her lips curved in mild amusement. "Why? Can I not come to meet my friend?"
"Tsk. You are not my friend," William retorted.
She placed a hand lightly before her mouth and performed a mock display of sadness, though the act was half-hearted.
When she received no reaction whatsoever, she dropped the gesture entirely and rolled her eyes.
Without further dialogue, a small leather bag appeared in William’s hand from the inventory. He extended it toward her.
Katherine accepted it and opened the flap to look inside. Inside were sealed vessels filled with blood.
Her brows narrowed slightly.
"Our deal was that I get this fresh from the source itself."
"Not possible right now." William replied lightly, making Katherine suspicious.
"Why?" she asked, studying him carefully.
"Special circumstances."
His tone carried finality, like he won’t take any other questions from her.
Fortunately for him, when he had negotiated the oath with her, he had included multiple clauses.
Under special circumstances and during periods when he was away from the academy or under external restrictions, he would not be obligated to provide freshly drawn blood.
The oath’s duration was also limited to one year, another detail he had deliberately structured in his favor.
At the time of negotiation, he had exaggerated the Eternal Sovereign’s organization’s influence enough to ensure Katherine accepted his terms.
She had known she was taking a risk. She possessed very little leverage over him.
Her only bargaining chip had been knowledge, knowledge that he was involved with a mysterious organization.
Yet she had no tangible proof. She could not publicly accuse him based solely on a scent of blood and a few strands of hair.
If William wished, he could eliminate her without even leaving evidence.
Kathrine understood that.
She stared at the vessels in the bag for several seconds, her lips pressed thin, and then closed the bag with a soft snap.
A faint pout crossed her face before she turned away without another word, giving a last glance at William.
As she walked off, William’s expression changed.
A slow scheming grin spread across his face, the type that appeared whenever he devised a scheme against his enemies to inconvenience them thoroughly.
[Hehehe, she is going to bawl her eyes out tomorrow!!]
"Hehe, did she think only she knew how to mix stuff in food?" William let out a quiet laugh.
Hidden among the foliage and rooftops, the celestial army officers assigned to guard him observed from concealed positions.
Though trained to maintain composure, several of them frowned when they saw that grin. They thought William had lost his mind.
***
Sylvaris Empire, Capital City.
The elven capital flourished beneath the colossal canopy of the World Tree.
Its trunk rose from the center of the city like a pillar of creation, and its diameter spanned miles, creating a grand structure.
The bark shimmered faintly with ancient formations and runes that pulsed with mana.
Its branches extended upward beyond visible height, piercing the clouds.
Entire districts were built along the earth surrounding the massive stem, while the imperial palace rested upon one of the highest colossal branches, suspended above the capital city.
Elven citizens moved through elevated walkways and crystal-lit avenues.
In the midst of this harmony, a sharp voice cut through the air.
"Do you not understand what I said?!" Seraphine stood near the central square, flanked by several royal attendants and maids. She had been walking toward her carriage when her path was blocked.
Arwen, the son of the Elven Prime Minister, stood before her, dressed impeccably with his posture proud.
He was a third-year World Academy student who had recently returned home after completing a mandatory group mission with his group mates.
The moment he had first seen Seraphine during a banquet, something in his mind had fixated.
Attraction had grown into desire, and slowly that desire had hardened into obsession.
She had rejected him more than once, and yet that had only deepened his desire to win her, like she was some trophy.
"My princess," Arwen spoke smoothly, attempting to maintain restraint in his tone, "I am not asking you to accept me immediately. But you will inherit the title of Saintess eventually. Our families will insist upon an alliance. I propose only that we become acquainted properly before that stage arrives."
Seraphine’s eyes flashed with irritation. "You are living in a delusional world, Arwen. I am never going to marry you. My mother does not get to decide where I marry, and neither does your family."
"Our union would be blessed by the World Tree," Arwen pressed on. "Without its approval, marriages do not occur. Among the three generations of the Sylvaris empire, I am the strongest among my peers. I will win the trial and claim your hand in marriage. This is not my arrogance; I am simply stating a fact."
Seraphine let out a sharp scoff. "Good luck with that. Even if the World Tree approves of you, I still won’t marry you."
Arwen’s calm facade fractured.
"Why?" His voice lost all composure. "Why do you hate me so much, Princess?"
Seraphine offered no answer. Instead, she stepped toward her hovering carriage.
When Arwen attempted to advance, several spears crossed before him, halting his steps.
Humiliation burned across his face now.
Seraphine entered the carriage without another glance. The vehicle lifted smoothly into the air and departed, gliding toward the palace canopy.
Arwen remained standing behind, and his fists clenched in humiliation.
Moments later, a small group of young men approached.
"Arwen, you ran off quickly," Edward Sinclair said with a curious smile. He had participated in the recent group mission and was currently staying at Arwen’s residence as a guest alongside other third-year students.
"Why did you rush as if you found a rare treasure?" Edward asked lightly.
Another elven youth chuckled. "You do not know? He is trying to court the Elven Princess."
Edward’s brows rose theatrically. "What? Seraphine?" He looked directly at Arwen.
Arwen nodded faintly, though irritation was evident on his face. "Yes, but she keeps pushing me away."
Edward looked at Arwen and suddenly spoke, "Wasn’t she dating William Kaiser, if I remember correctly?"
Arwen’s expression darkened immediately. "What did you say?"
Edward observed the shift with hidden satisfaction. He had inherited a dangerous trait from his mother, an ability to twist words into weapons. He loved to witness conflict that he initiated quietly with his venomous words.
He leaned closer, lowering his voice.
"My younger brother Maximus is in the first-year batch. He has mentioned seeing them exit each other’s dorms early in the mornings secretly, which suggests that they have already spent many nights together."
"William even brags about their relationship publicly when Seraphine is not present. The whole situation is so shameful; I am really disappointed as a fellow human." Edward shook his head as though disappointed.
"He got physical with her even before marriage and before coming of age."
Arwen’s breathing grew heavier.
"And the most disturbing part," Edward continued in a tone of feigned concern, "is that he is merely the son of a peasant from Riverdale. Perhaps he used some sinister spell to manipulate Princess Seraphine, because I find no reason why she would reject your advances."
Edward pretended to appear troubled by the revelation. The act was completely unnecessary since Arwen’s face had already turned rigid with something darker than jealousy.
The image forming in his mind was toxic.
Spending nights together, physical intimacy, public boasting.
Though he did not know what he sought revenge for exactly, humiliation and possessiveness blended into something volatile.
The suggestion that Seraphine had chosen someone beneath her status over him felt like a personal insult. Edward’s words echoed in his ears repeatedly.
He felt like he had been cucked by William, even though Seraphine never belonged to him in the first place; he was already beyond the point of any reason.
Edward observed the silent storm behind Arwen’s eyes and said nothing further. He did not need to. The seed had already been planted; now he will just enjoy the storm from the sidelines.