Hate Me, Witch!-Chapter 97: He Is My Life

Holy Light Extinguished.

Every Radiant Spirit from the Holy Theocracy leaves behind a "Seed of Radiance" in the Sacred Court. Even if a Star-Spirit Body perishes, it can be revived through this seed.

However, the process of restoring an Elemental Lifeform is excruciatingly slow.

For Hystalia, this meant that for at least half a year, she would be unable to use her most powerful Fourth Soul Pact.

Yet, at this moment, not even for a second did she grieve the loss of her Radiant Spirit.

Instead, she only stared blankly at Ailora, who stood behind her, and at the Oathstone in the girl's hands—a symbol of the Winter Flower Family.

An Oathstone could only belong to a direct descendant of an Oathbound Family.

With this, her identity was beyond doubt.

"You… are the child of the Earl of Winter? The only daughter Xia Ya mentioned?"

Hystalia looked at Xia Ya, then back at the golden-haired girl in knight’s armor.

"Then why… why would you do this?"

Hystalia’s question was also on the minds of many nobles present.

With Xia Ya’s true identity and past exposed, those who had been watching Ailora—the girl who had followed him for years—couldn't help but scrutinize her as well.

Due to her frequent missions for the Military Department, Ailora's records weren’t difficult to obtain.

A powerful, talented civilian Beastmaster.

And—utterly loyal to Xia Ya.

This was a fact written in black and white across all records.

The business empire Xia Ya had built in Black Lily District had always been managed by Ailora in his stead. Whenever Xia Ya appeared in the Imperial Capital, she was always by his side—silent, expressionless, removing obstacles for him.

Subordinate, attendant, maid, knight, lover… Many had speculated about their relationship.

Even though there was evidence that this golden-haired girl was from Ceylan, no one had ever suspected her true identity.

No matter how much the Winter Flower Family had been pushed out of power, they remained one of the Eight Oathbound Families. And as the sole survivor of the calamity, both logic and duty dictated that the Empire would support her.

If Ailora had merely revealed a hint of her lineage, she could have claimed her rightful status, gained the respect she deserved, and obtained resources fitting her rank.

But—she never once did so.

She was Xia Ya’s shield, Xia Ya’s sword. A shadow that followed him silently, never once complaining.

"Ailora Ingurit,"

"You and him… what exactly is your relationship?"

Hystalia murmured.

She had thought today was merely an ordinary engagement banquet—at most, a demonstration of power between noble families.

But far too many things had happened beyond her expectations.

And she knew nothing about them.

"Relationship?"

Ailora's gaze lingered on Xia Ya’s profile.

In her emerald-green eyes, a flicker of distant memories surfaced.

She remembered—

The winter when they had first arrived in the Imperial Capital.

They weren’t wealthy at the time, and prices in the capital were far higher than anywhere else.

To save money on lodging, she and Xia Ya had to stay in the dormitory for civilian students at Saint Roland Academy.

Back then, she had just formed a Soul Pact with Rhongomyniad—a Sacred Relic-type Summoned Beast.

But Sacred Relics required massive amounts of resources to develop. Without constant enhancement, an unawakened relic was no different from a pile of scrap metal.

Without resources, her growth as a Beastmaster would fall far behind her peers.

She had considered slowing down her progress.

But Xia Ya immediately refused.

"Since you’ve chosen to follow me… I won’t let you suffer."

"My girl deserves only the best."

"Whatever those nobles have, you should have too."

Even now, she remembered the way he looked when he said those words.

His expression was serious, but in his black eyes, there was a smile.

And so—on countless nights, she would wake up to see Xia Ya sneaking out of bed, writing under the dim candlelight, muttering things like—

"Damn it, never thought I'd regret not studying more."

"How did the others manage to plagiarize so well?"

Countless winter nights—Xia Ya used the royalties from his writing to buy Transcendent Materials for her, dragging her through merchant guilds and black markets, bargaining as if he were a seasoned businessman.

Sometimes, they would have a few silver and copper coins left over.

Then, Xia Ya would buy hot sesame flatbreads from street vendors in Lower Town, tearing off a tiny piece for himself, and giving her the rest.

Spring warmth, summer days, autumn breezes, winter nights…

A year, two years…

Slowly, their lives improved.

Xia Ya’s work at the Literary Society became a massive hit. With the royalties as seed money, they opened store after store in Black Lily District.

But even now—

Ailora still missed the taste of that winter.

Sometimes, Xia Ya would take her back to Lower Town, buy a few flatbreads or roasted sweet potatoes, and they would sit on a random set of steps—

She would eat, and he would watch.

Ailora looked at the black-haired, dark-eyed boy before her.

A soft smile appeared on her pale face.

"He is…"

"My life."

Her whispered words vanished into the night breeze, unheard by anyone.

As the second Oathstone appeared, the illusory flames forming the barrier silently shattered.

The grand hall fell into silence.

Tonight’s banquet had seen too many upheavals.

So many, it was suffocating.

But eventually—someone moved.

"Silver Fox" Lir.

A moment ago, he had been approaching Hystalia, seemingly to support and console his confused young lady.

But in the next moment—

His body vanished into motion.

His fingers sharpened into blades—and in a flash, he lunged at Xia Ya.

The howling wind cut through the silence, filled with deadly intent.

He had struck with the resolve to kill.

As the House Steward of the Borgia Family, Lir understood exactly what Xia Ya's actions meant today.

If Xia Ya was not killed, then after tonight—

The Imperial Family would undoubtedly expose Ceylan’s truth.

Even worse—the Holy Theocracy and Borgia Family, who had previously maintained a close alliance due to Hystalia, would now fall into conflict.

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The conspiracy with Warwick had been kept hidden from the Holy Theocracy.

But if Xia Ya died—

Everything would change.

The Imperial Family would be enraged, but he would only be a corpse.

At worst, the Borgia Family could simply hand over Lir to take the fall.

As House Steward, he had long accepted that he might die for the family’s sake.

Lir did not summon a Summoned Beast—

Because the summoning process would make too much noise, giving others time to react.

He was a close-combat Beastmaster specializing in physical enhancement.

Even without his Summoned Beast’s augmentation, he was still a true Titled-tier powerhouse.

With a calculated ambush, eliminating Xia Ya—who had just broken through to Fourth-Ring Beastmaster—would be child’s play.

The fierce wind howled through the air, the razor-sharp strike aimed straight at Xia Ya’s throat.

As the House Steward of the Borgia Family, Lir had eliminated countless obstacles for his family over the years—disposing of threats, crushing rising talents, and securing the family's dominance.

This was nothing new to him.

In his mind, he had already pictured the scene—

Xia Ya’s throat pierced through, his body twitching in despair as he drew his last breath.

But in the next moment—

Lir saw something impossible.

The boy, who had kept his gaze lowered all this time, suddenly lifted his head.

Expressionless—

He simply stared at the incoming kill strike.

His pitch-black eyes—

At some unknown point—

Had turned into a pure, crimson red.

Xia Ya smiled silently.

Then, he uttered one word.

"Kami避 (God's Rejection).”