Chapter 177: The Arrival of the Phoenix

Imperius swished his cloak and stood straight at the doorway, bellowing in a rough voice, "Phoenix Lady has arrived!"

Rayan's brows immediately twisted into a knot that couldn't be untangled. The image of Phoenix Lady, naked and with a lewd, ambiguous smile, lingered in his mind.

"Isn't Phoenix Lady ill?" Lady Spring Rain couldn't help but ask quietly.

Rayan's mouth curled into a bitter smile. Indeed, Phoenix Lady was sick, but it wasn't a cold or flu; she was afflicted with a fever of lust.

He couldn't afford to think too much. While the Firebird soldiers were entering the inner hall and had not yet brought Phoenix Lady out, he whispered to Lady Spring Rain, "Spring Rain, agree to it."

"What do you want me to agree to..." Lady Spring Rain appeared uneasy, clearly avoiding Rayan's topic.

"Let me be your Oath Knight."

"Are you planning to compete?" Lady Spring Rain bit her lip.

"That's right."

Rayan said without hesitation, "I want to win first place, so I can get—"

He suddenly realized Lady Spring Rain's face was full of disappointment, then he became aware that he had overlooked the most important issue. "Actually, while being your Oath Knight is for the competition, I truly am willing to take on the responsibilities of an Oath Knight, to protect you with my life."

Lady Spring Rain bit her cherry lips, troubled, "Rayan, it's not that I won't agree, but... but being an Oath Knight is no small matter; it requires the swearing of the most malicious vows, and one must never betray the patriarch. If you're only doing this as a pretense, such a vow would be... too great a cost."

Rayan earnestly said, "Then we don't have to pretend. I'm just a nameless wanderer; if you don't mind, let me be your Oath Knight. I've said it, I'm willing to protect you for a lifetime."

"I... I need to think about it..."

Lady Spring Rain's heart raced, and she turned away in a fluster, grabbing a cup filled with red wine and downing it in one gulp—her mind growing even more confused.

Of course, she was willing to let Rayan be her Oath Knight, but realizing that a large part of Rayan's motivation was for show made her feel uncomfortable. Yet, hearing Rayan's declaration of lifelong protection made her heart flutter so much that she needed to drink to mask it.

She didn't want this; she just wanted to regard Rayan as a lifelong friend, like a brother...

"Rayan, I..."

She bit her lips repeatedly, "I'm not worthy of an Oath Knight like you."

Rayan pursed his lips, "Spring Rain, I think that's just your excuse. How could it be that you're not worthy of me?"

"I'm telling the truth!"

Lady Spring Rain hurriedly explained, "Listen—I'm just a Silver-edged noble, and technically, Silver-edged nobles aren't qualified to have an Oath Knight, not to mention you're now a Gold-edged noble. If you were to kneel and swear to me, it would be utterly unbelievable. Moreover, with your strength, I believe many Gold-edged nobles are eager to have you as their Oath Knight. Perhaps—"

"Spring Rain, you're wrong. Those people are the ones unworthy of my protection."

Rayan said sternly, "I only wish to protect you alone. If you don't like staying by your side, then once I win the tournament's reward, I will disappear forever—"

Lady Spring Rain quickly covered Rayan's mouth with her fingers, "Don't say such things! I'm just... I've had too much to drink, and my mind is a mess, so I'm speaking nonsense. You know, I like you as a friend, I like talking with you, but I don't want to enter into a hierarchical relationship, I don't want you to become like Archer."

"No, Spring Rain."

Rayan assured, "We're still friends, I'm just adding the responsibility of keeping you safe—even as a friend, protecting you is something I should do."

"I... let me think about it some more..."

While Lady Spring Rain was still hesitant, footsteps rustled in the inner hall.

Firebird guard captain Imperius roared in a robust voice, "Everyone, stand up!"

Commanding all the nobility to stand was a ceremony reserved for welcoming His Majesty the King or the Queen. Logically, an ordinary Gold-edged noble like Phoenix Lady shouldn't enjoy such a privilege, but Imperius's confident shout compelled many noble guests to stand uncontrollably.

Lady Spring Rain also stood up, as she was nominally still part of the Firebird family, and showing respect to Phoenix Lady was only natural, and Rayan naturally stood up as well.

In a few seconds, almost all the noble guests in the banquet hall had risen, except for the Redwood patriarch and Lady Eileen, who did not stand. Although they were not seated together, the contempt on their faces was strikingly similar.

They had used Rayan's strength to distance all guests from the Firebird family, but before Phoenix Lady had even made her appearance, just by calling out "stand up," the situation had dramatically shifted—

Despite their resentment, the Redwood patriarch and Lady Eileen had to admit that Phoenix Lady was indeed formidable.

As guests whispered among themselves, Phoenix Lady Kiana·Firebird walked into the banquet hall.

She was dressed in a fiery red gown, the neckline and cuffs adorned with bright feathers, her white neck and almost bare chest glittering with golden jewelry. Her shoulders were embroidered with a pair of vivid wings, and from afar, she looked like a phoenix rising from the flames—true to her title.

Moreover, her skirt was embroidered with a serene lion, its head raised as if looking towards the soaring phoenix. Between the lion and the phoenix wings was her slender waist and tightly wrapped hips.

Her face bore a perfectly dignified smile, with just the right touch of sickness, vastly different from the lascivious demeanor she had shown alone with Rayan. Whether clothed or unclothed, Phoenix Lady always managed to capture the attention of all guests. Rayan noticed that most of the guests, who had not hesitated to curse her behind her back, bowed slightly to this woman.

Clearly, this was the power of authority... Regardless of their private disparagements, face-to-face, no one dared to act improperly, even if Phoenix Lady was a physically weak woman.

Lady Spring Rain also performed the standard courtesy towards Phoenix Lady. She was grateful to Phoenix Lady; she knew well that if not for Phoenix Lady's deliberate protection, Marquis Hart would have likely acted indecently towards her long ago.

Compared to Lady Spring Rain, Phoenix Lady's dignified demeanor was clearly forced, but in such circumstances, it was more effective than genuine dignity. She walked straight to the highest seat, and before sitting down, she slowly swept her phoenix eyes over the guests, nodding in return to their greetings, making those who had previously cursed her feel guilty and avoid her gaze.

When her gaze swept past Rayan, it was merely a casual nod, as if she had never seen Rayan before, much less seduced him while naked.

Rayan also returned the gesture without any fuss, eager to have no further entanglements with this woman. He knew Phoenix Lady's appearance was surely to deal with the Redwood patriarch and Lady Eileen, but in such a public situation, how she would proceed was unclear. If she confronted the Redwood patriarch, Lady Eileen would naturally step in to help in her capacity as a Holy Light envoy, and directly confronting Lady Eileen would be even more unwise—

Rayan simply stopped thinking about it; after all, it was a matter between Phoenix Lady and the Redwood family, and he just wanted Lady Spring Rain to accept him as an Oath Knight sooner. But now he couldn't pressure Lady Spring Rain, he could only give her more time to consider.

After scanning the room, Phoenix Lady slowly sat down, also raising her hand to signal the guests to sit.

Beside her, Marquis Hart was both surprised and astonished, "My lady—Phoenix Lady, didn't you say you were ill and couldn't attend?"

Phoenix Lady smiled faintly, "With so many nobles present, even if Kiana were to die of illness, she would still have to meet everyone. Moreover—"

She suddenly turned her face towards a grim-looking Holy Light envoy Eileen, "With such a distinguished guest from the Holy Light Sisterhood attending, Kiana would have to show up even if she were severely ill, otherwise, wouldn't it be neglectful of the Holy Light?"

Holy Light envoy Eileen then stood up, managing a forced smile. She was not much older than Phoenix Lady in actual age, but already appeared much aged, naturally losing much of her presence.

"Thank you for your concern, Phoenix Lady. Once Eileen returns to the Holy Light Sisterhood, she will surely inform the throne Your Excellency of Phoenix Lady's noble character."

Phoenix Lady clearly caught the insinuation in Eileen's words, and chuckled, "Thank you, Lady Eileen, for the special care you've shown our Firebird family. Oh, Lady Eileen, why are you sitting among the other nobles? My nephew Hart really doesn't know how to arrange seating, does he? It would be more convenient for us sisters to talk if you were seated next to me, especially since there's a spot right between me and Patriarch Redwood."

Eileen's lips twitched, her eyes darting towards Redwood patriarch.

Redwood patriarch quickly reacted, standing up with a smile, "

If Holy Light envoy Your Excellency would sit beside this old man, it would be an utmost honor for our Redwood family."

Eileen then relaxed a bit, smiling in response, "Since both Phoenix Lady and Patriarch Redwood are not opposed, I won't be shy."

As other guests heard that the Holy Light envoy was changing seats, they hurriedly made way, but Eileen waved her hand, saying, "No need to trouble yourselves," followed by a purple magic light shining from her white Holy Light robe. Before anyone could pay attention, her figure flashed, and she disappeared from sight, instantly moving to the spot between Phoenix Lady and Redwood patriarch.