The band struck up a cheerful yet soothing waltz. Elegant noble gentlemen invited the ladies beside them onto the dance floor, swaying gracefully to the music.
Yet, not a single person invited Novalia.
To be precise, no one even dared to approach her.
Even though this was her birthday banquet, she was entirely isolated.
Novalia was long used to this. She calmly picked up an exquisite, delicious cupcake from the banquet table and began to eat.
Compared to the elegant ladies around her who smiled without showing their teeth, her actions seemed starkly out of place and unsociable.
A blonde youth walked up to Novalia and smiled. “Sister, aren't you going to dance with your companion?”
Ning Busan guessed that this must be Prince William.
Novalia said coldly, “Who are you calling sister? I am the first-in-line heir to the empire. You should address me as Your Highness.”
The King only had two children, Novalia and William.
Only the future heir to the empire was entitled to be called “Your Highness,” which was why William could only be referred to as a prince.
William's expression contorted for a split second. With a cold look in his eyes, he muttered, “Her Highness the Princess.”
Novalia ignored him and gestured to Ning Busan. “Eat whatever you like. Don't be polite.”
Only then did William notice Ning Busan, offering a slight smile.
“Lord Ning Busan, I apologize for my rudeness last time. I merely asked Phil to invite you over. I didn't expect him to use such underhanded methods.”
“But rest assured, I have already punished him. I will make sure he visits you in person to apologize another day.”
The apology was as perfunctory as it could get. Ning Busan replied with a fake smile, “That won't be necessary.”
William frowned in displeasure.
In his eyes, although Ning Busan was Lord Saige's student, he was ultimately still a commoner until he grew stronger.
The fact that he was willing to apologize to Ning Busan in person was already showing immense respect. He hadn't expected this lowly commoner to be so ungrateful.
A commoner would always be a commoner. Only someone like Novalia would willingly associate with them.
William looked at Novalia with mock pity and sneered:
“Her Highness the Princess, this is clearly your birthday banquet, yet no one is willing to invite you to dance. Don't you find yourself pitiful?”
Novalia looked thoroughly annoyed. “What exactly are you trying to say?”
The curve of William's lips widened, and he called out with a smile, “Zagan, come over here—”
Not far away, a flabby, thick-jowled man with large ears heard the call and jogged over, his face filled with obsequious flattery.
When he smiled, the fat on his face wobbled with every movement.
“Prince William, you called for me?”
William introduced him with a grin, “Her Highness the Princess, this is the eldest son of Duke Nigan, the future heir of the Leonardo family.”
Zagan stared intently at Novalia's face. Emboldened by lust, he stretched out his hand. “Her Highness the Princess, may I have the honor of this dance?”
Looking at his outstretched arm, Novalia took a deep breath, her anger flaring up.
She hadn't expected William to resort to such a disgusting method to humiliate her.
Just as Novalia was about to twist his arm off, Ning Busan also extended his hand toward her.
“My honorable Princess, may I have the honor of dancing with you?”
Novalia raised an eyebrow and placed her hand in Ning Busan's.
William sneered.
He didn't believe a commoner like Ning Busan would know how to perform a noble ballroom dance.
Yet, the two spun onto the dance floor, moving in perfect harmony.
The onlookers watched with varied expressions, each harboring their own hidden thoughts.
In reality, Ning Busan and Novalia were whispering to each other as they danced.
Novalia asked, “You've learned noble ballroom dancing before?”
Ning Busan smiled. “I picked it up just by watching.”
After all, he had been a wealthy second-generation heir in his past life, having frequented clubs and attended high-society parties.
Such a simple dance step was no challenge for him.
But Ning Busan was also curious about one thing. “Novalia, why is everyone so hostile toward you?”
On occasions like this, even if relations were poor, people would usually maintain a facade of harmony. It was bizarre that they didn't even bother to hide it.
“It's nothing major,” Novalia said nonchalantly. “I simply proposed to abolish the hereditary peerage system, making myself the public enemy of all nobles.”
Ning Busan couldn't help but gasp.
Abolishing the hereditary nobility system... that was probably worse to these nobles than digging up their ancestral graves!
Ning Busan felt like he had boarded a highly dangerous pirate ship.
Novalia continued, “When the Dawn Empire was first established, those who were granted titles were all founding heroes who contributed greatly to the nation.”
“To consolidate the dynasty's rule, Emperor Leo granted them titles and territories. This was passed down from generation to generation, forming the current noble class.”
“Unfortunately, this system is no longer suitable for today's world.”
Having studied political science, Ning Busan immediately understood her point.
As long as social stratification existed and resource distribution remained unequal, class conflicts would inevitably arise.
For example, the slums and the noble quarters within the capital of the Dawn Empire.
Furthermore, when faced with the Xeno Invasion, the nobles failed to fulfill their due responsibilities of protecting the citizens within their territories.
Just like the refugees outside the city gates.
Once these contradictions accumulated to a certain point, they would violently erupt.
The King and the nobles only cared about maintaining their rule and squeezing the living space of the commoners, whereas Novalia wanted to fundamentally change this societal status quo.
In other words, Novalia was standing on the side of the commoner class.
Ning Busan spoke softly, “Novalia, those who win the hearts of the people win the world. What you wish to achieve will succeed one day.”
Novalia smiled. “Those who win the hearts of the people win the world... I like that saying.”
After the dance, Novalia headed over to the ladies' section, while Ning Busan found a quiet, secluded corner in the gentlemen's section to sit peacefully.
Since everyone now knew he was associated with Novalia, no one dared to cause him any trouble.
However, Prince William walked over, handed Ning Busan a glass of wine, and said softly:
“You've only just arrived in the Dawn Empire, so you probably don't know what my dear sister has done, do you?”
“What did she do?”
William lowered his voice and said, “She killed her own mother.”
“Oh.”
William was stunned.
Just "oh"? No other reaction?
Ning Busan had simply recalled an internet meme that, with a little adaptation, fit Novalia perfectly.
A malicious father, a deceased mother, a scheming brother, and a broken her.
No wonder Novalia preferred to live in the North District rather than the palace. To her, this wasn't a home, but a den of monsters.
Right at that moment, the flabby Zagan suddenly rushed forward, knelt before the King, and said:
“Your Majesty, I have admired Her Highness Novalia for a long time. Today, I wish to ask for her hand in marriage. I hope Your Majesty will grant your consent.”
The Queen chimed in from the side, “Your Majesty, Novalia has reached the age where she ought to marry.”
She was William's mother, but not Novalia's.
She wished for nothing more than Novalia's death so her son could logically inherit the empire.
The King looked at Novalia, his voice booming with authority. “Zagan will inherit the title of Duke Nigan in the future, and his status is worthy of you. I have decided to betroth you to him.”
In truth, this was something they had planned long ago; this was merely going through the motions.
Beside them, Ning Busan shuddered.
To marry one's own daughter off to such a person... how deep must their hatred be?
There was no trace of anger or any other emotion in Novalia's eyes, only calmness.
Yet, it was precisely because of this calmness that she seemed even more terrifying.
Novalia walked up to Zagan and stood before him, her voice dripping with oppressive weight. “You want to marry me?”
Zagan looked at her lustfully, nodding repeatedly. “Yes, yes, yes! I have liked Your Highness for a very long time.”
Everyone watched the scene coldly, taking great pleasure in seeing Novalia put in her place.
Novalia's lips curled slightly, forming a cold, striking smile that held both arrogance and disdain.
“Who do you think you are to like me?”
Novalia said, emphasizing every single word, “Have you ever been to the battlefield? Have you ever slain a xeno? Do you even know how many people are displaced outside the imperial capital?”
“The man I marry can be ordinary, but he absolutely cannot be a useless piece of trash who only knows how to seek pleasure in the imperial capital.”
As she spoke, she swept her gaze across the entire hall, including the King.
She had basically categorized everyone present as useless trash.
The King's voice was filled with rage. “Novalia!”
Novalia stared straight into the King's eyes without a shred of respect.
The King even felt that her gaze was like a sword capable of piercing right through his heart.
Novalia scanned the crowd, her voice cold and heavy. “Once the Black Sun passes, I will lead my troops out of the imperial capital.”
“During this time, all of you had better behave yourselves and stay out of my way. Otherwise, I wouldn't mind getting more blood on my hands.”
With that, she turned and left, dragging Ning Busan along with her.
Rate on N.U.
