"Why are you so sure Igula will return to Mongfera?" Anfeier smiled and asked, "Or rather, why would he come to Mongfera in the first place? It’s not his home."
"But you’ll be his closest family in the future, you’ll marry him, and you’ll have a daughter that even Ash will be envious of," Yvalin said. "How is Belladett Manor not his home?"
"That’s what the Gospel thinks, not what he thinks. He won’t accept such a future."
"I don’t understand, is it because he doesn’t like you, or because there’s no affection between you?"
Anfeier thought seriously, "He probably does like me."
"Then isn’t that enough?"
"How should I explain it to you..." Anfeier tilted her head, "Igula, he’s tsundere."
A chef placed a plate of iceberg fish slices on their table, and Yvalin ate a piece: "So this is what Fish-Slicing Dragon tastes like... So what if he’s tsundere?"
"It’s hard for him to accept entering into an intimate relationship," Anfeier said. "He’s like a sensitive scallop-type man, wrapping himself in indifference and hostility when others get close, only opening up a crack to reveal his softness in unseen places when nobody’s looking, experiencing the warmth of the surroundings."
"I’m not the first person he’s liked, nor will I be the last. Even though he witnessed my blossoming, he will not stay for me, because what he needs is not a family member to depend on, but an equal opponent."
Anfeier said, "We might like each other, our feelings aren’t over, but there won’t be a future for us."
The blue-haired wealthy woman nodded thoughtfully, "I see."
"As long as you understand," Anfeier blinked, "since you’ve already given him the rest of the Dominion Faction’s information, don’t bother him anymore—"
"I’ll tie Igula up, feed him Vatican Mura’s ’Enhancement Potion,’ and once you have Reya, he’ll be totally trapped. Then I’ll help you make up for the wedding," Yvalin said. "It’s just tough being a female knight."
Anfeier wasn’t sure if her sister was being rational or emotional at this point: "I mean, we’re not suitable for each other..."
"It’s you who’s not suitable for him, not the other way around," Yvalin rolled her eyes. "Even the Gospel List doesn’t dare to claim it can make everyone happy. Now that you see a future where at least you could be happy, why miss it? And how do you know this couldn’t be the best outcome for Igula? Without you, maybe he’ll end up lonely for the rest of his life."
"But he doesn’t want to—"
"Clearly, it’s you who don’t want to accept the future woven by the Gospel List." Yvalin spoke while eating slices of Fish-Slicing Dragon. "Because Rusted Crow cares more about career than about you, because such a future isn’t satisfying for you, so you give up—why not strive for a better future? You say he needs an equal opponent, so why not try to be that for him?"
Anfeier looked at her sister in shock, her expression like someone seeing a lolloping philosopher.
"The Gospel List has already prepped the fish, arranged the dish, placed it on an iceberg, and handed it to you. If you think there’s something lacking in the taste, would you actually choose to throw it away rather than season it yourself?" Yvalin said, "You say he’s a scallop-type, but aren’t you just like him? Only Igula repels others with his coldness, while you protect yourself with your gentleness."
"In the end, both of you lack the confidence to manage an intimate relationship, and the Gospel List is just an excuse." The blue-haired wealthy woman clenched her fists, "So the Gospel List isn’t for you to see, it’s for me—according to this pace, I’m afraid the world will be destroyed before even Reya comes into existence. I must pry open your scallops and season them properly!"
Yvalin felt herself growing hungry from her own words, and she turned to say, "Bring out the steamed scallops!"
The two chefs nodded silently, and the sisters’ hearty feast naturally drew frequent glances from others in the hall.
The guests qualified to attend this dinner were, after leaving, part of the ruling class that governed the world alongside the Yisu royal family. Although the dinner’s cuisine was plentiful and delicious, it paled in comparison to the fragrance of power.
The new Empress, the azure chariot routes, the future rankings, the doomsday catastrophe... so much needed discussing. Now, everyone was busy discussing how to prevent their class from sliding down or how to climb higher. How could this blue-haired woman still have an appetite?
And yet, she was eating so much!
But Yvalin no longer cared—after the battle at Belladett Manor, she had offended nearly 60% of the Gospel forces, and the remaining 40% were extremely wary of her.
Even if everyone knew the true mastermind was Igula, the intelligence that ’Belladett could completely dominate the Holy Domain’ was enough to cause panic. Now, the staff interfacing with Belladett were all replaced by ordinary people, and outside the Holy Sanctuary Mage’s office hung warnings stating, ’Mongferans not allowed inside.’
Rather than saying they were ostracizing Yvalin, it’s more accurate to say they feared Yvalin. After all, the Dominion Faction of Belladett was too unpredictable; a simple polite reply of ’okay’ could become a trap of ’I volunteer to be Miss Yvalin’s dog.’
Thus, Yvalin and Anfeier tucked themselves into a corner to enjoy the food. Although the banquet was self-serve, some delicacies had to be ordered and made on the spot to taste best, like the seafood they were currently enjoying.