On June 21, at twilight.
Duke Augustus’s estate was located in the northwestern corner of Florence’s District One. It was so expansive that it spanned the size of two entire stables. It was surrounded by meticulously cultivated green meadows, interspersed with flowerbeds of red, yellow, and pink.
Neatly maintained white stone paths led to three different gates of the estate. Several butlers in white shirts and black vests quietly waited at iron-black painted gate with an entourage of servants behind them.
Elegant, finely crafted carriages arrived from every part of Florence one after another. Nearly half of them bore the crests of various noble families, including swords and flowers, a white giant bear, and even a two-headed tiger.
When each carriage reached the estate gate, it halted briefly. The curtain would gradually open, and a bejeweled, pampered hand would emerge to present a white invitation to the butler. Then the butler would instruct one of the servants behind him to guide the carriage to the designated parking area.
It was around 5:30 p.m., and the banquet would start at 6 p.m.
An elderly butler stood quietly at the eastern gate of the ducal estate.
The sound of wheels rolling over the ground gradually came closer.
A pale-black carriage slowly drew to a stop at the estate's gate. Its pale-green curtain lifted, revealing a handsome young noble curiously gazing outside. He had slightly curly brown hair, emerald green eyes, and a prominent nose. A white lace collar flared around his neck, setting off a silken noble's outfit embellished with gold-thread patterns.
The elderly butler approached the carriage. He offered a polite bow and accepted the white invitation extended by the young man. Glancing down, he noted that it was Nien, the eldest son of Earl Roland's family and eventual heir to the rank of earl.
The elderly butler closed the invitation and was about to speak when another carriage arrived behind them. This one bore a golden motif; the crest of the royal family. He immediately handed the invitation to a middle-aged servant beside him. The servant understood the butler's signal at once and took over. Meanwhile, the butler went to greet the royal carriage.
The horses' hooves struck the ground, slowing to a halt. The curtain was lifted, revealing a bold and handsome face.
He possessed a lion-like mane of golden hair and striking features. He was none other than Soss, a royal once called the Lion King. But now, he seemed far from his prime. His eyes were dull and rimmed with red. They were ringed with dark circles. Whether from lack of sleep or indulgence in wine and women, he looked like a lion in decline.
After the Shadow Hunter seat competition ended, Soss lost all his former gusto. Even his self-confidence had been shattered by that single strike from Cassius in the valley. The Lion Seal strike had been a temporary imitation of Soss's own Lion Seal, yet Soss had been overpowered by his greatest strength.
After the competition, he also suffered the aftereffects of excessively using the sacred spring water to boost his power, leaving his mental state unstable. For a long while, he drowned himself in alcohol and vice to numb his misery. In that period of total decline, he had no interest in outside happenings. It was only a day or two ago that he began to recover and decided to go out to lift his spirits.
At that moment, he happened to receive Duke Augustus's invitation to a grand banquet. Since many of his acquaintances would attend, he viewed it as a chance to relax. Thus, newly emerged from his gloomy state, Soss arrived.
Soss passed a white invitation edged with gold filigree to the elderly butler waiting beside him. The butler smiled politely, inspected it out of protocol, then returned it respectfully.
"Please proceed, Mister Soss."
Inside the estate, not far away, along the road...
The pale-black carriage moved leisurely on, while the young noble inside kept the curtain drawn back, glancing behind him with a displeased expression. Nien felt he had been slighted and disrespected. He found it hard to hide his feelings.
He muttered under his breath, "What's so great about him? He's just a drowned dog. Nothing more than the royal family's pampered hound. Now that he failed in the Shadow Hunter competition, I'd like to see how long he can keep his swagger.”
“Ha, he wants to marry the Ninth Princess Angela? He can keep dreaming. The royal family specially invited that Number Two Shadow Hunter to this banquet, and the Ninth Princess Angela will be there too. Heh heh, looks like the beauty will soon favor someone else..." Nien gloated quietly, having heard numerous rumors of late.
Seated on the soft cushions of his carriage, Soss's expression grew menacing, and his sharp teeth ground audibly. The red veins in his eyes intensified as a look of hatred crossed his face. He had caught Nien's whispers. After all, he was a Dark Gold Hunter specializing in physical cultivation. Even with the noise of the carriage, he could hear it well enough.
Soss's carriage abruptly picked up speed. The servant who was guiding it looked baffled, calling out while sprinting after it.
Since they relied on a servant to lead the way, Nien's carriage had not gone far. Soss's carriage soon caught up and blocked it. Nien drew aside his carriage curtain in confusion to see what was going on. But as soon as he looked out, he saw Soss glaring at him viciously from the adjacent carriage. Soss's eyes were bloodshot, making him look positively murderous.
"No way, did he hear that?!" Nien's heart lurched.
But then he stiffened his neck and glared back. What was this drowned dog showing off for? Soss had already lost his potential and would never reach the level of Shadow Hunter. Without that rank, even a superhuman had no special privileges before the royal nobility. Besides, Nien's family held genuine authority as earls; they were not some lowly minor nobility. Though Soss might be powerful, he still had to abide by royal rules—he could not attack his own people. Otherwise, the royal family would personally deal with such an ungrateful wolf.
Opposite him, Soss wrestled with the urge to kill and nearly lost control of his emotions. The side effects of his overuse of the holy spring water re-emerged as he narrowed his eyes, forcibly suppressing his rage. "You just wait..."
"Fine, I'll wait! I've had enough of you anyway! Did you know that the Ninth Princess Angela is attending today's banquet? Heh heh, I've got a friend who shared a little secret. The royal family plans to marry off the Ninth Princess Angela to that Blood Fist gentleman in order to win his favor. Aren't you thrilled?" Nien threw caution to the wind.
He had never been mild-tempered; in noble circles, he was known for his bluntness and impulsiveness. Now, facing the down-and-out Soss, Nien made no attempt to conceal his scorn. He openly taunted him, even showing a look of pity in his eyes to provoke him.
"You... are begging for death!" Soss's eyes bulged in fury, and a powerful Qi erupted from his body.