Hate Me, Witch!-Chapter 88: Xia Ya’s Engagement

Imperial Capital, Upper District.

In a mansion so vast that it seemed more like a palace, within a sunlit courtyard—

Lush green plants stood tall, blooming in a riot of colors, their rich fragrance filling the air. The mingling of magic and vitality was so dense it almost took physical form.

Any Beastmaster specializing in plant-type summoned beasts would have been utterly shocked to see this place.

That was because nearly all the plants in this courtyard were rare species of summoned beasts at the Monarch Tier or above.

Plant-type summoned beasts were already scarce and difficult to cultivate. Each Monarch-tier plant-type beast required decades, even centuries, to nurture. Just obtaining a single Monarch-tier plant-type beast was enough to give birth to a powerful Master-tier Beastmaster.

Yet here, these plant Monarchs—prized rarities in the eyes of outsiders—were merely arranged as ornamental potted plants.

A calm-looking elderly man held gardening shears, carefully trimming the branches of the plants. There wasn’t the slightest bit of imposing presence around him—he truly seemed like nothing more than an ordinary gardener.

"Sins &Thorns has been wiped out."

"Viscount Lorie lost the wager, the Spiritual Abyss Demon went out of control, and he chose to take his own life."

"The family’s assigned observer there was also killed. And those things below… unless something unexpected happened, they’ve likely been fully exposed."

Suddenly, a voice filled with utmost reverence spoke from the shadow cast by the courtyard’s outer wall.

The old man continued his work, only pausing once he snipped off an excess branch.

He tossed the clipped leaves into a wooden bucket beside him. "Clean it up."

"Already in progress. All ties between Sins &Thorns and the family have been completely severed—there won’t be any lingering loose ends."

The reverent voice promptly responded.

"Additionally, according to on-site intelligence, the group that destroyed Sins &Thorns was led by someone who displayed a badge."

"If the witnesses’ accounts are accurate… then that World Tree and Silver Sword emblem should be the shield insignia of the ‘Swordbearers.’"

The elderly man, who had been tending to the plants like a gardener, brushed his fingers over the freshly pruned leaves before finally placing his gardening shears into the toolbox.

After a moment, he turned around.

The previously unassuming air of a gardener vanished, replaced by an ancient yet commanding presence.

"Isadella has started making her move again?"

"Does she think she’s learned enough from her past failure… that she’s gathered enough strength over these four years?"

"And this time, who did she choose as her Swordbearer? That little girl named Fioren from the White Chalk Tower?"

The reverent voice in the shadows hesitated briefly before answering.

"It is not Her Excellency, Southern Inspector Fioren."

"According to family intelligence, the leader of that group seems to be not even at the Fourth Ring yet…"

"Based on recorded physical traits and vocal comparisons… there’s a very high probability that it’s the same third-year student from Saint Roland Academy who previously thwarted the Ashen Order’s plot in the Imperial Capital—Xia Ya Egut."

The elderly man’s voice paused for a moment.

"Him?"

"That’s right. Xia Ya Egut and the Second Imperial Princess likely crossed paths during that Ashen Order attack."

"Additionally, there’s evidence suggesting he hails from Ceylan, and ‘Xia Ya Egut’ is likely just an alias."

"Considering that the Oathbound Family’s piece in ‘Winter’s Flower’ has yet to be found… perhaps—"

The reverent voice hesitated before continuing.

"This time, he and Her Highness the Second Imperial Princess seem to be standing on the same side."

"Shall we, as we did with previous Swordbearers, unite with the other families and deal with their leader directly—"

"No need."

The suggestion had barely been spoken before the old man cut it off.

He sat down on a chair in the courtyard. Though it was nothing more than an ordinary wooden chair, the moment he settled in, it carried an overwhelming sense of authority.

"The royal family is still the royal family. Even though their control over the empire has weakened over the years, their remaining influence is not to be underestimated."

"Isadella’s talent and mindset are indeed remarkable. Over these years, her excellence has rekindled faith in the royal family among many."

"As long as she exists, the Swordbearers will continue to exist. In this situation, using forceful suppression as we did in the past would only backfire, stirring their hearts toward rebellion."

His voice paused briefly.

"Since that’s the case, why not take a different approach?"

"A rose and a rapier—that is our family’s emblem."

"And to wield both allure and an iron fist in equal measure—that is the Borgia way."

"Understood."

The shadowed figure quietly withdrew.

The elderly man remained seated in his chair. After a moment, a faint blue magitech projection flickered into existence before him.

"Hystalia, his records should have already been sent to you."

"What do you think of my earlier proposal?"

The sound of pages being flipped came through the magitech screen.

"A seventeen-year-old, almost at the Fourth Ring. His talent is acceptable."

After a long pause, a crisp yet chillingly cold female voice responded.

She hesitated for a moment, as if reviewing footage from a memory crystal, before speaking again.

"As for his appearance… he is indeed much more pleasing to the eye than those so-called holy scions of the Church."

"If it’s for the sake of the family, I have no objections."

A dimly lit underground chamber.

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Xia Ya reached out, touching a certain unexplored depth within a hidden chamber—a small area where time itself was warped.

For most people, even high-tier powerhouses at the Fifth or Sixth Ring, this anomaly would have been nearly impossible to detect.

But for Xia Ya, who had absorbed dozens of Sands of Time and possessed an unnaturally high affinity for time, it stood out like a beacon.

In the next moment, that warped time fused into Xia Ya’s palm and disappeared. A series of messages surfaced in his mind.

[Quest Phase One: Trigger Historical Echo—‘Ascania’ (Completed)]

[Current Historical Echo saved. Please enter the echo manually for Phase Two.]

[Phase One quest reward issued: ‘Sands of Time’ ×5]

In an instant, Xia Ya felt his mental world shift—the previously dim starlight overhead brightened, and five new tiny stars emerged.

His spiritual energy surged, bringing an odd sensation of blockage and sluggishness, as though he had reached a bottleneck—just one step away from breaking through an intangible veil.

Xia Ya had a strong premonition.

If he were to consume any potion that boosted spiritual power or aided in breakthroughs, he could instantly shatter the boundary between the Third and Fourth Rings, officially ascending to a Master-tier Beastmaster.

A Fourth-Ring Master—even across the entire Western Continent, that was no small feat. In any nation, he could easily obtain a noble title and establish himself as a prestigious aristocrat.

More importantly, he was barely past seventeen. The vast majority of Master-tier Beastmasters only reached the Fourth Ring after decades of accumulation, making the gap between them and Xia Ya insurmountable.

But after thinking it over, Xia Ya ultimately dismissed the idea of exchanging items from the Sands of Time shop to push for an immediate breakthrough.

His recent advancements had already been rapid.

Though the Sands of Time could stabilize his spiritual world and enhance his soul potential—eliminating the common issue of weak foundations seen in cultivation novels—it still wasn’t the same as achieving a natural, fluid breakthrough.

He could sense that his mind and emotions still had minor inconsistencies. Perhaps he needed a true catalyst—something that would allow him to fully sublimate his spirit.

"My task is done."

Xia Ya turned around, looking at the Swordbearers’ subordinates behind him.

Unlike their first meeting in the Military Department’s lounge, where their respect was merely surface-level, Xia Ya could now clearly feel the difference in the way Dark Crow and Nightingale looked at him.

Their gazes burned with newfound intensity.

It was evident that they now recognized Xia Ya as the true leader of the Swordbearers—not just someone they followed due to the orders of Her Highness the Imperial Princess.

"I’ll leave the cleanup to you. Handle the victims, distribute compensation, that sort of thing."

"Also, make sure to gather and document evidence from Nocturne City's underground—the root of all this corruption."

"And don’t forget to leverage the royal family and the state-controlled press to stir public opinion in the Imperial Capital. Use the pressure from public discourse to squeeze the nobility and carve out more influence and benefits for us."

"Since you’re the elites personally chosen by Her Highness the Second Imperial Princess—I’m sure you won’t have trouble with that."

"Of course. This is our specialty."

Dark Crow’s raspy voice responded, and she swiftly stepped forward, directing the Military Department soldiers who were pouring in and sealing off Nocturne City.

Yet, for some reason, Xia Ya caught a fleeting trace of hesitation in her eyes.

"Alright, I’ll leave this to you then."

"Oh, and don’t forget to send me my cut from whatever you squeeze out of this place."

Xia Ya reminded her before striding out of the passageway.

"Elbow, Little Ai, let’s go home."

The sunset painted the streets of the Black Lily District in hues of crimson.

Xia Ya walked down the familiar path home, a golden-haired girl clinging tightly to his arm. Her soft hair cascaded over his shoulder—today, she had used a new sandalwood-scented shampoo.

Xia Ya knew Airolla well. She was the type who appeared cold on the outside but was warm at heart—a classic, old-fashioned tsundere. Even when she indulged him in moments of intimacy, the kind of gestures reserved for long-time couples, she only ever did so in the privacy of their bedroom.

In front of others, she usually maintained the persona of an aloof beauty.

Yet, at this moment, she was uncharacteristically affectionate in public.

And the reason for that, of course, was because their stroll wasn’t a two-person affair. It was a three-person one.

Airolla’s ice-blue eyes swept toward the girl trailing behind them, her gaze cold. "We’re almost home. Why are you still following us instead of heading back to the Military Department?"

"Because I was never part of the Military Department to begin with, Airolla."

Diris blinked her clear, innocent eyes.

She had been following behind them all along, neither too close nor too far—like a lovestruck girl watching her beloved with someone else, offering silent blessings from a distance.

"Just like you two, I’m also from the civilian faction. I used to live in the Saint Roland Academy dorms."

"But after the attack, the ruined dormitories still haven’t been repaired, so I rented a place here in the Black Lily District. Just one street behind your house—it’s only natural that we’re taking the same path."

Her explanation was logical and perfectly reasonable.

For a moment, Airolla found herself at a loss for words, unable to refute it. In frustration, she could only cling even closer to Xia Ya, as if staking her claim.

Meanwhile, Xia Ya inwardly praised Diris for her smooth maneuvering.

As expected of a Succubus Royal—a natural manipulator of emotions.

Even Little Ai, who normally never showed affection in public, was unwittingly provoked into doing so.

Just then, Xia Ya felt Airolla’s soft body suddenly tense up.

He stopped walking and looked ahead.

A carriage was parked outside his residence.

Its entire body was matte black, polished to a flawless sheen that exuded understated luxury. At its center, an exquisitely sculpted crimson rose bloomed, its presence a clear declaration of nobility and prestige.

The owner of the carriage was a middle-aged man, draped in a heavy coat and leaning on a silver-inlaid redwood cane.

His graying hair was neatly slicked back, and his entire demeanor radiated dignity and refinement—completely at odds with the modern, bustling atmosphere of the Black Lily District.

He stood beside the carriage with impeccable grace, seemingly waiting for someone.

"Crimson Rose—the butler of the Borgia Family."

"‘Silver Fox’ Lier, a Titled-tier powerhouse."

Diris’ voice whispered softly in Xia Ya’s ear. "Didn’t expect them to react this fast. Want me to use the secret channels to contact Her Highness?"

"No need."

Xia Ya shook his head, gently pulling Airolla’s soft hand to stop her from preparing for battle.

"With this kind of setup, they clearly aren’t here to make a move."

"I’m rather curious to see what the Borgia Family is trying to pull…"

Just as he finished speaking, the refined elderly butler looked in their direction.

The moment he laid eyes on Xia Ya, a complex mix of emotions flickered across his otherwise meticulous expression—relief, joy, even something akin to gratification.

Before Xia Ya could even approach, the butler took the initiative, stepping forward with quick yet graceful strides.

Then, he slightly bowed.

It was a formal attendant’s salute—a gesture reserved exclusively for a servant addressing their master, only used among the highest echelons of nobility within the Empire.

"Young Master Xia Ya, it is a great honor to see you again."

His voice was warm and respectful, exuding elegance and courtesy. There was not a trace of arrogance despite his lofty position.

"I have come today, as an old servant, on behalf of our household, to humbly discuss—"

"The engagement between you, Young Master Xia Ya, and our esteemed lady—"

"Hystalia Borgia."