Nobody's Here Anyway, So Stop Pretending—They've Already Ripped Off The Mask!

The auction at the auction house ended.

The result actually surprised Young Master Naiye.

He truly hadn’t expected that the bionic limbs created by magical technology would sell for so much.

Their intrinsic value wasn’t high, and they were troublesome to make, so the cost-performance ratio was poor.

It was mainly because that blonde heiress, for various reasons, managed to sell so many.

Young Master Naiye wasn’t some clueless kid; since she was being so polite.

It was perfectly acceptable to flirt a little and chat, so in the end he took the initiative to approach her and spoke a bit.

And he did it in front of everyone, letting her feel the admiring, envious, jealous gazes of the crowd.

You could tell from her final expression that she didn’t regret this auction.

Probably.

—It was getting dark; after dinner, relax a little.

Walking alone in the corridor, Young Master Naiye was pondering the events of the past two days.

Tomorrow he’d leave the Skywing Knight Family; the factional struggles here were something a wise person should avoid getting involved in.

Especially someone like Naiye, the noble young master representing the other side from behind—he was all the more unlikely to get involved.

“Naiye… wait!”

Young Master Naiye stopped; he knew whose voice it was behind him.

Xiya Blackwing, a Black Wing Knight who opposed Nia over ideological differences.

To be honest, Naiye didn’t want to see her…

She had been trying to recruit Naiye into Blackwing; Naiye of course refused.

Nia had tried the same, and Naiye had refused her as well, but Nia’s approach had been relatively friendly—at least she never coerced Young Master Naiye.

“If you haven’t settled things at home, why are you looking for me?”

Young Master Naiye warned her to consolidate her family internally first, lest she show a weakness that Nia would exploit.

He hadn’t seen her since the tribunal; she’d been at home dealing with the matter.

“I’ve finished… I just… wanted to see you.”

Xiya clasped her hands nervously over her abdomen and answered in a meek voice Naiye had never heard from her; her ruby eyes were quiet and heavy.

Her innate pride was nothing in front of Naiye.

Xiya Blackwing was a very proud person; Young Master Naiye could imagine how harshly and arrogantly she had forced internal consolidation within the Blackwing family after the tribunal.

It was actually a huge pressure; there would definitely be many people dissatisfied with her.

There were even idiots comparing her to Nia.

—It seemed this matter had dealt her no small blow…

It had been said a long time ago, and not just by Nia and Naiye—Qingliya had mentioned it too.

Xiya’s temperament wasn’t suited to being the head of the family, yet she was the most gifted Black Wing Knight and, for many reasons, had to become the leader.

This even had something to do with Nia.

Most importantly, once she chose to be the leader, matters developed to the point of an arrow on the string that could not be held back.

She and her subordinates could not stop.

“Alright, it’s getting late. Let’s go to dinner.”

Young Master Naiye sighed inwardly, then finally reached out and invited Xiya Blackwing.

A relaxed smile finally appeared on Xiya’s face.

She gently—and a little fearfully—placed her hand in Young Master Naiye’s.

Her hand felt smooth and cool, exquisitely delicate and gentle.

“Naiye! Where are you? Let’s go have dinner!”

A familiar, delightful voice suddenly thundered over like a bolt!

Xiya’s grip suddenly tightened! She clenched Naiye’s hand so hard, both nervous and pained!

Of course it was the Golden Knight Nia.

When she saw Xiya and Naiye together, her sky-blue pupils twitched slightly!

This was the main reason Young Master Naiye didn’t want to meet Xiya…

“……”

He had assumed Xiya would be occupied consolidating the family and he wouldn’t see her for a while; in fact Naiye had prepared to say goodbye to her before he left.

But unexpectedly, it happened so suddenly!

Nia and Xiya were suddenly face to face.

“……”

“……”

“……”

The place was completely empty now; Nia and Xiya dropped all pretenses and glared at each other with extreme hostility.

After the last tribunal, Nia and Xiya had put their contingency plan into motion together, focusing the family’s conflicts on a single main culprit for the time being!

They would put the main culprit on trial and execute them! Then Xiya would use that to consolidate Blackwing.

On the surface, the conflict between Skywing and Blackwing would come to a halt.

The two would bury their grievances, stop quibbling over conflicts, and face the family’s threats together!

That was the morale blow suffered after the last war defeat; the Sky Wing Knights needed to rally again.

But in reality, Nia Skywing and Xiya Blackwing had privately, because of the banquet’s contingency plan, already…

Ripped off their masks!

With no one around, they instinctively dropped all pretense and confronted each other fully.

This once-married pair had ultimately and completely broken apart over conflicting ideals!

This was actually the same feeling Young Master Naiye had the first time he saw them.

They had once been very harmonious—their noble, elegant demeanor made them a couple people envied.

Nia would be out in front, Xiya behind her.

Nia took the lead in negotiations and shielded her, while Xiya supported and assisted from behind.

But the expressions Naiye saw then hinted at a slight, strained awkwardness between them.

It seemed their opposition was destined in some ineffable way!

And now… Naiye found himself in the middle of their battlefield.

—This is bad…

After exchanging glares, Nia and Xiya…

Xiya grabbed one of Young Master Naiye’s arms tightly.

As if to show Nia, she yelled at her.

“I’m sorry! Young Master Naiye already invited me to dinner just now! You should just head back!”

Xiya’s words were blunt—she had completely dropped the act—and she barely maintained a semblance of courtesy.

Nia’s mouth twitched… her sky-blue pupils shot Xiya an angry glare!

Yet perhaps because Naiye was there, she didn’t dare to act out.

Instead she gave a faint smile and grabbed his free arm on the other side.

“Oh… really? But Naiye already said in front of everyone that he would have dinner with me!”

“Why would he invite you again?! Are you pretending to be pitiful to make Naiye invite you?!”

Nia struck even more viciously, unhesitatingly attacking Xiya…

It’s even a little cruel, but so what? They’d already dropped the masks; there was no need to hold back any dignity.

The key was that Naiye had actually said that line—he’d blurted it out to placate the heiresses at the auction…

And now it has become a real spoken statement.

The two sides’ terrifying gazes began to carry the scent of gunpowder—the atmosphere was far from pleasant.

Naiye felt a headache and tried to calm the imminent battlefield.

He uttered a useless line: “Both of you, calm down, let’s talk this through.”

Clearly, his persuasion had no effect.

Nia suddenly stepped forward, pressing close to Xiya, “Talk? What qualifications do you have to talk to me? Naiye invited me, not you!”

Xiya’s deep-red eyes narrowed! But she didn’t back down either, and stepped forward.

“Invite you? Nia, don’t be too confident. Naiye never said he was siding with you! Don’t forget, you’re the first he refused!”

Their gazes crossed in the air—one black, one gold—and sparks flew between them!

Naiye felt an invisible pressure envelop him…

Because the struggle between the two had become unavoidable.

“Naiye!”

Nia suddenly calmed, simply looking at him with her sky-blue eyes.

No tenderness, no pleading, and none of that gentle, watery affection.

Just a pure gaze telling him what would happen tonight.

Utterly pragmatic, utterly pure, yet very sincere.

In contrast, Xiya still looked at him with a calm but heavy gaze, though she glared at Nia from time to time!

Naiye felt suffocated; he’d never imagined he’d face such a choice,

two women—one arrogant and domineering, the other elegant and icy—both noble, beautiful, elegant ladies and knights.

Time seemed to freeze; Naiye felt he stood at a crossroads—he had to choose a path and couldn’t mess about indecisively.

At last, he slowly spoke.

“Alright, let’s go eat.”

Given how things stood, they’d eat first.

Naiye said the line oddly and, ignoring the two of them, stepped forward and moved.

A trace of a smile appeared in Nia’s sky-blue pupils.

She glanced at Xiya once, then hurried to follow.

Xiya watched Naiye leave with a look of loss; her outstretched hand trembled slightly…

She couldn’t quite accept it!

But Young Master Naiye was already walking away! Xiya’s red pupils narrowed; gritting her teeth, she followed.

She hadn’t expected she’d actually chase after Naiye like this…

She hadn’t expected Nia to do the same, and Nia didn’t feel the least bit ashamed.

In the dining hall, the once leisurely atmosphere became tense and solemn at the arrival of the three of them.

Both kitchen and hall fell unusually silent…

“……”

Everyone, upon seeing Nia and Xiya together, lowered their heads in fear and didn’t dare make a sound!

The young ladies who had been gracefully enjoying their meals, sensing the severe and uncomfortable mood.

Ate as quickly as they could while maintaining decorum, then left immediately!

Before they knew it, only the three of them remained in the dining hall.

Young Master Naiye returned to the cold, quiet demeanor he had when he first arrived at the Skywing Knight Family.

But from his aura it was clear he was displeased…

As for Nia and Xiya, aside from glaring at each other, they exuded a severe, terrifying presence.

Luckily the head chef appeared and temporarily disrupted the oppressive atmosphere.

But even he was laughing through tears, cold sweat of nervousness streaming down his face.

He carefully and gingerly set down the dishes he had personally prepared.

After a final bow, he, like everyone else, quickly left!

When the dinner was served, Young Master Naiye started eating first, completely ignoring the two of them.

He hardly cared about table manners, he just began to eat!

Nia and Xiya glanced at each other once more, then tried to maintain etiquette as best they could and began their meals.

Suddenly the dining hall held only the sound of three people eating…

“……”

The atmosphere was extremely heavy!

A strange sense of oppression lingered in the dining hall.