[Vol. 7] Chapter 154: The Lion and the Reappearing Angel
[Lion’s Ring]
The moment Prince Xiluo mentioned this name, even someone as composed and experienced as Yulia couldn't help but tense up slightly.
This was not an ordinary item, far from it.
Its significance was directly tied to the internal traditions of the Austre Empire’s royal family and the way their emperors had always been chosen.
Unlike other nations, the Austre Empire was built on power and strength. There was no concept of an "appointed heir" in their royal family. The throne was not inherited, it was taken.
To claim the title of Emperor, the royal princes and princesses with inheritance rights had to fight for it. Seizing the throne was the only rightful path.
And the [Lion’s Ring] symbolized exactly that, a candidate’s qualification to compete for the throne.
Even someone like Xiluo Frederick, a direct descendant of the imperial bloodline, possessed only a single [Lion’s Ring], one that had been crafted specifically for him since childhood. Holding this ring was what granted him the right to the throne.
If he were to lose it, whether it was stolen, taken by force, or even voluntarily given away. It would mean only one thing, he was out of the race.
The empire believed only the strong deserved to rule. If a candidate couldn't even protect a simple ring, they were deemed unworthy of the throne.
That was why the [Lion’s Ring] was considered the most precious possession of every direct imperial descendant. Even the most incompetent royal who still harbored ambitions for the throne would do everything in their power to protect it.
Stealing such a ring was practically equivalent to assassinating a member of the imperial family. If found guilty, the punishment was nothing short of execution, and that would be considered a lenient sentence.
No wonder Xiluo was so aggressive about this, even in such a formal setting. This was far beyond something that could be smoothed over with a polite apology or a simple compromise.
Understanding the gravity of the situation, Yulia’s expression grew serious. After a brief moment of contemplation, she finally spoke.
"Prince Xiluo, may I ask exactly when you noticed your ring was missing?"
The prince frowned, clearly reluctant to answer, but after glancing at the gathered crowd, he clicked his tongue and responded.
"Shortly after I arrived at this hotel. I had a specific reason for carrying the ring with me today, but that thief seized the opportunity to steal it. Fortunately, I realized it almost immediately and used a special artifact to track it down."
As he spoke, he raised his other hand, revealing a crystal shaped like a compass that was glowing brightly. The needle-like pointer on its surface was aimed directly at Lenka.
"......"
Yulia exchanged a glance with the priestess standing beside her, then subtly shifted her gaze toward Lenka.
The small girl stood there, holding an ancient bronze ring in her hand, completely bewildered, as if she had just noticed it herself. She hadn’t even had the chance to return it yet.
A heavy feeling settled in Yulia’s heart. She was already beginning to form a suspicion.
The [Lion’s Ring] was definitely not stolen by Lenka.
That little girl didn’t have the mindset for it, let alone the skill or the motive. The timing didn’t match up at all. But if the ring ended up in her possession, there was only one explanation, one that made sense given everything that had happened earlier.
It had to be that girl, the one who had "accidentally" bumped into Lenka.
Most likely, she deliberately crashed into the distracted little girl, who had been too busy eating to notice her surroundings. And in that brief moment of chaos, she must have secretly slipped the ring into Lenka’s pocket.
Otherwise, why had everything been fine for so long while they wandered the banquet hall, only for trouble to find them immediately after Lenka was knocked over?
No wonder that girl had seemed so nervous. No wonder she had hidden her face and hurried off. She had been guilty.
But the problem now was that this was just a theory. There was no solid proof that the girl had framed Lenka.
And even beyond that, there were too many unanswered questions. The [Lion’s Ring] was not something just anyone could steal. So how had that girl managed to take it? And if she had gone through all the trouble to steal it, why abandon it at the last moment by stuffing it into Lenka’s pocket? Was it really just a coincidence?
A troubling thought crossed Yulia’s mind.
Her gaze flicked toward the sharp-featured middle-aged man beside Prince Xiluo, Shutak.
His formal attire was nearly identical to that of the mysterious girl. They were undoubtedly from the Royal Academy of Frederick City.
But Xiluo, despite being an imperial prince, should have been aligned with Sainz Academy, not the Royal Academy. By all logic, their factions shouldn’t have been working together so soon.
Unless…
A far more troublesome possibility began to take shape in the mind of the seasoned secretary.
Her striking black eyes, which concealed the truth of her vampiric lineage, darkened slightly as her thoughts deepened.
Had this entire scheme been waiting in the shadows for this exact moment? Had they deliberately chosen such a critical and high-stakes occasion?
If that girl had picked Violet, Xiao Guang, or even Mia or Selna as her target, she would have been caught immediately. But Lenka, while not weak, lacked the necessary vigilance, making her the perfect victim.
This kind of precision wasn’t something that could be planned on a whim. It had to be the result of careful preparation and thorough investigation.
At first glance, it seemed like only Lenka was being framed.
But once the crime was pinned on her, the real target would soon become someone much more important, someone closely connected to Lenka.
And if that was the case, then every detail made perfect sense, how they had singled out Lenka from the crowd so quickly, how they had escalated the situation to cause an immediate uproar… all of it was deliberate.
The head maid, dressed in her sharp butler’s uniform, narrowed her eyes.
"Prince Xiluo, do you realize what you're doing? Even as a royal, you might not be able to handle the consequences of this matter. Think carefully before acting..."
Yulia’s words carried a subtle warning, but Xiluo wasn’t intimidated. Instead, he glared at her, acting as if he didn’t understand her meaning at all.
"Oh? Are you threatening me? This little brat stole the imperial [Lion’s Ring]. We caught her red-handed, and yet you’re here trying to obstruct justice. What, are you trying to make a scene and embarrass me?"
Then, as if suddenly realizing something, he narrowed his eyes.
"Ah, I see now. That little brat wouldn’t have the guts to commit such a treasonous act on her own. Could it be that someone else, someone utterly lawless and disrespectful toward the royal family, is pulling the strings from behind the scenes?"
His voice grew colder.
"Stealing the [Lion’s Ring] is equivalent to an assassination attempt on the imperial family. Anyone who protects a thief is just as guilty. So let me turn the question back on you, do you all truly understand what you’re doing?"
Although Xiluo didn’t name anyone directly, the implication was clear.
There were only a few people standing by Lenka’s side. The children and maids were obvious non-threats, and Yulia, being the direct assistant to the academy headmaster, was also untouchable. That left only one person, he one Xiluo was glaring at.
This guy has completely lost it!
Yulia’s heart tightened with urgency. Just as she was about to speak, a clear and commanding female voice rang out from the crowd, cutting through the tension like a blade.
"Of course, we know exactly what we’re doing."
A silver-haired girl stepped forward, parting the onlookers as she strode confidently into the space between the two opposing sides. Gasps of surprise rippled through the crowd.
"White Wings? Is she from the Azure Sky Kingdom’s winged race?"
"Wait... I’ve never heard of a winged one with four wings. And look at the emblem on her clothes, that’s the symbol of light! She must be an envoy from the Holy Empire!"
"The Holy Empire… Oh! I remember now! They sent two legendary mythical angels to this exchange conference. Everyone’s been talking about it! Could she be…?!"
As the murmurs of shock spread, the four-winged girl simply smiled, her presence radiating an almost sacred brilliance. Tiny motes of light seemed to drift from her dazzling, snow-white feathers.
A long spear materialized in her grasp within the light, and the overwhelming aura of a Mythical being naturally emanated, causing the Austre Empire's powerful warriors facing her to change their expressions.
Her voice remained calm, but there was an unmistakable authority in her tone.
"Lady Violet is a noble and sacred existence. She would never resort to petty schemes or underhanded tricks. If necessary, I can personally vouch for her innocence on behalf of the Holy Empire."
Then, her golden gaze locked onto Xiluo.
"Prince of the Austre Empire, I hope I won’t hear another baseless accusation like the ones you just made. Otherwise..."
The light around her spear flared as her voice dropped to a warning tone.
"Such slander against the Goddess Church and the divine itself will be seen as blasphemy. And as the representative of the Supreme God… I will have no choice but to bring down divine judgment upon you."