I reign supreme in the Western fantasy world for eternity.

The chaos in the main hall of the palace was gradually quelled after the intervention of the royal guards. The guards dispersed among the rows of seats and questioned each eyewitness about the incident.

The questioning was conducted with restraint, and the tone maintained respect for aristocratic status; only a few simple questions were asked:

Did you notice anything unusual after the ceremony began? Did you see any suspicious people approaching Prince George? Did anything strange happen around you when the Holy Light spell was cast?

Most of the nobles who were asked the question cooperated, answering briefly before continuing their hushed conversation with their neighbors.

"You mean Prince George... what happened there?"

"I didn't see it clearly, the holy light was too blinding. I only heard a sound and the person fell down."

"I heard from the people in the back row that the prince's face changed in the light, and he became someone no one recognized."

"Don't talk nonsense. Such words are disrespectful to the royal family."

"It wasn't me who said it; several people saw it."

Whispers rippled from all directions within the hall, like waves crashing against rocks, one after another.

Several nobles around the Pompeii family's seats frequently glanced at Ji Tian, ​​their eyes lingering on him for a moment before shifting away. They would whisper a few words to acquaintances beside them before turning back.

A white-haired marquis even leaned over from her neighboring seat and gave Elena a slightly deliberate, friendly smile.

"Miss Pompeii, it's been a long time. This must be the Hero, sir. He certainly has an extraordinary bearing."

Elena nodded politely and replied, "You flatter me, Madam," before naturally placing her hand on the back of Ji Tian's hand.

The commander of the Imperial Guards personally led his men to question them row by row, and finally they found out about Ji Tian and his group.

"Hero, just a routine inquiry: did you notice anything unusual in the hall just now?"

Ji Tian replied directly:

"The air was a bit stuffier than usual, but I didn't notice anything else."

The commander nodded, his gaze sweeping over Elena and Sherry, lingering for a moment on Sherry's face.

The young woman with light blonde hair was watching the commotion with her chin resting on her hand, her orange-gold eyes scanning the hall without the slightest hint of nervousness.

The commander withdrew his gaze, wrote a few words on a sticky note, and turned to walk towards the next row.

……

Vice-Dean Theodore walked directly from the direction of the academy seats to the collapsed body in the center of the hall, accompanied by Cardinal Valentine.

"Your Excellency, the Holy Light spell just now covered the entire main hall. Can you still trace the source of the residual Dark Magic you sensed?"

"The source was near the dome, and it has already dispersed."

Theodore's gaze shifted to the body on the ground. "What a strange curse, it actually changed a person's appearance. It seems we need to investigate the cause of Prince George's death."

His hand was only halfway out when it was blocked by a hand from the side.

Viktor had already stood between the three, his face bearing an expression that was a mixture of grief and restraint.

"Your Excellency, thank you for the academy and the church's concern. However, this matter involves a member of the royal family. My uncle died at the hands of an assassin and was even cursed after death, his appearance was altered. This is a desecration of the royal bloodline and a challenge to the dignity of the kingdom."

He turned slightly to the side, blocking Theodore's view of the corpse.

"We are also grateful to the Archbishop for using the Great Holy Light spell in time to prevent greater harm. The Royal Family will handle the subsequent investigation personally, and we ask for your understanding."

As soon as he finished speaking, Theodore's finger stopped in mid-air and then withdrew.

Although Theodore believed that the eldest prince was unlikely to investigate thoroughly, and might even be considering who to pin the blame on, the prince spoke with such righteous indignation that he couldn't say anything.

"I'm sorry, I was just a little curious about a curse I didn't understand, and I didn't know my limits."

Valentine didn't linger, retracting his metal arm into his sleeve and nodding to Victor:

"If you need any assistance from the church, please let us know immediately."

"nature."

Viktor watched the two men leave, then turned and ordered the commander of the Imperial Guard to arrange for the bodies to be carried away.

Two soldiers wrapped the body in white cloth and quickly carried it out of the main hall.

When Theodore returned to his seat at the Academy, his steps were slower than usual. He gazed at the undulating silhouette beneath the white cloth, his brow still furrowed.

"What method can kill someone and then change their appearance? A curse? Remnants of shapeshifting? No, if it were shapeshifting, they should revert to their original form after death..."

While he was still pondering this, Valentine had already walked back to his seat in the church and stopped as he passed by Ji Tian.

"Your Excellency, Hero."

Ji Tianzheng answered Shirley's question using telepathy, and looked up upon hearing it.

Valentine said seriously:

"I had hoped to have a chat with you at the banquet after the ceremony, but it seems that the banquet will have to be canceled tonight. I will ask for your advice another day."

"You're too kind, Archbishop."

Valentine said nothing more and led the two grey-robed deacons toward the palace gate.

Ji Tian watched his figure disappear outside the palace gate, mentally reviewing the scenes that had just unfolded: Valentine's Holy Light spell was faster than he had anticipated, Theodore's probing was blocked by Victor, and Victor's handling of the corpse was decisive.

Shirley transmitted her voice again, asking the same question once more:

"Master, there's definitely something wrong with that Viktor. He didn't even glance at what his uncle looked like before having him carried away. Did he know there was something wrong with that body?"

Ji Tian nodded:

He probably knows something.

The nobles around them were no longer as tense as before. The imperial guards' questioning was nearing its end, and many people returned to their seats and began chatting with their neighbors.

The topic gradually shifted from the "assassination of the prince" to a more relaxed direction.

Ji Tian noticed that more than one gaze was fixed on him.

"Is that the Hero? He certainly has a dignified appearance."

"The Pompeii family has really hit the jackpot this time. It's said that the Church has great faith in this mighty warrior..."

A middle-aged noblewoman in a deep purple dress, holding a teacup, spoke to her companion in what she thought was a very soft voice:

"My daughter has loved listening to stories of heroes since she was little, and there's still a replica of the Holy Sword in her room. She would be overjoyed if we could invite the hero to our home."

Her companion saw through her best friend's thoughts and poured cold water on them, saying:

"The Pompeii family's only daughter is in her early twenties and will inherit the earldom. Her dowry will be an entire earldom; aside from the daughter of a grand duke or a princess, who can compare? What do you have to compete with her?"

After the establishment of the current human kingdom, it was divided into four regions: east, west, south, and north. The four heroes who assisted the first king in establishing the kingdom were appointed as dukes and governed the four regions. Their titles were hereditary and perpetual, and they were called Grand Dukes.

Of course, the past is the past, and the present is the present. The current royal family is intentionally suppressing them.

The dukes of the North and East were suppressed by the Augustus and William families for decades. The duke of the West was sent by the kingdom to the Dwarf Mountains to protect the dwarves. The duke of the East had his military power taken away because he was too far from the demons, and only a certain number of knights were retained.

Even so, their foundation remained profound, surpassing that of ordinary nobles.

The woman in the deep purple dress froze with a smile.

Such competitive spirit is prevalent in aristocratic circles today. Although her family is also an earldom, it is large and prosperous, and it is impossible for her to give away her title as a dowry.

He could only sigh and give up.

……

Sonia stood up from her seat in the royal court and straightened her skirt.

Two female knights immediately followed behind her, one on the left and one on the right, their eyes scanning the surroundings warily.

She walked slowly along the aisle between the seats toward the Pompeii family, her demeanor composed. The nobles who passed by made way for her and bowed in greeting.

She stopped in front of the Pompeii family's table.

Elena stood up first and bowed: "Your Highness."

Sonia waved her hand, her gaze falling on Ji Tian, ​​her expression perfectly poised, and she said politely:

"I have long admired your name, hero. I apologize on behalf of the royal family for the fright you all caused by what just happened."