Hate Me, Witch!-Chapter 89: Brother Xia Ya Is Getting Married?

"Engagement?"

Xia Ya repeated the word, glancing at the elegantly composed butler before him. "I thought you came to settle the score with me for tearing down the Sins &Thorns Club…"

"How could that be? Young Master Xia Ya, you overthink things."

Lier maintained his humble smile. "That kind of depraved den of debauchery has never been accepted by society. It should have been eradicated long ago."

"In truth, there have always been voices within the family dissatisfied with the chaos in the Dewell Harbor District. But since we lack law enforcement authority, having you and the Military Department clean it up brings us peace of mind as well."

"Ah, but Young Master Xia Ya, please wait a moment."

After offering another impeccable bow, Lier turned and stepped back into the carriage.

Moments later, he returned, carrying a wooden box in both hands.

"Please, accept this, Young Master Xia Ya."

Xia Ya eyed the so-called "old servant," who was, in fact, a Titled-tier Beastmaster, then took the wooden box and opened it.

Inside was a letter with a crimson envelope.

In the lower-left corner bloomed a beautifully embossed Crimson Rose—the unmistakable insignia of the Borgia Family.

And in the upper-right corner, three cherry-red roses were stamped.

Within the noble circles of the Fresta Empire, such markings on a letter signified an engagement contract.

Typically, after two noble families negotiated and aligned their interests, they would formalize the agreement by issuing such a letter to the betrothed parties.

On the front of the letter, gilded text spelled out—

"To: Xia Ya Ingurit"

Xia Ya frowned and looked up at Lier.

"I’m not an Ingurit."

"And I don’t recall ever agreeing to an engagement with your family's young lady."

"It was arranged by your elders, Young Master Xia Ya, when my lady was first born."

"At the time, you were only a few months old—naturally, you wouldn’t remember."

Lier’s gaze was warm and gentle, resembling that of a kindly elder.

"When the engagement between the Borgia and Ingurit families was made, I personally accompanied my master to Ceylan…"

"In fact, I even held you in my arms when you were still swaddled in blankets, Young Master Xia Ya. But back then, you were too young to remember."

This 𝓬ontent is taken from freeweɓnovel.cѳm.

A deep sorrow and regret flickered through Lier’s aging eyes.

"Our master and your father had agreed that when both you and my lady turned seventeen, you would be informed of the engagement."

"But—"

"No one could have foreseen the catastrophe that would befall Ceylan."

"They had planned to reunite at your wedding, to share a drink as in-laws. But now, it has become an eternal farewell…"

As he spoke, Lier pulled out a handkerchief and dabbed at the corner of his eye.

"Back then, everyone assumed that no one in Ceylan had survived that tragedy."

"Yet, against all odds, you miraculously lived."

His expression grew solemn.

"I understand that when disaster struck, you were still very young. Perhaps the shock even caused you to lose certain memories."

"And in the years since, you’ve relied solely on yourself—going so far as to change your surname to avoid drawing unwanted attention."

"I also understand that, having lost the protection of your family, you’ve reached your current achievements entirely through your own efforts. Given these circumstances, it’s only natural that you remain wary of the world, and I do not expect you to trust my words immediately."

"However—"

Lier’s voice became firm, sincere.

"Even if the ‘Winter’s Flower’ has been shattered, we of the Borgia Family are not ones to forsake our vows for mere personal gain."

"Our family's power may be insignificant, but we have our dignity. We do not rely on political marriages to sustain our influence."

"And though more than a decade has passed, the engagement made back then will still be honored."

As he spoke, he gave Xia Ya a deep bow.

"In seven days, Lady Hystalia will return from the Holy Theocracy to the Imperial Capital."

"On that day, the Borgia Family will host a grand banquet for Lady Hystalia and Young Master Xia Ya."

"Invitations have already been sent to every noble of repute in the capital, and announcements will be published in all newspapers. Even several royal family members will be in attendance—"

"At that time, we hope Young Master Xia Ya will join us to discuss the final details of the wedding."

"Additionally—"

Lier lowered his voice slightly and stepped closer to Xia Ya, whispering:

"For all these years, as a member of the Oathbound Families, the Borgia Family has never ceased its pursuit of the one responsible for Ceylan’s destruction."

"And I can tell you this—we’ve found a lead."

"I know that Young Master Xia Ya would want nothing more than to take revenge with his own hands. That is why, on the night of the banquet, we will have a special surprise prepared for you."

"Now then, allow this old servant to take his leave."

With that, Lier straightened, placed his hat back on, and offered another impeccable attendant’s bow.

Xia Ya stared deeply at the old man’s warm, smiling face.

Deeply.

It had to be said—the Borgia Family’s Chief Steward, the one who managed nearly all of the family’s affairs, lived up to his reputation.

Even Norton would have to admit defeat before this level of audacious deception.

The ability to tell such blatant lies with a straight face, without even the slightest hesitation or guilt, was truly remarkable.

If Xia Ya really had suffered from memory loss due to extreme psychological trauma, he might have actually believed their nonsense.

However—

That last sentence from Lier, the "surprise" they had prepared for him…

That part, at least, was unexpected.

Xia Ya silently watched as Lier boarded the same carriage he had arrived in.

Soon, the vehicle disappeared at the end of the street.

At the border between the Fresta Empire and the Golden Plains—

Deep Blue Territory, outskirts of Resa City, Gray-White Hills.

After extensive excavation by the Black Eagle Guards, a complete ruin of the Cangting Ancient Kingdom had finally been unearthed.

Yet, amidst the vast ruins of the former Cangting Royal Capital, only one person stood.

A witch with silver-white hair.

The setting sun bathed her in its golden-red glow, engulfing the ruins of the once-great kingdom in its melancholic light.

Sylvia stood upon the land that had birthed her, raised her, and now lay in ruins.

Today, she had discarded her usual tattered black gauze dress.

Instead, she wore a modern-style dress—a trendy design that had recently gained popularity in the Black Lily District of the Imperial Capital.

Her pale, delicate face remained unreadable, devoid of emotion.

A massive, ancient tome floated beside her, suspended in the dusk.

Thick and weighty, its pages lay open in midair, frozen in time.

Lines of faint golden script slowly manifested across its pages.

"Back here again…"

"Even after becoming a Legendary-tier Beastmaster, I’ve returned to the ruins of Cangting countless times, searching for answers. But on that fateful night, the divine descent of so many mythic beings erased all traces of what truly happened."

"Now, over five hundred years have passed—naturally, there’s nothing useful left to be found here."

"However, I can sense the turbulence of time. Not long ago, a historical echo must have manifested in this place."

"Brother Xia Ya… did you travel to my timeline through that historical echo?"

"As I thought, if I want to uncover the truth, I must go to the Imperial Capital. Though… I’m a little afraid to see Brother Xia Ya again."

"Or rather, what I truly fear… is that his answer won’t be the one I’ve been longing for."

The delicate golden script on the book gradually came to a halt.

A white jade bowl appeared in Sylvia’s hands, holding a piece of golden-brown grilled fish.

A simple and rustic dish—one that neither noble society nor fine restaurants would ever consider refined enough for their standards. It had taken Fioren quite an effort to track it down from a small street-side eatery.

Sylvia picked up a piece of the grilled fish, her movements elegant as she used wooden chopsticks to bring it to her lips.

A technique Xia Ya had once idly taught her.

Five hundred years had passed, yet she had never forgotten.

As the food entered her mouth, Sylvia closed her eyes.

She remained motionless for a long time, lost in thought.

The corners of her lips curled slightly, then pressed together, emotions shifting between joy and melancholy—but joy ultimately prevailed.

Faint golden letters once again emerged on the book’s open pages.

"The heat, the seasoning, the ingredients, the marination, the grilling technique… all far surpass that skewer of fish from back then."

"And yet, it still falls short of the taste from that winter night by the campfire."

It was unclear how much time passed before Sylvia’s silvered eyes opened once more.

The Argent Witch had returned.

The joy and sorrow that had flickered through her gaze vanished in an instant, replaced by the poised, untouchable presence of a legendary figure.

A soft footstep echoed.

From the back of a Black-Scaled Wyvern, Fioren, clad in a metallic mask, dismounted and approached.

In her hands, she held a freshly printed newspaper—one issued by the Imperial Royal Press.

She extended it toward Sylvia.

"Your Excellency, as per your request, I came to inform you the moment I received news of Xia Ya Egut."

Fioren hesitated briefly before adding, carefully, "I believe… you might find something on this page particularly interesting."

Sylvia took the newspaper, her cold gaze scanning over it.

With her Legendary-tier mental power, a single glance was enough to absorb every word printed on the entire page.

The next instant—

Rip—!

The newspaper was violently torn apart by her pale hands.

On the open pages of her floating tome, the once neat and graceful golden letters suddenly turned jagged and chaotic.

"Brother Xia Ya… is getting married?"

—Excerpt from The Argent Witch’s Diary, Page 705, Sacred Calendar 903, Month of Blossoms, Day 3.