Chapter 975: Alternate Timeline: The Engagement Ceremony (3)

Wester Silver’s tone carried a clear warning.

"Y-Yes, I’m coming," she replied quickly.

Before she could leave, Kiara suddenly spoke calmly. "Do not worry, Lady Selene," she said. "I will do my best to keep your son happy."

Those words caused Selene Ash’s tense expression to finally relax slightly. At the same time, Arceus slightly had his ears turn red. Those words, when misunderstood, could feel intimate.

"Thank you." Selene smiled gratefully before hurrying back toward her husband’s table.

Then, finally, the most important guests stepped forward.

Emperor Alexander Phoenix... And beside him, Callista Frost.

The entire venue unconsciously grew quieter.

After congratulating Kiara, Emperor Alexander handed over a document scroll calmly.

"I understand using this land repeatedly may have caused inconvenience," he said. "So I believe this is a more suitable engagement gift."

Kiara accepted the scroll.

Then her eyes widened slightly as she opened it. It was the land deed for the Nexus Training Ground itself. The total value easily exceeded thirty thousand gold coins.

Still, surprisingly, the surrounding guests showed little shock.

When emperors gave gifts, they naturally gave gifts worthy of imperial status.

However...

The true shock arrived next.

Callista Frost stepped forward quietly, carrying a brocade box.

Then she opened it.

Inside rested a glowing dark-blue bracelet shaped like a dragon coiled elegantly around itself, faint spiritual light flowing across its surface like moonlight moving over ocean waves.

Arceus froze, seeing it.

The surrounding guests could not identify it immediately.

But the moment Callista began speaking...

The expressions throughout the hall changed completely.

Holding the brocade box carefully between both hands, Callista Frost slowly presented the bracelet toward Arceus Silver before speaking in a calm voice that immediately drew everyone’s attention toward her.

"This bracelet is called Enenra," she explained gently while the dark-blue glow from the artifact reflected softly across her elegant features. "Forged from Mithril, it is an heirloom passed down to me by my mother, Arianna Frost, when I was still young. The only thing I have left of her keepsake."

As she spoke, the dragon-shaped bracelet resting inside the box released faint ripples of spiritual energy into the surrounding air, causing several guests to unconsciously hold their breath for a moment, because even without understanding artifacts deeply, they could still sense that the treasure before them was extraordinary.

Callista continued calmly.

"My daughter has no interest in inheriting it, while my son possesses the fire attribute and is not compatible. Wind may strengthen fire, but water suppresses it. Giving him a bracelet suited for water would be like placing a fish inside desert sands and asking it to swim."

Then her gaze shifted toward Arceus.

"Your Spirit Attribute is water, so this artifact should suit you very well. Perhaps..." her expression softened slightly, "it may also help ease the nightmares you have suffered since childhood."

The moment those words entered Kiara’s ears, her expression changed subtly.

Nightmares?

She didn’t know about that, and neither did Arceus ever tell her.

She instinctively turned toward Arceus for a brief second before immediately inspecting the bracelet through the system.

[Enenra]

Grade: Ruby (Semi-Divine)

Description: One of the ten items forged by the Dwarves while using the blood drawn from the heart of Dragon God Enenra’s corpse. Upon bonding with it, the user would be capable of summoning wind, rain, and water. The bracelet also dispels the nightmares of the user. But to become its master, a pure soul is needed. Those who have more sins than virtues on their heads will not be able to bond with it.

Comment: Not recommended for the host.

Kiara’s eyes narrowed faintly after reading the information.

Semi-Divine grade.

Mithril.

An artifact capable of manipulating natural elements.

Even more importantly, the bracelet possessed conditions regarding purity of the soul.

For a split second, an ugly instinct whispered quietly inside her mind.

If she dismantled it using Devil’s Hand...

The value alone would likely fetch hundreds of thousands of credits.

Maybe millions.

Enough to ease a large portion of her debt pressure instantly.

That dangerous thought flashed through her mind almost naturally.

Then immediately afterward came another realization.

The bracelet now belonged to Arceus.

Kiara slowly exhaled inwardly.

Had Callista gifted it to anyone else, she genuinely might have considered dismantling the artifact despite its rarity.

But now?

Now she could only bury her greed silently inside her chest.

Meanwhile, Arceus himself looked utterly stunned.

"No... Your Grace, this is too precious," he said hurriedly while instinctively attempting to refuse the gift. "I cannot possibly accept something of this precious. It’s your mother’s keepsake. How could I take it?"

However, Callista simply smiled and closed his fingers gently over the box. "Just keep it until you reach the Seventh Rank," she replied warmly. "After that, you may return it if you still wish."

Those nearby exchanged subtle looks immediately after hearing her words.

Reach the Seventh Rank?

Everyone understood what that truly meant.

For someone with Arceus’ condition and talent limitations, reaching such a stage was practically impossible.

In other words, the bracelet would remain with him for life.

Naturally, not a single person present dared to entertain thoughts of stealing it either.

Not while Kiara stood beside him.

A treasure remained valuable only if one survived long enough to enjoy it.

After Emperor Alexander and Callista finished presenting their gifts, the imperial siblings stepped forward one after another.

Among them, Magnus Phoenix’s gift immediately became the strangest.

Unlike the others, he did not carry precious treasures, artifacts, or gold.

Only a simple scroll.

Many guests blinked in surprise.

Kaelan calmly handed it toward Kiara.

"I prefer practicality over extravagance," he said while folding his arms behind his back casually. "Rather than gifting something flashy merely because of my status, I thought it better to give you something you would actually like... and probably need."

Nobody nearby knew what was written inside the scroll.

But the moment Kiara opened it and scanned the contents, a rare expression of genuine delight appeared across her face.

Actual excitement.

Even Arceus looked surprised seeing that reaction.

Kiara immediately looked toward Magnus. For a second, she wanted to step forward and hug her elder brother with a smile, but she held back her happiness.

"Thank you," she then said without hiding her satisfaction. "Visit the store again one week later."

This time, even Magnus appeared visibly startled.

"Really?" he asked while raising his brows slightly. "You can arrange everything within one week?"

Kiara nodded enthusiastically.

"Then I’ll return," Magnus replied while smiling faintly before stepping back beside the imperial family once more.

Arceus leaned slightly closer afterward, curiosity visible in his eyes.

"What is it?" he whispered softly.

Kiara immediately rolled the scroll shut and stored it inside her inventory. "I’ll tell you later."

Then, finally, came Serestia Phoenix.

Unlike earlier, her mood now seemed significantly lighter.

Holding her gift carefully, Serestia approached with a small smile.

"I honestly have no idea how many skills you already know," she admitted while handing over the item, "but I figured more knowledge is never a bad thing."

Then she revealed the gift.

"A copied manuscript left behind by the greatest beast tamer, Toren. I thought it might help you."

This was actually Serestia’s first time attending a formal occasion like this.

And strangely enough, it was her elder sister’s engagement ceremony.

Ever since learning that Kiara already knew the truth regarding her birth, Serestia had spent considerable effort choosing a thoughtful gift instead of something merely expensive.

Meanwhile, Kiara almost felt as though her seven points of luck had suddenly awakened properly today.

She accepted the manuscript happily.

Unlike what most people assumed, she was practically a complete novice when it came to summoning and beast taming.

Until now, things only worked because she possessed overwhelming personal strength and forcefully subdued beasts through brute pressure.

But creatures like Zheng...

Those inherited monsters were entirely different.

Against such beings, proper summoning knowledge would become essential.

Once Serestia stepped away, the remaining guests gradually began presenting their gifts as well.

Most handed over pouches containing between one hundred and five hundred gold coins.

Xander Cross gifted around one thousand.

General Calden provided five hundred.

Considering they were salaried military officials rather than wealthy nobles or royals, their offerings already exceeded normal expectations comfortably.

Then came an unexpected surprise.

The father of the girl who previously admired Alucard suddenly presented two high-quality Ether crystals as a gift.

Each crystal alone was worth at least one thousand gold coins.

Even Kiara looked visibly surprised.

She already knew the man possessed considerable wealth, judging from his luxurious clothing and expensive horses, but only this morning had she learned the true extent of his status.

Roland.

A landlord controlling over six hundred acres of farmland.

Despite technically remaining a commoner, thousands of farmers worked under him for wages much like servants under noble households.

According to Malric, Roland was famously stingy to an almost legendary degree, which made such generosity today extremely suspicious.

Still, Kiara chose not to dwell on motives right now.

After all, she herself invited these wealthy individuals with clear intentions of profit.

Once the gifting ceremony finally concluded, Kiara stepped forward slightly and cleared her throat.

The hall gradually quieted.

Dozens of eyes focused on her.

"Thank you all for attending today," she began calmly while glancing across the gathered guests. She addressed them instead of the groom. "And thank you for allowing us to share this happiness with you."

Others also didn’t find it strange that she was addressing and not the groom, because of one simple factor. Arceus is marrying into Kiara’s household as a matrilocal husband and not the other way around. And even the ceremony was hosted by Kiara and not House Silver.

Then her tone shifted subtly, making the announcement.