If It Were Before

"A Court Noble or a Guard Noble?" Sonia raised an eyebrow, a flicker of disdain crossing her face. "Has the dignified second young master of the Vosloda family really been reduced to acting as a middleman?" It was taken for granted that a Sanctuary Sorcerer would be ennobled, but unless the sorcerer was already a Court Noble themselves, they always entered the Guard Noble system. There was only one circumstance where a Sanctuary Sorcerer not born to Court Nobility received a Court noble title: an intermarriage between the Sanctuary Sorcerer and a Court Noble family, where the Court Nobles transferred their title to the sorcerer. If a Court Noble family failed to cultivate elite sorcerers for many years and faced the danger of having their title 'adjusted' by the House of Nobles, their sole recourse was to rope in a Sanctuary Sorcerer. So when Felix asked which type of title she would choose, Sonia's immediate reaction was that Felix had come on behalf of some declining Court Noble house seeking a marriage alliance. Yet Felix was hardly ignorant of her character. Back when he had offered a fake marriage as compensation, the country girl had rejected it outright. Now that she had achieved fame and success, how could she possibly agree to a political marriage? "You misunderstand. I'm not trying to have you inherit the name of some declining noble house," Felix said, shaking his head. "You no longer need to marry into a prominent family. Sooner or later, you'll be a powerhouse all on your own." "However, Sanctuary Sorcerers truly can obtain Court noble titles directly; it's just that most Sanctuary Sorcerers turn them down. If you don't believe me, you can go back and ask Professor Trozan..." Sonia was taken aback. "But Sister Trozan is only a Bow Baron. If she could have become a Court Noble, why would she refuse?" University professors were operators belonging to the Department of Education. Their salaries were shared by the universities and the Department of Education, placing them naturally within the administrative and judicial system. Ordinary Two Wings professors were Spear Barons, Three Wings professors were Bow Barons, and only the vice principals and the principal were Armor Barons. *Sister Trozan...* Felix raised an eyebrow at the form of address, then continued, "Aside from the lowest rank, Sword Baron, all higher noble ranks must receive the Blessing of the Stars. You know that, right?" Sonia nodded. It was precisely because of the Blessing of the Stars that nobles wielding legislative and executive powers could not break laws or indulge personal favoritism; they were bound to devote themselves wholeheartedly to the public interest and strive to build the society of the Starry Country. Nobles possessed greater rights, but they were also obliged to shoulder greater responsibilities. In the past, Sonia had held only a mediocre impression of the aristocratic system, but everything was relative. After hearing about the current state of society in the Blood Moon from the Watcher, her approval of the Starry Country's system had surged dramatically. After all, although the Starry Country had distinct classes and rigid barriers, its society was stable and harmonious. Even if ordinary people could not achieve great wealth and distinction, living a peaceful life was no problem at all. Take the short-sighted folk in her hometown, for example: even if they never visited Jialesi their entire lives, that didn't stop them from returning home after a day's labor to watch the light screens, spending their ordinary lives in blissful ignorance. Compared to the universal orphanhood, the Blood Moon Trials, and the breakdown of families in the Blood Moon Country, the flaws of the Starry Country's aristocratic system were hardly worth fussing over. What was more, the system had always operated with outstanding efficiency, keeping society steadily advancing. "Just like noble titles, the Blessing of the Stars is divided into tiers," Felix explained. "The 'Stars' in the Blessing of the Stars does not merely describe nobles as the stars of the nation; it points directly to the nature of the blessing itself—the Blessing of the Stars relies on actual stars to remain continuously active." "For instance, a Shield Baron requires one star to sustain the blessing, a Spear Baron two, a Bow Baron three, and an Armor Baron four. As rank increases, the strength of the blessing intensifies. Beyond making nobles increasingly loyal to the country, it also enhances insight and learning ability, delays aging, and provides other benefits." "For Guard Nobles, raising their title is never a losing proposition." Sonia caught Felix's subtext. "Does that mean becoming a Court Noble is a loss?" Felix offered a faint smile. "The blessing received by the lowest tier of Court Nobility, a Viscount, also carries powerful blessings such as extended lifespan, perpetual youth, undiminished vitality, extraordinary memory, acute insight, and enhanced analytical ability. If an Armor Baron has the blessing of five stars, a Viscount has at least a hundred." "Isn't that wonderful?" Sonia asked. "Do the demands on Court Nobles involve something more than just loyalty to the country?" Felix shook his head. "No. Just like with Guard Nobles, the influence on their will is still only absolute loyalty, still solely treating the welfare of the Starry Country as their highest priority." "Then why—" Sonia paused midway, suddenly realizing. "You see it now, don't you?" Felix chuckled. "Guard Nobles are only responsible for execution. That is to say, their absolute loyalty only requires ensuring they make no mistakes, avoid slacking off, and show no favoritism. But the duty of Court Nobles is to submit proposals in parliament, steer the nation, and lead the populace!" "Now, imagine a court parliamentarian who possesses boundless stamina, extraordinary memory, and heightened analytical ability. When they must fulfill their duty and present a sound bill, guess what they do?" Sonia murmured, "Field investigations, exhaustive research and analysis..." "The renowned 'Star-Forging Duke' Vosloda spends more than half the year traveling across the Starry Country with his staff," Felix said calmly. "Among Court Nobles, parliamentarians of different ranks are required to propose bills of corresponding tiers. If a viscount parliamentarian has their own team, setting aside three months a year is generally enough to complete the task. For counts, marquises, and dukes, the difficulty scales up tier by tier. If a family has fallen into decline and cannot afford consultants, it's not unusual for a parliamentarian to spend the entire year on it." "So now you understand why most Sanctuary Sorcerers refuse to become Court Nobles." Sonia naturally understood. After all, Sanctuary Sorcerers were supposed to focus on Void Realm Exploration and wished they could dedicate every waking moment to honing their arts; how could they possibly want to spend time researching legislative bills? Even the country girl abandoned any thought of becoming a Court Noble. She had originally hoped to secure a hereditary viscount title during her lifetime, but she had zero interest in being a member of parliament. If the Watcher heard what a parliamentarian's responsibilities entailed, he would probably throw her over his shoulder and run off through the night. "However, being a Court Noble isn't purely burdens and obligations." Perhaps sensing he had startled the country girl, Felix added, "Because they sit close to the center of power, and because their intellect has been enhanced, they can effortlessly profit from the country's development. Even when their merchant associations compete with ordinary merchants, they hold every advantage at every turn... Every single Court Noble family is a prominent powerhouse handed down through generations." "And precisely because they command so many societal resources, Court Nobles face strict quotas for nurturing sorcerers. Those who take up resources without delivering results are dutifully demoted to Guard Nobles." "No matter how many benefits Court Nobility offers, I can't choose it," Sonia said. "My path as a sorcerer won't stop here." "I know," Felix said. "That's why I'm here on behalf of my organization to invite you. And our bargaining chip is—" "To make you immune to the psychological suggestion of the Blessing of the Stars." Sonia froze in surprise. "Your organization... that sorcerer mutual-aid group?" "Exactly." Felix spread his hands. "No contracts, no compulsion. As long as you are willing to join us, we will help you become immune to the psychological suggestion of the Blessing of the Stars. In other words, you can enjoy all the benefits of the blessing without being bound by 'loyalty to the Starry Country.'" "Even if you choose to become a Court Noble, it won't impede your path as a sorcerer, yet you can instantly leap into the ranks of the great families." "Viscount Servier—how does that title sound?" Sonia fell silent for a moment before speaking. "If your group possesses this capability, I shouldn't be the one you're trying to recruit—" "You indeed aren't the first person recruited with this offer," Felix said. In a flash, countless thoughts crossed Sonia's mind. If she wasn't the first, that meant there were already many nobles in this country whose top priority was no longer loyalty to the Starry Country. Then what on earth were these people trying to— "Don't misunderstand; we aren't trying to overthrow the Starry Country," Felix said. "We are simply a group of like-minded sorcerers pursuing power. The reason we want to break free from the constraints of the Blessing of the Stars is merely to remove obstacles from our path as sorcerers. Besides, our numbers are small. Forget overthrowing it; we couldn't even shake the Starry Country." Sonia found it rather strange. "If you want to be completely free of constraints, you could just choose not to become nobles." "The Starry Miracle Catalog you see right now is incomplete," Felix said. "Only nobles are permitted to read the complete miracle catalog and obtain redemption access to the Imperial Sorcery Spirit Treasury. If you don't become a noble and don't accept the Blessing of the Stars, the true high-level resources of the Starry Country will never be opened to you." "I remember asking you before: after learning the secret of the Blessing of the Stars, would you be willing to become a noble? Back then, your answer was yes." Felix looked at her. "Now that you've become a three-winged sorcerer, has your answer remained unchanged?" Seeing Sonia remain silent, Felix knew she was tempted. Back then, Sonia's agreement had been genuine, and her current hesitation was equally real. Two Wings and Sanctuary were two entirely different classes. The former was still a cog in society's machine, but the latter could already master their own destiny. One's personal will was something that could easily be sold away when one was merely a cog; but once you could touch freedom, you instinctively grew stingy with your loyalty. Still, there was no need to press her for an immediate answer. Once she went back to consult Trozan and learned more about the reality of nobility, she would naturally arrive at the correct conclusion. With that, Felix stood up. "I won't disturb you further. If you're interested, you can come find me—" "When you mentioned nobles just now," Sonia suddenly asked, "did you exclude the Sword Barons?" Felix paused, then nodded. "Sword Barons are aristocratic reservists; they aren't yet qualified to receive the Blessing of the Stars. Because of that, Sword Barons possess virtually no noble privileges, and their posts can only be ordinary guards, operators, or clerks, without any real power." "Then that's fine." "That's fine?" "Being a Sword Baron is enough for me," Sonia said casually. "Everyone calls me the Sword Princess. Doesn't the title of Sword Baron suit me perfectly? I appreciate your good intentions, but I don't need your help." "Why?!" Felix immediately sat back down. "Do you realize what you're saying? Even if you don't become a Court Noble, you can't possibly remain just a Sword Baron!" "Why can't I?" "If you want to become a professor, you'll inevitably have to advance to Bow Baron, and you'll still have to accept the Blessing of the Stars then!" "Then I just won't become a professor," Sonia said with a chuckle. "I never wanted to teach anyway. My career is being a song maiden and a screen maiden." "Screen maidens and song maidens fall under the jurisdiction of the Department of Culture, which also has noble ranks," Felix argued. "Major film and television programs, albums broadcast across the entire country, heavily funded dramas... Ordinary resources are one thing, but any national-level film or television opportunity will prioritize artists who hold noble ranks!" "If you remain at the level of a Sword Baron, the Intercollegiate League will have been your only stage to appear before the entire nation!" Sonia blinked. "That would indeed be a bit of a pity." "Besides, haven't you considered your mother?" Felix pressed. "A Sword Baron can only extend a relative's temporary residence in Jialesi to one hundred days; they still cannot grant permanent residency, because the House of Nobles never intended for anyone to stay at the Sword Baron rank. Ordinary operators need only work diligently to advance to Shield Baron within five years and secure family permanent residency... If you stay a Sword Baron, you won't be able to bring your mother to live in Jialesi!" "Thank you for your concern," Sonia replied with a smile. "However, I discussed that with my mother a few days ago. She actually doesn't want to come." "Huh?" "Although I always dreamed of establishing my own career in Jialesi and bringing my mother over to enjoy life, that was merely my wish, not my mother's." The country girl shrugged. "She's different from me. She doesn't yearn for the bustling life of Jialesi, nor does she dislike that boring, remote little town. To me, that town was a familiar cage, but to her, Jialesi is an unfamiliar prison cell." "Besides, ever since news about me reached home, those cowardly, bullying relatives have been treating her better and better. She's very content with her life now and only wants to tend to our family's land." Felix could not comprehend how anyone would prefer remaining in an agricultural town over coming to Jialesi. He shook his head and said, "Pardon my bluntness, but your mother's view is far too short-sighted. But you—" "My mother is a country girl, and I'm a country girl's daughter." Sonia spread her hands. "My mother wants to guard our family's land, and I only want to protect everything I hold dear, rather than take risks chasing resources that aren't rightfully mine." "Then what about your career?" Felix asked. "You're only a single step away from total brilliance. Are you truly content stopping here?" Sonia blinked. "If this were before, I probably would have agreed to your proposal long ago," she said. "It's true—I really did yearn to stand on the stage and become a screen maiden and song maiden like Daidalos, to become someone others yearn for, to be part of people's childhoods. Center stage under the spotlight, famous across the Starry Country." "However, career isn't the only thing in my life anymore." Sonia closed her book and stood up. "Felix, what you sensed earlier wasn't wrong." In a daze, Felix asked, "What?" "If this were before, I would definitely have lost myself in the glamour brought by the halo of a Sanctuary Sorcerer, attending lavish banquets and basking in the flattery of the crowd. If this were before, I would gladly have accepted your invitation, become an irresponsible noble, and indulged in the privileges that only nobles can possess. If this were before, everything I'm saying right now would definitely be false modesty masking blatant bragging..." Sonia packed her books into her bag, slung it over her shoulder, and waved goodbye. "If this were before." ... 11:00 PM. Her soul recovered, Sonia was already fully prepared in the Meditation Building. *Don't be nervous,* she thought to herself. *There's nothing to be nervous about. Since the Watcher was able to teleport the potion onto my desk five days ago, it means he is already out of danger. I need to stay calm later. Unless the Watcher shows concern for me first, I'll only display a tiny bit of superficial affection as appropriate.* *Don't be nervous... don't be nervous...* As the familiar sensation spread, her soul connected to the Void Realm, and her consciousness sank into the realm. Sonia opened her eyes and found herself on a crowded street filled with bustling pedestrians. She confirmed that she was inside the 'dream' of the Distant Sky Realm. Yet as she looked around, her heart plunged into icy depths. All around were unfamiliar passersby. No Watcher. No Witch. Subconsciously, her fingers tightened around the hilt of her sword. Suppressing the destructive impulse stirring within her chest, she hurried down the street, searching in every direction. Not here. Not here. Not here. The more she looked, the heavier the suffocating anxiety pooled in her chest, as if choking her throat. Rounding another street corner, seeing nothing but strangers packing the thoroughfare, Sonia could walk no further. Her lips trembled, and she could no longer keep the pent-up tension from bursting forth: "Watcher!" "Here!" The Sword Princess snapped her head toward the street behind her. There was the Watcher, waving a hand rather foolishly as he too looked all around. The moment their eyes met, they immediately moved toward each other. Sonia started at a walk, but it quickly turned into a power walk, and finally broke into a full sprint, barging right through the pedestrians. Those bumped aside seemed about to complain, but seeing that her sword was already drawn an inch from its scabbard, they could only watch her depart in silence. As the distance closed, the heavy stone weighing on Sonia's heart quietly lifted, replaced by an uncontrollable surge of elation that made her want to throw herself right into him— "Wat—cher—!" The Sword Princess ground to a halt, watching the Witch pounce onto the Watcher.