Difficulty and Setbacks Go Hand in Hand

She remembered a book mentioning a type of poisonous snake – one native to the Territory of Aesop. It would typically hide among rose bushes, revealing only its eyes. When people let their guard down, it would bare its fangs. The peculiar thing was that their eyes were a beautiful red, giving the impression of "decoration" rather than "danger" amidst the roses, much like roses and red wine.

All of this symbolized that things which appeared to have bright smiles and radiant appearances were, in reality, ugly, harboring malicious, venomous fangs.

Like now – she felt surrounded by such gazes.

"Fatenai Wisdom... has no talent for using magic."

In the family's grand cathedral – Fatenai stood beneath a groined vault carved with a relief of the goddess – and on the very center stage, symbolizing hope, adorned with exquisite carvings.

She listened to the ritualistic voice emanating from the white-robed priest standing before her. Even though her expression remained unchanged, her body grew colder, bit by bit, uncontrollably.

After a moment, as if with some regret, she lowered her head. A few strands of Fatenai's neatly styled platinum blonde hair fell, partially obscuring her cheek. Her blue-purple eyes "casually" swept across the assembled people.

Those dressed in formal attire like herself wore various expressions, but their gazes were all the same.

Identical – "sarcasm," "amusement," "pity."

Their somber expressions were surprising. In fact, Fatenai's act of observing others was the most unexpected – her immediate focus on their reactions was completely unlike that of someone directly involved.

Fatenai withdrew her gaze. Just as subtly as that unnoticed glance, she let out a soft breath – only then did she begin to consider how to proceed.

"This is impossible. Please... is there some mistake?" In the silence, the voice resonated exceptionally loudly in the church. Fatenai startled, turning her head to look where everyone else was looking. The woman, hurrying forward, her floor-sweeping ruffled skirt rustling against the ground, struggled to suppress the shock on her face. "Lonai's performance in the family has been the best in the family's history."

"Mother..." Hearing this, Fatenai felt a daze and whispered softly.

Her mother, always adhering to etiquette, spoke loudly at this moment – Fatenai could imagine how shocked she must have been.

Fatenai Wisdom, the eldest daughter of the Wisdom Family – as the eldest daughter of the most powerful Wisdom Family in the Kingdom of Luther, Fatenai was Duke Wisdom's only child. Her upbringing was a mix of disappointment and hope. Throughout all her performances, she never exhibited the restlessness and immaturity common in children.

At twelve years old, she was sometimes more capable than many adults. Even if her talent wasn't unprecedentedly good, she had achieved many praiseworthy accomplishments. To many nobles, even though she was female, such achievements might have swayed Duke Wisdom, who was strict with conservative noble traditions. Some even said she would become the Kingdom of Luther's first female heir.

However, all the seemingly brilliant possibilities shattered today – no matter what she had done before.

Why? What happened?

Year 713, the first day of Empress Moon – this was the day the Wisdom Family was holding an awakening ceremony for Fatenai, who had met the conditions for the ritual at twelve years old. Her capacity to use magic would be measured.

"Upon Allentia, the Holy See always abides by God's will. Perhaps Miss Wisdom possesses other talents." The Holy See's priest, facing Mrs. Wisdom's questioning, stated the facts with an expressionless, icy tone.

Indeed, anyone could possess different talents in different areas. Those with unusual talents always found a good path forward... Fatenai turned her head, looking up at the priest who was much taller than her even standing below the platform. However, for these nobles, the inability to use magic was not just a matter of talent.

This world was saturated with magic. Magic was power, wisdom, and more importantly, a symbol of authority and wealth.

Nobles who could use magic could become leaders of their families even if they were uneducated.

If one couldn't use magic, then...

"What's the difference from a commoner?"

"How pathetic. Even the most useless youngest son of the Avril Family can control magic now..."

"Succession rights are irrelevant to Fatenai now... I'm curious which of her relatives will obtain it."

"Duke Wisdom can remain in his position for several more decades, right?"

"Having no heir is a big problem..."

Fatenai subtly frowned – the priest's words triggered more discussions, making the not-so-hidden malice in the eyes of the onlookers even more apparent.

She was supposed to shine brilliantly at this meticulously planned awakening ceremony, perhaps even become the family heir, shake the traditions of the Kingdom of Luther, and maybe even become a ballad sung by bards. But now – undoubtedly, this awakening ceremony, originally meant to showcase the flourishing of the Wisdom Family, had become a laughingstock among the nobles.

"You all..." Mrs. Wisdom, highly sensitive to this malice, trembled. Fatenai couldn't help but turn to look at her mother, whose health had always been poor, feeling an inexplicable weariness.

"Lady Bank, have you found your daughter? I miss Miss Bank dearly." Fatenai sighed, calmly stepping down from the platform. As she passed a noblewoman who had participated in the discussion, her voice was neither too loud nor too soft. Although it carried a childlike tone, it was also remarkably steady.

It was as if the person who had been handed a "death sentence" for being unable to use magic wasn't her.

The woman addressed as Lady Bank's face immediately turned pale. The nobles who had been standing with her subtly stepped back, then used their elaborately patterned fans as cover, exchanging glances filled with a hint of disdain for Lady Bank.

Miss Bank, a "foolish girl" who had eloped with a commoner a few days ago. Compared to the current joke of Fatenai being unable to use magic, this was an equally significant disgrace for the Bank Family, or perhaps for all nobles. Moreover, the matter had escalated to the point where the Bank Family was almost utterly shamed.

The surrounding voices quieted considerably due to her words.

Fatenai had performed well within the family but rarely appeared in public. Many people's impressions of her were limited to rumors. Seeing her now, dressed in a black skirt, her slightly pale face matched her twelve-year-old age, but her demeanor did not.

She stood before the nobles, her warning evident. Even if the outcome was unsatisfactory, the Wisdom Family was still not to be disrespected. The nobles, as if by unspoken agreement, retracted their somewhat judgmental gazes, and some even formed new evaluations in their hearts.

"Mother, I will work hard." Seeing that no one else was speaking, Fatenai

walked up to her mother, extending her hand. Mrs. Wisdom still looked somewhat dazed, but out of trust in her daughter, she obediently let Fatenai support her as they walked.

Mrs. Wisdom was very beautiful. Fatenai inherited her platinum blonde hair and somewhat pale complexion from her. Even though she was getting older, she still looked like a young girl when dressed in formal attire.

Sometimes, this mother made her feel as if their mother-daughter roles were reversed.

"Miss is tired. His Grace wishes for Miss and Madam to return to their rooms to rest briefly. The rest of you are requested to continue participating in the Wisdom Family's celebratory activities." At this moment, a voice came from the second-floor platform, interrupting what was about to happen. Dukes and similar figures were all up there.

Fatenai tilted her head slightly, gazing at the banner hanging there – a black bird, the emblem of the Wisdom Family.

They were up there, watching everything unfold, and crudely halting it. And she could only return and await her fate?

Fatenai remained silent. Together with a hurrying maid, she supported Mrs. Wisdom and walked out of the cathedral. Passing through the layers of solemnly and exquisitely decorated ribbed vaults, until she pushed open the heavy wooden doors of the cathedral and saw the blue sky and white clouds outside, Fatenai finally let out a breath. The fresh air, which she had lived in for twelve years yet still found difficult to adapt to, gave her a sense of ease for the first time.

However, that was just a fleeting moment.

"Madam?"

"Mother!"

As Fatenai gazed at the bright light outside, finding it a bit dazzling, she felt something collapse beside her, followed by a maid's shriek. Realizing what was happening, she too gasped in shock, watching the woman, who had been in poor health, faint.

"Madam needs to rest for a while, and Miss, you should also go back and rest." Fatenai stood by the door until the doctor pushed it open—his words were irrefutable.

Fatenai sighed, glanced through the crack in the door at the frail figure with her eyes tightly shut, and could only turn to walk towards her own room.

Her mother had been trembling ever since giving birth to her, so her fainting now was not entirely unexpected—but even with guilt in her heart, she couldn't take good care of her mother right now—Fatenai harbored doubts, or rather, resentment.

Was the status of this ritual truly beyond her ability to shake?

And secondly…

Opening the door to her own room and closing it again, every movement seemed to drain her of all her strength. Fatenai leaned against the door, lowering her head, lost in thought—she was alone in the quiet lounge, shadows enveloping her, making the petite girl seem fragile and truly like a twelve-year-old.

"Damn it!" However, after only a moment, the fragile girl suddenly raised her head and punched the door.

This vulnerable and agitated state of the proud and solitary Miss Wisdom had never been shown to anyone before.

"Miss Fatenai, is something troubling you?" At that moment, a girl's voice, dressed impeccably, reached Fatenai's ears. Looking up, she saw her—her composed and calm demeanor was utterly unbefitting of a girl, and her eyes held a resolve as if she were ready to face death at any moment.

Fatenai was startled at first, then remembered something. All of this interrupted her chaotic and complex thoughts—she ran a hand through her hair helplessly, as if just remembering this person's existence: "It was my oversight, it's nothing… Your Majesty."

"I don't know what you're worried about, but I think your current situation is very bad. Did your ritual fail?" The maid's expression didn't change when she was called Your Majesty, but upon closer inspection, a hint of self-mockery flickered at the corner of her eye at the sound of the title. "I haven't been able to help you with anything. While I still exist, please speak."

"No… thank you, but I think I…" Fatenai refused her, then walked to the chest beside her and took out a thick book.

This was a basic reader for nobles, concerning awakening rituals, written by the Holy See.

Nobles believed in Allentia, viewing magic as a gift from Allentia. Those who were noble and pious gained the right to use magic, while the mediocre and incompetent could not—the awakening ritual determined a noble's future, and at this moment, Fatenai's future was incredibly bleak—thinking of this, she couldn't help but throw the book back into the chest.

Fatenai's mind flashed with the image of her unconscious mother, and she couldn't help but feel a headache. It seemed her efforts had been in vain; nothing compared to this so-called awakening ritual. With a headache, she couldn't help but say, "Your Majesty."

"Call me Jane, Jane Grey." Jane looked at her. "I've read this book, but unfortunately, I didn't understand it all. If it's about resisting the Holy See, I think I have some experience."

Yes, your experience led you to the guillotine… Fatenai thought to herself. The feeling of helplessness made her unable to resist saying to the woman beside her, "Do you remember how it felt when you were on the guillotine?"

Jane blinked, then calmly replied, "I don't remember. I was praying to the Lord at the time and had no time for anything else."

Excellent, she really doesn't need any help from a charlatan now…

But actually, she doesn't know what to do either, does she? Fatenai suddenly felt her own mind was in complete disarray, not knowing what she should do at this moment.

"Lonae," Fatenai stood up, wanting to go outside, perhaps to get some fresh air. Jane seemed to remember something and called out her nickname, "You are very similar to me, but you don't trust me. But I hope I can be of use after I am summoned."

"Quietly returning might be a very good use." Fatenai had no intention of comforting others' emotions at this moment, especially not a "summoned entity"—without looking back, she pulled the door open.

"You possess astonishing talent, but when your talent is not used by your family, you can only become a tool," Jane Grey's voice rang out amidst the slight creak of the opening door, incredibly cold. "For a woman to become a tool, the simplest way is marriage."

Fatenai froze. When she turned her head, Jane had vanished into thin air without any warning.

One moment she was a living person, the next she had turned into air.

Had the summoning time… run out?

"Miss, the Duke wishes for you to go to the sitting room." At this moment, the maid's voice sounded, and Fatenai's body trembled slightly as she turned.

"What is it?" A bad premonition arose in her heart as she stared into the maid's eyes, her blue-purple eyes conveying an irresistible majesty.

"It seems to be about a marriage with the Arrenieu Family…" the maid blurted out, her expression momentarily dazed.

After failing the awakening ritual in the previous step, they were rushing to extract her remaining value in the next moment? Fatenai frowned, tilted her head slightly, and strode out, a curse almost escaping her lips.

"This damned other world."