Roman Lane, North District.
The residential buildings here had massive, thick walls adorned with exquisite relief carvings, and arched doors and windows, displaying a classic Romanesque style.
Just like that, Ning Busan moved in with his bags, finally having a home of his own in this other world.
As everyone knew, Chinese people had a deep, almost obsessive fixation on owning their own home.
Ning Busan basked in the feeling, suddenly finding this world incredibly beautiful!
Seeing Ning Busan so excited, Novalia smiled teasingly.
“If you had gone to William, he would have given you far more than I did. It’s still not too late to change your mind and join him.”
Ning Busan said decisively, “Don’t worry, Senior Sister, I’m your man!”
Just looking at Prince William’s overbearing style in forcing him to the palace, it was obvious the prince was not someone easy to get along with.
Moreover, Novalia shared a master with him and had offended Prince William on his behalf. It was only natural and logical for him to choose her side.
Ning Busan said earnestly, “From now on, if there’s anything you need help with, please don’t hesitate to order me around!”
The favor of being gifted a house was greater than the heavens!
Novalia pondered for a long moment before saying, “Tomorrow is my birthday banquet, and I need a male companion. Would you be willing to accompany me?”
“No problem, Senior Sister!”
“That’s a strange way to address me. You can just call me by my name,” Novalia said. “I’ll pick you up tomorrow to attend the banquet.”
“Sure thing!”
“Security in the North District is tight, and outsiders aren’t allowed in easily, so you can live here in peace.” Novalia’s lips curled slightly. “I live right next door. If anything comes up, you can find me anytime.”
Ning Busan was incredibly touched. “Novalia, you’re so good to me!”
“I’m good to you because you’re Teacher Saige’s student. And another reason is...” Novalia stared at his face and sighed softly.
“You look very much like someone. Not only do you resemble him, but you also have black hair and black eyes, just like him.”
Ning Busan fell silent.
Is this some kind of “stand-in” trope?
In the next second, Novalia said coldly, “But you can never become him. No one can become him—not even me.”
That person was the idol she admired, the goal she chased.
He had ended the chaos of the continent, driven the xenos out of the Landia Continent, and remained undefeated throughout his entire life.
No one could become him.
And no one could surpass him.
Louis—he was a legend.
Unfortunately, he was already dead.
Sensing Novalia’s melancholy, Ning Busan comforted her, “Actually, there’s no need to become someone else, nor is there any need to compare yourself to others. It’s enough to just be yourself.”
Novalia shook her head, her eyes extremely complex. “You don’t understand.”
The once-mighty empire was now teetering on the brink of collapse, the corrupt rule needed to be overthrown, and the crisis of the xenos had to be resolved.
Novalia believed that if Louis were facing this situation, he would definitely find a way to solve it.
But she...
She was powerful, but she was not powerful enough.
Ning Busan was left utterly baffled by her “you don’t understand.” However, he truly didn’t know that Novalia was actually an admirer... of his Hero persona!
As if remembering something, Novalia said casually, “By the way, only nobles are attending my birthday banquet. Since you ignored their invitations before, I’m afraid many of them will try to make things difficult for you.”
Ning Busan still hadn’t figured out when exactly he had been invited.
But since it was Novalia’s birthday banquet, he didn’t want to cause trouble for her, so he asked, “Is there anything I need to do?”
Novalia shook her head, a strange smile playing on her lips. “You don’t need to do anything.”
“You just need to stand by my side and let them know you are mine. That way, no one will dare to trouble you in the future.”
Ning Busan was slightly taken aback.
Just what was Novalia’s background?
...
The next day, the royal palace.
Ning Busan stared at the grand castle before him, falling into deep thought.
By now, even a fool could guess who Novalia really was.
Her Highness the Princess of the Dawn Empire, the leader of the Thorns Legion, and the Jade-Faced Shura renowned for her ruthlessness.
Various rumors about her circulated through the streets and alleys, yet no one dared to utter her name, only referring to her respectfully as Her Highness the Princess.
The soldiers clad in silver-white armor on both sides knelt on one knee, their voices booming, “Greetings, Her Highness the Princess.”
Ning Busan looked at the woman beside him. She hadn’t told him she was the princess of the Dawn Empire!
Novalia raised an eyebrow. “Scared?”
Ning Busan shook his head.
He was already here, so he might as well brace himself and face it!
Honestly, he was also quite curious about what the legendary royal palace looked like.
Novalia took Ning Busan’s arm, and they walked into the banquet hall together.
A massive magic crystal ball hung in the center of the hall, radiating a brilliant glow that illuminated the space as bright as day.
Gentlemen dressed in noble attire and ladies in gorgeous court gowns gathered together, chatting and laughing in perfect harmony.
That was until the arrival of two people brought the atmosphere of the entire banquet to a freezing point.
Unlike the other women, Novalia did not wear a beautiful, elaborate gown; instead, she was clad in knightly armor.
Yet simply standing there, the aura she exuded was enough to make everyone else feel inadequate.
The crowd’s gazes were extremely complex.
This was their Princess.
As proud and noble as ever!
As powerfully imposing as ever!
And as... thoroughly disliked as ever!
However, upon seeing Her Highness the Princess’s male companion, the crowd’s eyes filled with shock and suspicion.
It was a strange man with rare black hair and black eyes. He possessed handsome features, and a confident, calm smile hung on his face.
Although he wore a very ordinary shirt and trousers, his presence was not overshadowed in the slightest as he stood beside Her Highness the Princess. On the contrary, it made it impossible for people to look away.
Her Highness the Princess had always kept her distance from men. Why would she suddenly bring a man along today?
And such a young one at that!
Novalia performed a knight’s salute to the two on the throne. “Your Majesty, Your Majesty the Queen, good day.”
Ning Busan followed suit, placing his right fist over his chest, bowing low. “Your Majesty, Your Majesty the Queen, good day.”
When the King saw Novalia, a deep disgust welled up in his eyes, but he quickly concealed it.
The King frowned and asked, “Novalia, who is this beside you?”
Novalia introduced, “He is Teacher Saige’s newly accepted student—Ning Busan.”
The crowd erupted into an uproar.
The commoner who rejected all the nobles’ invitations?
So he’s on Her Highness the Princess’s side!
The King forced a hypocritical smile and said to Ning Busan, “So you are the student newly accepted by Lord Saige. Excellent, excellent!”
“The future of the empire still relies on young people like you!”
Ning Busan replied, neither flattered nor intimidated, “Your Majesty flatters me.”
The Queen beside him smiled and said, “Since Novalia is here, Your Majesty, why don’t we begin the banquet now?”
The King nodded slightly. “Let the banquet begin—”
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