Chapter 55: The Divine Chosen’s Unexpected Reunion

“My esteemed brother, what brings you to this place?”

Lilith’s initial surprise vanished, replaced by a solemn expression.

“I merely came for a stroll, never expecting to stumble upon my dear sister and her husband.”

Charles offered a faint smile, his gaze not lingering on Lilith but instead settling with intrigued intensity upon Chloe.

“And this would be…?”

Chloe was about to introduce herself when Charles’s tender, lingering gaze rendered her utterly speechless.

“This is Chloe Raina, an Elder of the ancient empire. She has also been invited to attend the wedding.”

Fortunately, Norria completed the introduction for her, and Chloe breathed a sigh of relief.

“Ah, Lady Chloe, it is a pleasure to meet you. Your name is often spoken in my father’s court. To meet you today, you are indeed as exquisitely beautiful as the rumors claim.”

Charles placed a hand over his chest and bowed slightly.

“Thank you,” Chloe replied, lowering her eyes. She felt a peculiar sensation stir within her.

She had experienced a similar feeling when she first met Lucia. Lucia had called it ‘bloodline resonance,’ the mutual attraction between vampires.

However, Carloman was the vampire. Could it be that his children were also vampires? Chloe glanced at Lilith, but detected no vampiric aura from her at all.

“This foul, commoner-filled place is unworthy of your noble presence. Please, allow me to escort you elsewhere.”

Charles raised his gaze, meeting Chloe’s. His eyes seemed to possess a magical allure, drawing Chloe in.

When Chloe regained her senses, she found herself standing before an inn.

This establishment was situated at the border between the commoner and noble districts. Its exterior gleamed with opulent decorations, clearly a place only the exceptionally wealthy could afford.

People passing by wore lavish attire and carried themselves with refined grace. Chloe mentally divided them into two factions based on their clothing.

One faction belonged to the ‘Raven’ group, dressed entirely in black, while those adorned solely in white belonged to the ‘White Dove’ faction.

It was Chloe’s first time witnessing such a stark black-and-white distinction in dress.

Lilith shook her head, offering her assessment. “Ugh, their fashion sense is truly dreadful.”

“Those in black are from Saint Fros, and those in white are our people.”

Charles tapped Lilith’s head, causing her to quickly shield her forehead.

“When we attend the wedding later, both of you must also change into white, just like me,” Charles instructed, tugging at his own collar as a demonstration.

“Is this some kind of costume party? I know nothing of these noble customs.”

Norria shrugged helplessly. He had lived as a guard for nearly twenty years, and his self-perception remained rooted in that role.

“No.”

A smile stretched across Charles’s pale face, a smile that, to Chloe, appeared unusually unsettling.

“Could it be a way to delineate factions?”

Upon hearing Chloe voice her insight, Charles shot her a glance that sent a shiver down her spine.

“Precisely. As expected of Lady Chloe, you hit the nail on the head.”

“Dividing into factions at a wedding… what could be the purpose?”

Norria stroked his rough chin, his face etched with confusion.

Lilith covered her mouth with a delicate hand and chuckled softly. “I hope it’s not to distinguish between friend and foe.”

Norria looked at his fiancée suspiciously, utterly bewildered.

‘It couldn’t be, could it? Surely no one would be mad enough to commit murder at a wedding, especially with so many high-ranking officials present,’ Chloe mused inwardly.

“What about me, then? What should I wear?”

Chloe belonged neither to Saint Fros nor to Eledis; she felt utterly like an outsider. She missed Alice and the others terribly at this moment.

Charles chuckled, extending a hand to invite Chloe into the inn.

“You’ll know soon enough. Your friend is waiting for you inside the inn.”

‘Friend?’ Chloe’s surprise was evident. Her eyes widened, a flash of light sparking in their crimson depths.

Could Alice and the others have successfully escaped and met Charles? Although Chloe didn’t know what connection Alice had with Charles, her hope was rekindled.

Carrying this ethereal hope, Chloe stepped into the inn and finally met her so-called ‘friend.’

It was a beautiful silver-haired maiden, draped in a crimson silk outer robe over a sleeveless black formal dress, revealing her fair shoulders.

She sat gracefully in a central chair, her eyes melancholic, holding a flute. A long, haunting melody drifted from it.

Court dancers swayed elegantly to the music, drawing applause from those around them.

Noblewomen were moved to tears by the song’s rhythm, while noblemen focused their discussions on the beautiful silver-haired flutist, vowing to pursue a romantic liaison with her.

The silver-haired maiden caught sight of Chloe entering through the doorway and promptly ceased her playing. The dancers, like puppets with severed strings, froze mid-pose.

All eyes, following the silver-haired maiden’s gaze, turned in unison towards Chloe, who had just entered.

‘Hey, why are you all staring at me? I’m just passing through,’ Chloe thought, wishing for a moment of peace.

The silver-haired maiden’s lips trembled slightly, and a misty veil seemed to cloud her azure eyes. She gazed silently at Chloe, as if seeing a long-lost loved one.

“I’ve finally found you, Divine Chosen.”

That voice, cold as ice, instantly pulled Chloe’s memory back to when she first transmigrated. It was Wuxu who had guided her, helping her understand the general state of this world as she adapted.

“Wuxu?!”

Chloe stared in astonishment at her initial guide, never expecting to find her in this place.

Wuxu was the leader of the Divine Chosen faction, a group unlike any other, fiercely devoted to Chloe. However, Chloe remained unaware of their true objectives.

Alice had warned her that the Divine Chosen merely saw her as a tool, which was why Chloe had always avoided contact with them. Yet, now, she had directly encountered their leader, making future interactions seemingly unavoidable.

Just as Chloe began to ponder how to respond, Wuxu rose, casually pushing aside the dancers in her path, and strode quickly towards Chloe.

Seeing this, Chloe instinctively tried to retreat. She turned her head, only to find Charles blocking the doorway, his hands in his pockets, a mysterious smile playing on his lips.

By the time Chloe turned back, Wuxu was already before her, looking down at her from her height.

Chloe’s face darkened. She raised a hand.

“Hi, long time no see.”

However, Wuxu seized her arm. Her grip was strong, yet Chloe could feel her deliberate effort to lighten her touch.

“Divine Chosen, I’ve finally found you.”

No sooner had the words left her lips than she suddenly dropped to one knee, startling Chloe a few steps backward.

“Wh-what’s wrong?”

Wuxu lifted her head, her gaze, sharp as frost, piercing directly into Chloe’s.

“Lady Divine Chosen, when shall we begin our conquest of the world?”