Sovereign of the Ashes

Following the voice, Sein looked up and saw a female knight with long red hair clad in crimson armor hovering in mid-air.

His expression flickered briefly before settling back to normal.

It was not the knight’s beauty that caught his attention—she was an average-looking plain Jane.

She was not a southern belle like Selina, nor did she possess the beauty of Leena.

This Rank Two female knight looked as androgynous as she sounded, projecting a certain “toughness”.

It might seem unusual to describe a woman as “tough”, but it suited her well; her arms and thighs were muscular, her chest was pronounced, and she likely stood taller than Sein.

Thanks to his knightly lineage, Sein was considered tall among mages.

His extensive body tempering experiments over the years had also made him stronger than most of his peers.

However, unlike knights whose strength was outwardly apparent, Sein’s mage’s robes perfectly concealed his robust physique.

Sein’s expression shifted slightly when he first saw the female knight because she reminded him of someone from his past—Scarlet.

Every first experience left a deep impression, and though Scarlet was not Sein’s first partner, she was the first and only female knight he had been intimate with.

During his downtime from experiments, thoughts of Scarlet occasionally crossed Sein’s mind.

While he and Scarlet shared no deep emotional connection, Sein sometimes wondered if he should seek the companionship of a female knight, given that most female mages found it difficult to cope with his increased intensity from the continuous improvements in his constitution through body tempering experiments.

However, Sein was sensible enough to recognize these were fleeting thoughts and maintained good self-control.

For Sein, he could go years, even decades, without physical intimacy.

Physical intimacy was merely a minor diversion from his primary focus on research, not a necessity.

His pursuit of knowledge was his true, unchanging priority.

Though the shift in his expression was fleeting, the female knight in mid-air noticed it.

Her face briefly showed a hint of distaste, leaving Sein to wonder if her reaction was personal or a general disinterest in men.

Looking down at Sein, the female knight folded her arms over her chest and declared, “I am Natalya Ernst, and I am not interested in marrying a man weaker than myself, especially not a physically weak mage.”

Hovering majestically in mid-air, the Rank Two Female Knight made her stance clear.

Her massive black sword that was stuck in the ground added an imposing pressure to her presence.

If Sein had been an ordinary Rank One mage, he might have been intimidated by such a display.

However, Sein was not just any mage, and he remained calm in Natalya’s formidable presence.

Dressed in his magic robe, Sein looked up, his calm and deep eyes meeting Natalya’s gaze.

It was then that she saw his actual appearance beneath his robe.

Sein possessed a strikingly attractive face, a feature that, along with his charm, had won the affections of many women over the years.

Women naturally appreciated beauty, and even the stern female knight in the sky was no exception.

Upon seeing Sein, Natalya’s stance did not soften, but she curled her lips and muttered under her breath, “And a pretty boy, no less.”

Sein’s skin was exceptionally fair, a trait that had become even more pronounced after his advancement to Rank Two and the completion of his elemental body, which enhanced his features further.

Most female knights might have been thrilled with such a match, especially considering the benefits and influence the marriage could bring to both families.

However, Natalya was not one to be easily swayed.

She had no interest in sacrificing her happiness for her family’s ambitions.

House Ernst was a large family with several eligible unmarried female knights; Natalya was not the only option.

This marriage arrangement with House Grantt had been arranged by her father, who was fully aware of Sein’s affiliations, including the Divine Tower of Verdant Spring and the powerful faction behind him.

Natalya’s mother had no objection against the arranged marriage this time—not because of the influential Verdant Flame Faction, but out of concern for her only daughter.

At only four hundred years old, Natalya had already attained the rank of a Rank Two Land Knight, marking her as one of the most talented members of House Ernst.

Yet, she had never shown interest in the opposite sex.

The last time her family pressured her, she brought home another female knight, causing quite a stir within House Ernst.

Perhaps due to her past defiance, her family was now eager to marry her off to a man.

With only one daughter, her parents feared their lineage might end with her.

While they could adopt a child from a different branch within House Ernst, they strongly preferred having direct descendants to continue their own lineage.

Although Sein was unaware of Natalya’s family dynamics or the full extent of the arranged marriage, he was prepared to clear the air now that she had come to him.

He spoke calmly, unfazed by Natalya’s formidable presence. “I am indeed Sein of House Grantt. Since you’re here, we might as well address any misunderstandings now rather than later.”

“Misunderstandings?” Natalya raised an eyebrow. Her thick eyebrows lent her a heroic appearance—a stark contrast to the women Sein typically encountered.

She was definitely the epitome of a valiant female knight of the Magus World.

“Yes, it’s a misunderstanding. I’m not in favor of this marriage either,” he admitted, raising his hands to emphasize that he too was an innocent victim of this arrangement.