Just Enchanted by Her Strength

Chapter 2: Shattered Glory

From breakfast until the afternoon, Phoenix had been contemplating this issue.

It wasn't until he was about to set off for the banquet at the Aurelian Oak Palace that he walked out the door and onto the steps, just in time to see Eleanor, now dressed in formal attire.

Eleanor, in her maid outfit, appeared dignified and elegant, while the girl in the knight's uniform was beautiful and imposing, with a short skirt above which hung a sharp sword, and below which her long, shapely legs were wrapped in pure white, gold-trimmed over-the-knee socks.

The uniform of the Imperial Noble Knight was a pinnacle of artistic achievement, using simple lines of gold, white, and blue to perfectly convey a sense of hierarchy, magnificence, and purity.

Phoenix and Eleanor locked eyes, and after a few seconds of silence, the young man with black hair and violet eyes spoke up:

"Eleanor, do you love me?"

The fairy-like platinum-haired girl sighed deeply, her gorgeous purple eyes filled with compassion:

"Brother, my long-standing worries have come true. Has your fragile mind finally snapped, and you've started to talk nonsense?"

"I thought as much."

Phoenix chuckled, long since immune to Eleanor's sharp tongue; she was just verbally relentless.

He had no doubt that he was important to Eleanor, and that she would definitely die for him, but this feeling was not out of love; it was simply because he was the head of the Clear Radiance family.

Eleanor was all about the family.

He had just asked on a whim. Eleanor might have potential in the future, but her current [Stellarborn Sword] probably didn't have the strength to satisfy Phoenix. Her talent would only reach the T1 tier after fusing with him as an upgrade material.

Phoenix had already decided whose "legs" he should cling to.

"So, have you suffered some kind of blow? Even though my brother is such an incurable good-for-nothing, you are the head of the Clear Radiance family, and I cannot ignore any insults to you," Eleanor frowned.

Phoenix shook his head: "I was just testing my charm, to see if it's enough to make someone fall in love at first sight."

"After laziness, incompetence, lechery, and frivolity, you've now developed signs of narcissism..." Eleanor groaned, pressing her forehead in distress, but she stopped mid-sentence. The girl took a good look at Phoenix, her lavender eyes sparkling with a different kind of light:

The well-tailored formal suit accentuated the young man's upright and robust figure. His neatly styled hair and light makeup further highlighted the excellent looks of the only direct descendant of the Clear Radiance family, making him appear like a prince straight out of a fairy tale.

"However... my brother does indeed have all the noble ladies in the Imperial Capital under his spell," Eleanor admitted.

Phoenix smiled: "Good looks alone are useless. Can I really revitalize the family just with this face?"

"Well... considering your already hopeless abilities, it's not a bad idea to quickly charm a suitable noble lady into marrying and having children to continue the family line, relying on this good appearance," Eleanor said, her eyelids lowering slightly as she thought seriously for a moment, then continued to Phoenix:

"If that doesn't work, you could take on more concubines. It would be great if they could bear a few offspring."

Phoenix: "Hey, don't look at me like I'm already beyond salvation and planning for the next generation."

Eleanor turned her head away: "Sorry, that was rude of me."

"So you were just joking earlier, right?"

"......"

"Please deny it."

Eleanor faced Phoenix with her graceful profile, as serene as still snow: "Brother, it's time for us to leave."

"So you're not denying it."

Eleanor would never lie to Phoenix. Changing the subject was as good as an admission.

Damn it, he really was underestimated... But it's no wonder Eleanor looked down on him.

After the Stellaris Domain fell and he fled to the Imperial Capital like a homeless dog, the young head of the Clear Radiance family was probably so shattered that he completely gave up on himself, spending his days indulging in parties and extravagance.

It wasn't until Eleanor took over that she managed the family and prevented the Clear Radiance family from going bankrupt and the "Stellaris Duke" from wandering the streets and becoming a laughingstock.

Exiting the mansion, they were greeted by a carriage adorned with the Silver Emblem of the Moonlit Forest.

The destination for Phoenix and Eleanor was the highest point of the [Sacred Roots] in the Imperial Capital, which was also the heart of the entire the Empire of the Aurelian Oak—the Aurelian Oak Palace.

As a palace complex that occupied nearly half of the inner city of the Imperial Capital, the Aurelian Oak Palace was an extremely vast collection of buildings, and its functions were far more than just a residence for the Royal Family.

It was the grand temple where the God Ancestor [The Aurelian Oak] was worshipped; it was the administrative center for handling affairs; it was the public venue for noble socializing; it was the audience area for the Secret Realm Trial......

Including various servants, more than a hundred thousand people lived and worked in the palace of the Aurelian Oak Palace all year round, making it a city within a city.

On the wide and well-organized avenue leading to the Aurelian Oak Palace, there were several lanes, and Phoenix's carriage smoothly entered the exclusive lane.

In the empire, only a very few Autocratic Dukes had this privilege, and these Autocratic Dukes had another name.

[Luminbranch Crowns]

The God that the empire revered and worshipped was the [The Aurelian Oak], whose roots spread throughout the land and was eternal and immortal. Thus, the Autocratic Dukes who guarded the empire were the branches that built prosperity.

Most of the family glory that Eleanor always cherished came from the title of [Luminbranch Crowns], which represented the top nobility. Even if you searched the entire empire, it was a status second only to the Royal Family.

The carriage came to a stop in front of the gates of the Aurelian Oak Palace. After handing over the vehicle to the palace's servants, Phoenix and Eleanor walked straight into the Aurelian Oak Palace.

The Aurelian Oak Palace was a palace complex that was extravagantly luxurious. In the exquisite gardens, courtyards, buildings, and fountains, rare flowers and plants from all over the world were transplanted and cultivated, making the palace, which should have been solemn and cold, appear full of vitality.

The outer layer of the Aurelian Oak Palace was a public place without restrictions. It was bustling with various social celebrities all day long.

"Hmm, that young man... Could he be the Stellaris Duke?"

"Miss Eleanor is following behind him, so he probably is."

"Alas, such a [Branch of Prosperity] has fallen to this state. It's truly unfortunate..."

"But the Stellaris Duke... he is indeed as handsome as rumored."

"................"

As soon as they entered the courtyard and the onlookers saw Phoenix's family crest, the whispers began one after another.

Phoenix: "Everyone here is not very friendly."

Eleanor's delicate eyebrows furrowed slightly, and she whispered to Phoenix: "Brother, don't pay attention to these words. Our goal tonight should be to find noble allies who can provide us with financial support to reclaim our homeland."

"Do you plan to approach them?"

Phoenix glanced at the surrounding nobles and said:

"I don't want to disappoint you, but the nobles living in the Imperial Capital have long been living in peace and indulging in pleasure. They are not interested in the plight of someone like me, an Autocratic Duke. They only see it as a laughingstock. [Luminbranch Crowns]... are not part of the same system as the imperial nobility."

Although the [Luminbranch Crowns] sounds like they are the pillars of the empire, a more accurate description would be that they are highly independent vassal grand dukes.

Eleanor agreed with Phoenix's point of view, but she was not as pessimistic as he was:

"Even if the nobles of the Imperial Capital do not agree, there will always be someone willing to lend a hand, such as other [Luminbranch Crowns]. I've heard that a few other [Luminbranch Crowns] will also visit the Imperial Capital during the Aurelian Oak Festival. We could give it a try then... That's the best we can do. We can't rely on my brother's abilities, can we?"