Chapter 151: Augustus

At the end of New Era Calendar year 2528.

In the Empire, the sixth-to-last day of the final month each year is the festival celebrating the ascension of the God of Magic Wei Jiesi Cui, which people call the Divine Birth Festival, the most important holiday of the year.

After the Divine Birth Festival comes a week-long holiday to welcome the New Year.

During the festival, the goddess's followers hold grand celebrations. Important events are deliberately scheduled then to seek the goddess's blessing, such as weddings, coming-of-age ceremonies, and the conferral of noble titles.

In winter Longshande, a heavy snow fell last night, yet it did not dampen the festive atmosphere at all.

Lei En's family sat in the carriage, looking out the window; purple gauze hung along both sides of the street, embroidered with intricate symbols representing the goddess's radiance.

The pedestrians' faces were also filled with joyous expressions.

Whether acquaintances or strangers, they greet each other with blessings, make a praying gesture, and say "May the goddess protect" or "Truth endures."

In the small squares and street corners, people gather to watch performers' dances, acrobatics, and bards' songs.

On every street, a Phonograph plays beautiful music praising the goddess's wisdom.

Children wield trick wands, frolicking with their friends in the streets.

"How wonderful!"

Ma Lian Da, dressed in an exquisite gown, sighed.

She is a devout follower of the goddess; in past years she would bring her family to the town's chapel for a solemn prayer on this day. Having left the town this year left her with some regret, but now, seeing the city's splendor and the goddess's thriving brilliance, she feels deeply gratified.

Ba De, sitting beside her, nodded, though he could not hide his nervousness.

On the way to the City Hall, today Lei En will be elevated to the nobility, becoming a noble Baron, and will also receive a surname.

Things he once dared not even dream of are about to be realized.

Ba De's palms sweated; he instinctively reached to wipe them, glanced down at his black formal attire, thought of its price, and immediately restrained himself.

He looked at Lei En across from him and found his son's expression calm and composed.

"Lei En has really grown up!"

Ba De sighed inwardly, took several deep breaths, and suppressed his nervousness.

At noon, they arrived at the City Hall.

The carriage passed the guards' clearance, entered the rear of the City Hall building, and the family disembarked to walk along the broad avenue to a grand hall.

Ma Lian Da saw the hexagonal star emblem on the hall's ceiling, the holy seal of the God of Magic, and immediately bowed her head in silent prayer.

"The goddess is above!"

The family joined her in prayer.

At the hall's entrance stood two rows of fully armed guards; the atmosphere was solemn. An official of the City Hall waited on the steps, and upon seeing Lei En, hurried forward, saying, "Mr. Lei En, and all gentlemen and ladies, please follow me."

The official was not young, nearing fifty, his hair more than half white, wrinkles crowning his eyes, yet his gaze remained clear, handling matters efficiently.

He is the assistant to Longshande's mayor, in charge of ceremonies and protocol, i. e., the protocol officer, named Da Lun Ni.

In recent days, Lei En's family has had considerable contact with Da Lun Ni.

Da Lun Ni's duty is to instruct Lei En on the procedures of the ennoblement ceremony to avoid any breach of etiquette, covering attire, movements, noble protocol, and so on.

Lei En's surname will also be reported and registered by this protocol officer.

What to do at this moment had already been explained many times by Da Lun Ni; Lei En led his family, following Da Lun Ni, through a side door of the hall into a luxurious lounge.

The ceremony will not formally begin for over an hour, so they must wait here.

Da Lun Ni hurriedly gave a few instructions and left.

Today, more than Lei En will be ennobled; the list contains six individuals, the largest number in recent years.

From the lounge's window, one can see the full view of the grand hall.

A towering statue of the goddess stood, the spacious hall covering nearly a thousand square meters, rows of seats neatly arranged, walls adorned with purple gauze, a bright massive crystal chandelier hanging from the dome, solemn yet soothing to the heart.

Soon, guests arrived sequentially to observe the ceremony.

Those invited to attend the ennoblement ceremony are mostly nobles and extraordinary beings; even if not, they are prominent figures in Longshande, of distinguished status.

Each guest was dressed in finery: men in black formal wear, women in long gowns, seated according to rank, whispering to those beside them.

As time passed, the hall gradually filled with guests.

Ba De paced restlessly in the lounge; his anxiety affected the three other children besides Lei En, who were also nervous and excited, glancing at the hall from time to time.

Finally, the ceremony began.

A dignified middle-aged man stepped forward, standing on the steps at the base of the goddess's statue, lightly pressing his hands together.

Lei En recognized him; he is Longshande's mayor Ya La Si, an ordinary man yet highly regarded by the Duke of Silver Star, having served as mayor for over a decade.

"Quiet."

Ya La Si's voice echoed throughout the grand hall, and people instantly ceased their conversation.

Lei En noticed a badge on his chest, clearly an enchanted item, likely a amplification spell to raise his voice.

"Ladies and gentlemen, good afternoon!"

Ya La Si stood on the steps and began speaking, his face smiling and his demeanor very affable, though his speech was somewhat dull, merely reviewing Longshande's yearly achievements, his own political record, mentioning the Silver Star district's earthquake, and looking ahead to the future, among other things.

Lei En listened and was reminded of bureaucratic jargon from his past life.

Fortunately, the mayor's speech was brief, ending in under ten minutes.

Then he announced that the soon-to-be ennobled quasi-nobles and their families should enter the hall.

The guests' gazes instantly focused on the hall's entrance.

While the mayor spoke, Lei En's family, led by Da Lun Ni, emerged from the lounge and waited outside the hall's doors.

Along with them were five other individuals about to be ennobled.

Lei En's eyes immediately fell on Viola.

Viola today wore light makeup, her brilliant golden hair swept into a bun at the back, revealing slightly pointed ears and a slender neck, adorned with an exquisite gemstone necklace that suited her perfectly.

She wore a pale violet off‑shoulder gown, lavish and elegant, displaying white‑jade‑like clavicles, a tall figure, a flawless face, her entire being seeming to radiate light, dazzling and impossible to look away from.

Viola also saw Lei En and gave him a slight smile.

Even though Lei En had witnessed her smile countless times before, at this moment he still felt everything around him grow dim, his heart fluttering.

He was astonished and recalled a poem from his past life:

"One smile topples a city, a second smile topples a nation."

Facing such an unparalleled beauty, the people around, men and women alike, were momentarily stunned.

Viola's mouth curled slightly upward; she was in high spirits, and Lei En could empathize, feeling glad for her. A few days earlier, the Silver Star Duke had announced within the family that Viola had won the competition and become the new Count of Dong Ting Hu.

Many people received the news and hurried to the Vige Manor to congratulate.

Lei En, on the other hand, had been staying at home lately, so his chances to meet Viola had dwindled, and he had not yet congratulated her in person.

Lei En finally managed to shift his gaze from Viola and saw Bo Luo Ke, nodding a greeting to him.

There were also three aspirant nobles, whom Lei En did not know.

However, from Da Lun Ni he learned that the three had each contributed great wealth to the Silver Star Duke: two barons and one viscount.

They, like him, attended the ennoblement ceremony with their families.

The guards opened the great hall's doors, and the six newly minted nobles and their families entered, walking along the central aisle to the foot of the God of Magic's statue, taking seats in the front row.

During this, all the guests' gazes fell upon Viola.

The great hall rang with gasps and murmurs.

"God of Magic!"

"She is Lady Viola, the future Count of Dong Ting?"

The men sighed, "Who will win her favor, sigh…"

"The God of Magic is truly partial to her…" the women said jealously, their words tinged with bitterness.

Viola became the focus of the entire venue, her radiance eclipsing everyone; Lei En, walking beside the Half‑elf, attracted little attention.

Let alone Bo Luo Ke and the other three aspirant nobles, who seemed as if they did not exist.

When everyone was seated, Mayor Ya La Si shouted, "Ladies and gentlemen, let us welcome the Duke."

Under his lead, the whole hall rose.

The Silver Star Duke's figure suddenly appeared at the hall's entrance, followed by three Wizards, the head guard Fu Lin Ke, the wood elf A La Mi Ya, and the Vice Dean of Silver Star Academy—all Wizards of legendary caliber!

One Holy Soul, together with three legends, instantly made the guests feel a tremendous pressure.

The Silver Star Duke grasped a staff, wore a splendid enchanted robe, more formal than usual, and while entering the hall, nodded to the people.

Mayor Ya La Si respectfully invited her to ascend the steps.

Following the ceremony's protocol, the Silver Star Duke began praying at the foot of the God of Magic's statue.

Everyone prayed together with her.

The God of Magic's statue emitted a faint glow, and Lei En sensed a vast divine power descending, the great hall now under the gaze of a mighty being.

In this atmosphere, no stray thoughts lingered in people's hearts as they offered the purest faith power to the Goddess.

Lei En quietly looked around, avoiding the Silver Star Duke and the statue, and turned toward the guests.

In each soul, the fire of faith transformed into rainbow‑like ethereal threads, rising upward into the void.

"Divine Birth Festival is both a believers' holiday and the day the Goddess harvests faith power."

"Across the Empire countless places hold celebrations; on this day the Goddess's divine power is at its peak."

Lei En understood, lowered his head and continued praying.

The prayer ceremony lasted half an hour, everyone immersed in tranquility; some devout believers were already weeping, their eyes filled with tears of happiness.

"May the Goddess protect, truth endure!"

The Silver Star Duke concluded the large‑scale prayer with a hymn.

She nodded to Mayor Ya La Si, who immediately understood and shouted, "In the Goddess's name, several new nobles will be born today. Now, Mr. Bo Luo Ke, please come up."

Seated in the front row, Bo Luo Ke rose, straightened his clothes, and walked to the Silver Star Duke.

Although he tried hard to appear composed, his slightly trembling hands still revealed his nervous excitement.

"Your Grace, Duke." Bo Luo Ke's voice was a bit off‑key.

The Silver Star Duke smiled at him, soothing his nerves, then softly said, "Kneel."

Bo Luo Ke knelt on one knee at the base of the steps and lowered his head.

The Silver Star Duke's expression grew solemn, pressing his staff against Bo Luo Ke's right shoulder, and proclaimed loudly: "Under the Goddess's witness, I, Duke Longshande, representing the Supreme Council of Kermitis, grant you, Bo Luo Ke * Aputon, the title of Baron, and hope you will prove your worth with your loyalty, your life, and your faith."

"I, Bo Luo Ke * Aputon, am willing to devote my loyalty to the lady, my life to the Empire, and my faith to the Goddess," Bo Luo Ke recited the oath fervently.

The Silver Star Duke lifted his staff and tapped Bo Luo Ke's shoulders on both sides.

Snap! Snap!

Then, in her hand appeared a brand‑new baronial robe, along with a parchment bearing text sealed with a red seal, and a family crest symbolizing the baronial rank.

Bo Luo Ke took the robe, parchment, and crest, his eyes already brimming with tears.

The great hall erupted in cheers, the guests giving the newly minted baron hearty applause.

When the applause subsided, the ennoblement ceremony continued.

The next honoree was also a baron, repeating the ceremony, and the third was likewise a baron; these two had bought their titles with wealth.

The ennoblement progressed from low to high, and just as Lei En thought his turn had arrived, Mayor Ya Si Ke called out someone else's name—the wealthy patron who had purchased a viscountcy.

"Huh? Why did they skip me?" Lei En frowned, noting the deviation from the earlier procedure.

Viola cast a puzzled glance, revealing a hint of worry.

Many people noticed the irregularity, whispering with companions; their gazes swept over Lei En, seeming somewhat sympathetic. Father Ba De's face turned ashen; he seemed to realize something, his hands clenched, his legs growing weak.

The viscount's ennoblement concluded quickly, followed by Viola's ascent.

She was today's most conspicuous figure; amid the cheers of thousands of guests, the Silver Star Duke proclaimed her granted the Bo Ju Ling Di, becoming the Count of Dong Ting!

The title of Earl is still a substantive peerage, possessing a vast domain that makes others drool.

The guests present, whether envious, jealous, resentful or disappointed, at this moment could only offer their most fervent congratulations to Viola.

"Please come up, Mr. Lei En," Yalas suddenly shouted.

The great hall fell silent at once.

Those familiar with the ennoblement ceremony were puzzled; how could Lei En be placed last? It defied convention.

Lei En himself did not think further; he walked up to the Silver Star Title: Duke and knelt on one knee.

Then everyone heard the Silver Star Title: Duke's voice resound: "Under the goddess's witness, I, Longshande Title: Duke, representing Kemi Tis Supreme Council, confer upon you, Ryan Augustus, the Earl of Glamorgan. May you prove your worth with your loyalty, your life, and your faith."

"Wow..."

"Earl!"

"Goddess, it's actually the Earl of Glamorgan!"

The entire great hall boiled instantly, people shouted in astonishment, nearly thinking they had misheard.

Shameless, please grant the guaranteed monthly ticket, ha!

(End of chapter)