Hate Me, Witch!-Chapter 65: A Man Burdened with Sin

[Month of Summer Blossoms, 13th, at Dusk]

Isn't that just six days from now...

And—

Morning Star Hills.

Also—

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[I have something very important to tell you.]

The pale fingers holding the letter trembled slightly.

Ripples spread one after another in Sylvia’s violet eyes.

At that moment, she felt as if something had struck her heart, echoing within her with a thunderous resonance.

A profound happiness filled her chest—warm, soft—leaving her mind dazed and unfocused.

Maybe I'm still dreaming, she thought to herself.

But the crisp, unmistakable handwriting on the letter she clutched tightly told her otherwise. This was not a dream;this was reality.

Holding the letter, Sylvia took a few light steps, and as joy overtook her, she couldn't help but lift the hem of her dress and twirl twice.

Then, carefully, she stored away the short but precious letter as if it were the most valuable treasure.

Only after doing all this did she eagerly pull out a chair and open her small diary.

She could hardly wait to put into words the burning happiness surging within her heart.

"Xia Ya sent me a letter through a servant."

"In the letter, Xia Ya asked me to meet him at Morning Star Hills at dusk, six days from now."

"Morning Star Hills... I know that place."

"That small hill is covered with starlight grass and night orchids."

"They seem like ordinary flowers on any given day, but when twilight arrives, they bloom into the most breathtaking blossoms."

"They only bloom in the fleeting moment between dawn and dusk, like bubbles—beautiful, yet ephemeral."

"And Morning Star Hills is also where my parents first met..."

"I heard that, back when my father had yet to inherit the family title, he confessed to my mother amidst the sea of blooming flowers."

"So, Xia Ya is asking me to meet him there."

"The important thing he wants to say... could it be..."

Sylvia's pen hesitated slightly, her violet eyes gazing out at the silver moon, as luminous as jade.

The corners of her lips curled up at times, gently moving at others.

She remained there, quietly letting the warmth spread, engulfing her entire being.

A long while later, she resumed writing.

"Xia Ya likes me."

"Right now, I might be the happiest girl in the world."

—Excerpt from The Argent Witch’s Diary, page 23, Sacred Calendar 346, Month of Summer Blossoms, 7th.

...

Month of Summer Blossoms, 13th.

Dusk.

Xia Ya had arrived early, waiting at the outskirts of the capital, at the very edge of the mountain range.

Both as the one who had extended the invitation and for what he was about to do, arriving ahead of time was a necessity.

He summoned Silver, idly playing with the little snow ferret.

A short while later, the sound of footsteps approached from behind.

Xia Ya turned around and saw Sylvia walking toward him from afar.

Normally, Sylvia never wore makeup, and her clothing choices were always plain and monochromatic.

But today, she had clearly put great effort into her appearance. She wore a dark knee-length dress, its layered hem unfolding like rippling lotus leaves.

Her long hair, usually left loose and cascading over her shoulders, was pinned up at the back of her head, revealing the elegant curve of her swan-like, snow-white neck. The only piece of metal adorning her was the hairpin Xia Ya had given her—its amethyst gemstone shimmering under the slanting rays of the evening sun.

She stepped lightly toward Xia Ya, a small white round hat atop her head, red high heels on her feet.

Clearly, she wasn't used to wearing heels—her calves tensed slightly, her steps somewhat unsteady.

Xia Ya stepped forward and steadied her. "You look beautiful."

He nodded and offered the compliment.

Even with his knowledge of fashion and luxury from his time in the Black Lily District of the Imperial Capital, where he'd seen all sorts of trendy and high-end outfits, he had to admit that today, Sylvia took his breath away.

From a professional standpoint, her carefully selected attire, which must have taken her hours to piece together, wasn't particularly stunning—some combinations even clashed.

But that didn't matter.

Only a young girl in love would spend hours dressing up, just to look her best when meeting the one she adored.

That makes me quite the sinful man.

Thinking about what he was about to do, Xia Ya chuckled inwardly.

The two walked side by side up the mountain without much conversation.

This wasn’t the first time Xia Ya had invited Sylvia out—they already shared an unspoken understanding.

...

The path up the mountain was uneven, a winding trail snaking through the hills.

Worried about tripping, Sylvia obediently placed her hand in Xia Ya’s palm, allowing him to guide her forward.

Xia Ya led the way, pushing aside overgrown branches and stones along the narrow trail.

Before long, the trail came to an end, leading up to a steep slope.

With Xia Ya’s help, Sylvia climbed over the hill, slightly out of breath.

She had never contracted a summoned beast, and although she could command the power of the Bronze Cross, it typically remained dormant in the depths of her soul.

Thus, her physical strength was no different from that of an ordinary person. Climbing the mountain in one go left her feeling a little tired, her fair cheeks flushed.

But her violet eyes still shone—brightly, dazzlingly so.

"We’re here."

Xia Ya stopped at the peak.

Holding Xia Ya’s hand, Sylvia climbed over the final slope.

The next moment, her eyes widened.

What lay before her was a sea of blooming flowers.

Countless night orchids and starlight flowers stretched around them, their fragrance drifting through the air.

Beyond the floral expanse lay a cliff.

The mingling hues of twilight and the setting sun poured into Sylvia’s vision like ocean waves.

From the edge of the cliff, the entire capital sprawled below—buildings resting quietly against the earth. Further beyond, the vast, azure Grandet Sea stretched to the horizon.

The enormous sun had already touched the water’s surface.

The evening wind howled through the mountains, rustling the treetops in endless waves, rolling toward the distant sea.