The Goldsborn world.
Sylvia gazed out the window of her room, situated at the top of the tallest structure — the Goldsborn Palace — as she watched the quiet city lit beneath the resplendent, gentle rays of the moon.
The capital city was nothing short of beautiful.
With buildings coated in gold, the entire city looked like an otherworldly, magical land as it shimmered under the night sky.
Despite gazing at such beauty, Sylvia couldn't appreciate it; she was lost in her own world.
The door to her room opened quietly, and soon, two strong arms wrapped gently around Sylvia's slender figure, pulling her out of her thoughts.
Matthew gazed at his wife's side profile and couldn't help but get lost in her ethereal beauty. Despite having known each other for decades, he still couldn't comprehend how such a beautiful countenance could exist among mortals. It was simply unreal.
Her beauty couldn't be put into words. Doing so would be a sin.
When his thoughts reached that point, Matthew couldn't help but remember the constant words of that annoying brat.
"Swan meat wasted on a pig!"
Oh, that brat be can be so hateful. Of course, he never said it to his face, but for some reason, Matthew found that more worse.
He knew he didn't deserve Silvia. Her beauty aside, her talent was unmatched. In fact, no one in the entire universe could compare — Matthew was certain of that, even though his wife had once praised that annoying brat's talent as being on par with hers.
He wasn't being biased because that brat could be hateful — no. He was a king, and a child his daughter's age couldn't possibly get under his skin.
He believed with his whole being that there was no one like his wife. And that fact had been proven.
Who else could rile up an entire galaxy because of their awakening?
Who could cause the most powerful figures — comparable to gods — to cross immeasurable distances just to check on them?
And who could make such figures fear and tremble because of their talent?
If not for that annoying old man, his wife would have been crippled at an early age, all because others feared her potential.
Now that he thought about it, that brat was just as annoying as that old man.
As if sensing her husband's complicated thoughts, Sylvia gently rubbed his hand. Such a small action caused the King to grunt softly in pleasure at her intoxicating touch, as he greedily inhaled her enchanting fragrance.
Sylvia blushed slightly at his reaction, a gentle smile forming on her face.
'No boner... no boner.' Control yourself, this is not the time, Matthew chided himself as he nearly lost control of his little brother.
Releasing a slow breath, Matthew spoke:
"Are you still thinking about your meeting with that beast?"
"Hmm," Sylvia hummed in affirmation.
Matthew's hold tightened slightly. He knew he couldn't help in such matters because of his lack of strength — which was why he handled every responsibility related to ruling the kingdom.
Of course, such a thing stung him. As a man, who wouldn't want to protect their woman? But he had long accepted that fact. While he might not be able to stand beside his wife in battle, he would remain her greatest support from behind — someone she could always lean on.
After a short silence, Matthew asked again:
"Have you decided?"
Sylvia wriggled slightly within his embrace, leaning more comfortably against his chest, her eyes closing in peace.
"I have..." she began softly.
"Not only do I not have a choice, but I mustn't miss this opportunity."
She had long reached the peak of the Red Core stage — just two years after her awakening. That was when she was only seven years old, a fact that, if known, would have sent the entire galaxy into another wave of disbelief.
Yet, several decades later, she still remained stagnant at that level.
That was her fate.
That was how feared she was.
So how could she possibly lose this chance to grow stronger?
Even Sylvia herself wasn't sure how strong she truly was. In fact, she had barely fought a real battle since her awakening.
She wasn't confident she could match those godlike figures even with her talent. After all, those beings were generational talents themselves — ones who had ruled not just a world, but entire galaxies.
With millions of lower worlds, thousands of middle worlds, and the few higher worlds, how could there be a lack of geniuses?
Yet, to stand far above them all and rule an era — that was something else entirely.
Sylvia didn't dare to underestimate them, which was why she had to grow stronger.
"But..." Matthew hesitated. He didn't want to dissuade his wife, but there was a reason she had been told to remain in this small world. Though it might seem as if their world had been cut off from the rest of the universe, the truth was far from that — at least when it came to her.
Sylvia's location was still being monitored by those great figures.
She patted her husband's hand gently. "Don't worry."
Gesturing to the multicolored, bracelets on both her wrists, she continued, "Master, no — Father — already planned for something like this. In the rare case I find a chance to leave this world, these artifacts can hide my true cultivation and allow me to display only what I want others to see. According to Master, even that ancestor of the Asura won't be able to see through it."
A look of surprise flashed through Matthew's eyes.
He knew his wife saw that annoying old man as a fatherly figure. After all, not only had he saved her — and by extension, the remnants of the once-great Goldsborn family — but he had also raised her until she reached her teens before disappearing.
For such a being, one capable of swaying the decisions of mighty figures just to protect her for several years, Matthew couldn't deny he was worthy of being called a father.
Of course, that didn't mean Matthew liked him.
Just like that brat, Arthur, the old man had always looked down on him and had vehemently opposed his relationship with Sylvia.
Thankfully, the old man had disappeared later for some reason — otherwise, Matthew doubted he would have ever gotten together with her.
He really had lucked out.
"Hehehehe..." he chuckled softly, a feeling of pride swirling within him. What man didn't wish to conquer a mighty woman?
Not to mention — he had conquered the mightiest.
Sylvia raised a brow at her husband's antics. She found it amusing that he could laugh at such a time, but that was also what helped her relax. Her thoughts eased, and she set aside the matter of the Radiant Prime, finally appreciating the beautiful city before her.
It was one of the reasons she loved him.
He had been the only one not to discriminate against her after the disaster that had befallen their family because of her awakening. She had lost her father and mother — her uncles and aunts — and she wasn't the only one. Countless children had lost their parents too, leaving the Goldsborn family reduced to a pitiful number.
In their current kingdom, only a few hundred people still carried genuine Goldsborn blood.
So, even though she had survived thanks to her new father, Sylvia hadn't lived a comfortable life.
She had been hated.
Despised.
Shunned.
Even by her former friends who had survived.
Only one person had approached her.
Only one person had stood by her.
Only one person had supported her aside from her master.
Matthew.
And he was the one who used her strength as the foundation to build a new kingdom — one that now ruled this world.
He had drawn together those who once hated and despised her.
He had united them and continued the legacy she had almost destroyed, freeing her from the guilt she had carried since childhood.
He had created a home for her.
He was her one true support.
He was her husband.
The couple embraced each other in serene peace as they watched the glowing city in silence — a ring of love surrounding them.