Chapter 487
There were eight dukes in Prussia, each ruling a vast territory, each holding power like a king.
Duke Eisenwall was one of them — and he stood firmly with the Technocratic Faction, the new movement that worshipped progress. They believed Al should lead humanity forward, no questions asked.
Opposing them was the Order of Nature, the conservative faction that clung to the old path — humans must follow the law of nature, not machines.
And then there was the Neutral Circle, a third power formed by natural-born dukes and their nobles. They walked a razor-thin line between the two giants, shifting their stance every time the wind changed.
Sofina’s breath tightened the moment she saw Ragnar Eisenwall.
A ghost from her past.
The man she once thought was the brightest star in their youth the alpha, the golden boy, the one everyone chased.
But he had been her greatest mistake.
Her deepest wound.
The first person who taught her what it felt like to be “unworthy p>
Ragnar strutted toward them in a luxurious tailored suit, arrogance dripping off him in waves.
Beside him stood two women dressed in full designer armor – branded clothes, flawless makeup, and eyes so full of hubris they sparkled like polished knives.
Ragnar’s specialty had never changed:
He believed the world revolved around him.
He lived to stir trouble.
And he looked down on anyone he considered beneath him — especially commoners. Insulting people was practically his signature.
“What the hell are you doing, Ragnar!” Renata snapped.
“What am I doing?” Ragnar laughed, loud and mocking. “I’m allergic to poor people. Especially half-bloods like this man. Commoner trash-no, even lower p>
“That man is not a commoner, you jerk,” Renata fired back. “He’s Marquis Saint- Claire p>
“Oh please,” Ragnar scoffed. “The fallen Marquise? The one with nothing left but a title? No soldiers, no land, no power? Spare me. Get out of here p>
Alex stood still, rainwater dripping from his hair, his clothes soaked through.
His fists clenched tight, controlled, furious.
He could break Ragnar’s jaw in one hit.
He wanted to.
But no one, not even a Marquis, could lay a hand on a duke’s son. Not unless they wanted their title ripped away and their life shattered in a heartbeat.
So he forced himself to stay still.
To breathe.
To endure.
Because hitting a duke’s heir meant death, no matter who you were.
Renata snapped, “Shut up Ragnar, Say one more word and I swear I’ll p>
Ragnar cut her off with a harsh, mocking laugh. “You? Bite? Don’t make me laugh p>
One of the women beside him echoed him with a shrill giggle.
“My Man doesn’t fight insects p>
Alex raised his head. “You hide behind your father’s title like armor p>
Ragnar stepped forward, slow and predatory, a wolf savoring the moment.
“And you hide behind your dead family’s ashes p>
Sofina’s scream exploded through the garden like thunder.
“Enough! You think cruelty makes you invincible — but it only makes you small. Smaller than the boy I once pitied p>
“Oh damn, you pity Ragnar? Are you insane?” the woman beside him barked out, her voice dripping with spite. “Look at your position now, Sofina― once one of the most beautiful women of our generation p>
“Our belle. Tell me, how do you end up marrying a loser twice? Are you that desperate, you lonely bitch chasing after broke men? Didn’t your family ever teach you about standards p>
Sofina recognized her instantly.
Sybilla Altenhain.
Her old college classmate.
They were never close. Sybilla was too arrogant, too jealous, too obsessed with being the center of attention.
For years she resented Sofina for being crowned the belle of the college instead
of her. But everyone knew the truth-Sybilla couldn’t compete.
Not in beauty, not in elegance, not in attitude, not in character.
Still, the woman had one talent: seducing men.
Rumor said she hooked up with so many wealthy guys that they practically funded her entire years of college.
A Count’s daughter, spoiled and entitled. Everyone also knew she had only one target in life—Ragnar Eisenwall. Her family pushed her toward him constantly, desperate to seal the marriage.
“Guys, honestly,” Sybilla continued, clinging to Ragnar’s arm. “My Ragnar hates breathing the same air as this loser. Can somebody kick him out? He’s polluting the place. I don’t even know how they let him in p>
“That man is my guest,” Renata’s irritation snapped like a whip. “Do you think any of you have the right to throw him out? If you hate being here, feel free to get the hell out yourselves. We were here first p>
Sybilla turned her gaze to Alex. She giggled behind her hand, her eyes filled with
venom.
“Oh, so this is your precious guest? Alex? The famous ‘Walking Error’? Alex the Dunce?” She laughed louder, cruel and shrill.
“Renata brings him as a guest, and Sofina marries him as a husband. No wonder your standards have fallen so low. Honestly, you two deserve each other p>
Her sneer was pure poison-sharp, contemptuous, and deliberately brutal. Renata Winter’s cheeks burned with embarrassment. Sofina might have grown used to people looking down on Alex-but Renata hadn’t. Hearing it said so openly made her stomach twist.
Sybilla suddenly shifted her tone, pretending to be apologetic.
“Ah, I’m so sorry. I’m just too straightforward and outspoken. I hope you don’t mind p>
Alex frowned, This Sybilla was rotten to the core.
Sybilla notice Sofina’s expression change-sharp, cold, offended. Sofina stared at Sybilla and Ragnar with a glare that could cut glass.
And instead of backing down, the sight delighted her. Sofina had always overshadowed her, always made her feel like a wallflower. So she sneered: “Honestly, as your friend, you should divorce this loser immediately. It hurts my heart knowing you’ll spend the rest of your life chained to someone like him p>
She didn’t consider Sofina’s feelings at all. She just threw the insult like a stone. Sofina’s breath snapped. She pressed her lips tight, fury rising.
“What the hell do you mean by that? You don’t have any right to talk about my husband p>
Sybilla giggled behind her hand, fake and poisonous.
“I’ve despised you since college. If it wasn’t for your face, do you really think you deserved to be crowned belle of the college? And now you’re married to this loser why shouldn’t I talk about it p>
Alex felt a sharp surge of anger rise in his chest.
Someone had to stop this bastard before she went any further.
Sybilla caught sight of Alex staring down at his bracelet phone, silent, trying hard
to stay in control. She smirked, venom curling at the edge of her lips.
“Look at your deadbeat husband. I’m mocking you, and he doesn’t even dare to defend you. What a pathetic joke p>
She turned to Ragnar, laughing. “Honey, why don’t we kick all of them out?” Ragnar lifted his hand arrogantly and called toward the celestial garden manager.
“I am Ragnar Eisenwall, son of Duke Eisenwall. I command you to clear out every
guest here and reserve this spot for me alone p>
The manager bowed quickly, nervous but firm.
“Sir, I’m afraid I can’t do that. Some people booked this place a very long time
ago p>
Ragnar smirked, eyes dripping disdain.
“Do you know who I am? I’m the duke’s son. The highest rank below the king. Tell them I want them gone-so they will leave p>
“Sir,” the manager said with a stiff bow. “She is also Renata Winter – daughter of Duke Widnert. I don’t believe she will surrender her reserved space p>
“I’m not giving anything up,” Renata replied sharply. “He’s a duke’s son. And I’m a duke’s daughter. We’re equal p>
Ragnar scoffed.
“Don’t start that nonsense again, Renata. You will always lose to me.” Then he turned back to the manager, voice booming.
“Announce it. Tell everyone Ragnar Eisenwall is here. Tell them to leave. If they
don’t, they can deal with the consequences p>
Right then, the celestial garden’s announcement system crackled to life.
“Hello everyone, this is Eve. I have an announcement regarding a special guest currently in the Celestial
Garden. His name is Ragnar Eisenwall, son of Duke Eisenwall. He requests that everyone vacate the
area immediately p>
to
The manager froze in shock.
And Sofina recognized the voice instantly – Eve. Her egg-shaped Al assistant.
“Well, your people are efficient,” Ragnar said smugly.
But the announcement continued.
“And the reason Ragnar Eisenwall wishes to be alone in the Celestial Garden is
because he is currently accompanied by the beautiful Sybilla Altenhain p>
Sybilla lifted her chin proudly-
Until the next sentence dropped like a bomb.
“For those who do not know Sybilla Altenhain, Iwill provide details. Sybilla Altenhain, age twenty-five, graduate of Prussia University. During Ther high school years and freshman year of college, recorded data shows she engaged in sexual activity no fewer than three hundred times with over one hundred different men, including commoners and her own household slaves p>
Sybilla’s face drained of color. Her eyes went wide. Her mouth fell open in pure horror.
“What the hell is that announcement talking about!” she screamed. “I’ll sue you! This is slander! Delete that p>
Ragnar’s expression collapsed as he looked at Sybilla. His forehead tightened, deep lines forming as the shock hit him like a punch. He looked traumatized, betrayed, humiliated.
The announcement wasn’t done.
“And Ragnar Eisenwall – who publicly declared he would never touch a woman who wasn’t a virgin
or who had been with other men has now fallen hopelessly in love with this woman. He has made love
to her at least twenty times, despite her being diagnosed with no fewer than five sexually transmitted diseases. Two of them are incurable p>
Silence crashed over the garden.
People stared.
Mouths hung open.
Someone whispered, horrified:
“Did Ragnar Eisenwall sleep with a cheap woman and get an STD? Should we
evacuate this place p>
“No wonder he wanted to be alone! It seems his STD has already reached a
terminal stage p>