I, Walde Lierfu—what kind of person am I?

Without a doubt, I’m a hopeless waste. At least, that’s how I see myself. I know my own worth.

My birth? You could say I came into this world with a silver spoon. All thanks to my Father Sir—Supreme Bishop Bol. Hearing that title, you’d understand he’s a major figure. One of the Divine Church’s twelve Supreme Bishops, second only to the Pope in ecclesiastical authority. They oversee the Church’s affairs, honored guests even before emperors.

In the Empire of Aifei—where the Breath of the Sun Church holds the greatest sway—Father Sir’s name commands immense respect. Merely uttering it could shield you from street guards, unless you’d committed murder in broad daylight.

No—*even* if you’d committed murder.

Because right now, I stand before a poor girl lying in a pool of blood. I am her killer. My mind blanks at my own crime. What should I do? I’ve murdered an utterly innocent person. An unforgivable sin. My so-called friends? They’d already scattered like frightened birds.

Imperial guards surrounded me. Clad in pure silver battle armor, wielding radiant Sacred Swords—undoubtedly blessed by Holy Clerics with potent Divine Arts. These were true Sun Knights, handpicked for the honor of guarding the capital. They’d charge without hesitation against endless demon hordes.

Yet now, they hesitated. Duty demanded they arrest me, but my family crest on my clothes had revealed my identity: the infamous noble scoundrel of the capital.

An awkward silence thickened the air.

Finally, a voice shattered the stillness—young, urgent, female.

"Captain! What are you waiting for? He’s clearly the suspect! Arrest him!"

Roused by the shout, I turned. A golden-haired girl stood among the Sun Knights.

The silver armor clung to her frame. The elegant curves of her breastplate hinted at a perfect figure—I, a seasoned playboy, recognized that much. Her hair cascaded to her knees, shimmering like a Divine Being’s blessing. But her eyes held a cross-shaped sigil radiating from the pupil—a holy mark of the Church. Her armor was delicate, etched with intricate patterns, paired with a short battle skirt. The pauldrons left her slender arms bare, gloved in white lace like a noble lady’s. Knee-high boots completed the ensemble.

Raised among nobles and clergy, I spotted the clues: two insignias pinned to her chest. Unlike the others, one marked her as an *apprentice* knight—not yet full-fledged. The other bore the crest of the Imperial Kingdom Academy. She was still a student. Many knights wore dual insignias too, but theirs paired knighthood with noble house crests—like my own Lierfu emblem.

My guess? This beautiful girl clawed her way from commoner roots into Aifei’s most prestigious academy. Top grades earned her a mentor’s recommendation for Sun Knight training. Soon, she’d join the nobility, bringing glory to her family. A life ordinary folk could only envy.

Though her armor looked more like art than battlefield gear, it was standard for female Sun Knights—complete with a Sacred Sword at her hip. Now, her hand gripped its hilt, glaring at me. One command, and she’d arrest this murderer.

"Hold! Don’t act rashly!" A grizzled middle-aged knight barked the order. He turned to me, eyes burning with disdain and sorrow, yet his voice stayed calm, respectful: "You must be the son of Supreme Bishop Bol. If you know anything about this murder, I’d be grateful if you’d share it."

"I… I… this isn’t—"

"Understood. Thank you for your cooperation. You may leave. We’ll handle the investigation." The captain cut me off before I could finish. He turned to depart.

"Captain! We haven’t clarified anything! He clearly knows something—no, look at him covered in blood! He’s likely the culprit—"

"Silence! Obey orders—fall back! You two, examine the victim. Identify her and notify her family. We’ll file the case later." He silenced the girl’s protest, then addressed me again: "Young Master Walde, I’ll report today’s events truthfully to the Supreme Bishop." He strode away.

"Captain! You can’t do this! You—" The girl—Liyue—refused to yield. She’d never imagined her revered captain, a true knight, would shield a suspect.

"I said *enough*, Liyue." His voice lost its authority, pleading now. "Even if this case were signed with my name… I won’t let Lord Bol’s honor bear a single stain."

A young knight beside her tugged Liyue’s arm. "Don’t push him. Remember—he’s common-born like you. Crossing the wrong nobles…"

Their voices faded as they left. I remained frozen. I knew that captain. Two years ago, he and his comrades visited our home bearing gifts. After a brutal battle where Father Sir single-handedly covered their retreat from a deathtrap ambush—and healed their wounds with Divine Art—he’d knelt before my father. "I owe you my life," he’d sworn. "I’ll repay it with mine."

He never imagined his first chance to repay that debt would be *this*. I’m certain he’d rather charge the Demon King’s throne than choose this path.

The rising sun gilded his retreating figure. He walked like a defeated soldier vanishing into dusk.