The SSS-rank Guide Doesn't Need Saving

Holding an annulment ceremony in the middle of the year was not surprising. It happens on the most ordinary and unique days. And the number wasn’t limited to how many couples decided to separate and break off their marriages and engagements. However, its relevance can always vary. Like Prince Soren’s annulment ceremony.

For a prince to dissolve an engagement that had been written even before his birth wasn’t just rare. It was unheard of. He hadn’t even married, yet he had already shown his dissatisfaction towards his soon-to-be bride. And he had done so publicly.

Though people were wondering what could have brought this result, what they were more curious about was whether they would have a good show while attending.

After all... the lady Prince Soren was engaged to was quite well-known for all the right and wrong reasons.

There were only a few minutes before the ceremony began, but the star of the show hadn’t appeared yet. Everyone eagerly anticipated Lady Aisha Novalis’s arrival. But since she wasn’t there yet, they entertained themselves by taking the opportunity to get connected with their peers.

As the discussions grew louder, they suddenly heard the herald announce the awaited star’s arrival.

"Lady Aisha Novalis has arrived!"

Soon after these words landed in their ears, all voices stopped, and all heads turned toward the door, watching in anticipation of what Aisha Novalis would look like entering through that door.

Would she have dark circles under her eyes from not being able to sleep?

Will she trip and fall under everyone’s watch?

Or will she walk down the aisle with sorrowful tears streaming down her face?

They’d already imagined the discarded to-be-consort of Prince Soren when she entered the hall.

Yet, they weren’t ready for what they were about to see.

The door creaked open as two guards pulled it inward. The gap that slowly widened the moment the door was pulled let the daylight outside through the inside of the hall. And at the center of it, a woman stood, while bathe in blinding light as though she was given a halo all over her.

They had long known that Prince Soren was engaged to someone who didn’t come from a noble lineage, but a merchant family. It caused quite an uproar when it was announced. Aside from that, they’d known her for possessing a beautiful appearance that had become the talk ever since she appeared in public.

Aisha Novalis instantly became a darling in front of everyone’s eyes. Men and Women admired her beautiful face, while they also felt greed and envy because of it.

Now that they’re seeing her again, they were both shocked and disappointed. The imagined disgraceful entrance where she would walk down the aisle in tears and looking like she’d been aged ten years older didn’t come into their sights. Rather, they hatefully couldn’t believe that she had become even more beautiful than when they first saw her.

And even though she was caught in countless rumors before the publicity their annulment ceremony had garnered, she didn’t look gaunt or forlorn.

"Is that her?"

"I can’t see clearly because of the light from outside."

"She’s finally here!"

As the murmurs began to trickle once again, they saw Aisha take a step forward.

After being disappointed by being unable to see her make a joke of herself in front of everyone, they were soon shocked by what they saw. In fact, they hadn’t taken notice of it because of the light covering her around like a veil.

But now that they were getting a clearer view, they finally caught the color of what she was wearing.

"How scandalous of her!"

"How could she wear that color at her own annulment ceremony?"

"Did not one tell her not to wear red, or did she do this on purpose?"

"Hmph! Even if she wore that, who in their right mind would respond? Obviously, she’s trying to seduce the prince!"

"To think she’d be so bold to come here wearing that... she must have completely lost her mind!"

At this moment, Soren was standing below the throne. He had also heard the commotion and saw Aisha take a step inside the hall. He had been waiting for the ceremony to begin since earlier.

Initially, he was nervous that Aisha wouldn’t come. He couldn’t bring himself to trust her words when they met at the hospital. He had meant to look for her and talk to her, but he couldn’t find her at all. So, he came to the conclusion that she must have been hiding from him.

Hence, he and his mother had planned to make the annulment ceremony public and invite everyone so Aisha wouldn’t have any way of getting out of it.

Now that she had finally appeared before him, Soren should feel relieved.

And yet, he almost couldn’t control the anger boiling in his chest. Because he also saw what Aisha was wearing. Especially the color of it and what it meant.

Suddenly, he wanted to interrogate her. Did she find a new man? Has someone courted her? Who were they? And how far had they gone? He knew he had no right to think like this since they had mutually decided to break off their engagement, but knowing that someone was eyeing the person who could have been his consort still gave him a bad aftertaste. It felt like some man was trying to take what belonged to him.

And he was also mad at Aisha. How dare she look stunningly beautiful? Was she trying to impress all these men? If she had only appeared like this in front of him before... Then, he would’ve appreciated her more in the past.

But there was still more to come!

Aisha, who had just entered the hall, swept her gaze around. The Grand Imperial Hall was very extravagant and couldn’t even be described with words. The vastness of it alone could house a thousand people. And the interior design was nothing like she’d seen before. Though she had the memories of this body, it didn’t contain much about the palace since Soren would only meet her outside and at the academy.

Now that she’d seen it, it was even more uncomfortable to stay there. It wasn’t that she was overwhelmed by it. Rather, she felt that this place wasn’t really a match with someone like her.

"Aren’t you coming in?"

Aisha turned her head slightly to the side when she heard a voice come from beside her. Her eyes widened, her long eyelashes fluttering like the wings of a butterfly, as she hadn’t expected to come across this man in this place.

"Instructor."

"Shhh... Don’t call me that here."

Aisha nodded and lowered her gaze to appreciate the attire he wore for that day. It wasn’t the one he usually wore at the academy nor the clothes she saw him in when they met in his private residence at the Association. Today, he looked completely different.

He wore a white hooded mantle with intricate silver filigree embroidery and a cropped ceremonial tunic that exposed a sliver of his toned abdomen. Layers of jeweled chains and emerald ornaments adorned his chest and belt, wrapping around his waist.

She knew already how handsome he was... But to see him in this attire, she’d have to admit it. Zeke was a strikingly handsome man.

Aisha almost nodded approvingly. When you see something or someone pretty to look at, there was no need to feel embarrassed and admit it.

"You look—"

"A—announcing the arrival of the Supreme Commander of the Guide and Sentinel Association, SS-rank Sentinel, His Excellency Admiral Valaerion!"

Aisha froze.

What did he just say? SS-rank?

She turned to look at Zeke again, but he was looking ahead, where the people inside the hall had their full attention entirely on him.

Their stunned and shocked murmurs erupted once more.

"What is Admiral Valaerion doing here?"

"Her Highness must have extended her invitation to the Association. But that doesn’t explain why he had appeared with Lady Aisha."

"Wait, why is she alone?"

"Now that someone mentioned it, didn’t the Novalis family arrive earlier? Have they abandoned her already?"

"Abandoned her?!"

Many people had the same thoughts as they realized that when Aisha was announced earlier, there hadn’t been another announcement of a family member. Instead, none of her family was around her to escort her below the throne where Prince Soren and the Imperial Judge were waiting.

However, no one associated her with Admiral Valaerion. They speculated that the Admiral must have been on his way to the ceremony as well when he couldn’t come in because Aisha was in front of the door, blocking his path!