Chapter 189 - 135: A Husband is Unacceptable, a Lover Can Be Considered

Chapter 189: Chapter 135: A Husband is Unacceptable, a Lover Can Be Considered

Lian got the answers he wanted.

First, his Magic Refilling Master trait truly made him irresistibly charming to any member of the opposite sex. The reason Annie hadn’t changed was likely because her affection for him had been maxed out from the very start. Mary’s current reaction was the best proof of that.

Second, Mary wasn’t averse to men—at least, not to him. She maintained her distance for some unspoken, secret reason. As long as he knew that secret, he could exploit it.

The first time Lian forced a kiss on Mary, she might have been a bit awkward, but the second time, she was already getting into it.

But she still rationally pushed Lian away and straightened her disheveled clothes.

’This man before me really is a true lecher,’ she thought. ’He clearly wasn’t thinking about that, yet his body was completely restless.’

Mary disliked being touched by others, especially by someone like Lian, who was so brazen and thoughtless about it, acting almost purely on instinct.

If it had been anyone else, they would have been dead ten thousand times over by now.

But this person was Lian, and he gave Mary a strange feeling.

She wasn’t disgusted by it at all.

"Have you agreed?"

Mary asked, looking into Lian’s eyes.

"Agreed to what?"

Lian displayed the three-second memory of a scumbag.

"To become my fourth husband."

Mary asked, collecting her thoughts.

"Husband is out of the question. A lover, on the other hand, is something I can consider."

Lian suddenly laughed. He ran a hand through his short, pale gold hair, avoiding Mary’s overwhelmingly intense eyes.

"Lady Mary, I know you’re not serious. I am a member of the Moria Clan. How could I possibly marry into the Frank Clan? Even if you were willing, His Majesty the King would not be. If you fancy me, I can be at your beck and call. I can be your lover, but I cannot be your husband. The Creed Families are forbidden from intermarrying. Have you forgotten that law?"

For some reason, the laws of the Holy Empire forbade intermarriage between the Seven Great Creed Families.

Although the Frank Clan was also a Creed Clan, they also held the status of an Imperial Family.

Members of the Frank Clan would never marry into the Seven Great Creed Families. This was a historical tradition.

But Mary didn’t care.

She smiled at Lian.

"Any law that doesn’t keep up with the times needs to be abolished. Besides, if you cancel your engagement to Catherine, Duke Moria might not accept you. Then you wouldn’t be a true member of the Moria Clan."

"That doesn’t sound like a good thing for me, Lady Mary."

Lian said with a troubled expression, "Being officially recognized by my clan is my dream. I want my grandfather, Duke Moria, to accept me."

"When you betrayed Catherine and chose Nancy as your first mistress, you should have known what would happen. But don’t worry. I will help you return to the Moria Clan. If you want the right of inheritance, I can help you with that too."

A bottomless ambition and desire swirled in Mary’s eyes, threatening to pull in anyone who looked at them, making it impossible to escape.

"Lady Mary, you truly are a wicked woman, through and through."

Lian reached out and caressed Mary’s cheek.

Mary felt no disgust, allowing his hand to stroke her skin.

Her hand also reached for Lian’s chest.

To prevent that Ripper’s hand from tearing out his heart, Lian immediately countered, catching her hand and bringing it to his lips.

"No one has ever dared to say such things to my face. You are the first, and you will be the last."

Mary said faintly, her gaze following her own fingers to where they rested between Lian’s lips.

Her ability to adapt was formidable. She had gone from initially resisting his touch to getting used to it. And now, she was even starting to enjoy it.

This time, it was Mary’s turn to take the lead.

She bit down on Lian’s lip.

On their third kiss, she seemed completely at ease, as if she were showing off everything Lian had just taught her. She was, in the truest sense, a brilliant student.

A warm, moist breath danced on the tips of their tongues, and an intimate atmosphere filled the entire empty hall.

Even Lian was surprised by her talent.

This dangerous woman was indeed full of charm, but Lian, like Mary, was rational enough.

"I still think it’s better for us to be lovers. I need my clan right now, and you need your clan’s support."

Lian said with a smile.

"You really are a wicked man, through and through. You want the pleasure, but you don’t want the responsibility."

Mary pushed Lian away and moved away from the long table. She had no intention of being a dish served up for someone’s consumption, even if that someone was a man no woman could refuse.

"Yes, I can stand with you in a campaign against Blue Moon Territory, but I cannot be the one who breaks the marriage contract first. Doing so would cost me the support of the Moria Clan. At the same time, the outside world would see me as the oathbreaker, not Catherine. And while I don’t care that much about my reputation, I care a great deal about my interests."

Lian touched the sword at his waist. It was the sword Duke Moria had gifted him, "Enzo."

This represented his obsession with returning to his clan.

Seeing that Lian was still holding back, Mary wasn’t angry.

She was intensely curious about this man who dared to refuse her, because he had just come so close to prying open her heart.

"How do you intend to resolve the matter with Yusofa?"

Mary asked.

Lian knew she was asking about the negotiations between Blue Moon Territory and Rose Territory.

"I’ve decided to negotiate an all-time low price."

Lian said bluntly.

Mary raised an eyebrow slightly.

Lian continued, "But not to sell it to Blue Moon Territory. Instead, it will go to Green Shade Territory. Nancy Scalia, my mistress, will acquire this land and become its new Governor."

"You’re so good to Nancy, it’s enough to make one jealous."

The corners of Mary’s mouth lifted slightly.

"Giving it to Nancy Scalia is the same as giving it to you, isn’t it? You are her true master."

"I’m starting to doubt her loyalty. After all, she’s slept with a man like you. It’s hard to guarantee her heart hasn’t been stolen away."

Mary said suggestively.

Lian still wore a smile as pleasant as a spring breeze. He said lightly,

"For people like us, a slave will only ever be a slave for their entire life. One always grows tired of a toy eventually. Only those whose status and position truly match our own can walk with us to the very end."

"Spoken like a true member of the Moria Clan. I look forward to you entering the core of the Moria Clan’s power, my first lover."

Mary agreed to Lian’s proposal. The alliance was forged.

This was thanks to Lian’s superb eloquence and his irresistible charm.

It was also thanks to Nancy Stuart.

’Without her, I would never have been able to obtain such a powerful support trait.’

’I’ll have to reward her properly when I get back.’

"What reason do you plan to use to declare war on Catherine?"

"Betrayal. Unilaterally tearing up the marriage contract."

"That’s not enough. If Duke Moria finds out you’ve broken the engagement with Catherine, he won’t allow you into the core of the Moria Clan in the future. You’ll be exiled, just like your father."

Mary slowly walked toward the left side of the grand hall, passing through a series of archways. Lian followed close behind.

An exceptionally magnificent bath appeared before them. The dome above was inlaid with stained glass bordered in gold. Sunlight filtered through it, casting colorful patterns of light and shadow that reflected with a faint sheen on the pure white marble floor.

Along the smooth walls, finely carved sculptures stood in alcoves. Their poses were elegant and serene, as if they were Deities stepping out of myth.

The central bath was wide and deep, its surface as calm as a mirror.

Rising steam gently filled the space, and the faint fragrance of roses permeated the air.

Beside the pool, rows of golden, jewel-encrusted benches gleamed in the sunlight, draped with soft velvet blankets.

Attended by her maids, Mary shed her magnificent robes, revealing skin as white as jade, and stepped into the bath.

Lian sat by the edge of the bath, trailing his hand gently through the water, sending ripples across the surface.

"Lady Mary, what do you think I should do?"