Chapter 193 - 137: A Trampled Rose_2

Chapter 193: Chapter 137: A Trampled Rose_2

Besides, her hair color was quite similar to Lian’s, which gave him an inexplicable sense of affinity.

"Mrs. Britney, did you need something from me?"

Lian asked politely.

"Oh, Lord Lian, I’m surprised you remember my name."

Mrs. Britney gave him a captivating smile, draping her slender, pale arms around his neck. Her blue eyes brimmed with desire.

"Of course I know who you are, Mrs. Britney," Lian said with a smile. "You’re the mistress of Viscount Fenix Belo. Because of your beauty, you’re known as Yusofa’s number one mistress. Every man in Yusofa dreams of winning your favor."

Viscount Fenix Belo was the highest-ranking noble left in Yusofa. After Lady Mary’s last purge, the local nobility had all learned to lie low. Even though Lian had been in Yusofa for some time, none of them dared to contact him, fearing that being discovered by Mary would be a death sentence.

And the purpose of this tea party wasn’t just for Nancy to pass a list to her contacts in the Rose Thorn. The more important objective was to get in touch with the mistresses of Yusofa’s nobles and, through them, monitor the aristocrats’ activities.

It was also an indirect way of giving the nobles a chance to pledge their allegiance to him.

"Oh? And what about you? Isn’t a beauty like Nancy Stuart enough to satisfy you, Lord Lian?"

Britney asked, biting her lip. Her red lips, as if bee-stung, were full and ripe, radiating a seductive charm utterly different from that of a young maiden.

Any man who saw them would want to take a bite.

Maids passing by in the corridor knew better than to disturb their clandestine flirtation.

Lian leaned close to Britney’s ear and asked in a low voice, "Tell me, Mrs. Britney, what is it you want from me?"

Britney licked Lian’s ear. "Can’t it simply be for you?"

"For me?"

Lian felt he was already immune to this level of seduction, and he had Nancy Stuart to thank for that.

She truly had the makings of a Succubus. Because of her, Lian could remain remarkably calm when faced with other women, even a luscious, mature beauty like Britney.

It was like eating a simple home-cooked meal after dining on the creations of a Michelin-starred chef; it was edible, but it just didn’t hold the same appeal.

"Yes. I’m actually very grateful to you for killing Sting Litt," she confessed, her eyes turning slightly red. "The very day that man arrived in Yusofa, he did something unforgivable to me. I will never forget it."

Lian reached out and wiped away her tears. "My dear lady, I’m truly sorry for what you’ve suffered. A beautiful Rose like you is fated to become a casualty of war. But I was not the one who killed Sting Litt."

"It really wasn’t you?"

"Of course. If I had done it, how could I have gained Madam Ailena’s friendship? How could I have won Lady Mary’s favor?"

Lian asked in return.

Britney felt Lian’s words made sense, confirming her own thoughts. She grabbed his hand and guided it into the deep, snowy valley of her bosom.

In the narrow space, Lian felt a slip of paper. He promptly withdrew his hand.

It was a plea for help from Viscount Fenix Belo.

The Viscount hoped Lian could take him and his family out of Yusofa. He was willing to go to Green Shade Territory and swear eternal loyalty.

For this, he was willing to give up one-third of his family’s fortune.

Ironically, the Viscount’s letter made no mention of Britney, who was risking so much to seek help for him.

Lian pocketed the note and whispered in Britney’s ear,

"Go back and tell Viscount Fenix that it’s not enough. I want two-thirds."

Britney froze for a second, then suddenly let out a sigh of relief.

This proved Lian truly had a way to get the Viscount out of there.

This was good news for her.

"Lord Lian, can you take me with you? I’m willing to give everything in exchange for a chance to leave."

Britney pleaded. She seemed to already know that the Viscount had no intention of taking her with him.

It was probably because of that incident that a rift had grown between her and the Viscount.

Once, she had been the Viscount’s pride, but now she had become his shame.

The Viscount could no longer bear to face her.

Before approaching Mrs. Britney, Lian had already obtained all the information on the noblewomen from Nancy Stuart, and that naturally included her.

Britney came from a minor noble family and could have married a gentleman of equal social standing. Instead, she fell in love with Viscount Fenix Belo, a man twelve years her senior, and willingly became his mistress. For this, her father disowned her. Captivated by Britney’s beauty, Viscount Fenix Belo never took another mistress, and his relationship with his own wife became one in name only. For a long time, they were the couple envied by all the young women in Yusofa, and the Viscount was even thought to be the most devoted of his rank.

That was until Khrish, the Governor of Yusofa, betrayed Mary. A furious Mary marched her army south into Yusofa, and their peaceful life was shattered.

Enraged by Mary’s massacre, Viscount Fenix Belo demanded that the Noble Knight Order unite and fight back.

As a result, all the nobles who joined the alliance were captured and sent to the guillotine.

Viscount Fenix Belo was destined for the guillotine as well.

But Britney saved Viscount Fenix Belo. The price was being violated by Sting Litt and his Knights in front of the Viscount.

Viscount Fenix Belo was saved, but he also lost his backbone that day.

He could no longer face Britney.

The woman who was once Yusofa’s revered number one mistress, the envy of every girl, had now fallen from grace, like a trampled Rose.

Afterward, officers from the Rose Army would sneak into her room from time to time. And while Viscount Fenix Belo still sent men to protect her, those very guards showed her no respect and simply turned a blind eye.

Britney desperately wanted to escape this place. For her, Yusofa was a Nightmare.

Even though she was still Viscount Fenix Belo’s mistress, she knew that if she stayed here, only an endless Abyss awaited her.

In Lian’s eyes, she was a rare woman of deep feeling and loyalty. Her views on love may have been twisted, but she had certainly paid dearly for them.

And besides, above her head was a green tag that read: [Business Genius].

Lian felt that Green Shade Territory needed development, and it needed talent like Britney.

As for letting her in for free? That was, of course, out of the question.

"Mrs. Britney, you don’t need to give me everything. You just need to pay a travel fee of 10,000 gold. If you don’t have it, demand it from Viscount Fenix Belo. He owes you for your years of devoted sacrifice. It’s time to break things off with him."

In the noble tradition of the Holy Empire, any aristocrat wishing to break off relations with a mistress was required to pay a hefty severance fee. It was considered a mark of noble virtue.

Therefore, Britney could use this tradition to demand a severance fee of 10,000 gold from Viscount Fenix Belo.

Lian did this entirely because he didn’t want Viscount Fenix Belo to keep dragging Britney down.

’What’s so great about romance, anyway? You’ve got a brilliant mind, so you should be putting it to work for me.

Besides, your taste in men is abysmal.’

Lian griped internally, his eyes fixed on the beautiful, young woman with her blond hair and blue eyes.

"I..."

Britney hesitated.

"War will only destroy a Rose like you. Make your choice before you wither away completely. The gates of Green Shade Territory are always open for you."

Lian gently stroked Britney’s long golden hair, wiped away her tear tracks, and straightened her clothes, making her look dignified and beautiful. She hadn’t been treated so gently in a very long time.

Until Lian turned and left, Britney’s gaze remained fixed on the young man.

Lian returned to Nancy Stuart’s side. Unfortunately, apart from Britney, the other mistresses didn’t seem to dare pass him any information.

This only further proved Lian’s good judgment; Britney was someone he could rely on.

The tea party ended as dusk arrived.

As the hosts of the manor, Lian and Nancy Stuart saw off the noble ladies.

Britney also boarded her carriage and drove away from Blueberry Manor.

"Did it go smoothly?"

Nancy Stuart looked at Lian.

"Not entirely. I had hoped to secure the fortunes of all the nobles, but it seems some of them are still choosing to wait and see."

"They must be truly afraid."