Chapter 216 - 148: Mary’s Heart Flutter and Test

Chapter 216: Chapter 148: Mary’s Heart Flutter and Test

She was like a Princess who had stepped out of an old Fairy Tale, utterly desirable.

Since Lian was dressed as a Vampire, he didn’t wear a mask, only a set of decorative fangs. He still looked extraordinarily handsome.

The two of them standing together made for a perfect picture.

Seeing Lian again, the nobles couldn’t help but be reminded of the deadline he had set.

"Lord Lian, good evening."

"Madam Nancy, good evening."

"Lord Lian, good evening."

"Mrs. Nancy, good evening."

"Lord Moria, good evening."

"Miss Nancy, good evening."

The masked nobles greeted the pair one after another. The reason for Nancy’s varying titles was that she was now Lian’s public mistress. Under these circumstances, those who were respectful addressed her as Madam, the sycophantic called her Mrs., while some of the ladies still referred to her as Miss.

If Catherine were present, Nancy could only be addressed as Madam Nancy, never Mrs. Nancy.

However, there was a fundamental difference between "Mrs. Nancy" and "Mrs. Moria." Mrs. Moria could only be Catherine, not Nancy.

If Nancy were to have a child, she could no longer be called Miss; she would have to be addressed as Madam.

As for Lian’s titles, there wasn’t nearly as much variation.

Those close to him would call him Lord Lian, while the more distant would call him Lord Moria. However, to avoid confusion with Duke Moria, most people still chose to use Lian’s given name rather than his surname.

Nancy was clearly in a good mood; she enjoyed being called Mrs. Nancy.

"Lord Lian, Lady Mary requests your presence."

An attendant stepped forward and spoke respectfully.

Lian gave a slight nod, exchanged pleasantries as he took his leave from the various nobles, and followed the attendant through the crowd.

Nancy Stuart, arm in arm with him, walked forward as well.

At that moment, Mary was seated before a piano, her posture as elegant and tranquil as a sculpture. Her fingers danced lightly across the black and white keys, each note seemingly carrying her heart’s sentiments—surging and impassioned.

Mary wore a magnificent Anna-style gown, embroidered with butterflies and inlaid with diamonds. On her face was a fringed mask studded with countless tiny diamonds. Her beauty was like that of a Goddess from myth, descended to the mortal realm.

This style of Anna gown had already spread in popularity from Green Shade Territory all the way to Yusofa.

The name of the designer, Anna, spread as well.

Mary would never have guessed that this designer, Anna, was the very same female Spy she had once sent to Green Shade Territory.

The hem of her gown gently brushed against the piano bench. Strands of Mary’s hair drifted in the faint breeze, like the softest starlight in the night sky.

The surrounding walls were adorned with ancient oil paintings and flickering candelabras, the dim, yellow light draping her in a soft, golden glow.

As the music swelled and subsided, the candle flames swayed in time, casting shifting patterns of light and shadow across her face, like scenes from a fantastical play.

Her emotions swelled with the crescendos of the piece, her expression growing ever more vivid. The music under her fingertips was like a turbulent ocean, crashing against the shores of everyone’s soul.

Nearly all eyes were fixed on Mary.

Lian was also slightly surprised. ’I didn’t expect that on top of all her heaven-defying abilities, Mary would also be a skilled pianist.’

When the piece ended, a tide of applause washed over the room.

Mary rose, gathered her skirts, and gave Lian a slight curtsy. She looked like a true noble lady, a world apart from the swift and decisive Southern Dominator she was known to be.

The nobles lavished her with praise, declaring that Mary was sure to become a great piano virtuoso.

Mary had no taste for such flattery; she had merely played on a whim.

She approached Lian and invited him and Nancy to join her for a drink.

"Lady Mary, few can play music the way you do."

Lian raised his glass, which was filled with the freshest Rose Hosman Wine from Rose Territory—a creation of the famed winemaker Hosman.

Mary gently swirled her glass. "And what did you hear in my music, Lord Lian?"

"The passion of life and the spirit of ruthless decisiveness. Your music, like you, is a falcon with its talons bared."

Lian said without reservation.

Mary smiled. "I like that assessment. You really are different from the others."

"They simply don’t dare to speak of your ambition."

Lian and Mary clinked their glasses.

Their gazes met over the crisp clinking of their glasses.

’Perhaps it was because he had specially topped off Nancy’s Magic before coming, but his Charm was still irresistible to the opposite sex.’

As a result, Mary felt her own heart begin to race, though she dismissed it as a fleeting illusion.

"This is Hosman Fruit Wine," Mary explained in detail to Lian, "it’s produced once every summer and winter. This is the first batch from Rose Territory, brought here by Magic Train, so the taste is exceptionally pure. Since it’s a fruit wine, it needs to be drunk fresh. It’s not like other liquors that become more mellow with age."

’It reminded Lian of the old stories about transporting fresh lychees for an imperial concubine.’

"It’s delicious, indeed."

Lian took a sip of the fruit wine. Ice had been added, giving it a wonderful texture. ’The flavor is already on par with cocktails from the modern era,’ he thought.

"Nancy."

Mary smiled and looked at Nancy, who brought the glass to her lips and took a delicate sip.

She had never been fond of alcohol.

"It was personally crafted by Hosman,"

Nancy Stuart said flatly.

"Nancy, you should learn to enjoy drinking. It’s a pleasure."

Mary took another sip of the Hosman Fruit Wine before continuing slowly,

"I’ve already had many churches built for the Golden Goddess. Some of my soldiers have started to worship her, and they have indeed become quite lucky recently. This has dispelled my doubts, and I’ve decided to build some churches in Holloway as well."

Lian nodded in silent agreement.

"But I don’t know how many more Believers the Golden Goddess needs to make *him* die instantly. I’m getting impatient."

Mary looked at Lian, her eyes filled with a fierce, predatory light.

If Lian didn’t possess the divine Status of an Evil God, he might have been intimidated by her, left trembling like the servants nearby.

"My apologies, I am not a god, so I can’t give you a specific number. However, if you truly cannot wait, why not simply send an assassin to kill him?"

Lian asked.

"I did send assassins, but you took care of them."

Mary’s tone held a note of appreciation rather than anger. "I’m very curious, how exactly did you manage it? To kill my Heartless."

"Lady Mary, you give me too much credit. How could I possibly kill a Heartless? That too was Power from the Golden Goddess. I am, in fact, one of her first Believers. She is the one who granted me Power, but it did not come without a price."

Lian wrapped his arm around Nancy’s waist and kissed her neck.

One must avoid eye contact when telling a lie. It was an excellent way for Lian to hide his true intentions.

"It seems you’re truly infatuated with Nancy."

A corner of Mary’s mouth quirked upward.

In that gaze, Nancy detected a flicker of jealousy.

Mary rarely grew jealous of anyone, aside from her brother.

Yet today, Lian had managed to evoke such a feeling in her. It was proof that his Charm had likely reached a level comparable to that of a male Succubus.

"Yes, Nancy is far too beautiful. No one could possibly refuse her, could they?"

Lian retorted.

"Then would you refuse me?"

Mary suddenly held out her hand.

Lian took her left hand. "Of course not. It would be my honor to ask you for a dance."

The pair stepped onto the dance floor. Lian placed a hand on Mary’s waist, and she rested her own hand on his shoulder. Their bodies were close, yet they didn’t press against each other, maintaining a noble’s elegance and etiquette.

"My Knight, Yaxin, wants me to bestow Nancy upon him. He believes you are unworthy of being Nancy’s lover because you poisoned those poor noble girls—the ’Twelve Tulips of Yusofa.’"

Mary leaned close to Lian’s ear, speaking in a husky, sensual voice that made his ear tingle.

"Please refuse his proposal on my behalf. I cannot lose Nancy."

Lian responded in a low voice.

"And what about me?"

"No one can possess you. Even I wouldn’t dare dream of such a thing. But we are steadfast allies, are we not?"

"Heh. I will refuse Yaxin. But to compensate him, I’ve decided to have Nancy spend a night with him. What do you think of that?"

Mary watched Lian, her sharp gaze seeming to bore right through him, trying to read his thoughts.

She was testing Lian, trying to determine if he saw Nancy Stuart as an object or as a person.

If it was the latter, then she would have found Lian’s weakness, and Nancy’s value as a pawn would become even greater.

If it was the former, she wouldn’t mind actually sending Nancy Stuart to Yaxin Matic’s bed as compensation.

At the same time, she was also testing Lian’s Loyalty to her.

After all, Lian had once suggested that she become his mistress.

So what was the difference between herself and a mistress like Nancy Stuart?