Chapter 1341: Do you really believe the trial is only for the Chosen Ones?

It was a pretty simple plan... Not some grand masterpiece, but just clever enough for the people to glimpse what he truly possessed, and what he might one day reclaim or bestow again.

Mary somehow managed her people after the disappearance of Grace and Grenthollow, keeping order where chaos would have loved to take root.

But what if that darkness returned? What if Grenthollow itself came back?

Would the people turn away from it?

Of course not!

They would die for it!! They would tear open their own hearts if it meant grasping even a sliver of that vanished dead again.

And... that was enough for him to get the upper hand here in this land.

He could see it in their eyes—the longing, the hunger, the desperation.

"Could you... Just move from his lap?" Mary asked, her voice edged with annoyance as she watched Nightfire lounging on Victor’s lap.

Nightfire looked too comfortable, letting Victor’s hands roam as if the rest of the world had faded to mist.

Victor, meanwhile, sat serenely on the sofa, stroking Nightfire’s hair.

After he mentioned it, Mary didn’t want him to perform his little dramas in her Empire. She’d seen his kind before—actors, deceivers, men who spun webs with their words and waited for empires to fall into them.

The moment he brought up Grenthollow, she knew she was risking everything.

She was clever, after all.... so she brought him to his cabin to have a little secret talk ~

Morgana, standing beside Mary, wore a deadpan expression that never flickered, even as she watched Victor tease Nightfire.

Nightfire, for her part, was trembling—her body slick with sweat, her eyes wide and wild. Was she excited by Victor’s touch, or paralysed with dread, knowing she sat between two monsters who might tear her apart if she made one wrong move?

’Just stop it, damn it!!’ Nightfire screamed inwardly. Still, she didn’t shove Victor away. His hands wandered, his lips finding the soft hollow of her nape, kissing her with a slow, wicked hunger that had no shame, no hesitation.

She flinched, but didn’t resist, torn between desire and fear.

Victor hummed as his mouth left her neck. He looked up at Mary, "She’s not moving anywhere," As he spoke, his grip on Nightfire’s hips tightened.

Mary sighed, the sound half exhaustion, half threat, and shook her head slowly. "At this rate, you’ll just fuck her right here, won’t you?"

"Oh? I can?"

"Of course not, you fucking asshole!!" Mary shot back, "This isn’t a brothel!" Her gaze hardened.

"Anyway, so you’re giving me Grenthollow in exchange for this girl’s life? That’s your offer?"

Victor nodded, his expression turning serious, "Yes. I know where it is."

Mary tilted her head, studying him. She didn’t particularly need Grenthollow, not anymore, but now that he had named it in front of everyone, she couldn’t refuse... She could not afford doubt.

Mary glanced at Morgana, who leaned in close and whispered, "No matter what... do not take that cursed mountain. We’ll be the ones suffering in the end."

Mary sighed, a deep, tired sound, as her fingers tapped a slow.

Victor watched her with quiet amusement. Nightfire pressed against him, trembling. Mary’s gaze was hard as she finally spoke.

"Fine then—"

"We cannot! She saw everything," Morgana interrupted.

Mary turned, "And who made the mistake here?" she demanded, "Because of our incompetence, a dog slipped into our territory." She flicked her gaze to Nightfire, who looked away.

Morgana clenched her fist so tightly her knuckles turned white. She leaned in and whispered into Mary’s ear, "But this is serious... Now she knows what she saw, and if she tells him—if a single word escapes—every plan we’ve built could crumble. We could lose everything. All our potential."

Mary whispered back, "So what if she saw? I mean... either way, he’s going to find out. Why don’t we just make a profit from it?"

Morgana frowned, turning to look at Victor, who was blankly staring at them, unreadable as ever.

Deep down, she knew what her elder sister said was true... Even if they tried to hide the information, he would later come to know... this was a rare opportunity that would likely slip through their fingers if they hesitated.

Reluctantly, Morgana nodded. Mary continued, "Well then, in exchange for Ashara Nightfire’s life, you will have to give me... the Arcanium Mountains."

Victor was genuinely taken aback, "Arcanium Mountains? Why? I mean... didn’t you want to know where your Grenthollow is?"

Mary just smiled, slow and sly. "Oh, please. Do you still think I’ll fall for your word games? Bitch? Hahah... I know exactly how you play this. In the end, you’d just say—" She mimicked him, lips twisting in a taunting smirk, "’Oh? I only said I know where it is—not that I’d actually bring it to you, right?’"

Victor’s face turned solemn, "So you did notice?" he said quietly. He chuckled inwardly; for a moment, he’d hoped his little trap might still work.

Mary’s eyes glinted, "Brat... you’re too young to deceive me. But anyway, for her life, I want ten Arcanium Mountains. The whole raw form."

Victor hummed, ’Does that mean she doesn’t care about Grenthollow? But why?’ he wondered. Still, he nodded. "Fine. Ten Arcanium Mountains in exchange for my beloved’s life."

"However," Morgana interjected, voice ice-cold, "I need to know why she entered our territory. Who sent you here? Who told you to do that?" Her gaze bored into Nightfire, but kept flicking to Victor as if searching for a hidden connection.

Deep in her heart, Morgana couldn’t shake the suspicion—Victor always seemed to arrive at the right moment, as if he’d orchestrated everything.

Wasn’t it too perfect, too convenient?

Surely this was no mere coincidence.

Nightfire met her stare with blunt honesty. "Honestly, I was just lying around, minding my own business. A few of your workers approached me... and asked if I’d fill their empty spot. If you doubt me, ask them directly."

"I will check with them," Morgana said flatly, and strode from the room without looking back.

Mary nodded, and then... only silence lingered.

Mary blankly stared at Victor, and Victor stared right back... unyielding, wordless, a quiet tension rippling between them.

Nightfire shivered, sensing something dangerous brewing, as if a storm of old grudges was about to break in the open.

"The day she remembers, the day you will cry," Victor said at last, his tone colder than winter steel.

Mary shrugged, "If that’s meant to happen, then so be it." But inside, she knew—what had been erased could never return. She’d made sure of it.

Victor continued to stare at her, detached, as if nothing truly mattered now. He spoke again, "Say... how many children have you had?"

Mary raised her eyebrows in surprise. "Where did that come from? Are you interested in my life all of a sudden? Oh, sweetie~ I am definitely not going to fuck you, aha~ If that’s what you’re hoping for!"

Victor kept a deadpan expression, "Oh, bitch, I’m telling you—there’s no way I’m sticking my dick into an insane woman. I value my sanity, what little is left."

Mary burst out laughing, a wicked glint in her eyes, "Says the man who seduced his own insane mother-in-law~" She giggled even harder, clutching her side, "You must really love living dangerously."

Victor raised his finger, ready to snap back, but... damn. He had no comeback for that.

Mary leaned in with curiosity, "Speaking of Xara... how’s she doing these days? Still obsessed with that lab, locked away with her precious vials, playing with blood? Or has she finally blown up half the city?"

Victor shrugged, "I don’t know what you’re talking about," he replied.

Mary shook her head, lips curling with mischief, "Well, if you want to keep it secret, so be it... Just tell her I miss her~"

Victor stared blankly at Mary.

Meanwhile, Nightfire watched the exchange. Just seconds ago, these two were at each other’s throats, and now they bantered like old friends—no, like rivals who shared too many buried sins.

A subtle smile flickered across Mary’s blurred figure. She straightened, then raised her hand in a gentle,

"Anyway, congratulations on your marriage, Victor... Or should I call you something else now?"

Victor didn’t react at first, brow furrowing. "What are you talking about?"

Mary rolled her eyes, "Oh, come on now... Why are you pretending? I know exactly who you are—so don’t play coy with me, bitch. You can’t hide behind those eyes."

Victor was still frowning, but before he could answer, Nightfire spoke up, "Oh? She knew you ar—" Her voice was abruptly cut off as Victor caught her lips in a sudden kiss.

Nightfire flinched, colour flooding her cheeks, and quickly averted her gaze, heart thundering.

What was wrong with her husband?

Kissing her so brazenly in front of these people?

Her fingers curled in her lap, embarrassment and a flutter of excitement warring inside her.

Victor smiled softly, brushing Nightfire’s hair back. Then he turned, his eyes cold again as he faced Mary.

"What’s going on between you and the Terra Empire?" he asked.

Mary blinked, "I don’t know what you’re talking about... It’s just a trial, and we’re simply ahead of you all. If you want to know more, you’ll have to pay the price, as always."

Victor leaned in, gaze steady. "Price? How much?"

Mary’s eyes glowed with a dangerous, "Oh, silly~ Not money. Something more valuable... something rare, something dangerous, something irreplaceable—"

"Nah, I’m good," Victor cut her off, raising a hand in finality. He knew better than to let her finish her bargains. Whatever she wanted, it would never be worth the cost, and she’d twist any agreement to her advantage.

Mary pouted, lips glistening as she licked them with slow, deliberate intent. "Come on," she coaxed, "All I need... is your blood. Just a drop, or two, or perhaps... a little more."

"Nope." Victor didn’t even pause. He knew her tricks—too much power lay in the gift of blood, and he would never let her taste it.

Victor’s eyes narrowed, shifting the topic. "Wait... even if you’re ahead of the others, doesn’t that technically make Nyx the winner? Aren’t these trials supposed to be for the Chosen Ones? In the end, the one who’s winning... is Nyx, right?"

At that, Mary’s gaze sharpened, "Do you really believe the trial is only for the Chosen Ones?" she whispered.

Victor frowned, a cold chill running down his spine.

What did she mean by that?