Chapter 114 - 102: Southern Dominator, Mary Frank

Chapter 114: Chapter 102: Southern Dominator, Mary Frank

Rose Territory.

In the vast twilight, a grand Lord’s Mansion stood majestically at the edge of the town.

Ancient stone walls were covered in red roses, and the heavy black iron gate was entwined with thorns and vines.

Inside the mansion, the corridors were dark and long. A fire blazed in the fireplace, casting flickering shadows that illuminated the armor and weapons hanging on the walls.

The hurried footsteps of an attendant echoed through the empty space. By the faint candlelight, his breathing grew more and more rapid.

He passed through a great hall adorned with exquisite tapestries, and a lavish dining room came into view.

The long dining table was already set with fine tableware and sparkling wine glasses. The candlelight reflected off the silverware, gleaming with a soft radiance.

At the head of the table sat a woman with long, chestnut hair. Her features were as exquisitely carved as a sculpture, and her brow held a hint of extraordinary, wild beauty, like a panther poised to strike. Her eyes, deep and sharp like the brightest stars in the night sky, were both majestic and captivating.

She wore a magnificent robe embroidered with gold thread, a rose brooch pinned to its front, and her collar was set with 215 rubies.

Her slender eyebrows were slightly raised, projecting an unquestionable authority, as if nothing could escape her scrutinizing gaze.

Beside her sat a black-haired man in formal attire. He was handsome, with a tall, straight posture. At any banquet, his stunning looks and noble air would have made him the center of attention, but sitting next to her, he was reduced to a mere ornament.

"Lady Mary, His Majesty the King has acknowledged Catherine Rochelle Hernandez Mehelban Jackson’s right of legal succession."

The attendant entered the dining room, knelt on the floor, and spoke with a trembling voice.

Mary glanced at the man beside her, her voice icy and devoid of any emotion as she said,

"Lorne Jackson, you actually dared to hide the fact that you have a sister from me."

Cold sweat beaded on Lorne Jackson’s forehead. His hands trembled slightly as he lowered his head and explained,

"Catherine Rochelle Hernandez Mehelban Jackson has always been imprisoned in the High Tower. She is a forgotten member of the family. I never imagined Father would grant her the right of succession. She hasn’t spent a single day living with the Jackson Family. To this day, I don’t even remember having such a sister. There must be some misunderstanding."

"The Jackson Family creed is ’Family Above All.’ Could you really forget you have a sister? Or do you just take me for a fool?"

Mary looked at Lorne Jackson coolly, as if she were looking at a dead man.

Although they were married in name and Lorne Jackson was her third husband, Mary had never held him in any regard. Just like her two previous husbands, they were merely pawns for her to achieve her goals. The proud Mary wouldn’t even let them lay a single finger on her.

"Of course you’re not a fool."

Lorne Jackson pushed his chair back and knelt on one knee. His palms and back were cold, and sweat dripped from his brow.

"Catherine Rochelle Hernandez Mehelban Jackson suffers from a terminal illness and has the Misfortune Physique. If not for the Jackson Family creed, she would have been drowned at birth. She is a source of disaster. No Jackson is willing to go near her. She has always been imprisoned in the High Tower. I swear to the God of Tiger that every word I say is true. I am absolutely not deceiving you."

"If you weren’t a member of the Jackson Family, you would be a corpse by now."

Mary said lightly.

Lorne Jackson’s heart, which had been caught in his throat, finally settled. But he knew his usefulness was limited to helping Mary obtain the Blue Moon Territory.

The moment he had walked down the aisle with Mary, a countdown on his life had begun.

Even while he lived, it was like walking on thin ice over a deep abyss.

He could only hope that Catherine, the sister he had never met, would live a little longer and not succumb to her terminal illness so quickly, so that she could find some hope for their family.

Mary didn’t tell Lorne Jackson to stand, so he could only remain kneeling. For the ever-proud Jackson Family, this was an utter humiliation, but he had already learned forbearance.

Mary turned her head and looked at the attendant, who was also drenched in sweat.

The attendant swallowed hard and continued,

"The new Lord of Green Shade Territory, Lian Moria, has announced his engagement to Catherine Rochelle Hernandez Mehelban Jackson."

The wine glass in Mary’s hand shattered.

A maid nervously stepped forward to tend to her wound, but she seemed to feel no pain at all, her brow furrowed.

"Lian Moria?"

"Yes. Old Moria’s illegitimate son. A blacksmith apprentice who lived in Blueberry Town. He’s just a commoner," said Nancy Scalia, a blue-haired beauty in a maid’s uniform.

Nancy Scalia was Mary’s head maid, as well as the Deacon who managed her organization of spies and assassins.

Her status was second only to Mary’s, a person no one in Rose Territory dared to offend.

Even Mary herself rarely got angry with her.

This time, however, Mary began to question her competence.

"Nancy, are you telling me that a common blacksmith apprentice dares to marry the forsaken heir of the Jackson Family, and make an enemy of me, Mary?"

Nancy Scalia calmly spoke as she treated the wound on Mary’s hand,