Rivers of the Night - Chapter 73

Chapter 73: Princess Consort [Super Gift Bonus]

[Big thanks to Mr. Ham]

Theron raised an eyebrow.

Many, whether by accident or in subterfuge, looked toward Thessa at that moment.

Soren and Teagan both clenched their utensils, but didn’t say a word, burying their heads into food as though this might help them forget what was going on around them.

Theron hadn’t thought that Thessa’s princess consort status would be exposed like this. At the very least, not in such a crude fashion.

In reality, this was the only logical path to take after her attempted assassination failed. There was no point in hiding her identity anymore if people were already aware of who she was.

“If you have something to say to me, say it boldly and proudly,” Thessa said coldly.

Thralix blinked as though confused why Thessa could possibly be angry with him.

“Didn’t I already say what I wanted to say? If he wants her, he just needs to find a good time to fuck her. Threaten her parents a little bit with ruining her reputation, then poof—he’ll have the wife he wants. Clearly he’s too busy bullshitting people to do any of that.”

Aeryn’s dangerous smile had returned.

“Drystan, I would advise you get your little cousin to watch his mouth, or I’ll be happy to show him the difference between the Bronze and Silver Resonance.”

CRACK.

Thralix’s silver teeth shattered a leg bone half the width of his face with a bite, the splintering pieces revealing a drooling bone marrow within.

“If you want to address me, address me directly,” Thralix said with a savage grin. “I’m not like certain other ball-less cowards here.”

“But you certainly are more stupid.”

Thessa’s voice had been several degrees colder.

Theron sat back in his own seat, watching this unfold. It was fascinating to him.

He couldn’t feel them, but he was sure there were a large number of Gold Mancers keeping an eye on this place, each one charged with the protection of these little nobles.

All the while, these Clans were allowing their youths to battle it out.

Sigil had been sent here to assert dominance, so what was Thessa sent here for?

Was it the same?

Thessa’s eyes lit ablaze as she stood to her feet, her palm rattling the table beneath her.

“The Crown has just been insulted,” Thessa said coldly. “I’m sure young noble Sigil won’t mind this princess consort reminding a little Earldom of their place, correct?”

Theron’s eyes narrowed.

This wasn’t the Thessa he knew. Clearly, there were quite a few people around him playing characters. As much as he thought himself to be sharp… he wasn’t sharp enough.

If Thessa managed to take the reins of the banquet so easily, it would certainly flip things on its head. Much of Sigil’s earlier display would also become useless.

This was a clash between rebel and crown… and more importantly than that, should Sigil lose, it would be a hard blow to come back from. That was because he wouldn’t be losing to the Crown Prince. He would be losing to his betrothed.

‘They… certainly have quite some confidence in Thessa… but why…?’

He had seen her battle, she was nothing special. And then he recalled something.

‘… Fire Mana…’

It was the perfect counter to Metal Mana, but that wasn’t the most important point. Just why had Thessa hidden her abilities back then?

Sigil chuckled. “My oh my, you’re certainly putting me in a tough spot.”

The moment Sigil began to speak, Theron could feel that he wasn’t sure how to deal with the situation.

Sigil didn’t even want to be here. Political savvy was obviously not his forte.

‘I wonder…’ Theron thought. ‘… Just how far back does this go? Was Thessa in on Sadie’s slip-up even back then too? Why would the two even coordinate something like that if it was the case?’

Theron suddenly chuckled. “They really are driving you into a corner.”

Sigil blinked, giving Theron a look as though to see if he had anything to pull him out of this.

“You have an idea, little brother?”

“Why not? I was bragging so much earlier about control, so instead of ruining the ambience, we can just have a little competition of Mana control?”

“Mm,” Sigil shook his head, picking up on something. “That would probably be unfair. We’ve all heard that Thralix has already awakened his Ironhart Bloodline to Silver Resonance and gained an Imbued Resonance. He’ll have too much of an advantage.”

Theron shook his head. “That’s ridiculous. This is the princess consort we’re talking about, how could she lose because of an Earldom’s bloodline?”

Sigil smiled. Indeed, this little brother of his was too sharp for his own good. Even he might be goaded into such a thing.

But the goad wasn’t what was all that important. It was the intent.

If Thessa had come here to assert dominance, she couldn’t possibly back down from something like this, right?

Thessa sneered, her eyes boring holes into Theron. Flames licked about in the depths of her eyes, her black hair slowly raising and then falling down to the small of her back once more.

Something seemed to be burned away from her, and in that moment, she without a doubt became the most radiant woman in the room. It was hard to fathom just how they hadn’t realized just how beautiful she was until this moment.

‘Sensory perception nullification…’ Theron calmly analyzed. ‘… I wonder what form it took…’

“I do not mind a battle of Mana control to keep the peace. So long as the loser presents their head to the victor. That should keep it peaceful enough for you, right?”

BANG!

Thralix stood as quick as lightning, his chair shattering beneath him. The table would have shattered as well if not for the fact it was made of wood and Sigil had lightly tapped a finger.

“Do you think I’m afraid of a slut?”

Thessa suddenly slapped out with a palm, but it wasn’t toward Thralix at all. Instead, Soren and Teagan were ripped into the air, dangling by thrashing vines of fire.

Before they could react, a line of flames pierced their foreheads, ripping out a bundle of fluttering, cotton-like white energy.

“Have either of you ever defiled my innocence?” she asked coldly.

Like dull zombies, they spoke out at the same time.

“No.”

BANG!

The vines of fire squeezed down and a rain of blood fell.

“Now, you. Come to die.”

Her fury had reached such a peak that her hair danced in an unknown wind.

Theron’s pupils had constricted into pinholes. ‘That isn’t Fire Mana… That’s Fire Spirit Mana.’

Thessa wasn’t a Fire Mancer, she was a Spirit Mancer. Not only was she a Spirit Mancer, she was a Quasi Silver Spirit Mancer that had already integrated an Echo. Not only had she integrated an Echo before the Silver Resonance, but it was an extremely rare Fire Spirit with a soul, allowing her to combine her Spirit Mancer abilities with that of a Fire Mancer seamlessly, gaining the best of both worlds.

Theron realized then that he had completely underestimated her. This card that the Nightingale kept in their back pocket… was truly something else.

Inwardly, he smiled.

‘Perfect.’