Free Web NovelChapter 778: The complete shock
As they stepped out of the room together, walking side by side toward the grand hall, the castle continued its preparations. The envoy’s arrival had set everything in motion, but in this quiet corridor, mother and son shared a secret that no one else in the duchy could even begin to imagine.
The game was far from over.
***
By the time Olivia and Julian reached the grand hall, everyone of importance were already present.
Liam and Louisa had taken their seats on the slightly lowered platform, their postures composed but their eyes sharp.
Marcus, their son, however, was noticeably absent.
The Duke had asked about his whereabouts earlier, but Liam had simply dismissed it with a casual wave, saying that the boy was sick. The hall did not entirely believe the excuse, but no one was brave enough to push the matter further.
After the clock hit the fifteen-minute mark with everyone present, Liam turned toward the Duke with a faint smile.
"Brother, where is sister-in-law?" he asked, deliberately drawing out the words "sister-in-law" a bit more than was normal. "The envoy might be coming anytime soon. Proceeding without the lady of the house can be a bit disrespectful, to say the least."
The Duke’s hand clenched into a fist at that comment. Somehow, from his brother’s mouth, the words "sister-in-law" felt something else entirely.
Although Liam had never willingly admitted his obsession with the Duke’s wife, the Duke was well aware of what went through that polished facade of his brother. The hidden hunger, the lingering glances, the subtle provocations — they had all been noticed over the years.
Vanessa, noticing the same undertone, clicked her tongue softly. She rarely involved herself in the family politics, but Liam openly poking at her father made her uncomfortable. No matter what anyone said, she was still his daughter.
sringggg freewēbnoveℓ.com
Just then, everyone in the hall collectively felt a strange aura from somewhere near the entrance.
It was subtle at first, like a gentle breeze carrying an unfamiliar warmth. But it quickly grew stronger, spreading through the grand hall like an invisible waves.
This was more noticeable among the people seated on the raised platform.
The Duke’s face twisted in surprise, his eyes widening as he felt the pure, refined power contained within that aura. Vanessa’s eyes went wide as well, her usual composure cracking for a moment as she sensed something far beyond normal mana. Louisa’s entire complexion changed in a matter of seconds — her face paled, her sharp eyes narrowing in disbelief.
However, Liam’s expression was the most complex to read.
It was a mixture of pure bewilderment and something close to awe or intense interest. For a brief moment, he looked genuinely stunned, as if what he was sensing was so surprising that his curiosity had risen a hundredfold instead of triggering caution. His gaze locked onto the entrance and his body leaned forward slightly in his seat.
The entire hall fell into a stunned silence as the source of the aura finally appeared.
Olivia stepped into the grand hall with Julian walking just a step behind her.
The change in her was impossible to ignore.
Her skin glowed with an almost ethereal smoothness, like the finest porcelain kissed by moonlight. Her face had de-aged noticeably, leaving her looking like a woman in the prime of her beauty. The red gown she wore, though the same one from earlier, now seemed to flow around her like mist, accentuating her mature curves in a way that drew every eye in the room.
Most importantly, an aura of pure Arch Mage surrounded her, making the air itself seem to bow in her presence.
The Duke rose from his chair without thinking.
"Olivia...?" he whispered, barely able to believe what he was seeing.
Vanessa stood up as well, her mouth slightly open in disbelief. Louisa’s hands tightened on the arms of her chair and her mind seemed to be racing to understand how such a transformation was possible in such a short time.
Meanwhile, Liam remained seated, but his gaze was locked on Olivia with an intensity that bordered on obsession.
Olivia walked gracefully toward the raised platform, the ethereal aura around her making the golden lights of the chandeliers seem dimmer in comparison. Julian followed quietly behind her.
The Duke stepped down from the platform to meet her, his voice filled with awe.
"My wife... what happened to you? You look... different."
Olivia smiled softly, though there was a faint flush on her cheeks that only Julian could truly understand.
"I had a breakthrough," she said simply, her voice carrying a new resonance of power. "Thanks to Kraven’s help. He guided me through a difficult mana session this morning."
The hall erupted into stunned murmurs. Arch Mage. The words spread like wildfire among the nobles. To reach that realm in such a short time was nothing short of miraculous.
Liam’s eyes narrowed, but the interest in them only grew. He stood up slowly, bowing his head in respect while his gaze lingered on Olivia a moment too long.
"Sister-in-law," he said smoothly, "you look radiant. The duchy is fortunate to have such a powerful Duchess."
Vanessa shot him a sharp look but said nothing. She stepped forward and hugged her mother gently, whispering something only they could hear.
The Duke, still stunned, offered his arm to Olivia as they returned to the platform. As they took their seats, the entire hall seemed to hold its breath, waiting for the envoy to arrive.
But in that moment, the attention of every important person in the room was not on the envoy.
It was on the transformed Duchess and the young man who had somehow made it possible.
The Duke turned to face Olivia.
"What happened?" he asked, his voice carrying through the hall. "You look... transformed. How is this possible?" frёeωebɳovel.com
Olivia looked at Kraven for a brief moment. He gave her a small, almost imperceptible nod, encouraging her to speak. She took a slow breath before turning back to her husband and the rest of the hall.
