Free Web NovelChapter 779: The lie of the mother-son
"What happened?" he asked, his voice carrying through the hall. "You look... transformed. How is this possible?"
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.
"For a few years now," she began, her voice steady and clear, "I have noticed that my cultivation rarely progressed. It was not that I was not diligent or that I neglected my mana training. But I felt something strange inside my veins, as if something was obstructing my progress."
Everyone in the hall listened silently. The nobles leaned forward in their seats, their eyes fixed on the Duchess. Even Liam and Louisa watched with sharp attention, though their expressions remained carefully neutral.
Olivia continued, her tone calm but carrying the weight of long-held frustration. freewёbn૦νeɭ.com
"I noticed this blockage but never paid much attention to it. I have more responsibilities as a mother and a Duchess than as a mage. The duchy, the family, the people — they always came first. But today, I had this weird sensation that I should confront it. So I tried to clear the obstruction with my own power."
She paused, letting her words settle over the audience.
"I failed. The blockage was stubborn, rooted deep. As I was struggling with it, Kraven came to my room. He saw what was happening and offered to use his mana to help clear the route."
At that, everyone in the hall gasped in surprise.
"But how is that possible?" someone murmured from the lower tables.
"Yes... that should be very hard," another voice added quietly. "To allow another person’s mana into your core like that... it requires deep trust and love. Even a minor mistake can cause the core to explode."
At that, a third person spoke up, their tone filled with admiration. freewebnσvel.cøm
"That explains it even more. Lady Olivia and Young Lord Kraven are mother and son. Their bond is very pure, and they trust each other completely. So it is entirely possible for such mana exchange to take place."
The positive murmurs spread through the hall like ripples in a pond. Many nodded in agreement, their faces showing respect and warmth toward the mother-son pair. Some even smiled, clearly moved by the idea of such familial devotion leading to a miraculous breakthrough.
At their positive words, Olivia blushed inwardly.
If only they knew the truth, she thought to herself.
The memories of Kraven’s hands on her breasts, the way she had moaned helplessly, the way she had pushed back against him just minutes ago — they flashed through her mind, making her cheeks burn hotter. She kept her expression composed, but inside, the shame and lingering heat from their session made it difficult to maintain her calm facade.
The Duke listened carefully and his eyes softened as he looked at his wife.
"So Kraven helped you break through?" he asked, his voice carrying both pride and curiosity.
Olivia nodded and glanced briefly at Julian again.
"Yes. His mana is incredibly pure and strong. He guided the flow, helped dissolve the blockage, and supported me through the breakthrough. Without him, I do not think I would have succeeded today."
More murmurs rose from the crowd.
"Truly a blessing,"
"To have a son capable of such a feat,"
"The Astran family is truly fortunate."
Vanessa had a huge smile on her face.
Ever since Kraven had returned, she had doubted him at every moment. His sudden change in behavior, his mysterious strength, and the way he carried himself had made her suspicious. She had even sent Sera to watch him.
But now, after listening to her mother’s story, Vanessa strangely felt relieved. A weight she had not realized she was carrying seemed to lift from her chest. If Kraven had truly helped their mother achieve such a breakthrough, then perhaps he really had changed for the better.
At the same time, a bit of guilt crept into her heart. She had been so quick to doubt her own brother. Maybe she had been too harsh, too paranoid. She glanced at Julian and her smile softened with a touch of warmth she had not shown him in a long time.
At the same time, Louisa was speechless.
She had seen firsthand how strong and cunning Kraven was. And now she was even more determined to fulfill the deal she had made with him. Being on the negative end of Kraven meant trouble, and she did not want to test that.
If he could elevate Olivia to Arch Mage in a single session, then his power and knowledge were far greater than she had imagined. She needed to stay on his good side. No — she needed to become indispensable to him.
She glanced sideways at her husband, Liam, and her eyes widened as she saw him biting his lip hard enough to draw a faint line of blood. His usual calm, calculating expression had twisted into something darker.
Is he angry? she thought. But why? Liam already knew Kraven was strong. So why is he this angry?
She followed his line of sight and was perplexed to see that his gaze was locked on Olivia rather than Kraven.
Louisa’s heart began pounding rapidly.
***
A few weeks earlier...
In the private chambers of Liam and Louisa, the fire crackled softly in the hearth, casting long shadows across the richly furnished room. The couple sat across from each other at a small table, a bottle of fine wine open between them. They had been discussing their plans to take control of the Astran family for nearly an hour.
Liam leaned back in his chair, swirling the wine in his glass with a thoughtful expression.
"We need to be careful with Kraven," he said slowly. "The boy has changed too much. If he really is an Arch Mage now, he could become a serious obstacle."
Louisa nodded.
"We still have time. The King’s visit will be the perfect stage. If we can present Marcus as the clear successor, the Duke will have no choice but to favor him."
