The Virtuous Dark Witch

Chapter 15

"Earl Alexander Stirling, please respect your status," Elara quickly tucked the five glazed cards into the hidden pocket of her dress. She looked at her mother. "Shouldn't we go back and get ready? Adair Anastas' baptism ceremony seems to be starting soon."

Merlyn glanced at the bright moon in the sky and nodded. She gathered her power, slowly raised her right hand, and gently waved it. The scattered glazed tiles immediately lifted off the ground. She muttered a spell under her breath, then flicked her right hand upward. The tiles returned to the roof in an orderly fashion. In less than five seconds, the large hole in the roof was completely repaired.

"Let's go back."

With that, Merlyn ignored the two still locked in a standoff, took Elara's hand, and walked past them toward the corridor.

Alexander glanced out of the corner of his eye at the still-angry Thea. Seeing the mother and daughter about to leave without a care, he called out. "Lady Merlyn, aren't you going to stop Thea? Please don't forget—Anastas City is not the West Sea Forest."

"Stop her? How?" Merlyn let out a cold laugh, not looking back, clearly uninterested. "You should have thought of this day when you asked Alice Caitlin to turn that slave Fred and teased Thea."

"I'll say it again—I didn't tease her," Alexander Stirling watched as Merlyn led the little one disappear around the corner. He pouted helplessly, then looked back at the woman whose eyes were practically spitting fire. The frustration he had just felt returned. "It's been nine years. Haven't you forgotten that slave yet?"

Thea took deep breaths, trying to calm her agitated mood. But looking at this hateful face, she couldn't help but think of that day. Her left hand raised uncontrollably, slapping Alexander hard across the face. "I wasted my blood on a dog."

In all her life, the only time she had shown kindness had been used by this bastard. How could she stay calm?

Alexander fell silent for a long time. He raised his hand to wipe the blood from the corner of his mouth, smiled coldly, and glanced at Thea. "You say I teased you—but didn't you tease me too?" Before she could respond, his blood-red eyes sharpened. He roughly pushed the hateful woman against the stone wall.

Caught off guard by his sudden anger, Thea froze for a moment, then quickly recovered, trying to break free. But the hand holding her tightened, making it impossible for her to struggle.

Just as she was about to hit the wall, Alexander finally reached out to stop it. But his chest burned with pain. He looked down—this damned woman.

Thea pressed against the wall, her left hand digging into Alexander's flesh. The bright red blood soaked his snow-white shirt, adding a touch of allure to him.

Alexander laughed angrily, leaning closer without fear.

"Don't move," Thea pressed harder with her hand, her neck stiff, her eyes red. She should have watched as the wolf bit his neck that day.

Alexander ignored her, leaning close to her ear and whispering softly. "Should I thank you for not digging deeper?" He turned his head, his nose brushing against hers, and looked into her sky-blue eyes. After a long time, he finally voiced the grievances he had held for so many years.

"Thea, you shouldn't have asked Alice for that slave right after getting out of my bed." He had let Alice give the slave a choice—to make her see he wasn't worth her asking.

"Because I hurt your noble earl's pride, so you let Alice humiliate me like that?" That day was the greatest shame of her life, Thea Dessey. "You… mmph." She felt the coldness and softness on her lips, and her left hand dug deeper into Alexander's chest.

"Ugh," the pain made Alexander frown. But even with his chest torn open, he didn't let go of the deliciousness under his lips. He kissed her domineeringly, released his left hand, and held her tightly.

Unable to resist his teasing, Thea gradually lost herself…

Elara listened carefully—there was no more noise. She pouted her round face. "Mother, won't Aunt Thea and Alexander Stirling both suffer losses?"

"No," Merlyn said without partiality. "Your aunt is no match for Alexander Stirling."

Was this really her biological sister? Elara was even more certain of her guess. "Then why did you leave Aunt Thea to be bullied by Alexander Stirling?"

"Alexander won't hurt your aunt," Merlyn wasn't worried at all.

There it was again. It seemed there really were unspeakable grievances between Aunt Thea and Alexander. Elara touched the glazed cards in the hidden pocket of her dress. She wondered if this "business" could last long.

Merlyn looked down at the little one with impure thoughts. "As for you—why did you get close to Alexander?" Don't tell her it was just for those few glazed cards.

This was a complicated question. Elara thought about the key points. "Earlier, when I was gathering Witch Power, I suddenly heard a terrified scream…"

Back in their room, Merlyn's fingers moved quickly. Soon, a transparent barrier glowing with faint moonlight appeared. Elara stood straight beside her. After her mother stopped, she spoke again. "Alexander Stirling didn't come to Anastas City to have little Alexanders. He's looking for Austin Corell."

"You talked about this on the chimney?" Merlyn felt a little worried about the Stirling family. She looked her daughter up and down. "Alexander Stirling is still as… unrestrained as ever."

What kind of look was that? Elara pouted. "He also hinted that our family shouldn't have given Rocky Anastas the Moon Glow."

Merlyn's hand paused as she pulled out a chair. Her expression turned cold. “Hinted?”

"Yes," Elara repeated the important things Alexander had said word for word. "He said Rocky Anastas is expanding his power."

So it was true. Merlyn lowered her eyes, her expression unreadable.

"Mother, I've thought about it," Elara took a step forward, instinctively lowering her voice. "Rocky Anastas is expanding his power by turning humans. But for those turned Andros to become stronger, he needs a lot of Moon Glow—otherwise, the power he's expanding will only exist in the dark."

If someone was bold enough, they could wipe them all out during the day. And as everyone knew, among the Dark Witches still existing on Mal Continent, the West Sea Forest accounted for half of those who could forge Moon Glow.

From what Alexander had implied, Anastas City had no intention of cooperating with the West Sea Forest. If there was no cooperation, then the only options left were… coercion, imprisonment, and other unpleasant methods.

Merlyn was a little surprised—not by Rocky Anastas' ambition, but by her lovely little Elara's ability to detect the key point. A smile tugged at her lips. She took the little one's chubby hand, bent down, and kissed it firmly, feeling proud.

"Mother," Elara puffed out her chest. "Rocky Anastas is plotting against our West Sea Forest."

Merlyn knelt down, gently stroking her cheek. "Aren't I here to solve the problem?"

It had been a long time since the Dessey Clan had left the West Sea Forest, but that didn't mean they knew nothing about the outside world. They might not know about distant places, but they were well aware of the changes in Anastas City.

Elara struggled to keep up. So her mother hadn't come to Anastas City because the family's grain stores were empty—she had another purpose. Giving the Moon Glow had just been a test?

"Alright," Merlyn pinched the little one's soft cheek, lifted the barrier, and pulled her into her own room. "I've already removed the Star-Moon Darts. Now I'll hide them in the hem of this dress."

Since her mother already knew, Elara stopped worrying. After all, she was still young and couldn't do much.

Outside, the moonlight grew brighter. Sand trickled down in the hourglass. The main hall on the first floor of the Lord of Anastas City's Mansion was filled with guests, toasting each other and exchanging greetings—no sign of the hidden tensions.

Merlyn led Elara downstairs, attracting the attention of many guests. After all, not many noble families were allowed to stay directly in the Lord's Mansion. But they were somewhat disappointed.

"It's Merlyn. Long time no see." A woman in a white robe glowing with holy light walked gracefully to the staircase, gently swirling a glass of wine in her hand. "I thought you'd stay in the West Sea Forest forever." Her eyes flicked casually over Elara.

"It has been a long time," Merlyn smiled faintly, her tone distant as she descended the stairs. "But after all these years, you still haven't improved—you're far worse than your sister Poppy."

The woman's cheeks twitched almost imperceptibly. Her grip on the wine glass tightened. She hated it when people compared her to Poppy. Did Merlyn Dessey really think the West Sea Forest was what it used to be? Selah Dessey had been dead for ten thousand years.

Crack…

Elara heard the sound of glass breaking. She quickly pulled her mother aside. With a crash, the wine glass in the white-robed woman Ina's hand shattered, falling to the ground. Shards and wine splattered everywhere.

The hall fell silent. Everyone present knew that the Light Witch Larissa Clan and the Dark Witch Dessey Clan, who occupied the West Sea Forest, had always been on bad terms—or rather, they were family feud.

But because of the evil committed by the Twin Witch Progenitor, the Light Witches, who had always claimed to be "holy," refused to acknowledge this "hatred." But the Dessey Witches didn't tolerate their hypocrisy.

Merlyn glanced at the spilled wine and shards on the ground, then approached Ina. "Angry?" She had been looking for an excuse to act, and now one had fallen into her lap. She patted Ina's shoulder in a friendly gesture, comforting her. "No need to be sad—Poppy won't have many good days left either."

Upon hearing this, Ina froze. She suddenly looked up at Merlyn, her lips pressed tightly together.

"No need to be so surprised," Merlyn's gaze swept across the room. "I don't think everyone has congratulated Ina Larissa yet." She's going to be an aunt…"

"Why is it so quiet?"

Merlyn's eyes flashed with anger as her words were interrupted. She curved her lips and turned to look upstairs.

Rocky Anastas appeared on the second floor with a beautiful woman holding a swaddle. "I'm delighted that all of you have come to attend my child Adair Anastas' baptism ceremony. Anastas City will treat everyone well—please enjoy yourselves to the fullest."

There was no cheering in the hall. Everyone raised their wine glasses, toasting the second floor.

Elara leaned close to her mother. "Aunt Thea and Alexander still haven't arrived."

"They'll come," Merlyn knew her sister too well. Thea loved the West Sea Forest more than she did—and Alexander knew that.

The adult world was really complicated. Elara stared intently at Rocky Anastas, who stood on the second floor looking down at everyone. Perhaps because of his paternal lineage, his partner was not a turned Andros. But judging by her eye color, this Andros' blood was not pure.

"Today, High Priestess Sophia Larissa of the Light Witches will baptize my child Adair Anastas." As soon as Rocky finished speaking, the sound of deer antlers echoed from outside the castle.

Merlyn's grip on Elara's hand tightened. A gust of wind blew, lifting her loose hair. She turned to look behind her—so that's why.

A witch dressed like an Indian covered half her face with a white veil, revealing clear pale yellow eyes. Elara stared at her. She finally understood—Light Witches were like incandescent lamps, illuminating everything wherever they went. It was just that this one was a bit high-wattage and consumed a lot of "power."

"It is an honor for Sophia Larissa to be invited to baptize Prince Adair…"

A sneer interrupted Sophia's words. Alexander, now wearing a clean shirt and no longer barefoot, but a pair of black boots, walked slowly down the third floor with Thea, who was dressed in elegant attire. "Sorry we're late."

That annoying tone—Elara loved it. But looking at the hand affectionately hooked around Alexander's arm, she couldn't wrap her head around it. Didn't these two just have been fighting? She was curious about what had happened between them.

Merlyn tore her gaze away from High Priestess Sophia Larissa and, like everyone else, turned to look at Alexander. But unlike the others, she didn't bow her head in respect after looking.

"Earl Alexander," Rocky Anastas pushed past the woman bowing beside him, holding the child and approaching.

Alexander didn't stop when he reached the second floor. "Aren't we having a baptism? Let's start then." He continued downstairs. Seeing this, Rocky Anastas didn't dare to stay on the second floor any longer. He followed the woman.

This was the legendary playboy. Elara's eyes darted back and forth between the two. She wondered if her "business" could get some special treatment?