Villain: The Play of Destiny

Chapter 555: Chapter 555

"So, all four Families are going to give up their control in the Crystal City to create their own Cities?" Ayesha smiled when Zyron Nemerus informed them about his meeting with the City Lord.

They were still in the lounge, though most of the other guests had left their lounges to head to the dining hall for dinner.

"Yes." The red-haired man nodded.

"And the land your Family is receiving borders an Independent City, one that the Vulcan Empire plans to conquer in the future." She meaningfully said.

"Our Family has always been a Military Powerhouse, so, from a King’s perspective, it is the right decision." He told her. "We are getting financed more than the other three Families as well. The Vulcan Crown will aid us in the creation of the City and its fortifications."

"Of course," she nodded, not saying anything more, and then glanced at Keith, who was reading a file.

She was intrigued by its pages, which were like screens, displaying the information on them. Foldable, paper-like screens, another marvelling magical technology that intrigued her a lot.

Since the Four Families were going to give up their control of their Districts and move to their own Cities in the future, they had to deal with the transfer of their properties. The goal was to make as much money out of them as possible to finance their future city.

For this reason, Zyron wanted to ask them if they were interested in buying or renting any of their existing properties and if they would like to invest in the city that he had been tasked to establish by the command of Aventine.

Keith spent several minutes going through the files, and finally looked at Zyron again.

"We will rent the Nemerus Manor and buy Scarlet Street. The properties will be transferred to my daughters," He informed the Martial King, eliciting a smile on his face.

"I thought so," he nodded. "I will make the arrangements, and the transfers will be completed within the next six months."

"That’s fine."

"About the new city..." Zyron, who was going to ask him about their plans on investing in his future city, was cut off when a knock came on the door.

A second later, a maid opened it and entered, bowing to them.

"Lord Nemerus, the Sixth Enforcer wishes to speak to Lord Argus. Alone." She meaningfully, yet politely informed the man.

No maid at the City Lord’s Mansion would have spoken to him like this, but she was not one of the maids of this Mansion.

She was Maria Vulcan’s maid.

"Of course." He smiled and stood up, and then curiously looked at the little boy, who came rushing into the lounge, and jumped straight into Keith’s lap.

"Mama wants to speak to you." Ethan excitedly said, looking at him with his soulful violet eyes and a smile that could warm anyone’s heart.

"Okay." He chuckled and then picked him up in his arms, and seeing their interaction, Zyron was surprised to say the least.

The Nemerus even questioned if this boy was Argus’ child, and if Argus was the secret lover and husband that Maria was rumoured to have and had a child from, but he kept his curiosity in his heart and wisely took his leave.

"My Lady." At the door, he saw the Enforcer coming over, and greeted her with a polite bow.

"Lord Nemerus." Maria smiled at him. "Congratulations on becoming a City Lord."

"Thank you. Though I must admit, I am not sure if this will prove to be a boon to my family or our doom."

The Lady looked him in the eyes, still wearing her light smile.

"Your fate is in your own hands. All you can do to survive is to play the game. Play it well, and you might see some unexpected gains." She mysteriously said before walking past him.

Zyron looked back but found the door closing, and mulling over her words in his head, he walked towards the Dining Hall.

Unbeknownst to him, inside the lounge, the atmosphere turned a little solemn as soon as Maria closed the door behind her.

Keith raised his brow when he met the eyes of the lady, whose eyes were flickering in anger, and who had locked the pressure of her presence on him rather threateningly.

Before he, Ayesha, or Fiona could understand why Maria looked so mad, they watched her blur from her spot and appear in front of him, reaching for his mask.

Keith caught her hand just in time, and he narrowed his eyes at her, meeting her gaze.

"That’s rude." He smiled when he sensed her trying to suppress her raging emotions, which were making him very curious.

She was not bound to him by any Sacred Laws, and given that it was the first time they were meeting each other, her emotions towards him were quite a mystery.

"Why do you have to hide your face?" She coldly asked, not making another move, perhaps out of caution since her child was in his arms right now.

"I can’t have you falling in love with me, My Lady. So, let the mask stay on." He playfully said, and even though little Ethan was a little confused at his words, he laughed as he sensed his playfulness.

"Rin. Take Ethan out and wait at the door." She suddenly ordered her maid, pulling her wrist free from his hold.

"Yes, my Lady."

Ethan was about to protest, but felt his mother place her hand on his head, and when he saw the gentle smile on her lips, he obediently nodded his head and entered the maid’s arms, leaving with her.

"Who’s she?" Maria asked when she looked at Ayesha, intrigued by the Noble Aura that she oozed, but sounding a little upset as well.

"My wife."

Hearing his answer, her brows furrowed a little, and then she smiled and drew her hand forward to the lady in question.

"Maria Rovena Ashborn-Vulcan."

"Noor."

Ayesha shook her hand in curiosity, and then watched the Enforcer greet Fiona, seemingly already aware that she was a maid.

"I would like to speak to you alone." Maria said as she turned to look at him again, and her words clearly contained a hint of irritation, which was directed towards the two ladies in the room.

"No." Keith bluntly refused, and as soon as Ayesha heard his words, she subconsciously smiled. "You can speak in front of them."

Anger bubbled up in her eyes again, as clear as sparkling gems, and it only made him smile at her more.

"I want you to do something for me." She said, and waited for his response.

"Oh?"

All three of them curiously looked at her.

"I want you to act as my husband and Ethan’s father." Maria impatiently said, and he could tell that her heart had skipped a beat after she finished her words.

"Why?"

"I don’t like the rumours."

"So, you would like a new rumour?" Ayesha rolled her eyes, finding her words a little ridiculous, and this earned her a frown from the Enforcer.

Maria glanced at her, indifferent and cold, and then looked at Keith again, waiting for an answer from him.

It was almost as if she did not care what the other two ladies in the room thought of her, and every second that he stayed silent, she grew more impatient.

"You want to use me as a shield to protect him." He lightly said, and his words hit the mark, forcing her eyes to go wide in surprise.

"You know..."

"He’s an Evil Star." He smiled when he saw the discomfort on her face at his words. "I am interested in how he was conceived."

"I don’t want to talk about it. What’s your answer?" Her tone became a bit colder towards the end.

"It’s quite dangerous..."

"Huh..." She scoffed, finding his words a little ridiculous and cutting him off. "I know you don’t care about the danger it entails."

"Oh?" This time, it was his turn to look at her in surprise.

"If the world sees you as the husband of the Enforcer of Aventine, it will benefit you a lot and make things easier for you and your people in Westesia." She reminded him. "What I am proposing is beneficial to you."

Keith chuckled at her words, shaking his head.

"I am curious."

"I can’t give you the answers."

"I am afraid I can’t help you then."

"You can."

"No."

"You will."

"No."

"Yes, you will." She coldly said, clenching her fists hard, and glared at him when he suddenly stepped forward and pulled her chin up.

She did not shy her eyes away even when he leaned a little too close for her comfort, but she was immensely relieved when he did not proceed to do what she had running in her mind right now.

"Interesting."

"What?" She impatiently asked.

"You are not scared of me." He smiled at her. "And you are not uncomfortable with me touching you. It’s as if I am not a stranger to you, Lady Maria."

"I need an answer, Keith." She impatiently said, and her words stunned Ayesha and Fiona.

"Keith?" He smiled. "You know me."

"Yes."

"How?"

"I will tell you after you agree to my request." She said, and seeing that he was staying silent, she narrowed her eyes at him and turned around to walk towards the door. "I will be waiting for you in the Dining Hall. Bring our son to the hall when you make up your mind."

Keith curiously watched her leave the room, and despite himself, he could not help but chuckle at the ridiculousness of the situation.

"Mind telling me what’s going on?" He asked the System.

{Host finds himself in a very interesting situation. The System does not want to spoil the fun.}

"Seriously?"

{She does not hold any malice towards you.}

"I know that." He sighed in his heart, but yes, he had not been this curious about anything in a long while.

Things were certainly becoming very interesting.

"Our son?" Ayesha narrowed her eyes at him when he turned to look at her.

"This is the first time I have met her. I am just as curious as you are." He chuckled again when she rolled her eyes at his words, and he could sense that she was very irritated by Maria’s behaviour towards her.

The Vulcan was behaving as if she was the wife and Ayesha was having an affair with her husband.