Chapter 160: Replacing the Duchess
The Marquess glared at her, his anger only barely held in check, but after a moment he gave a sharp nod. "Fine. Let’s discuss how you’ve decided to court disaster—privately."
He motioned for her to follow him, leading her through a winding corridor into a sparsely furnished office. The door slammed shut behind them, making Adeline jump.
"Well?" He demanded, crossing his arms. The sparks around him finally subsided, but the heat of his anger lingered in the room. "Speak."
Adeline hesitated, choosing her words carefully. "I... I agreed to meet with Edward," she admitted, watching his reaction closely.
The Marquess froze, his eyes narrowing dangerously. "Edward? As in the Holy Temple’s head priest? Have you lost your senses completely?!"
"Wait, let me explain!" Adeline quickly interjected, raising her hands defensively. "I didn’t just agree for no reason. He asked me to come to the Holy Temple for testing."
Her father’s face turned a shade darker, his knuckles whitening as he gripped the edge of the desk. "And you think that makes this better? Testing? Adeline, do you have any idea what you’ve gotten yourself into? Do you know what they’ll do to you if they discover—"
"They won’t discover anything!" Adeline interrupted her voice firm for the first time. She took a deep breath and raised her hand, summoning a crackling streak of lightning that danced between her fingers. The light illuminated her face, reflecting her steely determination.
Her father’s eyes widened, and for the first time, he seemed at a loss for words. "Lightning magic?" He finally managed, his voice softer now but still tinged with disbelief.