Hunter of the Evernight
Chapter 337: Night’s Nectar

Chapter 337: Night’s Nectar

"It sounded like you had a fun time at the party, Lord Fitzgerald. Makes me feel quite bad that I wasn’t invited, leaving me to sit a room across, subjecting me to such torture." Victoria remarked, feigning displeasure even as she indulged in red wine and an assortment of meat as well as vegetables.

Of course, the food was left largely untouched because one of the spices used in its preparations was... ginger.

A rather unfortunate miscalculation on the part of the kitchen, though in their defense, none knew they would be serving a vampire when they made it.

Privy to Victoria’s act, Lord Fitzgerald didn’t take it much seriously even as he responded. "Apologies, Miss..."

"Ara."

"Ara, a rather peculiar name."

"Indeed, it is. Would you like to know what it means?"

"I’d rather not." Lord Fitzgerald calmly turned down the proposal as he relaxed in his chair with Alex seated beside him.

"So I guess we won’t be having some idle chatter before the main topic?"

"Unfortunately so. You see, I am not quite comfortable being in the same room as a vampire considering the situation in the East."

"Ah yes, the Eastern Highlands have grown agitated due to the crazy news of the Dark Lord, as was stated in the legends, being born," Victoria remarked, assuming a rather poetic tone before placing a finger on her lip as though in deep thought before inquiring of the Duke. "Tell me, Lord Fitzgerald, do you believe the rumors?"

"It has nothing to do with me. In any case, I should be asking you that since you are the affected party. Knowing the being that could cause your people to rise again, has been born... you must be excited."

"Quite the opposite actually. You see, I dislike being told what to do, and the Dark Lord... he seems like the type that would tell me what to do."

Lord Fitzgerald noted Victoria’s tone and mannerisms, using his wealth of experience to pinpoint any anomalies in her statements.

Needless to say, if there were problems, Victoria had done well to hide them.

Pursing his lips, he decided to move things along. "Tell me, Lady Victoria. Why did you save Lucius?... Depending on your answer, I might be inclined to kill you."

A seductive yet dangerous smile tugged at the corners of Victoria’s rosy lips as she met Fitzgerald’s gaze.

At that moment, a fearsome authority rose from her and immediately settled upon the sitting room causing Fenwick to grow tense with those hidden in dark places emerging with killing intent in their eyes.

"You spoke about not making an enemy of us." Fenwick was the first to speak with Victoria giving him a perfunctory glance before shifting back to Lord Fitzgerald.

"Well you see, I rather despise being so blatantly threatened. Do so again and I promise that this building shall not contain us all."

There was venom in her words, the type that was enough to cause Lord Fitzgerald to be wary.

As a man who knew when to be cautious, he decided to take a step back. "I apologize for the blatant threat, Lady Victoria. It won’t happen again."

"I’d hope not." Withdrawing her authority, Victoria settled back in her chair, placing her arms at Akimbo as she crossed her legs.

"Now, how about we get back to the topic at hand?"

"Fine by me," Victoria replied before continuing. "I saved the boy because I was in the area where he was dumped by the Shadowless."

"And you so happened to be there?"

"Don’t believe in coincidences, Lord Fitzgerald?" Victoria joked with Fitzgerald responding with a raised brow.

Sighing exasperatedly, Victoria added. "I was carrying out fieldwork in the vicinity when I noticed some disturbance. After he’d been left for dead, I approached him and he begged that I save him, which I did considering what he promised to give me."

"And what did he promise to give you?"

"A spot in the Supreme Order and an opportunity to make her as rich as she wants," Alex replied in her stead, spotting a rather embarrassed look.

Lord Fitzgerald glanced at him before shaking his head. "You truly believed his words?"

"He sounded quite convincing," Victoria replied with a shrug.

"... You act smart and foolish at the same time, it makes it difficult to figure out what your endgame is."

"And why would you want to figure that out?"

Letting out a sigh, Fitzgerald remarked. "A spot in the Supreme Order is impossible as I am not the one to make such decisions, of course, I would put a word in for you so you can be evaluated. And about the second promise... I can offer you a million to forget about everything that happened and leave."

Victoria raised a brow at the proposal before ultimately replying. "I have a proposal, Lord Fitzgerald. Are you willing to listen?"

"Go ahead."

Pulling out a vial of a black liquid with white spots, Victoria placed it on the glass table set before her as she remarked. "I want a market for this. If you can get me customers and a steady channel to distribute this... with no charge, then I would be more than happy to drop the promises your boy made."

The Duke glanced at the unknown substance, his brows furrowed as he inquired. "What is it?"

"I call it Night’s Nectar or NiNe for short."

"Where did you get this?"

Chuckling, Victoria replied. "Oh come on, Lord Fitzgerald, you should know that a magician never reveals her secrets."

"You aren’t a magician." He pointedly retorted with Victoria shrugging as she calmly intoned.

"I could be."

"Fine then, what is it capable of?... You can’t expect me to get you customers with some unknown liquid. I don’t plan to casually ruin my image."

Victoria’s lips curled before she rose to her feet, picking up the vial as she did so.

She walked slowly, each step measured only for Fenwick to stand before her, blocking her path forward.

"Whatever you wish to do, do it with me," Fenwick remarked, causing Victoria to grow increasingly amused.

She reached out and stroked his cheek ever so slightly, as she remarked. "You poor child, even as a Mystic, you are still unable to defeat the mortality that plagued humanity. It is unfortunate but with this," gesturing to the vial she carried as she pulled away from Fenwick’s cheek, she continued. "You might just be able to live a bit longer."

"... Impossible." Came the response, albeit with clear hesitation.

Victoria chuckled before leaning forward and seductively whispering into his ear. "Why don’t we test it then?"