Rebecca Abigail Demiliore (née Grayson) was a girl who was hard to predict even for those who knew her better than anyone else.
It was the same for Amelia right now as she watched her sister-wife enthusiastically greet her maiden family, and lavish them with gifts that she had brought for them.
Since it was the first time she was visiting the Mourntale Estate, she had decided to bring her goodwill with her, a tradition usually observed by the Ancient Families. Then again, she was not required to bring so many gifts, not for every single member of the main Mourntale Family.
Amelia, however, was not surprised when she saw her gel right in and get along with the younger generation. She made them feel right at ease with her, something she knew her sister-wife was naturally talented at. She also knew that Rebecca did not really hold any feelings toward them. It was just one of her tools to win people over to get things done.
Her eyes turned to look at the two men whom Rebecca had brought with her, and they were obediently standing behind Marianne, keeping their heads lowered and masked.
She used her powers to look past those masks and was a little surprised to find who these two men were. She had met them before when Keith had introduced them, and Amelia was immediately quite relieved as she got the gist of what Rebecca was planning.
It was once again reaffirmed to her how capable her blonde sister-wife was, and she could not help but admit that Keith was right to feel content whenever he left things in her hands to take care of them.
"Amy!" Rebecca finally approached her and gave her a tight hug.
"Where's my gift?" She hugged her back and could not help but tease her, inciting a giggle from her and those around them.
"I am your gift." The girl mischievously said and then started chatting with her Aunt, and in a matter of seconds, earned permission to address her as her aunt as well.
The lively atmosphere was in stark contrast to the atmosphere of the dinner that followed.
Rebecca observed the etiquette of the family and peacefully ate her meal, not minding the silence at the dinner in the least.
An hour later, after she helped wash her plates, the ladies of the Demiliore Family gathered in Amelia's room.
"Aren't you the cute one?!" Rebecca happily pulled on Helena's cheeks, making the little girl a little flustered. "Sit with me."
The little Mourntale obediently took her seat by her side, and after Amelia nodded to her, she allowed Rebecca to give her a quick check-up.
"I must say, Amy, your little cousin is very talented." She commented after she checked the state of her body and Cultivation, which impressed her a lot.
She was a normal Auror, with exactly 81 Aura Nodes. However, her Aura Nodes seemed naturally much stronger than other Aurors in this world. The Aura flowed through channels freely and nourished her body at a higher rate as well. She truly was a natural genius.
Rebecca meaningfully glanced at Amelia, and the latter understood what she wanted to say without her needing to voice it.
The blonde smiled when she watched her sister-wife nod her head, and then lovingly patted Helena's head.
"Go, it's time for bed," She said to the girl, who was dejected that she had to leave, but obediently stood up and courteously bowed to everyone before leaving and closing the door behind her.
"Iseul will arrive in the morning, and Keith has already asked her to collect all the data on the Eastern Faction." The blonde girl informed them, catching their attention. "What's your plan?" She looked at her sister-wife and asked.
"Keith suggested taking out Solanari and Mondini," Amelia said and then frowned a little. "And I think we should do it."
"I see." Rebecca nodded to her and then smiled. "But we can't do it ourselves." She said and watched Amelia frown some more.
"Is that why you brought those two Vampires with you?" She lightly asked.
"They will help, yes." The blonde nodded to her. "Their Houses are now protected by Keith. It's time they make themselves useful to us. I have already instructed them to summon a Platoon, which will be led by two Vampires at the peak of Spirit Profound Realm."
A Vampire at the Peak of Spirit Profound Realm was naturally much stronger than a Human-Auror. And they could even go head-to-head with some Human Aurors in Primal Desolation. Not to mention the advantages they would still have over their enemies thanks to their superior senses.
"How many men?"
"27." Rebecca smiled. "All in the Late Stage of True Profound Realm and higher. They should be enough since I would like to have some fun too."
"What's your plan?" Amelia knew that 27 Vampires were barely enough, and they would have to get involved in the end. It only meant that Rebecca wanted to join the fun as well.
"Keith sent me something." She looked at her Shadow, and Marianne placed a yellow crystal on the table, and then another slightly bigger one.
Amelia narrowed her eyes a little and then her eyes widened when she realised what these were.
"Aura Stones?"
"Yes." Her sister-wife smiled. "I plan to have the Ancient Trials held in the Magic City. These will be the prize."
"What?" Amelia looked at her in surprise.
The Ancient Trials had not been held in the Magic City for decades now. It was mostly because of the wars that plagued them, but also because they could not agree to it. The last time it was held, it was followed by a war.
"It will be fun. Besides, Mourntale, Ravenstein, and Glasisius need to fight for themselves." She smiled at her. "They need to show their enemies how capable they are to deter them."
"It will lead to another war."
"Precisely." Rebecca grinned. "A war needs to take place so that our secret force can act in the Shadows, under its guise. We can not openly use Vampires against Ancient Houses. It would lead to a lot of trouble. But most importantly, we need to make it appear that the Mountale and their allies won through their efforts. Only then would the enemy find the prospect of another war a hopeless endeavour."
Her words made Zoey frown as she silently listened to them, but Amelia understood how beneficial it would prove for her maiden family. It would surely lead to several decades of peace.
But if they take care of everything on their behalf and crush their enemies, unless they crush all of them, it would only lead to resentment taking root, and as soon as they leave this world, their enemies would exact their revenge.
Eradicating all their enemies was out of the question as it would jeopardise their connections and make the other Ancient Families in Netheria wary of them and consider them a danger to their existence.
Yes, no one could do anything to them as long as they remained present in this world. But once they are gone, it could prove a disaster for their families.
"We will destroy Solanari and Mondini, but only under the guise of war," Rebecca told her and waited for her reply.
"We will have to convince Glasisius to join the Mourntale and Ravenstein." She nodded and then looked her sister-wife in the eyes.
"It's easy." Rebecca brightly smiled.
"How?"
"Do you think they would refuse if they knew that a Goddess was on their side?" She grinned, and as if to make things clear to Zoey, he summoned her God Ring. "And if they still refuse, I can use my powers to influence their minds."
As soon as the chestnut-haired girl saw the ring, she could not help but laugh.
She had been wracking her brains to find a way, and she was sure Amelia had been doing the same. But this complication was not even a complication in Rebecca's eyes.
Amelia thought over Rebecca's plan for a while and eventually nodded before proceeding to discuss the details.
After they were done going over the details, Amelia and Rebecca went to talk with the Head of the Mourntale Family, who had been waiting for them, having remembered Amelia's promise to tell them the plan after dinner.
They were a little reluctant to go along with Rebecca's insidious plans, but it took the blonde only a little convincing to make them realise that the thing that should matter to them the most was their Family's survival and future. And she assured them that all three of them, Mourntale, Glasisius, and Ravenstein, would be giving their all to earn the victory that she promised them. It would not come for free.
Vladimir immediately called the Head of the Glasisius Family, inviting them to lunch tomorrow, where Rebecca was going to make sure they side with them.
Everyone knew that the Glasisus would not refuse her offer. It was an opportunity they had been searching for for several decades now, and there was no way they would not be willing to take the risks when an Inheritor of a Goddess promised to help them from the shadows.
"Did Keith say anything regarding Yexuan?" Amelia asked as they walked through the thick fog that engulfed this region at this time of the year.
"No." Rebecca shook her head. "But we must keep Alana away from him. He's in love with her."
Her words surprised Amelia, as it was the same thing that Zoey had suggested in the morning, and now Rebecca confirmed it.
She did not doubt her words. After all, she knew how perceptive Rebecca was.
"We have to find out what's going on with him. He could prove dangerous."
"Agreed." The blonde nodded her head and then smiled. "I wonder if he would take the opportunity to participate in the Ancient Trials."
Amelia halted in her steps at her words as she finally understood the real reason why Rebecca wanted to hold the Ancient Trials.
Her sister-wife planned on giving Yexuan an opportunity to settle his disputes, if he had any with the Mondini and Solanari, and also to take the opportunity to observe and get a better understanding of Alana's mysterious brother.
She had to admit it was quite a plan if Yexuan participated in the Trials, much better than anything she had on her mind.
"Are we going to take him out?" She asked as soon as the blonde stopped and turned to smile at her.
"No. Keith does not want us to deal with him yet." She shook her head.
"I see."
