Published at 5th of November 2026 7:33 am

Chapter 2167: Genevieve’s Fury

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Genevieve’s smile faltered.

At the same time, she felt an invisible pressure bearing down on her.

Adeline’s assistants, too, turned toward her, watching her like hawks staring at prey.

Suddenly, Genevieve did not have a good feeling about this. She had already realized that she wasn’t welcome here. But why were even the assistants being antagonistic toward her?

She found it very strange. She had never done anything to offend Adeline Stark or her attendants.

So what was going on?

Genevieve resisted the urge to fidget with her fingers. She kept the same respectful smile and said, "My Lady, may we speak in private? I believe what I have to—"

Adeline interrupted her with a derisive snort.

"The audacity," she murmured.

Genevieve’s smile slowly vanished.

"Tell me, girl," Adeline purred like a cat who had just caught a mouse and was playing with it.

"Does your pedigree give you the right to waltz in here and demand a private audience with me?"

This time, Genevieve’s brows couldn’t help but furrow. "You gave me permission to come here, my lady. And I wasn’t demanding—"

Adeline raised her hand, uninterested in her words.

"Study on campus when you feel like it," she said with a smirk. "Leave for years at a time when you feel like it. No respect for the rules and regulations of the Tower. Tell me, girl. Just because you’re a Fortuna, do you think you can do anything in my Tower?"

"But I received permission from Lady Damon herself!" Genevieve protested. "That’s why I left in the first place!"

"Of course, when the Known Lord commands, how can I refuse?" Adeline said.

"So then why—" Genevieve was once again interrupted.

"Because I don’t like how you people like to throw your weight around," Adeline growled. "You. The Domina Occulta. The Houses. You’re all the same."

So that’s what it was about, Genevieve thought indignantly.

She tried to explain herself. "But I—"

"Just because your aunt, or whoever, has a good relationship with my teacher, you thought you could foster a good one with me as well?" Adeline sneered.

Genevieve clenched her hands, feeling that this shame was not called for. She knew she would not be given the chance to speak, so she silently listened and endured while Adeline humiliated her and her assistants stood by and silently snickered.

The information she had was far too important not to relay to the Lady of Sapphire Tower. No matter how much the woman loathed her, Genevieve had to inform her.

"You are a student of the Tower. It is beneath me to meddle in your activities while you are still here. You are a good student, I will admit. And I would never stoop so low as to obstruct you in your academic and arcane pursuits. However..."

Adeline Stark’s words turned cold.

"Do not pretend we are friends. We are not even acquaintances. I don’t care who your aunt is. I don’t care which House you’re from. The sooner you understand that, the better."

Genevieve lowered her head and endured her words.

When Adeline did not speak again, Genevieve raised her head and politely asked, "My lady, if you are done, may I begin?"

Just because the Lady of Sapphire Tower had turned into a hateful savage did not mean Genevieve had to stoop to her level.

There was grace in good manners.

It was easy to return rudeness with rudeness, to let another person’s bitterness dictate one’s own behavior. But true refinement came from knowing how to conduct oneself even when others failed to do the same.

Courtesy was not a sign of weakness, nor did it mean one had to tolerate disrespect. It simply meant that one had enough self-respect not to let another person’s behavior determine one’s own.

Genevieve had no intention of letting the Lady’s hostility dictate hers.

Besides, she had been taught to carry herself with dignity, regardless of the company she kept.

If the Lady wished to make a fool of herself, that was her business.

Adeline stared at Genevieve’s reserved smile, then at her slightly clenched fists, and smirked.

"Yes, you may begin," she said magnanimously.

Genevieve took a deep breath and gathered herself. Then she finally explained:

"In my recent travels, I have come to learn that the Iron Covenant’s strength is greater than it seems on the surface."

Adeline’s eyes narrowed, and her smile vanished.

Seeing that she was not interrupted, Genevieve continued, "Now, this may or may not be true, since it came directly from the lips of a Transcendent Paladin on the eve of his final battle. Please do take it with a grain of salt."

Then she explained what Adam had said to her.

And the moment her words left her lips, Adeline blinked and then laughed. Her laughter was far louder than one could imagine. It wasn’t funny. It was full of mockery.

"The Iron Covenant, a band of mercenaries, threatening the Free City Alliance?" Adeline laughed. "Oh, girl."

She shook her head slowly, the laughter vanishing. She looked at Genevieve and said with contempt:

"Leave."

Genevieve’s lips parted. She wanted to explain more. She understood how ridiculous it all sounded. But wasn’t precaution better than brushing the matter off?

In the end, she closed her mouth and sighed. She tipped her head ever so slightly, then turned and left.

She closed the door behind her and stormed away, furious at having been treated that way.

She didn’t even bother hiding her anger, caring little about what the students and staff might think if they saw her expression.

At the moment, she simply did not care.

She hailed a carriage and returned home.

***

When Adam returned to the manor after running a few errands, he found Genevieve sitting at the dining table, already on her second bottle of wine.

Seeing her dark expression, Adam froze.

He knew that Genevieve was a creature of moods. Over the years, she had displayed them far more to Adam than she did to the rest of the world. But even he had never seen her this furious.

Adam slowly made his way to the table, his steps cautious, as though he were encroaching upon the lair of an angry creature of dread.

"Everything all right?" he asked softly.

"No, Adam!" Genevieve glared. "Everything is not all right."

The corner of Adam’s lips twitched. "Of course. Sorry. Stupid question."

He noticed the empty bottle on the table. Then he glanced at the second one, which was almost empty. He grimaced inwardly.

"So, do you want to tell me what happened?" he asked.

Genevieve finished the remaining wine in her glass in one large gulp. She slammed the glass on the table, just shy of breaking it.

Then she finally told Adam all that had transpired between her and the Lady.

Adam inwardly sighed in relief. That meant he wouldn’t have to go to that stupid function hosted by the Tower and socialize with people. He disliked going to such places.

"Screw her!" He crossed his arms and nodded righteously. "So we’re not attending the Gala, then!"

"Not attending???" Genevieve’s fury flared anew.

"Do you think I will cower just because of a few nasty words? I will not give that woman the satisfaction! I will attend the Gala and prove to her that she cannot drive me away with a few insults."

Adam blinked. "We are?"

"Of course, we are!"

Adam leaned back in his chair, sighing in defeat.

"Oh, I see..."

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