Chapter 77: Chapter 77: Victoria Flareheart
After Duncan left, the only people left in the room were Sam, his family, his fiancées, and Victoria Flareheart. The atmosphere became awkward, especially for Sam.
'Why is everyone looking at me like that? I know I'm attractive, but still, it amazes me how much it affects others,' Sam felt even more uncomfortable under the eyes of his new aunt, who happened to be his father's older sister, Victoria Flareheart.
Victoria, like everyone from the Flareheart clan, had bright crimson hair that flowed down to her hips, and her eyes were emerald green, much like Sophia's.
At that moment, those emerald eyes were focused solely on Sam. She didn't seem to care that others could see her staring; she didn't even flinch at that fact.
Suddenly, Sam felt a pinch on his back.
He turned his gaze to the culprit, finding Amelia with a pouting face looking at him with dissatisfaction. She wrapped her hands around him tightly, and Sam could feel her chest pressing against his arms.
Then, she glanced at Lenora, who was sitting on the other side with a smirking gaze, as if she was deliberately provoking her.
Lenora, noticing her gaze, instantly got annoyed. Like Amelia, she hugged Sam's other hand even more tightly, as if in competition.
The smirk she shot back at Amelia practically conveyed, 'You can never win against me, bitch.'
Sam watched the scene unfold with a helpless expression. He dared not get involved in this little catfight, well aware of the potential consequences.
He could only imagine what might happen if he stepped into the middle of Amelia and Lenora's competitive antics.
However, amidst the amusing spectacle, Sam noticed something more profound. 'Even though these two seem competitive and act like they hate each other, in reality, they don't. Sure, they get annoyed with each other, but it's not hate. It's more like they actually enjoy this rivalry.'
His gaze then shifted to two gorgeous women sitting in front of him on the couch – Ophelia and Yuna, his fiancées.
They appeared to be in a daze, watching Sam as if it were one of those satisfying videos.
It seemed like they didn't have any particular reason for doing so; it was just a normal thing for them, part of their daily routine.
'Unlike Amelia and Lenora, these two seem like they would get along well with the other three,' Sam's smile widened.
'H-He's looking at me,' Yuna's face bloomed like a red lotus as she became embarrassed.
'I can't believe I'm embarrassed just by a man looking at me. I wonder what makes him different from others? What's so special about him?' she wondered as she returned Sam's smile.
Unlike Amelia and Lenora, who seemed to have a rivalry that made them go at it like cat and mouse, Yuna and Ophelia didn't feel like rivals.
In fact, all four of them felt a sense of familiarity, a precise kind of synergy – the sennyu resonance.
It was just that Amelia and Lenora added an extra layer of competitive spice to the mix.
'Now, calm down and think. Why did I agree to be his companion as soon as father asked me?' Ophelia pondered, stealing glances at Sam's extraordinary face.
She did her best to keep her face from turning red in a blush, but her efforts were in vain. 'Well, he is talented, and our clan's heir... not to mention, he's so handsome.'
Avoiding direct eye contact with Sam, she believed that if she kept watching him, she would go crazy under his captivating blue eyes.
Sam, sensing Yuna's and Ophelia's little inner struggle, chuckled to himself. 'These two are so cute that I want to hug them so bad.'
His gaze went back and forth between Amelia and Lenora. 'Sigh! All four of them are equally gorgeous and cute.'
He gently placed his hand on Lenora's head and patted her. She, like a contented cat, purred against his hand with a giggle, clearly enjoying his attention. 'I love it when he does this.' MVLeMpYr-unofficial-chapter
Not wanting to let Amelia get jealous, Sam did the same with Amelia, who hugged him even more tightly as if she wanted to merge with him.
'Hehehe... Darling loves me so much,' Amelia's eyes, in Sam's imagination, turned into pink-colored hearts, which made him adore her even more.
Then he turned his gaze to Adriana, who, by that moment, had started to speak. "Victoria, why are you here?"
Victoria, who was in a gaze watching Sam like a hawk, was disturbed. "Of course, I'm here for my nephew."
"I figured as much, but your visit is a waste. I'm not sending my grandson with you, even if Patriarch Flareheart himself came. So, I will save you time; you can go back," Adriana said seriously.
Victoria shook her head, "Matriarch, you misunderstood me. I don't care if you send my nephew back with me or not. Though my father sent me to convince Sam to come back with me, I won't force him to do that. I certainly don't care what my father or brother wants. No matter what, he is my nephew, and I just wanted to meet him myself."
"Heh, this is the reason I always liked you, Victoria. Unlike your brother, you don't care about the benefits of forming relationships," Helena said, smiling.
Victoria smiled back, "Sister Helena and Sister Lorraine, it's so good to see you. I'm glad you have finally decided to come back."
"Thank you. I'm glad to see you are doing well, Sister Victoria," Lorraine replied with a smile.
Unlike the others from the Flareheart clan whom she and Helena hated, Victoria was always on their side. They even considered her one of their best friends, not to mention they were sisters-in-law before Helena broke up with William Flareheart.
"I am more thankful to you. You raised such a delici... I mean, such a handsome young man," Victoria's eyes sparkled with excitement as she subtly licked her lips.
This did not escape the eyes of the women present, who dangerously narrowed their eyes at her, as if they would rip her skin apart.
Even Amelia and Lenora, who were enjoying Sam's spoiling, looked at her with hostility. 'This horny bitch needs to be spanked in the ass.'
Victoria also noticed this but didn't take it seriously as she continued, "Now, my handsome nephew, this is just for formality, but I should ask, do you wish to come to the Flareheart clan?"
"Nope, I have no interest in the Flareheart clan, Aunt Victoria," Sam replied casually. "Unless that man apologizes to my mother for betraying her, I would not even consider that I'm related to that clan."
Victoria frowned with disappointment, 'Does that mean he does not consider me his aunt?'
Sensing her feelings, Sam said, "But not you, Aunt Victoria. My mom has talked about you before, and from her words, I know you are nothing like your brother or your father, and I honestly like you."
"Yes, yes, that's right. I'm nothing like them. In fact, I hate them just as much as you do," Victoria nodded her head excitedly.
If only William, her younger brother, and her father, Theodore Flareheart, were here, they would surely feel like they got slapped in the face by Victoria for betraying them like this.
Even if they felt like that, Victoria would not even care. Right now, for her, Sam seemed more important than her father and mother.
"I like you even more," Sam chuckled.
"Just to be sure, my nephew, you did awaken the Crimson Inferno Dragon bloodline, right?"
"Yes," Sam raised his hand and conjured his dragon fire. A bright crimson-colored fire enveloped his hand, but it didn't burn him.
His control was mastered to the point that even Amelia and Lenora, who were sitting beside him on both sides, didn't feel the heat emanating from the scorching crimson flames.
"What about the other bloodline?"
Then the crimson dragon flames disappeared, and a sphere made of chilling ice Qi formed on top of him, shaped like a perfect paperweight.
Just like with the dragon flames, the two girls sitting beside him didn't feel it; his control was that good.
Victoria was not surprised at him conjuring the crimson dragon flames or the ice made of pure ice Qi but was astonished at his control over them. 'How long has it been since he awakened the bloodlines? How could he have such accurate control over them? Could it be his natural innate talent?'
Overcoming her shock, Victoria said, "Not only did you awaken two of the strongest dragon bloodlines but also have such control over them. If other celestial dragon clans in the Azure Dragon continent were to know such a prodigy has been born among the dragons, they would spit blood in jealousy."
"What Matriarch hailstorm said earlier is true. You do have the potential to unite the Flareheart Clan and Hailstorm Clan under one banner." Victoria suddenly imagined such a scenario happening in her head, and she couldn't help but get excited.
Everyone then saw Victoria taking out a storage ring from her bag and threw it to Sam, who caught it instinctively.
Sam spread his consciousness inside it, "Scrolls and cultivation resources?"
"Yes, these scrolls contain two sage techniques and two great sage techniques, which belonged to the Flareheart Clan. Only a chosen few are permitted to have them, and you are certainly more than eligible to have them."
"I don't want this," Sam returned them to Victoria. "That man hurt my mother. I won't accept anything from the clan that man belongs to."
Everyone, except Victoria, smiled at this. Helena, in particular, felt warmth inside. 'My son, I'm so proud to be your mother.'
'Well said, my nephew. As expected of the man I raised.' Sam's aunt, Lorraine, smiled heartily. Right now, she was the proudest aunt in the world.
Beside her, Ava shook her head. 'I can't believe I made a bad impression of him.'
Hearing his serious tone, Victoria didn't frown. Instead, these were the words she expected. "I like you even more now. You are really worth the effort. But still, take it. You deserve this.
This is your birthright. You know how precious sage techniques are, right?"
At this time, the highest cultivation one could achieve was Boundary Emperor, which also meant there weren't many who could create techniques with a grade higher than Great Sage techniques.
So yes, they were quite important. These particular techniques belonged to the Flareheart Clan, just like those techniques Adriana gave to Sam.
"I don't care. I don't want it. My grandma has already given me quite powerful techniques. I don't think I need this at the moment," Sam replied.
"But..." Victoria stopped trying to convince him. She turned her gaze to his mother with a look that literally conveyed, 'I could use your help right now.'
Helena, understanding her look, said to Sam, "My beloved son, even though that clan hurt me, they are still your blood relatives, and these techniques will surely be a great help to you. Moreover, these are your birthright. Accept it, at least for me."
"Moreover, don't you want to be prepared for your upcoming battle with Tomas Wichura? It's never a bad thing to be more careful and prepared. Take these techniques; it will also be helpful in cultivating your Crimson Dragon Flames. Then you can win without trouble, and you can marry Amelia officially," Helena tried to convince him by involving his sweetheart.
Sam took a glance at Amelia, who nodded her head with a reassuring smile.
After taking a deep breath, Sam nodded. "Fine, I will take it."
((((((The character art for each character has been showcased in the Auxiliary chapters; please take a look and share your opinions.))))))
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