Chapter 193: Challenging Tyranny

Raven and Vivian stared at Gwendal in shock, both not knowing what to say, because their lesson room had been taken away, the number of meditation mats had been reduced, their personal belongings had been moved, and now a stranger was telling them that the Matriarch had allocated their lesson.

Raven's expression soured because it wasn't just about losing a room, but the humiliation of being treated as if their opinions and rights within their own home were insignificant.

Vivian was also very shocked, but she still hoped there was some misunderstanding, so she said, "Mentor Gwendal, are you sure that Roselyn assigned this room to Adrian?"

Gwendal sensed something was off and replied, "Yes, ma'am. The parent made the arrangements personally. I was just following her instructions."

"But did she tell you that this room belongs to us?"

"I was told this room was chosen for Master Adrian's guidance. I wasn't informed that I needed to obtain permission from others."

"So you just casually came over to occupy our room?" Raven asked.

"Ms. Raven, I assure you, I have no intention of offending any of you," Gwendal answered. "I am merely carrying out the arrangements made by the Matriarch"

Vivian pondered his words, realizing that Gwendal was not to blame as he was only fulfilling his duties, and it was Rosalind who made the decision.

Raven turned to her sister in frustration and said, "Vivian, after everything I've told you, do you still think I'm wrong? Isn't that what I said? Roselyn is trying to suppress us!"

Vivian lowered her head because she doesn't want to admit that Raven might be right, but the more she thinks about what happened, the harder it becomes to deny the truth.

Raven grew angrier at her silence.

"Are you going to keep making excuses just for peace? How much more do we have to endure before you finally take action?"

Vivian opened her mouth but said nothing, because Raven needed a sister who would stand by her side and fight, not someone who would accept every humiliation and hope things would get better.

"Forget it!" Raven said and stormed out angrily, leaving Vivian alone to bear the growing unease.

Their situation seemed destined to worsen, and indeed it did.

Roselyn Kingsley's tyranny over Raven and Vivian intensified daily, as her authority as their aunt, stepmother, and half-mother made it difficult to resist her.

She reduced their allowances to a pittance, forbade them from entering some areas of the palace, dismissed their tutors, canceled their private lessons, and reassigned their servants to Adrian.

Now family gatherings are opportunities to humiliate them, reminding everyone that these sisters no longer held their former status.

But the final straw was when Roselyn ordered renovation of the Kingsley Temple.

Now, Penelope's shrine was removed.

The next evening, Vivian went to the temple as usual to pray to her mother, but she stopped because her mother's portrait and offerings were gone, and the place was naked.

Penelope is the ex-wife of the head of the Kingsley family and the biological mother of Raven, Vivian, and Luke.

Penelope's shrine represents her place in the family's history, her spiritual memory, and blood ties.

Roselyn cannot deny knowing the importance of Penelope's shrine.

So, by removing it, she is declaring that her authority has superseded Penelope's memory.

Vivian stared at the empty shrine to her mother, her hands trembling, her eyes red with grief, her grief turning to anger.

Since she was a little girl, she goes to this shrine for thirteen years.

The shrine is a place of comfort, and Roselyn has taken it away.

"Mother, I swear, I will avenge you! I will bring Roselyn to justice!" Vivian cried out.

Then she wiped her tears and went to the palace.

As her anger intensified, her steps became faster until she reached the hall that leads to the throne room.

"Lady Vivian, please wait! The matriarch is convening a meeting of the elders! You cannot enter the throne room now!" some guards declared.

FWOOSH!

With a wave of her hand, Vivian blasted them away, wounding all of them.

Meanwhile, in the throne room, Roselyn was on Kingsley's throne, holding a meeting with eleven elders of the Order.

The meeting was going fine until the commotion interrupted them.

Soon, a girl with silver hair barged into the throne room, her hands clenched, and her eyes glowing like fireworks.

Those eyes were also fixed on the woman sitting on the throne—Roselyn.

Meanwhile, Roselyn was surprised by the intrusion, but later, Roselyn was rather irritated and did not take the intruder seriously.

"Vivian Kingsley, what are you doing here?" She demanded.

Elder 1: "..."

Elder 3: "..."

Elder 4: "..."

"I never expected the well-dressed daughter of the Kingsley family to be so rude. How dare you barge in like this while the elders are having a meeting? Senior Sister Roselyn, where did you do wrong?" Elder 5 broke the silence.

Roselyn did not take her eyes off Vivian and replied, "Lord Robinson, I assure you, I try my best, but you can't break a nut that doesn't want to be cracked. Unfortunately, this nut still sticks itself under the hammer, and it gets angry when I try to smash it."

When everyone's attention in the room was focused on her, Vivian was still very angry, but her anger slowly began to confront reality because she had to accept the fact that everyone here was an elder with institutional and systemic power; however, none of this can compare to the grief Roselyn brought by taking away the memories of her mother.

Elder 5 said again, "Little girl, are you here to speak or to flaunt your ripeness?"

"Lord Robinson, although I respect you, say one more word, and I'll castrate you, because that thing between your legs is the only reason you have a chance to be here," Vivian replied without looking at him.

Elder 6: "..."

Elder 11: "..."

Elder 4: "..."

Lord Robinson, furious and agitated, his white-bearded face turning red with anger, condemned: "Vivian, you little bastard, curse you for insulting me. I will make sure your father hears what you said to the head of the Robinson family!"

"Lord Robinson, I apologize on behalf of my niece. It seems she is inexplicably upset about something, so let her vent her grievances, and what better audience than this committee?" Roselyn said. "So, Vivian, what brings you here?

"What better audience than this committee?" Vivian mocked. "Isn't this the same committee that urged my father to marry you right after my mother passed away? Isn't this the same council that agreed to exile Luke? If you think I care about your opinions, you're mistaken."

Roselyn smiled slightly, as what Vivian said was a sign that at least Vivian had some understanding of how politics worked.

"So all roads lead to Rome," Roselyn said and crossed one leg over the other, sitting on the throne with feminine authority. "Vivian, my dear, have you thought this through?"

Vivian was silent for a while, and the light in her eyes faded away in her silence.

"Yes, I have thought it through," she broke the silence. "I have decided to challenge you, my aunt, Roselyn Kingsley, to a Crucible."

Elder 3: "..."

Elder 9: "..."

Elder 4: "..."

Elder 7 whispered to Elder 8, "What? Huh? She must be joking, right? Is she crazy?"

Whispers began to circulate in the throne room, with some elders discussing what Vivian just said, and some snickering and mocking what she said.

Meanwhile, Roselyn squinted her eyes, staring at her niece, who seemed unyielding about what she said.

Vivian stood her ground.

"I'm not joking. I am challenging my aunt to a Crucible. This is my right, and it is a tradition that transcends this council, meaning none of you can deny it. My aunt cannot refuse this challenge unless she is willing to accept my terms."

Lord Prescott, the tenth elder.

Lord Prescott did not take Vivian seriously.

He was the elder laughing.

Still laughing, he asked, "Young Miss Vivian, what are those conditions?"

"Roselyn Kingsley must disavow the Kingsley family and revert to her former name, Whitmore. That's it."

That's it?

"Hahaha! Is this a joke?!" Lord Prescott laughed. "Haha, little girl, I must admit, you put on a splendid comedy tonight. This is why girls your age should be married. Let a capable man handle your little troubles instead of spreading them around. Now, leave, we have things to attend to."

Elder 2: "Yes, please leave, girl. What gives you the right and confidence to come here and challenge your aunt? She is an Ancient-grade summoner!"

"Yes, leave!"

"Insolent girl!"

The elders condemned Vivian's confidence, her complaining, and her challenge to her aunt, and the Throne Room descended into chaos.

In the Silver Order, a Crucible is a tradition to settle conflicts between summoners.

When you are challenged to a Crucible, you cannot refuse.

If you refuse, you must accept the challenger's terms—no matter how trivial.

But this tradition has deep meaning and history; it is sacred, so no one abuses it.

Therefore, every use is orthodox.

Roselyn Kingsley was surprised that Vivian challenges her to a Crucible.

Roselyn is also surprised that Vivian is confident that she can defeat an Ancient-grade summoner like her.

That confidence is coming from somewhere...

How did this girl know she was pregnant, therefore unable to fight?