My Mother is the Villain

Chapter 23: Guests

At night, the courtyard of the Russell Clan was already filled with tables adorned with luxurious dishes.

It was a sudden banquet, and the invitations were limited to those within the city and its surroundings.

From his room, Victor could see that quite a number of guests had already arrived—nobles who were, in truth, merely subordinates of the Russell Clan.

Musicians and dancers had been prepared, while lower-ranking clan members were assigned as servants due to the lack of time to recruit proper attendants.

In this era, it had indeed been a long time since the Russell Clan last held a banquet.

The truth was, there had been nothing worth celebrating.

Victor only wanted that weapon. He made no effort to dress extravagantly, still wearing his simple robe as he finally stepped out of his room and headed outside.

His appearance alone was enough to draw all attention, so there was no need to bother with luxurious clothing.

"Victor!" His grandfather immediately lit up upon seeing him, pulling him to stand by his side.

Together, they welcomed the arriving guests one by one.

Of course, given their high status, it was the guests who showed respect.

Victor’s attention was soon drawn to a carriage more luxurious than the others.

Agron. He saw that name written on it.

Even Alisa personally approached the carriage to welcome its occupant.

Without a doubt, it was the mayor’s carriage.

His strength was evidently considerable. Being a subordinate clan to the Russell Clan did not mean they were treated poorly.

A handsome middle-aged man stepped out of the carriage with a bright smile.

He seemed to exchange a few pleasant words with Alisa.

However, he did not immediately enter the Russell Clan.

Instead, he glanced back at the carriage and gestured for someone else inside to come out as well.

He hadn’t come alone.

A pair of long, slender legs stepped down from the carriage, revealed by the slit of a dress.

People couldn’t help but look toward the carriage—even the young men of the Russell Clan.

What appeared was a woman in her twenties, with long, straight black hair, neat and flowing.

She looked elegant in a form-fitting blue dress with a lace-trimmed waist, which accentuated her slender figure.

Her oval-shaped face looked both beautiful and sweet. Even as she pressed her lips together, as if burdened by her thoughts, she remained captivating.

Victor instantly recognized her as Ella Agron—the mayor’s daughter, who had once been in a romantic relationship with Lukas Hernandez.

She was indeed pleasing to the eye. No wonder Lukas had given up so quickly when faced with Victor.

But Margaret had said that the woman was now his concubine—so what was going on?

In truth, being a concubine was still a high position if one belonged to a man of powerful background.

For subordinate clans, it was quite common to offer their most outstanding daughters as concubines to the most promising young masters of a superior clan.

Of course, such arrangements did not always go smoothly. Matters of arranged relationships often came with complications—especially when it involved becoming a concubine.

The mayor had to pull his daughter along, as she clearly seemed unwilling to enter the Russell Clan.

The moment he looked at Victor, the mayor was visibly startled, realizing that the Russell Clan had not been exaggerating about their young master.

Ella, who appeared reluctant, was also stunned when she saw the young man.

The mayor quickly broke into a bright smile.

"Like mother, like son. It seems this era still belongs to your Russell Clan," he said to Paul, who stroked his chin.

Paul smiled faintly.

"Tom, you flatter us. Please, have a seat and enjoy the banquet."

"Of course, but before that, there’s something you may not know," the mayor replied.

"Oh? What is it?" Paul asked.

"Lady has long requested that my daughter become your son’s partner. As such, tonight, I will leave my daughter in your clan," the mayor calmly announced, shocking many who heard him.

He simply avoided directly calling her a concubine.

Naturally, given the difference in status between Victor and Ella, the latter could only become the former’s concubine.

A noble clan would never accept an unequal marriage.

Ella’s face turned pale upon hearing her father’s words.

She had been sold off just like that.

"NO!" she suddenly shouted.

Paul, who had been smiling, froze at her outburst, while the mayor’s face flushed red.

Just as he was about to speak, Ella forcefully shook his hand off.

"You—!" The mayor gasped, not expecting his daughter to still dare resist after arriving at the Russell Clan.

After all, when had she ever shouted like this?

Ignoring her father, she looked at Victor and suddenly calmed down.

"Young Master Victor, I apologize. I cannot accept this relationship. I hope you will not be angered or blame my clan," she said with a bow.

"And you may not want me after you hear this. I have already lost my virginity. I have been with another man."

"...."

A collective gasp spread among the crowd as they realized Ella had come with a plan.

Of course, most people already knew she had been involved with a man from the Heavenly Lightning Sect.

It just hadn’t been made official.

An unofficial relationship was not a serious issue.

But by openly declaring that she was no longer a virgin, it would be humiliating if Victor still chose to take her.

All eyes turned to Victor, yet he showed no particular expression.

What would he say? He merely looked at Ella calmly.

"It doesn’t matter," he finally said.

Hearing that, Ella seemed to let out a sigh of relief. After all, he could have easily made an issue out of this.

In the end, theirs would have been the only official relationship.

"I mean, it doesn’t matter that you’re not a virgin," Victor suddenly added.

Those who had been ready to praise Victor for his magnanimity were left stunned, mouths agape.

So he wasn’t forgiving—he was simply indiscriminate.

The mayor, who had been panicking, immediately became delighted, even patting his daughter on the back.

"Quick, quickly thank the Young Master for his kindness! Promise him that you will be a good and loyal partner forever," he said loudly.