The Zenovia household was one of the few families with two people controlling everything. The Matriarch was supposed to take care of all internal struggles. Her mission was to ensure that the Zenovia family would grow stronger with each generation.

She took care of the youngest generation's studies, training, and engagements with other families.

Meanwhile, the Patriarch of the Zenovia household focused more on external tasks. He took care of all pacts and contracts. His priority was to expand the family business, ensuring that the new generation would have access to more resources than the last, and to improve the existing connections with the powerhouses of the Tritan Alliance.

Most of the time, expanding the family business and improving connections could be combined. Still, it was occasionally a little bit more challenging to come to terms with some families and households. Not everyone was willing to approach other families as openly as the Zenovia family. They liked being among themselves more than being with other people who might betray them when a better opportunity arose.

Despite the separation of tasks, it wasn't the patriarch who welcomed Michael back from his successful participation in the Interdimensional Flag War. Instead, Katharina Zenovia, the Matriarch of the Zenovia household, came to appraise the guy who'd stolen her daughter's heart.

Katharina Zenovia received enough reports from her anonymous sources about how much Alice's behavior changed. Alice wasn't hiding that she dated Michael, but they didn't make any official posts about it either. It was their relationship, and it didn't matter to them if others were aware of it or not.

Of course, it had been a little bit easier on Alice because they didn't share the news of their relationship with the whole Skynet. It gave her some peace, only for a little while. Unfortunately, peace was not an option anymore. Her mother approached Michael.

Katharina Zenovia was as beautiful as her daughter. She had shoulder-long black, wavy hair, pristine ocean-blue eyes, and a fair complexion. The Matriach's beautiful lean figure was highlighted as she walked toward Michael like she was one of the Tritan Alliance's supermodels. There was something about her people couldn't grasp. Every step Katharina Zenovia took was calculated with deadly precision. Not a single action was random. It was all planned to frame her as the perfect woman and mother.

However, Michael didn't pay too much attention to Katharina Zenovia at first glance. He noticed someone looking similar to Alice approaching him, but his eyes were drawn to Alice, who walked toward him alongside her mother.

Alice Zenovia was having trouble keeping her poker face. The corner of her lips twitched wildly, and she didn't dare make eye contact with Michael. All she could do was forward him a small message using Whispering Energy.

["I didn't expect Mother to come here. Dad was supposed to be here to deal with some High Society members, the Chieftain, and the War Priestess…Sorry…"]

Michael tried hard to cover his frown.'So…meeting your Father would have been fine, but your Mom is difficult? We will see about that, I guess.'

Michael willed some origin energy to wash over his face. That was enough to wipe away the frown and replace it with a faint smile. He took a step toward the Matriarch of the Zenovia household and inclined his head politely.

"Good morning. My name is Michael Fang. I heard a lot about you–..." Michael introduced himself as politely as possible without overdoing it, but he stopped mid-sentence when he noticed Alice shaking her head lightly.

Katharina Zenovia stared coldly at him.

"I know who you are. Everyone here does. Do you think I'm a fool?" She asked sharply, her voice not containing an ounce of emotion.

Michael's lips parted for a response, but Katharina Zenovia raised her hand.

"Enough of that. I know you're pursuing my Daughter and that she was just about to give in to her inner demon, but Alice is already engaged. Their wedding will be in a few months, and you will not be the groom. I hope you can stop your attempts to tarnish my daughter and keep a professional distance from her and Kaleb as well."

lightsΝοvεl ƈοm Michael didn't expect Katharina Zenovia to act like this. It had been a long time since anyone had rejected him. After all, most powerhouses wanted to be on his good side because of his Soultraits, Soul Techniques, and his future potential. Yet, the Matriarch of the Zenovia family was the opposite. She didn't seem to care about his Soultraits and potential in the slightest.

That was rare and a slight surprise, but Michael was more affected by the 'engaged' part.lightsnovel

He glanced at Alice, who stared at her mother in shock.

["You didn't know that you were engaged?"] Michael asked Alice via Whispering Energy.

He had a hard time hiding how relieved he was when he saw Alice shaking her head wildly in denial. His attention returned to Katharina Zenovia, who'd been studying his reaction since the words escaped her lips.

"I don't think you heard me correctly. Let me repeat myself once," She said, her voice growing colder with every word she uttered, "I do not wish to see you talking to her again!"

The Curse residing within Michael churned as the anger in her voice reached him. The Cursed Seals were about to manifest on their own as a silent growl escaped through the depths of his body. Michael could tell that his emotions transformed slowly as the Cursed Seals tried to surface, but his smile didn't leave his lips.

He continued smiling, only to glance at Alice for a moment.

"What do you think about that? Will you do as your mother says?" Michael ignored the Matriarch and smiled gently at Alice.

Michael could only accept their decision if Alice couldn't say what she wanted. Both had to fight for their romance to strive and succeed. It was impossible to keep the relationship alive if he was the only one trying.

Alice glanced at her mother for a moment before looking back at Michael. A trace of determination glimmered in her eyes.

Katharina Zenovia seemed to notice what was going on. She stepped to the side, blocking Alice from saying anything else, and stared at Michael as if he was dead meat.

"You shouldn't ignore my warnings," She said quietly, "Nobody interrupts my plans, not even you!"

A big scowl replaced Michael's smile. His Spirit Eyes Soultrait activated instinctively when he sensed something was off. A moment later, a thick – eerily cold – aura burst out of her body. A giant glacier-blue icicle formed beside her.

"This is my last warning. Stay away from my daughter!" She threatened.

Michael was just about to respond, but it was Alice who interfered instead, "But I–..."

"Silent!" The Matriarch commanded, sealing Alice's lips with a layer of glacier-blue ice.

"I think I heard enough," Michael said, a blazing flame flickering in his eyes, "I don't think I will listen to your good-meant advice, Miss Zenovia."

The Matriarch's expression cracked for a moment, and Michael imagined seeing the corner of her lips curl upward. However, this might have also been an illusion. It disappeared the next moment, leaving the Matriarch with her ice-cold expression.

"Prove your worth then," She exclaimed in a whisper, releasing the glacier-blue icicle with a burst of energy.

[Beat the shit out of your mother-in-law! You can do it, bro!]