Dread Duchess seemed to sense Evaâs gaze and glanced at her with a hint of a smirk on his veiled face, "I sense disquiet from you, dear disciple. Donât tell me, you are afraid of this little challenge?"
Dread Duchess might be teasing, but her words also contained a hidden warning, as it was clear she had high expectations of Eva, and this entrance trial seemed to be also her way of testing her.
Eva instantly saw through the Duchessâs intention and quickly acted playfully, "Hehe, you know me, master, I like challenges the most. I was just surprised you kept it to yourself for so long. At least you shouldâve told young master Nomad about it, or have you taken a liking to him?"
Ace nearly tripped when he heard Evaâs words and felt a chill running down his spine because he wasnât expecting Eva to be so bold as to tease Dread Duchess. But he also knew that she was also testing him, and he was speechless because he had never even had such thoughts about the Dread Duchess.
Dread Duchess was also astounded, and she could help but glare at Eva with reproach, "You dare to tease your master? I guess your training wasnât hard enough. See how I deal with you later. Forgive her antics, Nomad, she didnât mean any disrespect towards your exalted master."
"She didnât get it, did she?"
Eva couldnât help but ask Ace with a hint of bewilderment as she looked at her masterâs stern yet clueless demeanor.
"I donât get it either!"
Ace quickly took Duchessâs side while he was also secretly amused because Duchess seemed to have no sense of these things despite her extraordinary age.
Dread Duchess took Evaâs words as if she were trying to switch Nomadâs allegiance to Dread Duchess, which was extremely dangerous, especially since his âmasterâ was listening to it.
Thatâs why she quickly explained it, or if she knew what Evaâs true intent was, she probably wouldnât have reacted like this.
"No offense taken, your highness. I know Lady Evil Diva likes to joke around." Ace quickly replied, shooting Eva a warning glance because it could be dangerous if Duchess suspected something.
"Oh, you seemed to know me well, young master Nomad? But if Iâm right, we only met once." Eva completely ignored Aceâs warning and playfully said as if she wasnât worried about Duchess suspecting anything.
"Donât be disrespectful now! Nomad meant well, so be grateful, or Iâll hold you accountable." Dread Duchess retorted before Ace could, as she found Evaâs words very disrespectful without even suspecting anything.
âI guess sheâs just clueless about these things.
Or she trusts Eva too much to be like her?â
Ace couldnât help but sigh in relief as he found Dread Duchess slightly less intimidating now, even somewhat cute.
Eva was the same and couldnât help but sigh as well, but for another reason,
âI guess itâs normal for Abyssal Beings to be so clueless about these emotions. They are born in this merciless environment and taught to fight for everything from birth. Even their parental love is based on their talent and bloodline density. Their curiosity is only provoked by strength and benefits, and their love is for those who can match their status and potential. I truly pity you...â
Ace could feel subtle changes in Evaâs emotions because of their connection, but didnât know the reason, while the Dread Duchess was simply clueless.
At this moment, Dread Duchessâs expression turned serious as she said, "Letâs talk about the entrance trial. Although I know about it and didnât tell you anything beforehand, even if I had, it would be meaningless because the entrance trial for the sanctuary is always different. However, there is one unchangeable fact about this trial, which is that you can die!"
Ace and Evaâs expressions turned serious when they heard this, and Dread Duchessâs eyes flashed with a cruel glimmer, "Thatâs why you both should be careful, because even if the Council is specifically opening the gate of the Evernight Sanctuary for Nomad, they wonât waste so many resources for just one person.
"So, just like my disciple has been given an invitation and allowed to enter the trial, this means other eligible candidates have been given the same privilege.
"Furthermore, even if Nomad had earned the right to enter the sanctuary without joining the council, he still has to clear the trial, and not even your âmasterâ can change that, and probably thatâs why you werenât warned about it before, or maybe this was your masterâs intention all along."
Dread Duchess, at this point, no longer judged Nomadâs masterâs intentions as too profound, and after what happened in the Black Hermit City, she thought that his master was training him by placing him in extreme situations.
Nonetheless, Dread Duchess still has her suspicion about his masterâs true motives, and she was even warned to keep a close eye on Nomad and report any suspicious activities or anything related to his master.
Furthermore, Dread Duchess was hiding another matter from Ace, related to the opening of the Evernight Sanctuary, but it also concerned âNomadâ, and he didnât know about it.
"Please donât worry, your highness, Iâll earn my access fair and square, and Iâll also look after Lady Evil Diva!"
Ace solemnly nodded as if he were ready for any challenge. Still, inwardly, he was cursing the council for being unreasonable after he had done so much for them, even helping that Evernight Devil King by âgiftingâ him that Ghost King!
Eva remained silent, but she had her own thoughts, especially after spending some time with Dread Duchess; she was more familiar with her than Ace.
Eva looked at Ace with a peculiar look in her eyes and said,
"Donât let your guard down; something is up.
They might try to probe your âmasterâ by doing something in this trial. I guess I shouldnât have created such a persona for you."
Ace easily saw through Evaâs real thought and couldnât help but sneer,
"Well, you sure donât feel like you are regretting it. You want to see the council suffer in my hands, for you know, as long as Abyssal Kings and Abyssal Grand Lords wonât get involved, they canât do anything to me or to the venerated E.V.A!"