Heiress Unmasked: Shaking the World With Geomancy novel Chapter 2088

Both Shannon and Serelith meant those words. Sometimes, all it took to shatter a lifetime of loyalty was a single moment of truth. At that moment, her family had failed her.

Maeric's fury was through the roof. He pointed at Shannon and rebuked, "Y-You would rather believe this spirit's words than trust your father and brother?

"Are you truly siding with an outsider, a ghost, against your own family?"

Originally, he had thought that if his daughter possessed knowledge of strange arts, it might one day be useful to him.

However, it seemed she chose to attack Fenric and aid a ghost. She hardly seemed like someone who could be of any use to him.

Shannon, unfazed by his accusation, remained calm. "Demons and spirits may lie, but their lies are easily discerned."

She continued, her gaze steady, "If she dares to swear by the Divine Power, then what she says must be the truth. But tell me, Lord Maeric and Lady Elysia, are you willing to swear by the Divine Power to vouch for your son?"

Without waiting for them to speak, she added coldly, "An Oath to the Divine Power is unlike any ordinary vow. The one who swears must be prepared for the consequences."

Pointing to Aurelia, she explained, "Take her, for example. If she swears an oath but cannot prove her karmic debt with Marcellus and, in fact, had harmed him, she will receive divine retribution.

"Likewise, if you swear falsely on his behalf, you will face the same punishment."

The so-called judgment of facts was determined by the Divine Power, and there was no need for further debate.

Elysia and Maeric were eager to speak in defense of Marcellus, but upon hearing about the potential punishment, they strangely fell silent.

It seemed they, too, understood what kind of person Marcellus truly was deep down.

As the couple lapsed into silence, a voice, neither wholly masculine nor entirely feminine, rang out from Marcellus' mouth. It was firm and resolute.

"I swear by the Divine Power that everything I have said is the truth, and all my actions are a matter of cause and effect!

"If I lie, may the sky strike me with thunder, my soul scatter, and may I be condemned to the path of beasts for eternity!"

The resolute and determined oath carried the weight of all the grudge Aurelia had once harbored.

"Now that she has sworn an Oath to the Divine Power, the matter between her and your son is no longer within my power to intervene."

"What's the meaning of that?" she asked, dazed.

Gideon explained calmly, "It means that from now on, whatever she does—whether right or wrong—will be judged by the Divine Power."

If the Divine Power deemed Aurelia's actions unjust, especially if she harmed Marcellus, then as her oath declared, she would face divine retribution.

If the judgment fell in her favor, then as a mystic of the sacred path, Gideon no longer held the authority to punish her on his own.

As he spoke, he couldn't help but glance toward Shannon.

From her words earlier, it was clear she was of the Ignis family as well, yet she had proposed the oath not merely to confirm Aurelia's claims.

Beneath it, she had also done so to bind his actions, ensuring he could no longer act against Aurelia.