Are MZ Shamans In Trouble In Romance Novels? - Chapter 38

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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38.

A few days later-.

-Thus the first emperor who founded Arkea….

“Finally!”

Calisia, who had been listening to the Previous Head of House’s academy theory special lecture, roughly tore off and threw away the cloth wrapped around her eyes. As her blurry vision suddenly brightened, the stuffiness she had felt all this time seemed to fade a little.

“Stop! Stop!”

Calisia bolted upright from the bed and waved her hands wildly at the air.

-What’s wrong with you.

The Previous Head of House, who had been reciting Arkea’s founding history, clasped his hands behind his back and looked down at Calisia.

“You’re asking because you don’t know?”

During the several days she had lived as a blind person, the most torturous thing had been the Previous Head of House’s human audiobook. Despite the doctor’s orders that she should rest, he had arbitrarily forced entrance exam preparation classes on her. What strain could there be in just lying down and listening, he said.

-I am not human though.

“That’s exactly the problem. I almost got sleep paralysis.”

No matter how much of a shaman she was, how could her energy not be drained when a ghost stuck right next to her chattering all day long?

-With your current brain, even 24 hours wouldn’t be enough to get into the academy.

“Sorry old man, but this brain thing is what sick kids use. As you know, I-.”

Calisia poked her cheek with her tongue and ignited blue flames above her palm.

“I’m the owner of blue flames.”

-Acting all high and mighty with just a palm-sized flame.

The Previous Head of House made a displeased expression as if he couldn’t bear to watch such an eyesore.

-You seem to be under some misunderstanding, so let me tell you. Just because you have blue flames doesn’t mean your life has become tremendously easy.

After completing the ritual, Calisia’s life had become more prosperous and luxurious than ever before. It was thanks to the endless flattery and gift offensive from servants and retainers. So it wasn’t strange that she had become quite conceited.

-Playing king a bit inside the Northern Castle and you’ve already become arrogant. Well, from your position, the things you’re enjoying now must seem quite impressive.

The things Calisia considered special treatment were originally what she should have naturally enjoyed as direct lineage.

“But I have the noble blue flames?”

-That’s exactly why you’ve become more dangerous. Regardless of your intentions, you’ve been placed at the forefront of the succession structure. Now all the eyes of the family will be watching you.

Having extraordinary power meant conversely that you had to constantly be put on the testing table. This was especially true for those like Calisia who had no backing forces to support them.

-Among them, there will be those who are constantly looking for opportunities to harm you.

“But the Valus family’s reverence for blue flames was quite blindly devoted.”

-Valus only worships strength in the end. If you show weakness, they’ll mercilessly try to devour you. Besides, are there only Valus in this family? You have to think about the in-laws.

For example, even though they both had blue flames, the eldest son Cain and Calisia were different. He had reliable maternal relatives who would gladly become his backing even if he weren’t a Valus. And above all, Cain himself was like a force of his own. It was thanks to the tremendous power he possessed. It was said that except for the Head of House, there was no one in the family who could defeat him. A completely different evaluation from someone who carried around a fist-sized goblin.

-It’s also an ancestor’s duty to enlighten descendants about reality. Let me tell you a story. Since the Valus name established itself in the Empire, no branch family member or illegitimate child has ever risen to the position of Head of House. Do you know why?

“Because they lacked power?”

-Half right, half wrong. Among them were those who had power comparable to the direct line. However, they lacked backing to protect them until that power could fully bloom. Valus worships strength. But that doesn’t mean it represents justice.

Those who couldn’t even win a single power struggle within the family couldn’t become Head of House. Even if it stemmed from the limitations of their birth, there were no exceptions. Overwhelming power that completely offset all innate disparities and went further to devour them. That was the kind of strength Valus pursued.

“….”

Calisia’s blue flames weakly died down. Though the Previous Head of House didn’t say it, the fate of those who couldn’t sit on the throne would have been death.

-Do you understand what I mean now? Calisia Valus. You are currently placed all alone in very great danger.

The Previous Head of House’s expression sank heavily.

***

“Isaac. What do you think are the chances of the Second Wife poisoning me?”

Calisia, who had been lying spread-eagle on the bed eating bread, suddenly turned over. According to the Previous Head of House, she had now fallen into the huge trap of in-laws. The person to watch out for was naturally Sela, the Second Wife. If the story she was thinking of was correct, that woman had already killed two people. What was stopping her from killing a third now?

-Young Miss. Don’t worry about useless things and please get up to eat your meal.

Isaac made all sorts of faces looking at the bread crumbs that had fallen on the bed. Why did she always lie down to eat when there was a perfectly good dining table?

“That woman has killed two people already!”

-Young Miss. If you eat lying down, never mind appearances, your stomach and esophagus will all be damaged.

Isaac, with an indifferent expression, casually dismissed Calisia’s words.

“Esophagitis isn’t the problem right now. Look. Oh right! This tomato chili soup! Doesn’t this seem perfect for adding poison with its taste and thick red color?”

This too. That too. Calisia stabbed at all the food placed on the table while speaking. As she talked, everything began to seem suspicious.

-Oh my. Where in this world is there a Valus who dies from eating poison? Moreover, Young Miss is the owner of blue flames.

“Are Valus made of steel or something? Perfectly fine even after eating poison?”

Calisia asked while waving her arm that couldn’t even overcome muscle pain.

-Young Miss, why do you think Valus’s red flames are called flames that devour everything?

“Skip the intro and just get to the point.”

-Valus’s red flames burn everything. Even if it’s poison that enters the body.

Isaac sighed, wondering how she could be so ignorant about the family’s flames. Of course, having blue flames didn’t solve everything. The flesh that could be stabbed and cut by spears and swords was still human. But they wouldn’t fall to mere poison entering the body.

“…Really?”

Calisia, who had been quietly rolling her eyes, nodded and picked up another piece of bread. At least the burden about poison was lessened.

-Yes. So please stop worrying now and finish your meal. Get up!

Isaac screamed in horror as Calisia tried to lie back down on the bed.

***

“Did you look into the Valus who died of illness or sudden death?”

Calisia threw a question at Isaac who had just entered the bedroom without even a greeting. No matter how many days she thought about it, she was the Second Wife’s next target. So the matter had to be urgent.

-Yes. In the past ten years, excluding subjugation or combat, there were a total of 10 Valus who died of illness or sudden death. Three from the direct line, five from influential branch families, two in important positions.

“What about the Grand Lady? Tell me about the Grand Lady first.”

Calisia, who had been sitting in a chair, leaned forward and adjusted her posture.

-As I mentioned before, the Grand Lady was originally weak in health. She had been bedridden for a very long time. But if I had to pick when her condition particularly worsened, it would be about 8 years ago.

Calisia’s eyes narrowed with a meaningful light. About 8 years ago perfectly matched the timing of the poisoning incident Thomas had witnessed.

“How did it worsen?”

-There were no particularly new symptoms. She couldn’t eat properly as usual, and had trouble breathing too.

Indigestion, chills, headaches, bloody stool, insomnia, etc. Isaac recited the Grand Lady’s symptoms in succession.

“And also.”

-That’s really all there is. Young Miss. You seem to have completely missed the mark about the Grand Lady.

“Think carefully. There must have been something even slightly different.”

Calisia pressed Isaac. All her instincts pointed to the Grand Lady’s death being unusual. Valus couldn’t be killed with poison. But the case was different for the wives. Though the Valus surname followed their names, their bodies were not Valus.

-Ah! She originally had insomnia, but at some point she couldn’t wake up from sleep. But this was because her body became too weak right before she passed away….

“It could have been from being drugged. What about the people around her? Tell me even the smallest things. Especially about Cain.”

Children were more perceptive and quick-witted than expected. Without prejudice, they sometimes saw more than adults. Especially from what she heard before, Cain was hostile toward the Second Wife. There must be a reason for that.

-Hmm. Around the time she passed away, I heard she often had fits. They said she had troubled sleep. Young Master Cain cried a lot. He said the Grand Lady couldn’t sleep because of scary monsters. Since he was young, he probably described the nightmares the lady had that way.

“Monsters…. Was she suffering from hallucinations due to poisonous herbs?”

Calisia bit her lip. Somehow, the more questions she asked, the more doubts piled up. It felt like the story was going in circles.

“About Cain. You said he cherished me from when he was young. Why? Why me specifically when there were other outstanding brothers in the family?”

Of course, it could be because his little sister was cute. But that wasn’t the only one, was it? Rael was right there. If her guess was correct, perhaps the two children had shared something with each other. For example, a sense of camaraderie from losing their mothers to the same person’s hands.

-Well. Originally kids become close and sulk for no reason.

“Then isn’t there anything like places you frequently went or things you said?”

-Wait a moment. Let me think about it. I didn’t see you and the Young Master very often.

Isaac, placing his hand on his forehead, made a humming sound as he fell into thought. It was so long ago, and since he wasn’t a nanny or direct attendant, he rarely had opportunities to closely interact with the direct lineage.

-Ah! There’s one thing! Long ago, there was a time when Aunt Ellen frequently went in and out of the kitchen. Asking them to remake the meal for the Fourth Wife. She said Young Miss kept saying it was bitter and throwing tantrums.

Isaac recalled Ellen’s dejected figure trudging to the kitchen.

“Me?”

-Yes. She also said you would know like a ghost if they didn’t bring out new food. And one day she said Young Master Cain had joined that bitter game too, giving her quite a headache.

At the mention of the bitter game, Calisia recalled the eventful family meal from before.

-Why? Baby? Is this bitter too?

She was thinking of Cain, who would suddenly thrust some strange necklace forward and ask if it was fake.

-I don’t know exactly. Young Master Cain would just bring something and Young Miss would say it was fake. But it wasn’t just once or twice.

Calisia tilted her head back and closed her eyes. She had a feeling she knew what secret the two children had shared.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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