Bloodline is a Cheat Code - Chapter 13

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

Chapter 13
“I’m simply poor at conversation. I apologize for displaying such inadequate preparation and causing you discomfort.”
You don’t even talk to me, and now you summon me here—how could anyone not feel uncomfortable?
“Didn’t the Young Lady and I have quite a lot to discuss?”
You’re the one who hasn’t contacted me all this time. If you have something to say, how long am I supposed to wait? I’m the Crown Prince, for heaven’s sake.
“The season for harvesting my preferred tea leaves has not yet arrived. Please understand my desire to serve you with the most precious and finest tea. In truth, I was examining House Delpoi, those loyal knights, to recommend them, but the preparations remain somewhat insufficient.”
You should give yourself time to prepare. Did you think the Crown Prince’s position would fall from the sky? I need to secure House Delpoi now, and you summoned me before I could even begin my strategy.
Between the two smiling figures, an invisible spray of blood crossed back and forth in their exchange.
Chess played with words—their pieces were falling chaotically now, leaving only the King and Queen on the board.
Meanwhile, my mind was spinning frantically.
When exactly had the two of them begun communicating separately like this?
I desperately hoped Serpina Rosena hadn’t actually committed that unprecedented act of subordinate threatening superior—blackmailing the Crown Prince himself.
Yet the vivid image of a man and woman in confrontation had already flashed through my mind.
‘Are you truly daring to threaten me, wagering the fate of the Prince’s Palace itself?’
‘For my sister’s safety, Your Highness, I would stake far more than the Prince’s Palace. What will you do? I am Serpina Rosena. More precious to Flotie than anyone else.’
If the Crown Prince, unable to withstand Serpina Rosena’s blackmail, had arranged this meeting to persuade me to reclaim my title as Young Duchess…
That possibility seemed slightly more plausible than mere affection driving his actions.
Damn it!
“Young Lady?”
Elian quickly prepared emergency medicine and a glass of water, pressing them toward me as she noticed my expression suddenly turning cold.
The Crown Prince and Haeston also moved swiftly, sensing my sudden change.
As if they feared I might suffer an attack.
I couldn’t tell them what I’d been thinking, so I obediently took the medicine and swallowed it.
“…I apologize, Your Highness. Would it be possible to continue our conversation a little later?”
“If you’re unwell, you should have said so from the start.”
He examined me with an inexplicably disappointed expression, then ignored Elian, Haeston, and my protests, personally guiding me to the bedchamber.
“Young Lady, if anything troubles you, ring the bell immediately. I’ll come.”
“Ah, no, Your Highness need not come personally.”
“The Prince’s Palace keeps only minimal staff—knights, maids, and servants—and most are inferior to me anyway, so it’s better I come. With so few people around, I’ve simply learned to manage things myself.”
Hearing such words from a Sword Master’s lips, I couldn’t bring myself to refuse.
For Serpina Rosena to have worn down the Imperial Family to this extent… this was practically a tightrope walk between rebellion and defiance.
After seeing him off, I sat on the bed with Elian’s support.
“This bedchamber is excessively ornate.”
“It was at Serpina Rosena’s request.”
I could infer the unspoken words that followed.
The powerless Third Prince of the Empire and the Young Duchess of Rosena Duchy—neither was in a position to unilaterally ignore the other’s requests.
But there was certainly more to it than that. I pressed my forehead briefly.
“I’m worried about Serpina Rosena.”
“You’ll be fine, Young Lady.”
“What choice did she make because of me…”
A poor older sister who knows nothing but me.
No matter what, she shouldn’t have done something so reckless as to blackmail the Prince!
Looking back now, I realize I made a critical mistake—I relied far too heavily on the one power I possessed: my ability to read people.
I should have known beforehand that even Flotie Rosena’s perceptiveness had its limits, and that love was a domain where such skills proved utterly useless.
* * *
“Doing nothing has been the bulk of my life’s work, so why has my daily routine become so tedious just because I’ve moved around a little lately?”
“Miss, you’ve been so busy these past two days. You need rest.”
“Elian, all I did was tour the Prince’s Palace a bit, take a walk, and have some pointless conversations with His Highness.”
The difficulty level had even dropped by now.
At first, there had at least been an exchange of probing questions, but now it seemed as though we were at some sort of matchmaking meeting—he was absorbed in discovering my personal preferences.
‘What beverages do you prefer?’
‘I haven’t had the experience of sampling many varieties, but if I had to choose, I would say black tea.’
‘Do you enjoy taking walks?’
‘I tire easily, but I’ve always found viewing scenery to be a pleasant activity. There’s a difference between seeing things from a carriage and walking while observing them. I’ve heard there are magical streetcars that allow one to travel without walking, but I worry about motion sickness and haven’t dared to ride one. Still, if the opportunity arose someday, I would like to try boarding one.’
Now that I thought about it, I seemed to have gotten carried away and said far too much.
Each time I visited, I tried to steer the conversation toward the Magic Tower or my sister, but I returned with little to show for it.
From what I gathered, the Prince himself hadn’t received a detailed explanation from my sister before suddenly being burdened with me.
Who in this world would be bold enough to entrust their own sibling to the Imperial Family like that?
“His Highness must find it difficult to suddenly bear such a burden as me.”
“A burden? Miss, you mustn’t demean yourself by calling yourself such a thing.”
Then again, my sister would have done the same even if she weren’t a minor duchess of Rosena—she’d have done it regardless. Her remarkable nature didn’t stem from her station.
“With Miss away from the mansion for so long, the Duke must be quite worried.”
“My sister explained everything to Father and Mother. And I sent a letter myself just to be safe.”
Besides, the Prince had even sent a formal invitation separately.
“Elian, shouldn’t you return to the mansion? You could go back for a bit and come again if you’d like. It won’t be any trouble for me. Aren’t you worried about things there?”
“Pardon?”
Elian, who had been quietly placing a dessert before me, paused for a moment.
She must have thought of the possibility of seeing ‘that man’—the child’s biological father—in this place.
I doubt she had any intention of doing anything in particular if they met.
After all, the girl had only repeated, with almost foolish devotion, ‘I simply pray that His Highness the Crown Prince will be happy.’
I regretted speaking when I saw her expression darken, but my feelings shifted shortly after.
“Actually, if I were to come to the Palace, I wanted to bring the child with me, but it hasn’t worked out as I hoped.”
Bring the child? Why?
My expression crumbled at her unexpected words, and she waved her hand awkwardly.
“No, I’m not planning to cause a fuss by bringing an imperial grandchild or anything like that. It’s just that his face has become hazy in my memory lately, and if we met, I wanted to know if the child resembles him.”
“Ha, I understand your feelings, but please refrain.”
“It’s merely a thought, so please don’t worry.”
“Can you refrain from even thinking about it?”
* * *
A few days prior, before the Magic Tower.
Serpina Rosena, the returner, fell into deep contemplation.
In my previous life, there were those who spoke words of love toward me, and I myself had felt a flutter of excitement for one of them.
In the end, I had resolved to overcome the sorrows of the past alongside all those people and build a life anew.
Because my revenge was complete.
‘Flotie.’
Yet it was only before that child’s grave that I came to understand—the profound loss I had once endured had never truly vanished from my heart.
The longing I had forcibly suppressed, believing myself healed, rose its head once more.
‘Tiae, something feels wrong about this place. Let’s stay somewhere else. Why don’t we go to the Magic Tower where my sister is instead.’
‘Ah, my sister….’
Unlike now, the Flotie of that time could barely rise from her bed, let alone walk for any length of time. She coughed blood whenever the moment permitted, and the space around her swarmed with fakes stationed to watch over her.
Flotie grasped my hand gently, as though she already knew everything.
Her hand, roughened and denuded by the potent medicine, brushed across the back of mine.
‘Sister, soon the private soldiers of House of Ross and House of Kenan will storm this place. You must prepare to flee.’
‘What are you saying.’
‘Go to the Magic Tower. They still oppose the Crown Prince. I’m so grateful I can tell you this story now that you’ve returned from the Magic Tower after so long. Sister, I have never once thought that because I was adopted, we ceased to be sisters. You will always be Rosena.’

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