Bloodline is a Cheat Code - Chapter 15
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 15
“….”
Serpina Rosena broached the melancholy topic as though it were nothing, then her expression shifted to one of slight regret.
“I didn’t mean to sadden you, Tiae.”
“I know, Serpina. That’s precisely why we’re all doing our best like this—so you won’t have to wander outside alone again. Such things won’t happen anymore. Of course, your knowledge has been tremendously helpful, but….”
Had I been alone, I might have agonized over how to resolve this, only to collapse in despair.
“Are there any mana stone mines that haven’t been auctioned off yet, or any undeveloped sites? It would be wonderful if we could acquire one.”
“Hmm….”
Serpina Rosena rested her chin thoughtfully, lost in contemplation.
She had mentioned that her regression occurred in her late twenties.
Naturally, it would be difficult to recall nearly a decade of memories.
“Take your time thinking about it, would you?”
“Of course. Besides, I’ve already arranged to have tea with Genevre this afternoon, so I’ll discuss it with her as well.”
“Alright.”
“Things tend to go well when discussing mana stone ore with her, so having our own would bring me greater peace of mind. There’s no need to strain yourself over it, Serpina. Look—the maid you so carefully arranged has fainted over there.”
* * *
“Thank you for the invitation, Miss Rosena.”
“We appreciate the invitation.”
A man and woman descended from the carriage and bowed respectfully to me.
One was Hailey, and the other was a tall man escorting her.
With a sturdy build and a face that radiated kindness to anyone who looked upon it, he inspired confidence. Learning of his past life only strengthened that impression.
Jade Delpoi. In the previous timeline he sided with Vincent, but this time I wished to draw him into Lucian’s service.
“The pleasure is mine for your visit. As I mentioned in my letter beforehand, this is a small gathering, so I hope you’ll forgive the modest arrangements.”
“Not at all. We’re already deeply grateful simply to have been invited.”
Hailey spoke with genuine warmth in her expression.
Why such gratitude? I laughed somewhat bashfully, and just as I began to move forward slowly, a shadow fell beside me.
“If your partner has an escort, shouldn’t a young lady receive one as well?”
A smooth voice reached my ear from beside me. I glanced up to see him smiling with silver hair and blue eyes.
It was Lucian Advein.
To my eyes his face was identical, but surely to others his impression seemed somewhat different.
I smiled slightly and readily accepted his escort, then turned back to Hailey and Jade Delpoi.
“Allow me to introduce you. This is Sir Luxe, a party guest today and my partner for the evening. He was recently appointed as a knight.”
“A knight….”
As expected, Jade Delpoi reacted immediately.
Lucian Advein smiled gently and readily extended his hand for a handshake with Jade Delpoi.
Haeston had said that Lucian Advein was truly a reckless scoundrel, yet in everything I’d witnessed thus far, I could find no trace of such behavior.
If all of this were an act, it would be remarkable either way.
“Jade Delpoi.”
“Luxe Allen.”
From the mere light clasp of hands, Jade Delpoi seemed to have discerned just how much strength Lucian Advein possessed.
I’d said there was no need to hide being a Sword Master, and now he was already revealing it.
Jade Delpoi blinked for a moment before releasing my hand. Lucian Advein naturally resumed his role as my escort and stepped into the Mansion.
Minabell and Haeston, who had arrived earlier, were waiting inside.
‘Don’t I need to bring a partner as well?’
‘His Majesty has graciously agreed to lend Sir Haeston to you.’
‘Really? Is he… comfortable with this?’
‘Such matters are of little concern to him.’
Haeston had been forcibly brought along, yet he didn’t seem particularly displeased about it.
He’d mentioned having a woman on his mind, but I suppose that didn’t matter. I dismissed the thought quickly.
I settled into my seat and began the tea party. It was best to start with trivial matters.
I feigned ignorance and opened my mouth.
“Sir Delpoi, when is the wedding between you two scheduled? As far as I know, your engagement has been in place for quite some time.”
Jade Delpoi paused, his teacup suspended in his hand.
A noblewoman confined to her chambers due to illness, ignorant of the world’s affairs.
And the youngest daughter of the Rosena Family—the one who had rescued his fiancée from danger and could shake the very foundations of the Faneshula Family.
So, faced with this conveniently useful card, how would you answer?
Soon his lips moved.
“Lady Lillian Faneshula is targeting Genevre.”
Minabell and I exchanged bewildered glances.
I hadn’t expected this topic to surface so suddenly. What did he mean by “targeting”?
I thought I’d done a decent job of playing the innocent, but it seemed the conversation had taken an entirely different turn.
“Targeting? That’s quite a surprising direction for an answer to a question about your wedding.”
In other words: what are you talking about?
To be precise, it would be Faneshula targeting Genevre.
Wouldn’t it be more reasonable to assume she also wanted to solidify her support for the Crown Prince through marriage to Delpoi?
Yet the man before me stated with such unwavering conviction that the true target was Genevre.
Revealing this to me, someone seeing it for the first time, seemed reckless no matter how I considered it.
“Jade!”
“I apologize for startling you with such an abrupt statement, my lady. However, there is something I must request, even if it means being discourteous.”
Even Genevre seemed to recognize that this statement was akin to a bomb, her composure visibly shaken.
“I’m truly sorry, my lady. I had no idea Jade intended to say such things…”
“It is certainly… surprising.”
I could hazard a guess as to why he was telling me this.
According to rumors, Flotie Rosena could rescue Genevre without regard for Faneshula’s displeasure. And she’d even drawn the youngest of Violet’s family to her side, ruining the Reading Circle.
Moreover, there were whispers that she was particularly close to Cherita, the one stirring up high society these days.
‘Even if Flotie Rosena weren’t particularly clever, the Rosena Family might still be wary of Faneshula upon hearing of their schemes.’
He might have reasoned thus.
Still, such a reckless move was unexpected. This wasn’t a private meeting between just the two of us—Minabell and Haeston were here, along with a knight of unknown identity.
Lucian Advein chose to remain silent for now, observing the situation with an impassive expression.
Wouldn’t it be better if I feigned shock? His composure was making this all the more suspicious.
“I’m aware that the rumors of Lillian Faneshula continuously sending marriage proposals to me have already spread throughout the Capital.”
“….”
Haeston, who had been desperately trying to dissuade Jade until that moment, fell silent with a face that darkened in an instant.
“Mm.”
“Already, because of me, Haeston is being compared back and forth with the young lady of Faneshula and suffering humiliation. How can a knight become one and fail to properly protect the honor of the woman he loves?”
“No, Jade. I’m really fine with it.”
I hadn’t bothered to pay attention to such things. There was no point in learning what insults others were hurling—it would only make me feel worse.
“Haeston told me so. She said that though you surely know everything, you pretend not to know for the sake of our honor and dignity.”
“….”
“I realized it just now when you naturally stated that we would obviously marry. You’re not someone who would be swayed by such gossip.”
Of course I wouldn’t be swayed—I’ve never cared for such rumors in the first place.
Minabell hunts down gossip all day long, still crying for more, and she carefully filters what I actually need to know and tells me.
Just listening to her leaves me gasping to keep up.
But sometimes, misunderstandings can be useful.
Like Lucian Advein, who stays quiet and doesn’t meddle at the right moments….
“True. It does raise the question of whether someone who can’t even protect his own woman deserves to be a knight serving his lord.”
Damn it!
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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