Bloodline is a Cheat Code - Chapter 21

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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 21
“Uh….”
I hadn’t expected such a direct question.
I would have preferred to avoid this topic entirely, but I found myself averting my gaze without thinking.
Of course, at first I had harbored such suspicions. That Vincent was manipulating House Faneshula to spread various rumors about himself.
I had even speculated that all the scandals surrounding Lucian Advein might have been fabricated for that very reason.
“Until I heard Your Highness speak on the Terrace, I thought it might be possible. Of course, there’s still a possibility now… Would answering like this make me guilty of treason?”
“Ah, right now I’m not a prince but a passing Sword Master, so speak freely.”
It was amusing, truly.
I found myself laughing softly before continuing.
“Well, in any case… After hearing Your Highness speak on the Terrace, that possibility diminished somewhat.”
“Why is that?”
“The pretext that the young lady of House Faneshula presented to the Crown Prince was concern for his health.”
That something could harm Lucian Advein’s health. That possibility influenced Vincent’s decision.
Whether there was political intent behind it all—that he still had use for me—or whether it meant at least familial affection and propriety, the meaning remained singular.
Vincent had no intention of directly harming Lucian Advein. Rather, I suspected he was inclined toward protecting him.
“I don’t think my older brother is behind this either. House Faneshula does support him, but supporting someone and swearing loyalty are different things.”
I thought he would be troubled.
Yet Lucian Advein accepted my reasoning more readily than expected, regarding me with what seemed like admiration for having deduced this much.
“Now it’s my turn to ask a question. How did Your Highness come to know this?”
“Simple. I simply asked my older brother. Why he didn’t send an invitation to Genevre this time.”
The answer felt almost disappointingly straightforward. But I knew the reality was far more complex.
“Your Highness asked directly?”
“Well, I couldn’t very well send Haeston to do that.”
“And the Crown Prince answered you?”
“Willingly.”
“So Your Highness completely believed him.”
“Without a shred of doubt.”
“And in reality….”
“Lillian Faneshula grew frightened and confessed immediately, even spilling details about kidnapping and smuggling away a servant in the middle of it all.”
I was pleased to have guessed correctly, yet I wondered if I deserved such a satisfied expression.
“There must be some history between the two of you that I’m unaware of.”
“Perhaps.”
“Will there come a day when I might hear that story?”
“Is this a question necessary for our political alliance?”
Lucian Advein tilted his head slightly as he asked.
The distance between us had grown noticeably closer, and his hair caught the moonlight, gleaming white. The eye color he had concealed in blue until now gradually shifted to a deep crimson.
“Your Highness.”
“I know. There are no human presences nearby, so I’ve temporarily released the magic. Don’t worry about it. More importantly, young lady. You should answer my question first.”
Mesmerizing eyes. Eyes that made me forget the thread of conversation and stare into them endlessly.
“It’s merely curiosity to know Your Highness better. It has nothing to do with alliance.”
“Then this is friendship?”
“If I had to say… wouldn’t it lean more toward that?”
“It seems we still have a long way to go before we become truly intimate companions.”
Lucian Advein teased me by throwing back the words I had left on the Terrace.
“That was something you deliberately said to create rumors, wasn’t it?”
“To some extent. If it were said that Hailey Genevre and Flotie Rosena were intimate companions, high society would be in an uproar.”
“If it were said that Lucian Advein and Flotie Rosena were intimate companions, the entire Empire would be in an uproar.”
We exchanged jests back and forth, and without anyone starting first, we both burst into laughter.
* * *
“I’ll stage a rebellion.”
“Serpina!”
It was Serpina, not the Empire or high society, who caused the first commotion.
“I’ve already toppled one once, so bringing down another is nothing. Tiae, don’t worry about anything. I’ll handle everything myself.”
“That very statement of yours ending things is what could become the source of all problems!”
How did things come to this?
After the auction incident ended, the Capital had been in chaos for some time dealing with Lillian Faneshula’s affairs.
Jade Delpoi wanted to bring Lillian Faneshula before the court for attempting to tarnish his family’s honor with scandal.
‘To inflict such dishonor upon one who swore to devote his life to a woman and chose his own lord to become a true knight—such a crime is unforgivable regardless of reason!’
In truth, I was somewhat curious.
Why Lillian had become so obsessed with the man called Jade Delpoi, to the point of driving a wedge between two people.
I had entertained the small possibility that she might have genuinely harbored affection for him.
But the truth was utterly pathetic.
‘How dare he not escort me on the night of the ball. All the men were waiting so eagerly to offer me their hands.’
Lillian had said from the start that she never intended to marry Jade.
If Hailey and Jade were to break their engagement because of her, she would use various pretexts to make Jade appear as a thoroughly contemptible human and have him disappear somewhere. Then he would have taken his own life to preserve his honor.
That resentful face, which had surely believed she had been given an unforgettable humiliation, remained a face that understood nothing until the very end.
‘Father! Why must I go to the Convent? I truly did nothing wrong! It was what I always did, and no one even died! Father!’
Perhaps she didn’t realize that only because House Faneshula possessed such power could she get away with deceiving the Crown Prince and be confined to a Convent.
She probably didn’t know.
‘Hailey Genevre took no action against House Faneshula, I see.’
‘Yes, indeed. That way, it won’t lead Lillian to any reflection.’
Hailey answered while watching Lillian depart toward the Convent in a shabby carriage. There was nothing more she could do, she said.
Even if the intention was such, it was probably not she herself who began comparing herself to Lillian, and she couldn’t punish everyone who spoke such words, could she?
But having cleared herself of a crime she would have unjustly borne, that was sufficient.
‘And I was able to meet someone truly precious, like you, Flotie. If I could meet you again, I think I could endure even greater humiliation. That’s how valuable you were to me.’
‘No, if I must endure this level of humiliation again, I’d rather you never met me at all…’
After compromise, Hailey decided to address me as Flotie.
After that, to spend time alone together for the first time in ages, Jade and she departed for Genevre’s villa in the southern region.
Jade seemed unable to tear himself away, as if it made no sense to leave his lord behind…
‘Once you return, you’ll be busy with the path ahead, so finalize all the wedding plans while you’re away. There’s much to prepare in advance, so think it through carefully.’
Only after hearing those words did she depart, her face flushed crimson.
Now the matter was finally settled. Before leaving, Hailey Genevre had agreed to transfer half of her share of the mana stones extracted from the Mine to me as compensation for rescuing Genevre.
She had been so adamant about not accepting payment for the mana stones that it had been quite troublesome.
In the meantime, Serpina Rosena had formally concluded contracts with the Magic Tower regarding magical artifacts, and had decided to visit the Violet Family soon to discuss the distribution of magical artifacts.
If the Magic Tower, which directly opposed and resisted Vincent, were to acknowledge Lucian Advein’s legitimacy, it would become a tremendous asset. Serpina Rosena agreed that it would be wise to establish connections with the Violet Family, who possessed expertise in magical artifacts.
However, we had not yet decided whether to approach Aubrey Violet, who was ill, or Genesia Violet, who had left to marry, first. Either way, would Serpina Rosena take the initiative?
As I spent each day anticipating the sight of Serpina Rosena approaching someone first to make a friend and treating them with gentle kindness.
Everything began with a certain luxurious gift that arrived this morning.
“Tiae, this gift came addressed to you? I’ve checked it, but found no signs of curses or poison. In fact, there are traces of blessing magic.”

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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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