Bloodline is a Cheat Code - Chapter 50
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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 50
But there was no point in saying such things now. My awkward smile shifted the conversation to another topic.
“In any case, there’s no real problem with Tiae using that passage. However, the Young Duke and I plan to take the magical carriage.”
“Ah, that magical contraption. Quite the remarkable invention. In the past, we could only hope for horse-drawn carriages, nothing more.”
I wanted to ride in that magical carriage too.
“The passenger cabin has a bedroom for rest, so it should be quite comfortable. It will take approximately three days, so Tiae can remain at the Magic Tower during that time and move through the passage there to meet us upon our arrival.”
“You want me to stay alone at the Magic Tower for three days…?”
“You can take Elian with you. As for your friend Minabell, it’s a bit complicated to bring her along this time. We haven’t discussed the details with her yet.”
After all, House Cherita’s goal was to keep things quiet.
Simply mentioning a trip to the Holy Kingdom would cause a stir, and this was a procession following the Third Prince no less.
It was practically announcing our expulsion from the household.
It was about time for Minabell’s status window to graduate anyway.
“What about Father and Mother’s permission?”
“I’ve already obtained it. I told them we were visiting the Holy Kingdom for your treatment, and they simply said to have a safe trip.”
“They didn’t object at all?”
“Not at all.”
Perhaps I didn’t truly know my parents as well as I thought. I had only ever seen them as loyal servants.
Though judging from how they cursed Vincent last time, they were far from ordinary.
“Then I won’t see you for three days. I’d hate for you to find another master in that time. Or decide to stay at the Magic Tower permanently.”
Lost in my own thoughts, Lucian Advein’s voice cut through my reverie.
Why did that sound like he was scolding a lover for wandering eyes?
I blinked involuntarily, meeting his gaze. Those crimson eyes were drawing closer.
Behind him, Serpina Rosena wore an expression suggesting she might draw the blade at his waist and cut him down at any moment.
I understood this was the moment I should stop her, but my heart was racing from the intensity of the scene—or was it panic? Either way, I couldn’t bring myself to move.
All I could do was defuse the situation with a joke.
“I lack any talent for magic, so even if I begged, the Magic Tower would refuse me. Please don’t worry. These days, my real concern is how to protect myself at all.”
“Tiae, your sister will always be by your side. Why would you worry about such things?”
“But I can’t rely on you forever. I’d like to learn even basic self-defense, but I can’t wield a sword, my body can’t handle magic, and divine power is out of the question.”
What began as a jest had turned bitter.
A noblewoman had no hidden strength to speak of.
* * *
On the day of departure for the Holy Kingdom, I headed to Violet’s Estate to teleport ahead before the official departure time.
That’s when I discovered Minabell crouching forlornly in front of the gate.
“Minabell! What on earth is going on!”
I nearly stumbled backward as if I’d seen a ghost.
Minabell, whose face had been so sorrowful it seemed tears might spill at any moment, jumped to her feet the instant she saw me.
Though the weather was growing warmer, dawn was still cold, and I had no idea how long she’d been waiting here.
“Tiae!”
“Why are you alone out here? You should have called someone if you came.”
“I came because today is the day you’re leaving. If I called out, word would reach my family immediately, so I just waited.”
She was speaking solemnly when a sniff and the sound of her swallowing snot shattered the atmosphere entirely.
So the status window tells me everything about where I’m headed.
I waited for her to speak, wondering if there was a reason she’d come all this way to see me, when a bombshell statement dropped.
“I’m thinking of going to the Holy Kingdom with you.”
“What? I was certain your family wouldn’t permit it.”
I’d tried to keep everything secret to avoid dragging Minabell into this, but she possessed a terrifying weapon called the status window.
She’d managed to discover that we were moving and questioned me about it directly, and I couldn’t evade her out of fear of being cut off.
I didn’t explain the details, and I only gave her a brief account of how we’d be going to the Holy Kingdom in secret. When I first told Minabell, her initial reaction was the same.
She said her parents probably wouldn’t allow it, but she’d try her best to get permission first. She said she desperately wanted to go too.
But since she hadn’t said anything after that, I assumed it had fallen through. Yet somehow she’d managed to get approval….
“So I ran away from home right now.”
“What?”
Of course I understood what the word “runaway” meant. But this was the first time I’d heard of a young lady of the house running away.
Without thinking, I stared at Minabell with a blank expression. She laughed awkwardly, then deliberately continued with forced confidence.
“I did this when I was little too. Whenever my parents wouldn’t let me do something I wanted, I’d just run away first, do it anyway, come back home, and get scolded.”
“Is that really okay?”
“That’s just the fate of a firstborn daughter. You have to gradually break their expectations before it’s too late so you can find room to breathe. Of course, if the Empire had a law that executed noble children for running away, that would be a problem.”
Naturally, no such thing was written in Imperial law.
Given the nature of House Cherita, if a daughter took independent action like this and returned without causing major trouble, there was a possibility they wouldn’t hold her accountable.
But even so, this was far too reckless.
“You left without saying anything, even though it could take days? Minabell, I understand your feelings and I’m truly grateful, but that’s too dangerous.”
“I left a letter just in case. I poured all my persuasion points into writing that letter, so it should be fine. At worst, I’ll just be grounded when I get back! Probably!”
I’d never felt as worried by the word “probably” as I did today.
But seeing Minabell’s ice-cold body, my resolve weakened. Moreover, she’d made such a tremendous decision just because she wanted to go with me.
I blinked, then finally sighed.
“Even if you come along, you won’t be treated as Minabell Cherita there. I’ll probably have to disguise you as my servant—is that acceptable?”
“It’s fine. Like I’ve said several times, I come from a service industry background, and with a customer like you, I can handle anything.”
Just what kind of grueling work was this “service industry”? I tried to imagine it, but it was utterly impossible.
“You really are something I can’t win against.”
I frowned slightly, then relaxed my expression and led Minabell toward the carriage. Serpina Rosena, who was waiting inside, raised one eyebrow as if asking what on earth was happening.
“This is going to take a while to explain, sister.”
“Hello, sister. I just wanted to follow you to the Holy Kingdom, so I ran away from home. Since you need to meet someone there, it’s safer to bring one more person anyway. And since I’m an adult, I can also protect Tiae well in unexpected situations.”
“An adult… I see.”
Serpina Rosena was someone who could accept the discrepancy that came from age and time more easily than I could. It made sense, given that she herself belonged to that category.
Still, she seemed concerned about the runaway aspect and confirmed several times whether it was really okay.
“Yes, I told them I was following you for now. In reality, I plan to stay by Tiae’s side though.”
“It’s not difficult to increase the personnel going to the Magic Tower… but whether to list you as Minabell Cherita in the Delegation or create a false identity is something I’ll need to discuss with His Highness. You speak as if you already knew this would all work out somehow.”
“I didn’t know everything. My status window was recently upgraded, so when I want something, it shows me the most viable route. Of course, I still have to do the legwork to achieve it, but knowing the strategy helps.”
It was a continuous stream of words I didn’t know where to begin understanding. I simply sat in the carriage first while listening blankly.
* * *
There was one more person who came to see me off the day before I departed for the Magic Tower, besides Serpina Rosena.
“Your Majesty from the Empire….”
“Spare me the formalities. I must escort Rosena back and return to the Palace at once with the Young Duke.”
“I told you I could go alone.”
“How could I let you go unaccompanied? Besides, the Young Duke would never have permitted it either.”
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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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