Bloodline is a Cheat Code - Chapter 57

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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 57
What became clear amid all these thoughts was that I had naturally accepted a future of marrying Lucian Advein.
Flotie, if things continued to flow this way, as if fate itself were pushing us forward, and you ended up marrying Lucian Advein and binding yourselves as husband and wife—would that truly be acceptable?
I remember spending an entire night wrestling with such questions.
Thinking about it this way, I felt utterly shameless. He never promised to give me that position.
“Indeed, remaining merely as a fiancée in such turbulent circumstances could prove dangerous as well. The rumors have spread throughout the entire Empire, so people wondered why there was no betrothal at all.”
“Ha ha….”
Serpina Rosena laughed as if trying to respond in kind, but her voice was colder than ice.
It was clear that refraining from grabbing Lucian Advein right then and throwing him to the ground was the last measure of loyalty she could display. And I could not ask for anything more than that.
“You nearly met with great misfortune. This place is blessed by the Sun God, so it is extremely hot, and the heat is so intense that even our own people find it unbearable when it touches bare skin. That is why it would be better to wear long garments made from cloth woven directly by the Holy Kingdom. Otherwise, you will collapse again… I should have warned you beforehand.”
“I was aware of the high temperature, but failed to anticipate it properly. That was my own oversight.”
“And along with your sincerity, I also understand that you do not doubt me.”
“Thank you.”
“There is no need to thank me for knowing rather than believing. Lift your head. Your body is already weak, and if you maintain that posture any longer, you will collapse again. Let us sit on the sofa and talk.”
Knowing rather than believing?
I heard words that troubled me, but I could not bring myself to ask about them.
Caring for my body naturally took priority over pride, so I sat on the sofa made of white cloth. The cooling magic seemed to work well here—I found myself naturally taking deep breaths at how refreshing it felt.
Serpina Rosena naturally took the seat beside me and examined my body carefully before the priestess summoned by Melissa arrived.
“Is your skin scraped? Let me see.”
“When I regained consciousness, all of that had already been healed. It seems the saintess who was nearby took care of everything. I’m sorry for worrying you.”
“It’s not your fault. Was there truly no one else nearby? What on earth was the Maid doing?”
Serpina Rosena looked as though she wanted to dismiss Elian for failing to properly attend to me.
No. That cannot happen.
“Minabell checked her thoroughly at first, and there was nothing wrong then. Now that I think about it, it seems the temperature suddenly rose partway through.”
This was the strange part that persisted throughout our entire journey to the Palace. If Minabell and Elian had checked repeatedly and found nothing, then everything must have been fine initially.
The cooling magic suddenly cut off during the journey, causing our response to be delayed. None of us knew how to use magic, and Minabell later used a special magical tool sold at the status window exclusive shop to hastily escape to the Palace.
“I should thank Minabell. I ought to reward her as well.”
“Purchasing such an item costs a great deal. It seems you need some kind of academic Achievement, which is why Minabell wants to enter the Magic Tower.”
“The Magic Tower? The Magic Tower offers many opportunities to learn and create things. Especially since magical tool development is quite active there.”
Serpina Rosena nodded as if it were a good choice.
“However, Marquis Cherita and his wife seem to dislike getting involved in troublesome matters, so if it’s alright, could you perhaps make the appropriate connections for her? Write a letter of recommendation, for instance.”
“Tiae, how can you think of others first even in this state? How can you be so kind.”
Well, it was because I had no points or whatever to spend, and I had just witnessed Minabell in real time having her rings and necklaces stripped away into thin air, so I felt terribly guilty about it….
As Serpina Rosena pulled me into an embrace, I glanced sideways at Lucian Advein.
The moment our eyes met, I realized I had thought of him quite a lot during the few days we had not seen each other.
Perhaps it was not merely thinking of him, but actually wanting to see him.
“Is it now my turn to worry?”
He, who had been wearing a somewhat uncomfortable expression, opened his mouth bluntly.
I wondered what was bothering him so much, and then I realized this was the problem. Indeed, had I not rushed in recklessly and nearly ruined everything?
I had made such confident assurances that nothing would happen, yet I collapsed from heat exhaustion in the carriage and barely managed to escape.
I slipped gently from Serpina Rosena’s embrace and lowered my head slightly.
“I’m terribly sorry. On such an important day, I have no excuse for my behavior.”
“If only you were my fiancée—then I could use that as a reason to keep you at my side. But with rumors spreading unchecked and nothing I can do about it, I’m going absolutely mad with frustration.”
Lucian Advein spoke in an unusually heated tone, though his demeanor seemed less angry than genuinely distressed.
Troubled by his uncharacteristic display, I didn’t even fully process what he’d said before responding obediently.
“Then… shall we do that?”
Melissa, who had been returning to her seat, froze at the words that tumbled from my lips unbidden.
“How fortunate you both are to pledge your betrothal before the Saint herself.”
Lucian Advein’s eyes widened considerably.
My expression likely mirrored his shock as I finally grasped the meaning of what I’d just said.
What on earth did I just say? Wait, just a moment…
Serpina Rosena collapsed sideways beside me. I stifled a cry and reached toward her.
Melissa smiled with an air of awkwardness and opened her mouth.
“She doesn’t seem to have succumbed to the heat, at least.”
* * *
“While I would welcome becoming personally acquainted with you all, I shall speak plainly. Should Vincent Crown Prince ascend to the throne, the Arbium Holy Nation will sever all relations with the Selvia Empire and regard it as an enemy state immediately.”
After Serpina Rosena regained her composure and the situation settled, Melissa delivered yet another bombshell declaration.
Melissa concluded her statement in an utterly serene tone, then sipped her fruit tea with floating ice.
Regard it as an enemy. Words had emerged from a nation’s monarch that could not be denied or refuted.
The Holy Nation’s direct repudiation of Vincent’s legitimacy left us all speechless.
“Had the Crown Prince visited, I would have told him this directly, but such an opportunity never materialized. When you return, I trust you will convey my resolve with absolute clarity and without the slightest omission. Do not worry. Should Vincent Crown Prince ascend to the throne, I shall gladly grant asylum to Prince Aden and his future bride’s family.”
“Then…”
Does the Holy Nation support Prince Aden instead? The moment that thought crossed my mind, Melissa turned her gaze toward the window.
“Do you all have a fondness for crystals?”
Crystals—a word I’d been anticipating, yet its meaning here eluded me entirely.
Knowing this subject required the utmost delicacy, I refrained from speaking hastily and simply observed Melissa.
Melissa studied our reactions, meeting each of our eyes in turn. I couldn’t shake the unsettling sensation that she was reading our innermost thoughts.
‘Something feels off about this. When I get this feeling, my instincts are usually right.’
It wouldn’t be surprising if a Saint possessed the ability to discern truth from falsehood in someone’s words.
Since Serpina Rosena and I were merely attendants accompanying him, we waited tactfully for Lucian Advein to speak.
We two noble ladies had come along to reinforce the image of a prince being directly attended by one of the Empire’s most powerful aristocratic families. If either of us interjected now, it would only undermine that impression.
“Crystals are not particularly popular minerals within the Empire. Of course, setting that aside, I personally find them quite beautiful.”
Lucian Advein answered calmly, as if on cue. At least he’d opened the conversation.
He hadn’t given the impression of a prince swayed by a ducal house.
“They are unpopular within the Empire, you say?”
“Yes, because crystals possess exceptionally high purity and are ideal for channeling holy power.”
“…”
I hadn’t expected such a direct confrontation.
Without thinking, I glanced at Lucian Advein’s profile. He gazed at Melissa with an untroubled smile.
It was common knowledge that the Empire currently rejected holy power.
But speaking openly about such matters to the lord of that place was another matter entirely—unless one was deliberately trying to provoke him.

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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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