Bloodline is a Cheat Code - Chapter 58

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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 58
“Indeed, the Empire despises them so much that they’ve driven out both the Saint and the Holy Priestess from that land. They act as though divine power itself must not exist in that place.”
“In my personal opinion, I regard divine power as an incredibly precious and beautiful force.”
I hadn’t realized Lucian Advein was such a skilled conversationalist. He smoothly redirected the flow of dialogue toward me.
Naturally clarifying that his views were separate from those of the Empire.
“So you’re saying you don’t represent the Imperial Household’s position?”
“However, one cannot separate the Imperial Household from a prince, can they? Even if I am not the Crown Prince.”
Yet he subtly emphasized once more that he was a prince, hinting that this opinion, while not the Imperial Household’s official stance, could change should he ascend to a higher position.
When we ordinarily conversed, we would exchange various insults while maintaining an air of elegance, but witnessing him employ such deliberate rhetorical skill felt strangely novel.
Especially the audacity to speak such words before the King of the Holy Kingdom.
“I am quite fond of crystal. Of course, that is separate from the Kingdom’s active utilization of it as a material suited for channeling divine power—it is merely a matter of personal preference.”
“I’ve heard rumors that you possess a palace constructed from it.”
“For such tales to spread even to the Empire—it seems there truly are no secrets in this world.”
“Is it true?”
Lucian Advein pressed the question as though he had no intention of letting it pass as a jest.
Though it might have seemed discourteous, his smiling face softened the atmosphere considerably.
Even knowing it was impossible, I nearly found myself deceived into thinking he was genuinely curious.
“A palace of crystal—the Crystal Palace. The place where my treasures are said to be kept. I am aware that legends of this location have circulated even in the Empire. Some speculate that I preserve Pertona’s remains through divine power and mourn her alone.”
As I spoke with a soft laugh, my blood ran cold in that instant.
I regained my composure sharply.
Though he presents himself as favorable toward us, the person before me is my sister—the one who sent her younger sibling to marry into the Empire and lost her, unable even to recover her remains.
Whether from heartbreak or weakened constitution thereafter, the King and Queen soon passed from this world, and Melissa ascended the throne alone.
The Empire sent gifts to congratulate her enthronement, but she returned them, and all exchange between the two nations ceased entirely.
“I said I would give not crystal, but all my possessions if only I could have that child’s remains returned. Yet how unyielding the Imperial Household was at that time. Of course, since I was not yet Queen, my offering of everything a mere princess possessed would hardly have seemed significant.”
“….”
Even Lucian Advein, who had answered every word with eloquence, now fell silent and watched Melissa carefully.
Beneath that calm facade, her eyes brimmed with cold venom. Yet it was not directed solely at us.
Even those who serve the divine cannot shed all emotion. And who could maintain reason when it concerns a beloved family member?
I, who live as Serpina Rosena’s sister, understand this better than anyone.
“How could they tell the Holy Kingdom that they could not return the remains because illness might spread? I simply could not fathom what that meant, so I inquired repeatedly.”
“Ah….”
“I said that whatever poison and disease covered that child’s body, my divine power would suffice. I am a princess, but also this nation’s strongest Saint. Yet they refused without even listening. Even if the remains rotted, were torn, or fell completely to pieces—I begged them only to return her. Now, looking back, it was pitifully desperate. But they would not hear it.”
Her voice, stripped of emotion, echoed through the Hall.
It was the voice of one who had dwelt upon that time so long that even the anger to pour forth had been exhausted.
Melissa smiled gently, her face still brilliant and beautiful.
“Yet every woman who married the man who became my sister’s husband met death in similar circumstances.”
Melissa referred to the man who would become Emperor as her “sister’s husband.”
Lucian Advein made no objection to this manner of addressing his father and sovereign, merely listening with a darkened expression.
“Including the Empress, your mother.”
“Yes, I heard she passed suddenly from illness. Of course, since she took to her sickbed immediately after bearing me, I have no memory of that time.”
“It seems Your Highness was quite frail.”
“…Not originally, but I’ve heard that after I was born, he grew weak. Because of that, I was told my body would also be delicate, so for a long time I couldn’t even leave my room, let alone venture beyond the Palace.”
Lucian Advein seemed pained as he dredged up those memories, and I desperately hoped this conversation would end.
But Melissa appeared determined to extract some answer from him, even if she had to corner him.
As if she were certain he knew how his sister—the Empress—had died.
Even if he did know, I wished she would stop pressing him like this.
Regardless of right or wrong, Lucian Advein seemed unwilling, and he didn’t appear pleased at all.
Seeing his anguished face made me feel terrible, and for that selfish reason alone, I wanted to stop this situation.
“I’ve been told not to ask the Prince many questions, no matter how curious I am.”
“…Pardon?”
The moment I decided I could no longer watch and had to step in myself.
Melissa then abandoned her intention to torment him and unilaterally ended the conversation.
From a question about whether I liked Crystal, we’d been swept up in quite a tempest to reach this point.
As I blinked blankly, she laughed and rose to her feet.
“Let me show you my treasure. Follow me.”
Lucian Advein, thoroughly worn down, washed his face with his hands and barely managed to stand.
“It seems we’ve at least passed the minimum threshold for entry.”
“Passed what? It feels more like I’ve passed through the gates of hell.”
The atmosphere suggested she would have let him in anyway—I wanted to ask why she couldn’t have simply tormented him less. But I held my tongue.
As we spoke, Melissa had already walked far ahead, faster than anyone, disappearing into the distance.
“I’ll go first and check to make sure it’s safe, so follow slowly. Especially you, Tiae—don’t strain yourself trying to keep up. His Highness will sense my aura and find his way.”
Serpina Rosena gave me firm instructions before walking quickly after Melissa.
Ordinarily, a typical attendant would tell me to properly assist Lucian Advein.
But now Serpina Rosena was instructing him to look after me instead.
Setting aside whether this was appropriate, it seemed my sister had come to trust Lucian Advein quite a bit.
Normally she would have cast a spell on me to attend to me herself, but to leave me like this—surely that’s a good sign?
“The Young Duke seems quite anxious.”
“Is there anything more urgent for my sister to worry about than me?”
Was there something more pressing than when I had collapsed?
Ah, now that I think about it, there’s a high chance Aden Prince is at the Crystal Palace.
Perhaps my sister seized the opportunity to entrust me to someone so she could have time alone to speak with Aden Prince.
Her feelings haven’t been resolved yet. Rather than worrying about Vincent and Elian, I should have paid attention to that first. I just hope nothing terrible happened.
Still, my sister wouldn’t prevent the rightful person from ascending to the throne. I can only pray that Aden Prince hasn’t developed ambitions for the throne in the meantime.
“So all I need to do now is make sure nothing happens to the Young Lady? I usually only use a sword, but I can use magic a little—at least cooling 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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