Bloodline is a Cheat Code - Chapter 62

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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 62
The unfamiliar yet endearing pet name slipped from my lips before I could stop myself. I felt Lucian Advein’s body stiffen in response.
How fortunate that Haeston and Elian—or any of the other servants—hadn’t entered this space. Had they heard that nickname, they would have struggled far more than we did to maintain their composure.
“Ah, is such an informal form of address unsettling? But I abandoned my title as prince far too long ago. Or would it be more proper if you addressed me as Your Highness Lucian?”
It was clear I was teasing him, and Lucian seemed flustered, his gaze shifting away to one side.
Watching Lucian—who typically enjoyed teasing me and others—become so helplessly flustered himself stirred something peculiar within me.
I observed his flustered expression for a moment longer before turning back to Aden and offering another respectful bow.
“Your Highness shows such affection toward Lucian Advein that, as one who serves him, I am truly delighted.”
“If the young lady is satisfied, then I too am pleased.”
“Both my sister and Your Highness speak to me so casually that I feel awkward receiving such formal treatment. Please, speak to me freely.”
“Just as I told Lucian, I am no longer a prince. I have spent far too long masquerading as someone whose very existence has been denied.”
This was not going to be easy.
So he was asking that while both my sister and Lucian were hearing casual speech from me, I alone should continue treating Aden with formality?
He wore a kind smile, but showed no sign of backing down. They say the kindest people are always the most formidable.
Then I had no choice but to play my strongest card.
“Then would it not be appropriate if you treated me as the fiancée of your younger brother?”
“What?”
My sister, who had remained silent with a rigid expression until that moment, raised her voice.
As I stared at her, she quickly fell silent again.
Aden seemed less surprised by the fact that I was Lucian Advein’s fiancée than by the realization that I had silenced Serpina Rosena with merely a glance. His eyes widened in astonishment before he regained his composure.
“…Well, since the young lady has stated it so firmly, let us speak freely. I shall hear the details later, so please wait while we take tea for now.”
After Aden departed to tidy his disheveled appearance, my sister immediately began interrogating Lucian and me.
I calmly summarized the conversation that had passed between us.
“No, an engagement is not something decided so simply, but if you wish it, I suppose there is no helping it. But Tiae, surely you were not coerced into this?”
“Why would I be coerced? Sister, and isn’t it strange to ask such a question here where His Highness can hear?”
“It’s fine. Your sister is not in her right mind at the moment.”
How shocked and shaken must she be to say such a thing about herself.
The composed sister who had quickly calmed down when I pressed her was nowhere to be found. Now only a petulant Serpina Rosena remained, desperate to deny reality.
I had expected her to object and make a scene, but I had not anticipated such bewilderment. She did not seem to dislike it, but what emotion was this, truly?
“More importantly, regardless of any past connection, it would be difficult to simply overlook the fact that you struck the Empire’s prince. Young Duke.”
Just as my sister continued muttering something in her confusion, Lucian Advein suddenly interjected. It seemed the image of his brother being beaten continued to weigh on his mind.
Though he pretended otherwise, he clearly cherished his family deeply. One need only observe his subtle interest in Vincent to see as much.
To be honest, Aden did not strike me as a bad person worthy of such a beating.
My sister likely had not delivered that decisive blow upon meeting him simply because she thought him a villain.
“I believe that is not a matter for Your Highness to involve himself in.”
My sister, as though suddenly remembering her composure, became calm and faced Lucian Advein directly.
Could a person’s demeanor truly shift so abruptly?
“A matter concerning my blood is not my concern?”
“What you witnessed just now was not a matter between the Young Duke and a prince, but between a man and a woman—a matter that has carried forward from a terrible era that Your Highness does not remember.”
Lucian Advein seemed about to protest, but ultimately he sighed and fell silent. He appeared to understand that continuing the conversation would yield no meaningful result.
“…Even if it’s a matter between a man and a woman, you must resolve this with your sister.”
“That’s right. Sister. For the sake of what lies ahead.”
“…I understand, Tiae.”
Why must they always single me out like this?
“Young Lady, make sure to apologize to the Young Duke as well.”
It seemed that now not only my sister but Lucian Advein too had become quarrelsome children.
I gave up on mediating between the two or reconciling them, and instead began moving my mouth like a puppet on strings.
“I wish you would apologize to Prince Aden as well.”
“Tiae, could you tell His Highness that I’ll handle it myself?”
“Your Highness, my sister says she’ll handle it herself?”
Lucian Advein’s brow furrowed.
“Young Lady, tell the Young Duke that in all my years, I have never once seen someone who strikes another person and then vaguely claims they’ll ‘handle it themselves’ actually offer a proper apology.”
“Sister, His Highness says that in all his years, he’s never met a single person who speaks and apologizes as genuinely as you do.”
My sister’s voice rose indignantly as well, and I truly began to feel exhausted.
“Tiae, tell His Highness that since I won’t apologize, he should just assume that’s what I intend.”
“Your Highness, my sister….”
Just as I was muttering with my eyes half-closed, Aden Prince finally appeared and cut through the situation.
“May I ask why the two of you are tormenting the Young Lady, who was said to be unwell?”
He truly is a good person.
“Thank you….”
That was exactly what I wanted to say….
* * *
With Aden Prince’s intervention, the situation finally came to an end.
The atmosphere was cold enough to chill even the heat of the Holy Kingdom, but frankly, this was more comfortable.
“I’ve been hearing various reports about the Young Lady. I suspected that Serpina Rosena would take Lepina’s side given her different course of action compared to before.”
“I didn’t realize Your Highness gathered intelligence from the Empire so extensively. I was told that the Violet Family follows your orders.”
“The moment my memories returned, I investigated your fate, and then I looked into what had changed. I discovered that Minabell Cherita had taken Aubrey Violet’s place.”
The ability to gather information even from a distant place like the Holy Kingdom, and the determination to be of help to my sister’s life—it was truly remarkable.
After all, he was one of those closest to her who helped her succeed in her revenge.
Moreover, he was someone capable of wielding both divine power and magic.
“So that’s why you reached out to Aubrey Violet, whose position has become ambiguous.”
“Even if one lives a different life, the latent potential and talents one originally possessed don’t change. I thought it would be best if I could bring Aubrey Violet to Serpina Rosena’s side. …Though it seems the results have turned out somewhat differently from my plan. Strangely, that always seems to happen to me.”
Aden Prince’s expression momentarily clouded over. It was the first time his consistently gentle face had become like this.
“A different direction?”
“In other words, she seems like someone who will never pledge loyalty to anyone but me.”
“Then that makes four people now. Is that really such a problem?”
My sister spoke up for the first time. It seemed she couldn’t help but join the conversation after all.
“Exactly. Haven’t I repeatedly told you that you need to cultivate your own people? I have Haeston and several others who serve as my eyes and ears, but you have almost no one. If you think the Holy Kingdom is absolutely safe, you’re mistaken.”
Even Lucian Advein, who had been pouting, finally added his own comment. It seemed they shared the same frustration.
Sometimes when you encounter someone so genuinely kind, you have no sense of how to treat them.
People who worry endlessly about what misfortunes might befall those they care for if they don’t look after them, constantly meddling out of concern.
Aden Prince was precisely this type—remarkably brilliant and perceptive, yet burdened by such a nature.
When devoted to someone, he would surrender everything without a second thought for himself. Moreover, despite his keen perception, he possessed a purity that bordered on naïveté.
“I spend most of my time within the Crystal Palace, and Aubrey Violet is already doing her utmost on my behalf. In contrast, I fear I’ve been of little use as a backing for the Violet Family—if anything, I feel I owe them an apology.”

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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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