Bloodline is a Cheat Code - Chapter 66

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

Chapter 66
I found myself grasping for an answer in Elian’s words.
Aden would never do anything to cause Serpina pain. If Kalik were to die, she would be consumed by anguish from which she could never escape—and knowing this, even if the two of them were at odds, she would never drive him toward death.
Besides, they hardly seemed like people capable of concealing their actions so thoroughly.
“Thank you, Elian. That helped. I suppose worries truly cannot be resolved by shouldering them alone.”
Watching Elian shy away, insisting she had done little, I smiled and immediately activated the magical artifact.
As I gazed intently at my reflection in the mirror, it rippled like water disturbed by a stone, and Aubrey Violet’s face emerged.
— My lady, it is an honor to hear from you. Did you arrive safely in the Holy Kingdom?
“Lady Violet. Thanks to you, I was able to arrive in peace. I made sure to convey just how much assistance you provided.”
Aubrey Violet could barely conceal her delight upon learning that I had relayed tales of her competence to Aden.
It felt disingenuous—offering praise before making a difficult request.
“Lady Violet, I apologize for this sudden request, but would you be able to connect me with your lord immediately? I have no way of knowing the path to the Crystal Palace, so I cannot visit alone.”
— It seems you have urgent matters to discuss with him.
“Yes, I desperately need his assistance on a matter of some importance.”
Conflict flickered across Aubrey Violet’s face. Even with my request, it would not be easy for her to contact Aden first.
“It is a matter that will benefit the Crown Prince as well.”
I drove the point home with those words.
I had already planned my next move should she refuse.
Aubrey Violet was loyal enough for Aden to trust—if I could subtly suggest that I had a proposal that might benefit Rosena, perhaps I could earn even a measure of her confidence.
— I believe someone with eyes as discerning as yours must surely understand something for the Crown Prince’s sake. I will help you, thinking of it as service to him.
Wait—I didn’t even need to go that far?
My request succeeded simply because she was perceptive?
My expression, which had frozen in shock, must have appeared grave instead, for Aubrey Violet smiled with trust in her eyes before vanishing beyond the mirror.
Perhaps I have been overthinking the world all this time. Maybe adversities can be overcome to some degree through perception alone.
— My lady, you said you needed my help urgently.
A tender voice soon reached me. As I gathered my wits, Aden was already watching me from beyond the mirror—though I could not say how long he had been waiting.
Magic truly is remarkable. To connect so swiftly like this.
“Your Highness, have you heard that the culprit behind the carriage incident has been apprehended? I understand he is being held in the Palace dungeons, awaiting judgment.”
At my words, Aden’s expression beyond the mirror grew troubled.
— Ah, you must have been frightened. To endure such a grave ordeal. Did the culprit perhaps threaten you by invoking your name?
I pride myself on being more perceptive than anyone when it comes to detecting what someone is concealing.
And my instincts are telling me something.
This man has no idea who the culprit is. He is the sort who contents himself with limited information relayed by Aubrey Violet or Melissa regarding matters he does not deem necessary to understand.
Perhaps he would hear it in one ear and let it pass out the other.
“I hesitate to act rashly here in the Holy Kingdom, so I am informing you, but it appears Serpina may be acquainted with the culprit, which is why I contacted you urgently.”
— Serpina?
Aden’s expression grew even more grave. He still seemed entirely at a loss.
“The culprit’s name is Kalik…”
— What!
His voice rose sharply, and commotion erupted beyond the mirror.
And the magical communication device went dead. It wasn’t that Aden had deliberately cut the connection—rather, in his haste to rush out, the communication stone had tumbled to the floor and rolled away.
The landscape beyond the mirror wavered back and forth before settling on his empty room. I’d almost suspected an innocent person.
With a refreshed expression, I rose to my feet.
“Let’s go meet Lucian Advein, Elian.”
“Your Highness?”
“Yes. I need to go pester him—no, throw a tantrum—about visiting the criminal in the Underground Dungeon.”
This isn’t a matter of polite entreaty. This calls for shameless insistence.
When I deliberately chose such childish words, Elian suppressed a smile and obediently selected clothes for me.
“I’ll choose a lovely dress that would be perfect for throwing a tantrum in.”
* * *
“For you to seek me out at such a late hour.”
“It’s not that late. Besides, I’ve spent several days in your Palace before, so a visit like this shouldn’t be so surprising, should it?”
“…You’ve grown rather skilled at teasing me as well? Now I’ll have to be on my guard.”
Lucian Advein appeared momentarily startled by my sudden arrival, but soon calmly offered me tea.
I was so flustered when he opened a jewelry box, mentioning that he’d brought my personal silver spoon because one could never know what might happen in the Holy Kingdom, that I nearly forgot my purpose for visiting.
“Your Highness, what on earth is so precious about a silver spoon that you keep it in a jewelry box?”
“Isn’t it a precious thing that protects your life? I’ve made a firm vow that even if I lose my sword, I won’t lose this.”
“If you’re at risk of losing your sword, I’d hope you’d prioritize your safety over a spoon. If Your Highness loses your sword and loses your wellbeing, then all my efforts running about would be for nothing, wouldn’t they?”
When every second counts like this, what is he doing?
Lucian Advein surely knows that Kalik has been captured, yet he shows no sign of bringing it up.
So this is how he’s going to be.
“So, you’ve been running about everywhere? I hear you lost consciousness.”
“I’m about to tell you about that. Let’s save the small talk for when it’s truly late.”
I quickly composed my expression. Now it’s truly time for my tantrum-disguised request. Sensing we were moving to the main topic, Lucian Advein also shifted his posture to listen intently.
“Your Highness, the truth is I came to visit for a purely official reason. I believe you’ve already guessed as much.”
“Oh, so today we’re not discussing friendship or our betrothal, but rather a selfish and calculating alliance. How unfortunate.”
“Yes, but I’d be grateful if you could judge somewhat favorably and with considerable bias toward me, given that I’m both your friend and your betrothed.”
In other words, I’m about to throw a tantrum, so please look at me kindly.
After setting the mood somewhat, I casually mentioned that I’d heard a criminal was imprisoned in the Underground Dungeon and that I wished to visit them….
“No.”
I was rejected with surprising finality.
I’d thought it wouldn’t be easy, but to this extent?
I just asked you to look at me kindly. I just asked you to judge with utmost favoritism and bias!
With a slightly indignant feeling, I pressed further.
“Why not?”
“The Underground Dungeon has many germs, and your body is frail.”
“I’ve heard that the Holy Kingdom’s Underground Dungeon is made of marble and is extremely clean, and that every area is cleaned daily in consideration of the prisoners’ health, and even has windows!”
“…Sometimes you’re far too clever for your own good….”
At the barrage of words shot at him like arrows, Lucian Advein pressed his forehead with the hand not holding his teacup. He clearly hadn’t expected me to know even that much.
“Moreover, I heard that Serpina Rosena went directly to interrogate this criminal Kalik. And my friend Minabell as well. Yet I’m not allowed to go there—that’s not right. Aren’t both Elian and I victims of this incident?”
“That’s precisely why it’s impossible. I don’t want to show you something ugly. That person will face the maximum penalty under either Holy Kingdom law or Imperial law.”
“But—”
“You seem to want to prevent that, and I suspect the Young Duke feels the same way. Am I wrong?”
For a moment, I was rendered speechless.
Elian, who had been standing beside me knowing nothing of this, fixed me with a look that screamed, “Is His Majesty really saying this?”
I felt as though I were being interrogated by two people simultaneously.
“No, it’s just that Serpina seems to want to prevent it….”
“If the Young Duke went there to stop it, I won’t go and interfere. In other words, my refusal to strongly insist that the maximum penalty be imposed is the greatest assistance I can offer to both the Young Duke and you.”

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————