Bloodline is a Cheat Code - Chapter 68

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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 68
Due to the stress and obsession at that time, my sister had likely been reduced to little more than skin and bones, barely eating or sleeping.
The silhouette I’d seen in that dream from the past confirmed as much.
Facing the brink of death, the moment he saw Serpina Rosena after her regression, he didn’t spare a thought for his own circumstances before uttering those words—wasn’t the reason painfully obvious?
A man who still loved Serpina Rosena with absolute devotion. And she knew it all too well. That’s why she would resort to such measures to save him.
“Sister, in this life you can afford to be more selfish. Reclaim everything you accomplished in your past life.”
“Everything I accomplished? Back then, I only committed terrible deeds. Day after day, I became a worse person, committed sins, repeated them without hesitation—I’m destined for hell.”
“If you were truly someone meant for hell, the world wouldn’t have returned me to you.”
Speaking like this made me feel ashamed, as though I were expressing myself as some divine blessing. Yet Serpina Rosena’s face bore an expression as though she’d just received salvation.
So much so that I felt embarrassed for having uttered those words so carelessly.
“Tiae….”
“Instead, from now on, I won’t act recklessly. We all have our plans, don’t we? Well, of course, this time I was so shocked that I fainted, but you could have waited for that much, couldn’t you?”
“You were unconscious for quite a long time, so waiting would have been rather difficult.”
Just as the atmosphere was turning pleasant, Elian gently corrected the facts in her soft voice.
That stung.
At the harsh reality, I let out a bitter smile, and Serpina Rosena broke into quiet laughter.
They say coldness is charming, but truly, Serpina Rosena is far more beautiful when she smiles.
“Yes, from now on, I won’t leave you behind.”
“Then now let’s think about how Lucian Advein can win the favor of the Holy Kingdom. Is it possible that Aden Prince views Lucian Advein unfavorably?”
“No. Even if that were the case, I would certainly make whatever you wish to accomplish come true, so don’t worry. Then, um. Are you forgiving your sister now?”
“I was never angry with you in the first place. I was simply worried. I hated that you were willing to abandon everything you could have. I wanted to show you that you don’t need to do that anymore.”
“Yes….”
“You’ll love those people while still protecting me well, won’t you?”
As Serpina Rosena nodded vigorously, I felt her blue eyes shimmer even more brightly.
Without thinking, I smiled along with her. Truly lovely. I should gather everyone who dared call such a person a villainess and cast them into hellfire.
“But Tiae.”
“Yes?”
“It seems you have something you need to tell your sister.”
“Huh? What was I supposed to tell you?”
With that angelic, beautiful face and gentle smile, Serpina Rosena froze me in place with a single statement.
“Your engagement. Tell me in detail when, how, and why it happened.”
“Ah.”
* * *
I was exposed.
Brushed away like dust.
Hadn’t the atmosphere between my sister and me been excellent just moments ago? No matter how much I replayed it, I couldn’t understand why things had suddenly turned this way.
I’d done nothing but respond like a puppet to her words, so why did I feel this exhausted? I’d collapsed into sleep the moment I returned to my room.
When I opened my eyes, time had literally melted away.
“Miss, you must wake up now.”
“Why does morning have to exist in this world….”
I rarely made such death-like sounds when waking, yet the pain was severe enough to draw anguished groans from my lips.
From the next day onward, my schedule became consumed with rushing about the Holy Kingdom, handling various duties of the Delegation. Kalik, being a criminal, would only be able to meet with Serpina Rosena directly after returning to the Empire, so he wasn’t a consideration.
After Serpina Rosena received my answer that I harbored genuine affection for Lucian Advein rather than mere calculation, she ceased her objections and interrogations. She simply withered away.
What’s more, she suffered whenever Lucian Advein and I stood even slightly close to one another.
Lucian Advein, on the other hand, clearly reveled in the situation. I noticed his demeanor shifted the very day after I was thoroughly scolded by Serpina Rosena, and he began asking me things like this.
“Did you perhaps discuss our engagement with the Young Duke? Did you receive permission?”
“My parents’ permission would matter more than my sister’s, but we did finish our conversation.”
“From my perspective, the Young Duke was the greatest obstacle.”
After that, he began calling me “Flotie” with obvious deliberation. And he even insisted I call him Lucian Advein in return.
He knows no moderation. None whatsoever.
“Flotie, the Minister’s Temple we visited yesterday sent some gifts—do check them over.”
“Your Highness, these are all meant for the Imperial Household, so I’m afraid I cannot examine them. I’ll have someone inspect only the items meant separately for the Third Prince’s Palace.”
“You can call me Lucian Advein, you know. If it’s you, I can even bear being called Lu, as my brother occasionally does.”
At first, he seemed terribly embarrassed about his nickname being Lu, but now he appeared relaxed enough to joke about it.
Had overcoming the mountain that was Serpina Rosena truly brought him such peace of mind? Whether this was fortunate or unfortunate, I couldn’t say.
Seeing how he still called me Flotie with such tenderness suggested the nickname itself wasn’t meant to irritate Serpina Rosena.
Just then, Serpina Rosena was summoned by Aden Prince, and Jade Delpoi and Elian were sorting invitations elsewhere, so effectively this was our time alone.
“Your Highness, must Aden Prince remain secluded in the Holy Kingdom indefinitely? I wish he could return to the Empire and live at ease. I’d like to find a way to help him.”
“A way? If I were to ascend the throne, Aden would certainly be able to live comfortably. But while Vincent Crown Prince holds the position of Crown Prince, it will likely be difficult. More precisely, as long as Lye Rohaim remains at his side.”
The sunlight poured down with scorching intensity, and divine blessing overflowed abundantly throughout the heart of the Holy Kingdom—yet that most detestable, sinister name escaped his lips.
Before leaving the Empire, I had already heard of the rudeness Lye Rohaim committed at the gathering the Crown Prince created. Though an apology was given, a subtle displeasure still lingered in my chest.
Moreover, recalling that fool Hamel, who charged forward without understanding the situation, doubled my irritation.
Thanks to my parents raging on my behalf and vowing never to let Hamel off easy, I had no room to intervene.
“Why does the Crown Prince not cast out someone so crude and disrespectful? Is Lye Rohaim truly so capable?”
“He is indeed quite competent in his duties. That’s why Father kept him close until he took to his sickbed.”
“Lucian Advein.”
As I subtly changed how I addressed him, Lucian Advein’s movements—which had been diligently attending to his tasks—froze as if time itself had stopped.
He turned toward me with a creaking motion. Was there any reason to be so flustered? Had I been like that too?
I regarded him impassively before offering a slight smile.
“If even our forms of address have changed, doesn’t that mean we’ve truly grown close?”
“Truly….”
“If there are things you cannot tell me despite being this close, when will I ever hear Lucian Advein’s important secrets? I find that rather disappointing.”
Though “disappointing” was something of a lie, I tilted my head back slightly, brushing my hair behind my ear as I looked up at him.
He stood a full head taller than boys his own age. Though I was hardly short, I had to raise my gaze considerably to meet his.
As had become habit, Lucian Advein bent his waist to meet my eyes, and his blue gaze gradually flushed crimson.
His hidden truth, revealed only before me.
At first, I had discovered it quite absurdly, but now it was nearly intentional on his part. Was it after I told him his eye color was beautiful?
Regardless, the fact that he willingly revealed his secrets to me was deeply gratifying.
As I blinked slowly without averting my gaze, he continued with unhurried words.
“That’s right. There are no more secrets between us now. Aside from what I cannot speak of due to taboo, I will tell you anything.”
“A taboo? Has some curse been placed on me?”
Surely not.
Was it possible that the vague suspicion I’d been harboring—a mere what-if that had crossed my mind—was actually manifesting into reality? My expression of disbelief must have been transparent, for he broke into a smile.
Silence as affirmation was not difficult to interpret. My chest tightened with bitterness.
“You’re smiling right now?”

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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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