Bloodline is a Cheat Code - Chapter 72

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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 72
After all, we were now facing the King who ruled the Holy Kingdom and the most powerful Saint in this land.
Lucian Advein merely smiled with an expression that said he understood there was no point in lying.
“I’m fortunate to have given my fiancée advance notice. If she had learned of it this way, I would have truly disappointed Flotie.”
“There is scarcely a worse deed than hiding such an important truth from a single person.”
“I nearly committed the gravest of wrongs.”
Melissa and Lucian Advein were laughing as though they had conspired together to tease me this time. If the atmosphere could ease even in this manner, it would be most welcome.
Yet what manner of ambush was this?
Thanks to it, I had experienced something truly unprecedented in multiple ways.
“I am aware that the Imperial Prince has come to the Holy Kingdom and made every effort to break that curse.”
“I am embarrassed that you knew even that much.”
“No, my heart was moved by such devotion. Should you discover the method to break that curse, the Holy Kingdom will gladly stand with the Imperial Prince.”
“….”
So the condition was finding the method to break the curse.
“Could Your Majesty not break it yourself?”
In the moment of silence that followed, Aden’s innocent question eased the tension slightly.
At this point, I could only be grateful. How did such a son come to be born under that Emperor? The other two were nothing like him.
Truly, I was thankful.
“Aden….”
“Brother….”
“How can one who wields Holy Power speak such ignorant words?”
Melissa scolded him not as a King or Saint, but as Aden’s aunt, her voice exasperated.
He blinked after being rebuked for offering his opinion. Yet those innocent eyes, seemingly unaware that he had been scolded at all, possessed a power that stripped away all will to argue.
“Curses exist in the realm of magic that cannot be resolved by Holy Power. What Holy Power can accomplish is only locating or striking down the one who cast the dark magic. To fundamentally break a curse, a method to unravel the magical formula is absolutely essential.”
“I was unaware. Since I have never directly confronted a dark mage in battle, I shall remember this should such an occasion arise.”
“…Yes.”
Melissa offered a wry smile and continued.
Her dignity had already crumbled halfway, lending a different weight to her presence.
“In any case, should you discover the method to break that curse, the Holy Kingdom will gladly support Your Highness. Of course, it would be even better if you broke the curse itself.”
“On the assumption that the method lies somewhere within the Holy Kingdom, would you permit your people to freely traverse this land?”
As I asked for confirmation, Melissa nodded without hesitation. This was all I needed to confirm.
Each time we entered this place, if there were obstacles like those Serpina Rosena had faced in her past life—such as disguising her identity—it would be far too troublesome.
Creating justifications and sending delegations each time would be exhausting.
“To accomplish that, it would be necessary to open a channel of exchange, however limited. Your Majesty, if the Empire objects, then open that path only for Imperial Prince Lucian Advein.”
“From the Empire’s perspective, that alone would appear to be harboring the Imperial Prince.”
The intriguing gaze that had been fixed on Serpina Rosena shifted to me.
Ah, I possessed no talent for remaining calm under such a look. I attempted to relax my expression, but it was impossible.
‘Tiae, there’s something you sometimes misunderstand. Actually, your expression is more frightening than Lepina’s. So maintaining an expressionless face is more advantageous in a battle of wills than trying to relax.’
At least the words Minabell had once spoken came to mind, providing some resolve.
Of course, this was hardly a battle of wills I was trying to win.
“Why is that?”
“Why, you ask?”
From observing Melissa up close until now, I noticed she shared certain traits with my sister.
When someone with cunning intent exploited their naive nature, they couldn’t bring themselves to shake it off and would stumble forward regardless.
“Your Majesty possesses three distinct identities, after all.”
“You mean being the King of the Holy Kingdom and a Saint? Then what about the remaining one? Surely you’re not about to bring up marriage ties with the Empire or something?”
Melissa deliberately wielded stronger phrasing, as if attempting to seize the initiative from me.
But if it were the innocent Aden, he would have said this instead.
“No, Your Highness Lucian Advein’s aunt.”
“Pardon?”
“Your Highness Lucian Advein is not the concubine’s child of Pertona Empress, but rather the only younger brother of His Highness Aden. Doesn’t that make Your Majesty his aunt? Am I perhaps misunderstanding something, Your Highness Aden?”
Aden, innocent as he was, possessed the quality of striving to answer every question to the best of his ability.
Contemplating my sudden question as if eager to provide a wise response, Aden finally offered his answer.
“I believe you’re correct—you are my aunt.”
“Exactly. Then is it wrong for an aunt to look after her nephew?”
“No, it’s the same as Your Majesty caring for me.”
The answer I desired. As I smiled softly, Melissa stared directly at me.
One of my few talents was maintaining eye contact even under tension. As I met that gaze, it was the other party who ultimately showed signs of discomfort.
“How remarkable… to find another like Aden.”
In private, Aden; in places where others must not know, the treasure of the Crystal Palace. I retained this valuable piece of information while maintaining my smile.
“Precisely. After this visit, if we’ve developed a rapport and I extend an invitation out of goodwill, that should pose no problem, yes?”
“Or I could throw a tantrum about wanting to visit the Holy Kingdom. As I mentioned, since I rarely venture outside, I’m quite curious and sometimes behave in rather unbecoming ways for a noblewoman.”
I would bear the justification and responsibility—you need only open the door.
Melissa, having immediately grasped the hidden meaning in my words, laughed as if sighing.
“How foolish of me to judge you as the same sort as Aden, even for a moment.”
“Your Majesty?”
The innocent Aden tilted his head in confusion. My sister shot him a look imploring him to remain silent.
Yet the second Imperial Prince, merely because his gaze met hers, smiled back with the radiance of a man freshly fallen in love.
In the end, Melissa and Lucian Advein agreed to continue their exchange from the position of “family.”
The moment we stepped outside, Lucian Advein regarded me in silence for quite some time.
Silence I could endure, but an inexplicable stillness was somewhat unsettling.
“Were you somewhat displeased that I seized your right to speak?”
Had I overstepped, I was prepared to apologize immediately, but instead he posed an entirely unexpected question.
“Do you truly believe I am kind to you?”
“Your Highness?”
Of course it’s a lie. I’m dying of annoyance.
Yet his face shone with such pure joy that I found myself unable to say anything and answered without thinking.
“Well, I suppose… to some extent.”
It’s done. Completely done.
I heard my sister murmuring behind me that if I truly meant it, she’d let me go, but I deliberately ignored it.
* * *
Time slipped away, and before long, the moment arrived for us to return to The Empire.
“If we travel through the portal to the Magic Tower the same way we came, I’ll need to go with Kalik.”
“That won’t do. Miss, I cannot allow you to engage in such… I apologize, Miss.”
“No, I won’t forgive him either for what he did to Tiae, so feel free to curse him more severely if you wish.”
“In any case, I’m opposed to you and that man being in the same space.”
“But I’m concerned whether Tiae can endure the teleportation.”
As I deliberated over how to arrange our return route, Aden visited.
“I wanted to examine the young lady’s condition one last time, since I couldn’t properly assess her on the first day.”
“Your Highness won’t be returning to The Empire, then.”
“I believe there will come a day when we meet again in The Empire.”
Listening to his words, it seemed he too was certain that Lucian Advein would ascend to the Emperor’s throne.
This man clearly knew Lucian Advein’s true eye color as well. Were the three brothers conspiring together to conceal the youngest’s eyes?
“Young lady, if I may be so bold, would you extend your hand to me for a moment?”
“Of course. Beyond the honor of receiving your blessing, I’m privileged to receive your personal care, Your Highness.”
Taking the hand I offered, Aden quietly began to unfold his holy power. A blindingly pure white light filled the space around us.
“Young lady, forgive my rudeness, but your body is remarkably delicate for someone born with such a pure constitution.”
“Yes.”
You know it’s rude, so why say it?

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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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