Bloodline is a Cheat Code - Chapter 74

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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 74
“How do you feel riding in a carriage?”
“It’s fascinating how the scenery passes by the window so quickly.”
“I thought you’d enjoy it—being able to observe so many landscapes while seated.”
He remembered the conversation we’d shared during our night walk. Without thinking, I lifted my gaze to look at him sitting beside me.
Lucian Advein and I sat side by side on a sofa positioned to face the window, our conversation now flowing with surprising ease.
At first, I’d been terribly tense during our time alone together, but now this moment felt as natural and comfortable as breathing.
Beyond the window, the landscape shifted—sometimes snow-laden terrain, sometimes forests verdant with spring growth.
Despite Lucian Advein sitting right beside me, I couldn’t tear my gaze from the window as the scenery transformed moment by moment.
I wished we could venture outside more often. Preferably without worry.
“I’m truly grateful that your brother has looked after you.”
“The gratitude is entirely mine. I nearly went through life without knowing such beautiful things existed.”
“Indeed. Had I remained confined to the Palace, I might never have discovered such beauty either.”
Though truthfully, that tavern where we first met wasn’t particularly beautiful.
As I was thinking this, I turned my head carelessly and our eyes met directly.
I blinked slowly. Had he been looking at me instead of the window?
“Your Highness, but what prompted this sudden visit? Merely for conversation?”
“Not merely for conversation, but rather….”
He began to hesitate. It looked as though he’d arrived without any particular business and was now scrambling to fabricate a reason in response to my abrupt question—though surely that couldn’t be it.
I needed to break this habit of overanalyzing his intentions.
As I waited quietly for his response, he soon continued, as if belatedly remembering his purpose.
“When we return, official discussions about our betrothal will arise. I thought we should consult beforehand, don’t you?”
“What specifically would you like to discuss?”
Right. A betrothal between the Crown Prince and Rosena couldn’t simply be announced without ceremony.
“Once we’re formally betrothed, Rosena will appear to support me. I thought we should prepare countermeasures for that.”
Now that he mentioned it, I realized I’d nearly forgotten something crucial while preoccupied with the Holy Kingdom.
How careless of me not to have considered this sooner.
As I nodded in understanding, he exhaled in apparent relief and leaned closer, our heads nearly touching as we began to strategize.
“First, regarding the Duchy’s approval….”
* * *
“A betrothal at seventeen? Isn’t that rather premature?”
But the obstacle came from an unexpected quarter. Not from Mother, but from Father.
Father sat in the library with a displeased expression, studying me intently. He was objecting not to Lucian Advein as my betrothed, but to the very idea of a betrothal at seventeen.
“Most young ladies of noble birth find their betrothals shortly after their debutante ball, Father. Did not Hailey Genevre become betrothed at a very young age?”
It was Serpina Rosena who stepped forward to support me.
Since realizing that I truly cared for Lucian Advein, my sister had been actively advocating on my behalf.
Her stance now stood in stark contrast to her previous disapproval of him. Witnessing her support moved me deeply.
“Yes, I’m aware that’s the convention. But you yourself, who speaks thus, have no betrothed at present. What are you saying, Serpina Rosena?”
“That is…. Since I must inherit the Duchy title, I have much to learn and should be considered an exception. It’s also common for ladies who will inherit titles to marry relatively later.”
“By that logic, Flotie is no different. The girl’s health is already fragile, and she’s only just returned from the Holy Kingdom. To suddenly propose preparing a betrothal to the Crown Prince before she’s even recovered from her travels seems precipitous, doesn’t it?”
After hearing Father’s words, I found myself with nothing to refute.
Wouldn’t it look perfectly foolish to travel together to the Holy Kingdom, get intoxicated by the atmosphere, and suddenly throw a tantrum about wanting to marry?
I couldn’t possibly explain that Serpina Rosena had undergone a regression, or that we’d been building our relationship for quite some time and working our hardest to achieve various objectives.
On the other hand, if I claimed to have fallen in love at first sight, there was a high likelihood of facing even fiercer opposition.
Caught between a rock and a hard place, I could only shift my gaze awkwardly.
“Is there truly a reason to reject it so coldly?”
Mother, who had been quietly listening to our conversation from beside me, finally stepped forward as reinforcement.
When we first brought up the engagement, she’d tilted her head with an expression of utter confusion, so I’d assumed she disapproved of the situation itself.
But it seemed Mother’s real displeasure lay with Father’s attitude—his determination to oppose everything we said.
“Do you truly believe our child would be so foolish? We didn’t raise Tiae that way. She wouldn’t act so recklessly without reason. Does my child appear so stupid to you?”
“My dear, that’s not what I meant.”
“Then is it perhaps that you’re uneasy about Rosena supporting Lucian Advein?”
Mother had struck at the political issue—one of the opposing factors I’d been privately worried about.
‘Rosena’s patronage of Lucian Advein.’ What a captivating combination of words.
The Rosena Duchy Family was a faction perfectly suited to enter the political arena, yet it amounted to a dangerous gamble with much to lose.
Especially with someone like Lucian Advein. A prince with no real power to speak of and plagued by nothing but ill rumors.
“I would never think such a thing, my dear.”
“I’m worried that perhaps your heart has leaned toward Vincent instead. Please speak honestly. Is it truly that you’re lonely to see your daughters leave your side, or are you concerned about the damage Rosena might suffer as Lucian Advein stands against the Crown Prince?”
“Father, if it’s the latter concern, I can clarify the matter. There will be no damage whatsoever.”
Serpina Rosena also joined in persuading Father.
This was one of the points we’d already agreed upon with Lucian in the carriage and relayed to her.
Our grounds to present should our parents oppose the engagement fiercely.
First, Jade Delpoi, child of House Delpoi who proves legitimacy, serves alongside Lucian, together with House Genevre, which leads promising military procurement ventures.
Moreover, having accompanied the Holy Kingdom delegation this time and witnessed it with our own eyes, Lucian Advein had returned with the full favor of King Melicia.
Though I truly hoped it wouldn’t come to this, if even that failed to persuade them, I was prepared to insist that I simply loved Lucian Advein.
If I brought up how my physical abilities had genuinely improved when holding items blessed with sacred power or when receiving help from Aden, who was disguised as a holy priest, it would surely succeed.
‘Should I verify whether this story is even plausible?’
‘No, it’s fine. Minabell.’
I politely declined Minabell’s assistance—she who had expended astronomical levels of ‘points’ to help me escape the carriage—and this conclusion was what we’d reached by putting our heads together ourselves.
But after deliberating for some time, Father finally seemed to give up, carefully uttering a single phrase.
“Such personal matters are irrelevant to this issue. What I mean is my belief that Vincent is an incompetent and merciless Crown Prince, unfit to be Emperor.”
For the record, I hadn’t brought up any such talk. It was Father alone who spoke harshly of Vincent.
“Rather, it might be a better world if Lucian ascended to the throne instead of Vincent Crown Prince.”
“But he has blue eyes, doesn’t he?”
I probed with a single remark, but Father merely continued muttering something like ‘but you’re still too young’ with a serious expression, and Mother smiled instead, opening her mouth to speak.
“Since it would be difficult for us to visit the Prince’s Palace, is there a natural way or place where we might meet?”

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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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