Bloodline is a Cheat Code - Chapter 76

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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 76
“Does the Young Duke of Rosena share the same position?”
Serpina Rosena continued without bothering to conceal her displeasure.
“What authority do I have to add my voice to a matter the Crown Prince has already decided?”
Despite appearances, Lai held the rank of marquis. Unlike when she stood in for their father, Serpina Rosena now had to afford him proper courtesy.
“I merely thought that Rosena, of all people, would understand best how forbidden sacred power is deemed in the Empire. A truly loyal subject should know how to offer counsel regarding their lord’s choices.”
A blatant insinuation that her lord’s decision was wrong.
In that instant, moonlight glinted off the blade of a drawn sword.
“Haeston.”
“Ah, my apologies.”
Haeston, who had half-drawn his sword, bowed with formal contrition. But I caught the lingering smirk at the corner of his mouth.
Lai, who had just pointed out before the Third Prince that his choice was mistaken without a shred of hesitation, furrowed his brow entirely.
I understood well enough.
Lucian Advein maintained his smile as though accustomed to such disrespect and mockery, but Haeston, standing beside him, could not endure it.
Perhaps because he had grown so accustomed to experiencing such treatment alongside Lucian, this time he finally could not hold back.
Had Lucian not restrained him promptly, Lai’s head might well have rolled to the ground, or Haeston might have suffered grave injury.
What trouble was this, returning from the Holy Kingdom only to face such chaos?
Truthfully, I would have welcomed Lai’s head rolling to the ground, but that could not happen now. Lucian Advein erased his smile and rebuked Haeston in a somewhat stern voice.
“Haeston, sheathe your blade properly. What rudeness is this toward Lord Lai? He is the one who serves the Crown Prince most closely. You are not someone who can treat him so carelessly.”
“A misunderstanding, Your Highness. Would I dare draw a blade before such distinguished company? I merely thought something might be smudged on my face and sought to use the blade as a mirror in its stead. I was so ashamed to appear unkempt before such noble persons that I could not bear it. I shall purchase a truly lovely hand mirror at the earliest opportunity.”
Such an absurd explanation drained all fighting spirit from the moment.
As though sharing the sentiment, Lai stared intently at Haeston’s face. Without a trace of anger or bewilderment, he gazed upon his features as though committing them to memory, and in that prolonged stare, I sensed a chilling desolation.
Suddenly, I recalled what Serpina Rosena had said of him in the previous life—that he would soon die.
I felt as though I had just grasped why Haeston died and who the culprit was. It was satisfying, certainly, but this was far too reckless a courting of his own demise.
“Your Excellency, it seems my shallow learning has led me to commit rudeness. Would you extend your magnanimity and forgive me?”
Haeston, who moments before had dared to draw his blade before him, now apologized with such restraint and propriety that it seemed impossible he was the same person. He met Lai’s gaze directly.
Surely everyone present understood this: if one truly repented, one would not meet another’s eyes in such a manner.
When Lucian Advein had instructed him to reflect upon his wrongdoing and exercise restraint, Lai—who had pretended to listen while speaking only his own mind—now wore a similar expression.
“No, it is understandable. Your Highness, I too must apologize for my discourteous attitude toward the gift you received. Recently, the Crown Prince instructed that all items related to sacred power be handled with particular caution and disposed of carefully, so I found myself inadvertently on edge.”
“My brother said so? It is an important virtue for a subject to listen most carefully to what his lord says. However, I too am a prince with the blood of the Emperor flowing through my veins, so do not forget that I am not someone you can wield as you please.”
“I shall bear it in mind. I shall also accept whatever punishment you see fit to impose. Today I came to meet you solely out of concern for Your Highness’s safety and well-being, so I beg you not to think that I harbor any intention to surveil or harbor ill will toward you.”
Lucian Advein nodded without losing his smile. It was a laugh devoid of any genuine trust.
Lai finished his salutation without sparing me a single glance, then slowly receded into the darkness.
At this point, I could only think he was avoiding me.
If he were attending to Vincent, he should have returned to the Palace, yet he made no mention of serving Lucian Advein—which left an unsettling feeling.
Had he gone with us, that would have been troubling and painful in its own way.
It was fortunate for us, but separate from that, something was decidedly strange. Lai seemed entirely accustomed to disregarding the Imperial Family even in the presence of others.
Either he knew Lucian Advein would not punish him for it, or he feared no capital punishment for insulting the Imperial Family.
If neither were true, then he must possess some other power that would erase such punishment entirely or render it powerless against him.
Even after Lai vanished into the darkness, we remained silent for a long while.
Each of us was lost in our own thoughts, our minds churning with conflicting emotions.
“Historical inaccuracy. Who would dare speak to the Crown Prince like that? I should lodge a complaint. No, wait—why nitpick historical accuracy in a fantasy world? And what about status windows? Do those even make sense?”
I could hear Minabell muttering behind me. I wasn’t entirely sure what historical period she was referencing, but her point wasn’t without merit.
Just as I was about to add my own comment, the situation de-escalated somewhat thanks to Hailey, who had rushed over to see her fiancé after his long absence.
After sharing a passionate embrace with her lover, Hailey finally composed herself and turned to address me.
“On my way here, I think I caught a glimpse of Sir Lai attending to the Crown Prince. Did I imagine that?”
“I doubt you imagined it, Hailey.”
“What did he do to you?”
Jade kissed his beloved, whom he hadn’t seen in ages, while his eyes remained anxious as he studied Hailey’s expression.
She shook her head, saying she’d only glimpsed him from inside the carriage, but an unmistakable unease lingered on her face.
“I felt something deeply unpleasant. Honestly, on a dark day like this, it’s normal not to notice someone passing by when you’re inside a carriage. Yet I somehow became certain it was Sir Lai—I can’t even explain how I knew.”
“What made you certain it was Sir Lai?”
“Well, there’s a certain feeling I get whenever I’m near him. I can’t quite put my finger on what it is, so… I simply thought ‘what if’ and considered the possibility. I never actually expected to have seen him in person.”
It seemed her discomfort ran deeper than she’d initially let on.
I realized that all the composure she’d maintained in front of us had been a facade.
Lucian Advein ordered everyone to return to their respective homes before the situation deteriorated further, and as a parting gesture, he placed a kiss on the back of my hand.
“I regret that the end of our journey wasn’t as pleasant as it could have been, Flotie.”
“Not at all, Your Highness. I enjoyed myself thoroughly. My only concern is for you when you return to the palace and must face that man. And there’s also the matter of obtaining permission to bring the sacred relic…”
“Ah, don’t worry about that. This is the first time I’ve charged forward so recklessly, so they’ll need time to figure out how to respond. Until then, I have a small window to act as I please.”
Lucian Advein promised to use that brief window to do his utmost to sway the situation in his favor before departing.
The back of my hand tingled strangely, though I tried to convince myself it was merely a lingering effect of the day’s chaotic conclusion.
* * *
“And what punishment did this Lai receive?”
“In truth, because he serves the Crown Prince, I cannot impose severe punishment upon him. He remains his closest confidant, after all. I cannot arbitrarily dismiss or execute someone belonging to the Imperial Household.”
Minabell huffed indignantly at this.
“How is that possible? And why does he have only one closest confidant? Forget about friends—he doesn’t seem to have any of those either!”
“Hmm.”
“Ahem.”
“Erm…”
Hailey, myself, and even Elian—who was closely connected to him—all struggled desperately to maintain our composure in the face of Minabell’s blunt, tactless remarks.
If anyone else had made such a comment, it would be one thing, but when Elian herself nodded in agreement like that, what was I supposed to do?

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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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