Bloodline is a Cheat Code - Chapter 77

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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 77
True enough—there are things in this world that one cannot take sides on, no matter how deeply one loves.
I’d never even heard that Vincent Crown Prince had a close friend. Nor had I heard of anyone wishing to grow closer to him.
How absurd.
Minabell, who had been snorting indignantly, looked us over one by one.
“Is there anyone here planning to tattle to the Crown Prince that he seems friendless?”
“Of course not.”
“Surely not, my lady.”
“Absolutely not.”
Minabell snorted and turned her head away. Ever since her meeting with Lai, her favorable impression of Vincent had plummeted considerably.
There was a saying that birds of a feather flock together—and if Vincent kept someone like that so close, he couldn’t possibly be a good person.
Whereas I had gradually begun to pity him after initially disliking him, Minabell had shifted from indifference to outright dislike.
“Still, thanks to the Crown Prince, we’ve been able to distribute the sacred relics far and wide.”
I opened my mouth, having glanced briefly at Elian.
Vincent had approved the plan to receive the sacred relics and distribute them among the people far more readily than expected.
“If he hadn’t approved it, I would have severed ties with my brother then and there.”
The dislike had truly taken root.
Lai’s evident anger that day must have played some role, yet I still couldn’t fathom how Vincent had granted approval so swiftly.
I’d even subtly asked Lucian Advein if he knew the reason, but he admitted he had no real understanding of it.
He said he rarely had the chance to converse with Vincent at such close quarters, regardless of what he wished to discuss.
‘Doesn’t the Crown Prince occasionally burst into your chambers without warning?’
‘You witnessed a truly exceptional circumstance—it doesn’t happen regularly. Please, don’t give me such a suspicious look. I’m being truthful.’
Still, his conjecture was this:
‘More precisely, Lai’s side likely asked my brother to stop me, but I suspect my brother simply didn’t listen.’
‘But why would that be?’
‘Well, Vincent is the one person I always fail to predict, no matter how hard I try to understand him. If someone with your keen eye were to discover the answer, wouldn’t you tell me?’
Lucian Advein, who had been so confident even in Lai’s presence, oddly grew subtly hesitant whenever Vincent’s name came up.
It seemed less like he’d been compromised and more like he pitied him.
Truth be told, ever since returning from the Holy Kingdom, I’d learned that he too might be afflicted by a curse similar to Lucian’s, and my heart had found no peace since.
The moment personal feelings interfere, judgment becomes clouded. Instead of worrying, I asked him about Haeston’s wellbeing.
The way Lai had scrutinized him so thoroughly still weighed on my mind.
‘That man is the type who’ll escape any crisis, so you needn’t worry so much about him.’
‘Even so.’
I wanted to say he dies next year. But without knowing the full circumstances, I couldn’t simply blurt it out, so I merely nodded.
Before anything happens, I must quickly empower him so he can crush Lai—
No, wait.
Yes, it would be more befitting of a noble and elegant lady to frame it as wanting to teach him what true justice truly means.
Thus we set about making various plans to properly announce our engagement.
“What if we rented out Aubrey Violet’s Tea House for an entire day?”
Hailey Genevre, who had been lost in thought until then, suddenly spoke up.
“Aubrey Violet?”
“Yes, I heard that among those who received holy relics this time, the Violet Lady is also included.”
“Ah, that’s right.”
I’d benefited from information my sister had let slip unconsciously—that in the previous life, Aubrey Violet’s cooperation with the Holy Kingdom had been triggered by her mother’s death.
Though the news hadn’t spread publicly, I suspected her mother currently suffered from an illness as well. When I actually investigated, I found her condition was precarious enough to require the aid of a holy relic.
Aubrey hadn’t realized her mother’s condition was this critical, and while reproaching herself, she shed tears of gratitude.
‘She’s someone who doesn’t show her struggles, so it was nearly catastrophic. Thank you. I will repay this debt without fail, Your Highness Lucian.’
“I heard that Serpina Rosena personally delivered the holy relic to demonstrate the close relationship between Violet Family and Rosena.”
Hailey Genevre murmured in an impressed tone.
Surprisingly, this had been my sister’s suggestion first.
‘I’ll take it to her.’
‘Can you do that? You said you needed time.’
‘I can.’
My sister, knowing that Aubrey Violet from the previous cycle wasn’t a bad person, had insisted on delivering the relic herself and returned with a satisfied expression.
‘Aubrey Violet loves her family more than romantic love between a man and woman. And her feelings toward Aden contain both love and loyalty. Even if the love were to fade, her loyalty wouldn’t change.’
‘Sister, you were inwardly convinced all along that Prince Aden’s love belongs to you.’
‘….’
The sight of my sister’s face flushing crimson as she was caught red-handed, fleeing the spot, was a rare spectacle.
As I chuckled contentedly and nodded, Hailey Genevre and Minabell seemed to interpret it in a different light.
“If it’s the Tea House, commoners will be able to see both of you as they pass by, and rumors will spread quickly. Plus, you can expand the Violet Family’s business as well.”
“I’ll recommend a fashionable dress for you to wear, Tiae. I can’t let my friend fall behind in fashion. Oh, but since this is a formal meeting, it shouldn’t be too extravagant, should it….”
The misunderstanding seems to have grown, but there’s nothing I can do about it.
* * *
“But our entire family is going, while only His Highness is coming alone?”
Mother asked with puzzlement in the carriage heading to the Tea House.
“He’ll be coming with Haeston, his escort, and Sir Jade Delpoi from House Delpoi. We recently hired him as an official knight.”
“Ah, is that so?”
Surely Mother didn’t think the Emperor and Vincent Crown Prince would come dragging along as well. Why does she suddenly look disappointed?
Besides, the Empress passed away long ago, so there’s no one else Lucian would bring separately.
“Why?”
“This Haeston fellow is said to be a strange creature who loves horses, and House Delpoi is engaged to Hailey.”
Mother sighed deeply and glanced at my sister, who gazed out the carriage window as if uninterested.
Could it be….
Father looked at me with the same thought, regarding Mother uneasily.
“My lady, you’re not suddenly devising a plan to take both my daughters away from me, are you?”
“The daughters were never yours to begin with.”
“No, that’s not what I meant.”
“Seri, don’t you have a man in mind? If there’s a man you’ve set your sights on, whether in the Empire or the Holy Kingdom, tell your mother. I’m quite open-minded—an age difference of up to ten years is nothing, and even two hundred years wouldn’t be a problem.”
“Mother.”
Only then did my sister realize the conversation had turned to her marriage, and she whipped her head around in flustered surprise. I could clearly see her face flush crimson.
Lately, Serpina Rosena’s emotional expressions have become so varied—it’s truly adorable. But I can’t possibly discuss Aden Prince here, so how should I handle this?
“Where in this world could there be a man two hundred years older than me, Mother?”
“Oh, there could be. I’ve heard there are people who spent two hundred years in another world before returning, and others who’ve traveled backward through time. So why couldn’t there be a man with a two-hundred-year age difference?”
“Mother….”
“Seri, what I mean is—it’s perfectly fine if you’re not satisfied with just one man. A lady destined to become a duchess should naturally harbor ambition.”
“Khkhkhm! Cough, khup, uh-hup, kuk.”
“Oh my! Dear, are you alright? Is this because you’re getting older these days?”

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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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