Bloodline is a Cheat Code - Chapter 79

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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 79
“Hmm.”
Father cleared his throat in vigorous agreement. He’d been expressing his thoughts through throat-clearing rather than words, and the fact that I could understand him was utterly exasperating.
Still, I couldn’t help but feel sorry that Father seemed to have misinterpreted Mother’s words negatively.
Lucian Advein pretended to look dejected as he gazed at Mother.
“I truly meant to call her Flotie, or rather, like this….”
“Flotie? My goodness. You’ve been calling her that all this time? Tiae?”
“You said I could call her comfortably in private settings. His Highness also said I could call her casually, but I said I wouldn’t….”
“I even practiced calling her Young Lady here. This is quite something….”
What an act of feigned mistake. Truly cunning and deceptive. I kicked the tip of Lucian Advein’s foot beneath the table.
He lowered his head as if suppressing laughter, and despite my rather forceful kick, he responded with only the gentlest touch—almost ticklish—before continuing.
“In any case, there’s no way I could defeat this person. I’d want to lose every time.”
How infuriating. This actually sounds sincere.
“This one actually sounds genuine.”
Mother seemed to feel exactly the same way. This made my sister’s speculation that my perceptiveness came from Mother increasingly plausible.
“My lady.”
“I was worried that you might actually be seducing an innocent child like Flotie, making Rosena your backing, and aiming for the throne. After all, since Vincent Crown Prince hasn’t been showing much competence lately, with Rosena’s power, it would certainly be possible.”
A bomb was dropped into the Tea House with a thud.
Even the legendary Lucian Advein couldn’t maintain his composure against Mother’s words delivered with a radiant smile.
Father, who had been clearing his throat to hint at something, froze entirely, forgetting even that.
Do you remember? That the real power of the Rosena Duchy Family rests in Mother’s hands. It was no mere jest.
Of course, Father had legitimately succeeded as Duke and knew how to govern his fiefdom wisely, but there was something tender about his heart.
It was actually Mother who solidly supported Father’s gentle nature and, through bold decisions and even ruthless methods when necessary, had brought Rosena to where it stood today.
But this… was certainly formidable. If we weren’t careful, our entire family could be swept away.
Mother unfolded a fan that resembled the one I used, covered her mouth with it, and smiled graciously.
Though she had no ailments, her delicate frame and pale complexion made her appear fragile at first glance, yet her eyes held an undeniable strength and sharpness that could not be concealed.
“You will truly cherish and protect Flotie, not Rosena, won’t you?”
At Mother’s following question, Lucian Advein, who had nearly lost consciousness, barely regained his senses.
“Yes.”
“Even if Rosena faced annihilation and you were accused of treason, could you refrain from releasing this child’s hand?”
This time it wasn’t a bomb. It was more like a sniper rifle aimed solely at Lucian Advein.
The sound of a magically-crafted bullet being loaded seemed to echo from somewhere.
But simultaneously, what darkened was my sister’s expression instead. For her, this was no hypothetical.
“No.”
Yet in that moment, Lucian Advein gave an unexpected answer without hesitation. Mother’s and Father’s gazes sharpened, as did my sister’s and my own.
Only the three men standing beside him remained composed.
“If Flotie and Rosena were accused of treason, it would be because of me, so I would release her hand without hesitation.”
“….”
“For Rosena and Flotie to survive, I must let go. There’s no reason to enter that hell holding this person’s hand.”
It was no longer jest or performance.
In this place, there were those who had experienced that hell, and those who knew its form without having experienced it themselves.
And there was a man who understood better than anyone what it meant to enter that hell alone, yet spoke of walking that path by himself for my sake.
Mother’s eyes widened in an instant before she burst into laughter.
“That’s a clever way to exploit a loophole.”
“Was it a good answer?”
“Yes, I was about to lose my temper for a moment, but now I’m in quite a good mood. Come to think of it, I’m remembering when I fell for this man.”
Mother glanced at Father. Father, knowing that was the highest praise she could offer, wore an expression of exasperation.
“It seems Your Majesty doesn’t care for me.”
Lucian Advein seized the opening and spoke with feigned concern. Father had no recourse now that Mother had already fallen for it—so why was he pressing further?
“No, well… I’m not particularly eloquent, and this person reads people better than I do. Besides, since the Crown Prince uses formal speech, it’s all rather difficult for me. Yes.”
“Who was it that kept complaining in the carriage not to take my daughter away? Really now, but Tiae introduced one person, and you’ll introduce this one too? It seems we just need to set a date with the Crown Prince.”
Mother had apparently already decided on Lucian Advein as her son-in-law.
I tapped Lucian Advein’s shoe once more with my toes—this time with far less force than before. Yes, it was simply a sign of embarrassment.
“His name is Calieo. He’s from the Empire but has been working as a mercenary abroad. His skill with the sword is exceptional, so I hired him.”
“How old?”
Kalik, having gauged Lucian Advein’s permission, answered flatly.
“Twenty-two.”
“Seri, that’s barely a hundred years difference!”
“Mother, typically people say three years difference in such cases.”
Serpina Rosena calmly corrected her, but Mother seemed to hear nothing.
Calieo, too, though he recalled memories from before his regression, appeared thoroughly nervous—this was his first time being evaluated by Serpina Rosena’s mother.
‘If I don’t score points now, is it all over?’
The fact that such thoughts were visible on his face meant Mother could see them too.
Mother stared intently at Calieo.
“Your surname?”
“I have none. I was raised in an orphanage. After the Holy Order member who ran the orphanage was executed, I left the Empire.”
Calieo truly couldn’t lie. Perhaps that was better.
Serpina Rosena looked between Mother and Calieo with unprecedented tension, as if she were being evaluated alongside him.
“If you were raised in an orphanage, are there other children you care for?”
“…There are those I’m responsible for. In truth, since I essentially support them, I have no accumulated wealth.”
Why was he volunteering information no one asked for, laying bare all his shortcomings!
I saw Lucian Advein furrow his brow slightly. I felt the same way.
“And?”
“…The Holy Order member who raised me taught me, but I’ve been lazy, and even now I cannot read the Empire’s written language. However, I’ve decided to follow the Crown Prince because I dislike the current Empire.”
“We came here to hear about Tiae, so there’s no need to hear about someone else.”
Serpina Rosena finally cut off Calieo’s words. At this rate, she’d reveal that his real name was Kalik, that he leads a strange organization, that he attacked me, and that he regressed.
Mother gazed at Calieo as if listening to an entertaining story, then glanced at Serpina Rosena.
“…Alright, I understand for now. I’m sure we’ll meet again someday. Crown Prince, you plan to keep this child employed for a long time, yes?”
“Yes, of course. If the Young Duke wishes, you’re welcome to visit anytime. If he suddenly swears loyalty to the Young Duke instead of me, I’d be a little sad, but…”
Lucian Advein quickly seized the opportunity Mother had given him to conclude the conversation.
I should be grateful that Mother hasn’t asked Serpina Rosena if she finds that man appealing. I found myself exhaling a sigh without meaning to.
No one had touched the tea while we conversed, letting it grow cold. When I habitually reached for the silver spoon beside the teacup, Lucian Advein stopped my hand and instead retrieved my personal spoon from the container, offering it to me.
I ignored Mother’s soft gasp of surprise and familiarly dipped the spoon into the teacup.
“Your Highness.”
“Even so, one must attend to what matters, mustn’t one? It puts my mind at ease to do so.”
“But regardless, Aubrey Violet belongs to whom? At Aubrey Violet’s Tea House, there’s no need to be so excessively attentive….”
In that moment, my fingertips began to tremble uncontrollably. My complexion had surely drained to a ghastly pallor.

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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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