As soon as he had achieved his status, the world changed to a form that perfectly matched his values. Background, status, class, and such things had little meaning in front of money. The belief that power and honor were superior to money was now becoming a relic of the past.
But John was rather pleased with the change. The actual power of wealth became the catalyst for him to create his own empire within the Empire of Trieste.
People always live in the throes of desire. They always wanted to consume something that would sustain their lives, regardless of their status, background, wealth, and given environment. So, regardless of age, gender, or class, there was nothing that all people under the sky consumed that did not pass through the factories, estates, and labor of the Blackwell family.
He believed that those who could provide what the common people wanted to consume could completely transcend everything that the community had prescribed. In temporary truces and unstable peace, people's desires turned to more individual pleasures. The desires that were as collective as weapons, resources, and industrial technology, yet so thoroughly individual, grew in proportion to time and variety.
Not only will drugs and alcohol, strange and eccentric games, hunting, and music become more sophisticated forms of entertainment, but even ships and automobiles, which will soon become the exclusive property of the wealthy and convenient means of transportation, will humans and the world continue to make great leaps forward. Nevertheless, the one thing that mankind ultimately desires will never be achieved.
Something that money can't buy. Even John Fitzroy, Duke of Blackwell, who had everything, couldn't get his hands on it. That's what John Fitzroy believed until he got his hands on the secret book of the Caelum before the royal family of Trieste.
The book, which was said to have been handed down through generations in the church, described in detail the Black Mass and Eternity, as well as the methods and processes for doing so. It was the antithesis of God's sacred word, the Bible.
"The most perfect and abundant nature, the seed that grows in that land will become the source of immortality. Those who gain eternal life will enjoy the blessing of continuing that lineage by paying the highest price of blood."
The more specific doctrines were written in a pagan language. It took more than a decade to decipher them properly. And it was not long after the birth of his first grandchildren, Lloyd and Kyle, that John decided to try the ritual.
John Fitzroy Blackwell had his first child quite late in life. At the age of forty-five, he married a much younger bride, but his frail wife unfortunately died after giving birth. A few months later, he remarried, but his second wife also died shortly after giving birth.
He looked at the two babies wrapped in swaddling clothes with compassionate eyes. The eldest son, Henry David, who had lost his mother a year before birth, rarely cried. On the other hand, the second son, who had lost his mother two weeks before, always cried loudly when he was not breastfed by the nurse or sleeping.
“Your Highness. What is the name of the young master...?”
“I will be called Edward after my grandfather. Edward Liam... Blackwell.”
The children, who were born in succession, grew up healthy and strong. Thanks to the immense power and wealth of the Blackwell family, his sons were able to live without want even during the chaos and turmoil of war.
John Fitzroy never married again. Even if he had wanted to, it wouldn’t have been easy. No royal or nobleman on the Continent would have forced his daughter to become the third wife of a man who had lost two wives as if it were a curse, without the dowry of the Blackwells.
He was focused only on his descendants growing up well and considered it a joy in life. So when he learned that his eldest son, Henry, had a mental disability, he was deeply devastated. However, he soon faced reality and sent Henry to a luxurious boarding school, a special facility that he had built himself at great expense.
Fortunately, Edward lived up to his expectations and showed great intelligence in all aspects, including his studies, physique, and temperament. John gradually forgot about Henry and focused only on Edward. The family members of the estate and dukedom also believed that the future successor was undoubtedly the young master and treated him with great respect from a young age.
When Edward came of age, the Second Continental War broke out. The dukedom sought a safe haven from the aftermath of war: a remote island not far from Cullinan Island.
While on the island, Edward fell in love with Eugenia, the daughter of a music teacher. John willingly agreed to their marriage. After all, when the war ended, the royal family and the nobility would all disappear and the world would be turned upside down.
Eugenia gave birth to her first child and completed her postpartum care in good health. Later, it was completely different from what Kyle had learned that his mother had died at the same time he was born. Eugenia was alive and well until Kyle's first birthday.
Everything was going smoothly and peacefully, unlike the outside world where swords, guns, and cannons were raining down day after day. Everyone believed that the peace would last until one day when John Fitzroy looked at his newborn grandchildren and fell into a state of regret.
One day, John, frustrated with the limitations of human life, turned to heretical doctrines, and no one could have imagined what terrible tragedy would befall his family as a result.
If they had not found Cullinan Island and its grass, which corresponded to the 'most perfect and abundant nature' and 'the seeds that grow in that land' stated in the doctrine, then everything would have fulfilled its own finite value and achieved its final beauty following the providence of nature.
Clang!
The sound of the glass breaking was followed by a desperate scream that echoed through the hallway. It was none other than the scream of the next taskmaster that had been repeated every day for two weeks.
“Angie... Come find Angie! How’s the search going? Are the boats still searching around the island? Are they searching every inch of it!”
The men rushed in and grabbed Kyle's arms. Despite his extremely thin body, he was incredibly strong and it took a while to subdue him. Kyle continued to thrash around until the doctor injected a tranquilizer into his arms, and then lost consciousness. Jerome looked at his master's sleeping face with a troubled expression and left the room. The magnificent master bedroom had long since been turned into a sick room.
“Louis.”
Louis Dunst followed Jerome's gaze down the hallway. The two silently headed toward the light wing of the mansion. The ducal residence, whose name means "holy hymn," was more than ten times the size of the Cullinan Island mansion. It took a long time just to go between the east, west, south, and north wings and the central chamber.
Te Deum was an island floating in the middle of the lake, in the southern Scarbor estate, which was used as a convalescent home by the Blackwell family. Until a month ago, they had been in Hedestad, the capital of mainland Trieste.
However, due to the condition of the young master, both the succession ceremony and the engagement ceremony with Leticia were postponed and he came down to the southern island to recuperate. After two weeks, the situation showed no signs of improving. In fact, it only got worse every day.
The two entered the tea room and sat down across from each other. Jerome spoke first after a long moment of heavy silence over the table. His deep voice clearly revealed his worries.
“It’s frustrating. It would be better if we could at least find a body... If only we could find some evidence that would allow him to accept that child’s death and give up cleanly.”
“Even if there was evidence, he wouldn’t believe it. If she were swept away by that wave, there’s no way she’d be alive and master in a state where he can’t make cool-headed judgments like he usually does.”
“Louis. Is there no possibility that Angie is still alive? Just like we rescued Master, she was swept away by the storm and rescued by a fishing boat from a neighboring country. We’ve thoroughly searched the coast and docks of Trieste, so should we go to the nearest one, Wintegar or Vicentin...”
“Haven’t you already been investigating? There’s no chance of survival, so it’s just a waste of effort anyway. I just hope that the young master will quickly gather his wits and let it all out. The succession ceremony must be held within the next month. It can’t be delayed any longer. The engagement as well...”
Leticia was staying at the Dervan estate in the capital. For now, she was waiting for the young master's recovery without knowing anything, but if they delayed any longer, not only Dervan but also the royal family would raise suspicions.
“Shouldn’t it be time to reveal something about Michael? Even if we postpone telling the young master, the servants should know by now. Everyone is wondering why he is only in charge of the library in the annex. As is customary, it would be right to leave without the approval of Young Master Kyle.”
Jerome was upset. Strictly speaking, he should be called Michael, or Young Master, but there was no need for that. Trieste did not recognize illegitimate children by law. If the head of the household wanted, he could register them or leave them a portion of his inheritance, but he could not claim rights on his own.
“I still can’t believe it. He was Edward’s son. I knew that Edward had slept with Edith once when he got drunk before he fell in love with Eugenia and decided to marry her... But Edward didn’t even remember.”
“Edith was in love with Edward. That’s why she must have been very worried when she found out she was pregnant. However, as the helper of the family, she must have known what would happen to Edward’s first child. How could she have accepted that her son would be born that way? If it was someone else’s child, it would have been part of the ritual, so it couldn’t be helped, but if it was her child, the situation would have been completely different. Edith is pitiful, too. She died during childbirth even though she didn’t have an abortion with drugs.”
“So that’s why Hester kept him hidden away until Edward passed away. So that no one would know of Michael’s existence.”
But John was rather pleased with the change. The actual power of wealth became the catalyst for him to create his own empire within the Empire of Trieste.
People always live in the throes of desire. They always wanted to consume something that would sustain their lives, regardless of their status, background, wealth, and given environment. So, regardless of age, gender, or class, there was nothing that all people under the sky consumed that did not pass through the factories, estates, and labor of the Blackwell family.
He believed that those who could provide what the common people wanted to consume could completely transcend everything that the community had prescribed. In temporary truces and unstable peace, people's desires turned to more individual pleasures. The desires that were as collective as weapons, resources, and industrial technology, yet so thoroughly individual, grew in proportion to time and variety.
Not only will drugs and alcohol, strange and eccentric games, hunting, and music become more sophisticated forms of entertainment, but even ships and automobiles, which will soon become the exclusive property of the wealthy and convenient means of transportation, will humans and the world continue to make great leaps forward. Nevertheless, the one thing that mankind ultimately desires will never be achieved.
Something that money can't buy. Even John Fitzroy, Duke of Blackwell, who had everything, couldn't get his hands on it. That's what John Fitzroy believed until he got his hands on the secret book of the Caelum before the royal family of Trieste.
The book, which was said to have been handed down through generations in the church, described in detail the Black Mass and Eternity, as well as the methods and processes for doing so. It was the antithesis of God's sacred word, the Bible.
"The most perfect and abundant nature, the seed that grows in that land will become the source of immortality. Those who gain eternal life will enjoy the blessing of continuing that lineage by paying the highest price of blood."
The more specific doctrines were written in a pagan language. It took more than a decade to decipher them properly. And it was not long after the birth of his first grandchildren, Lloyd and Kyle, that John decided to try the ritual.
John Fitzroy Blackwell had his first child quite late in life. At the age of forty-five, he married a much younger bride, but his frail wife unfortunately died after giving birth. A few months later, he remarried, but his second wife also died shortly after giving birth.
He looked at the two babies wrapped in swaddling clothes with compassionate eyes. The eldest son, Henry David, who had lost his mother a year before birth, rarely cried. On the other hand, the second son, who had lost his mother two weeks before, always cried loudly when he was not breastfed by the nurse or sleeping.
“Your Highness. What is the name of the young master...?”
“I will be called Edward after my grandfather. Edward Liam... Blackwell.”
The children, who were born in succession, grew up healthy and strong. Thanks to the immense power and wealth of the Blackwell family, his sons were able to live without want even during the chaos and turmoil of war.
John Fitzroy never married again. Even if he had wanted to, it wouldn’t have been easy. No royal or nobleman on the Continent would have forced his daughter to become the third wife of a man who had lost two wives as if it were a curse, without the dowry of the Blackwells.
He was focused only on his descendants growing up well and considered it a joy in life. So when he learned that his eldest son, Henry, had a mental disability, he was deeply devastated. However, he soon faced reality and sent Henry to a luxurious boarding school, a special facility that he had built himself at great expense.
Fortunately, Edward lived up to his expectations and showed great intelligence in all aspects, including his studies, physique, and temperament. John gradually forgot about Henry and focused only on Edward. The family members of the estate and dukedom also believed that the future successor was undoubtedly the young master and treated him with great respect from a young age.
When Edward came of age, the Second Continental War broke out. The dukedom sought a safe haven from the aftermath of war: a remote island not far from Cullinan Island.
While on the island, Edward fell in love with Eugenia, the daughter of a music teacher. John willingly agreed to their marriage. After all, when the war ended, the royal family and the nobility would all disappear and the world would be turned upside down.
Eugenia gave birth to her first child and completed her postpartum care in good health. Later, it was completely different from what Kyle had learned that his mother had died at the same time he was born. Eugenia was alive and well until Kyle's first birthday.
Everything was going smoothly and peacefully, unlike the outside world where swords, guns, and cannons were raining down day after day. Everyone believed that the peace would last until one day when John Fitzroy looked at his newborn grandchildren and fell into a state of regret.
One day, John, frustrated with the limitations of human life, turned to heretical doctrines, and no one could have imagined what terrible tragedy would befall his family as a result.
If they had not found Cullinan Island and its grass, which corresponded to the 'most perfect and abundant nature' and 'the seeds that grow in that land' stated in the doctrine, then everything would have fulfilled its own finite value and achieved its final beauty following the providence of nature.
***
Clang!
The sound of the glass breaking was followed by a desperate scream that echoed through the hallway. It was none other than the scream of the next taskmaster that had been repeated every day for two weeks.
“Angie... Come find Angie! How’s the search going? Are the boats still searching around the island? Are they searching every inch of it!”
The men rushed in and grabbed Kyle's arms. Despite his extremely thin body, he was incredibly strong and it took a while to subdue him. Kyle continued to thrash around until the doctor injected a tranquilizer into his arms, and then lost consciousness. Jerome looked at his master's sleeping face with a troubled expression and left the room. The magnificent master bedroom had long since been turned into a sick room.
“Louis.”
Louis Dunst followed Jerome's gaze down the hallway. The two silently headed toward the light wing of the mansion. The ducal residence, whose name means "holy hymn," was more than ten times the size of the Cullinan Island mansion. It took a long time just to go between the east, west, south, and north wings and the central chamber.
Te Deum was an island floating in the middle of the lake, in the southern Scarbor estate, which was used as a convalescent home by the Blackwell family. Until a month ago, they had been in Hedestad, the capital of mainland Trieste.
However, due to the condition of the young master, both the succession ceremony and the engagement ceremony with Leticia were postponed and he came down to the southern island to recuperate. After two weeks, the situation showed no signs of improving. In fact, it only got worse every day.
The two entered the tea room and sat down across from each other. Jerome spoke first after a long moment of heavy silence over the table. His deep voice clearly revealed his worries.
“It’s frustrating. It would be better if we could at least find a body... If only we could find some evidence that would allow him to accept that child’s death and give up cleanly.”
“Even if there was evidence, he wouldn’t believe it. If she were swept away by that wave, there’s no way she’d be alive and master in a state where he can’t make cool-headed judgments like he usually does.”
“Louis. Is there no possibility that Angie is still alive? Just like we rescued Master, she was swept away by the storm and rescued by a fishing boat from a neighboring country. We’ve thoroughly searched the coast and docks of Trieste, so should we go to the nearest one, Wintegar or Vicentin...”
“Haven’t you already been investigating? There’s no chance of survival, so it’s just a waste of effort anyway. I just hope that the young master will quickly gather his wits and let it all out. The succession ceremony must be held within the next month. It can’t be delayed any longer. The engagement as well...”
Leticia was staying at the Dervan estate in the capital. For now, she was waiting for the young master's recovery without knowing anything, but if they delayed any longer, not only Dervan but also the royal family would raise suspicions.
“Shouldn’t it be time to reveal something about Michael? Even if we postpone telling the young master, the servants should know by now. Everyone is wondering why he is only in charge of the library in the annex. As is customary, it would be right to leave without the approval of Young Master Kyle.”
Jerome was upset. Strictly speaking, he should be called Michael, or Young Master, but there was no need for that. Trieste did not recognize illegitimate children by law. If the head of the household wanted, he could register them or leave them a portion of his inheritance, but he could not claim rights on his own.
“I still can’t believe it. He was Edward’s son. I knew that Edward had slept with Edith once when he got drunk before he fell in love with Eugenia and decided to marry her... But Edward didn’t even remember.”
“Edith was in love with Edward. That’s why she must have been very worried when she found out she was pregnant. However, as the helper of the family, she must have known what would happen to Edward’s first child. How could she have accepted that her son would be born that way? If it was someone else’s child, it would have been part of the ritual, so it couldn’t be helped, but if it was her child, the situation would have been completely different. Edith is pitiful, too. She died during childbirth even though she didn’t have an abortion with drugs.”
“So that’s why Hester kept him hidden away until Edward passed away. So that no one would know of Michael’s existence.”
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