“Your Highness, there is something I have not been able to tell you. Now that you have gathered your strength, I think it is time to do so.”
As he stood up to change his clothes, Jerome opened his mouth again. Kyle gave him a look that told him to speak. Jerome had difficulty opening his mouth, but finally, he opened his mouth.
“Your Highness. The late Duke Edward... had another successor.”
"What...?"
“There was a boy born a year before you, my lord. This was before his marriage to Lady Eugenia.”
Kyle sat back down. He didn't seem particularly interested, since nothing was more important to him than Angie. But it was something he needed to know.
“Actually, he was a servant from Blackwell Heights. We all found out when we came to the capital. There is a diary left by the deceased Hester Randle as evidence, and above all, there is clear physical evidence...”
As Jerome continued speaking, a glint began to appear in his eyes. It wasn't a very bright light.
Five days passed in the blink of an eye. Te Deum was bustling from dawn with the royal guests. The royal delegation from the capital arrived at the ducal residence in high spirits and mockery, and could not hide their bewilderment at the sight of Kyle Loden Blackwell, who greeted them so calmly.
“Oh, all these horror stories have been going around, but they were all just rumors and hearsay. You may be a little thin, but you look just like the late Duke Edward. You’ve really grown up well on that barren island.”
“Cullinan Island was a very beautiful and rich place before the fire. It was far from being a harsh environment, to be honest. On the contrary, I got a fever as soon as I arrived in the capital and have been sick for the past two months, but have been feeling better recently.”
“I see. That is truly fortunate. The Duke’s family must have been blessed and cared for by the Gods! Now, if you come to the capital in ten days to meet His Majesty and hold the succession ceremony, everything will go smoothly.”
One of the aides made the sign of the cross with his hand and smirked. Kyle swallowed his laughter and brought his teacup to his lips. The delegation looked on in awe at the noble and elegant gestures and the dignified charisma. They had long since forgotten that the title was actually a purchased title.
It had long been forgotten that if the next Duke of Blackwell died without an heir, not only would the debt owed to the crown be automatically forgiven, but a great deal of wealth could be siphoned off. After all, the royal servants were merely subordinates. Whoever it was, they simply sided with the strongest side and took advantage of it.
In the sinister eyes of the current group of aides, the next master of the Blackwell family seemed a much more attractive lord than the incompetent and gullible Rainier VIII.
His purple eyes scanned the rows of hardcover books. At that moment, the library door opened and a middle-aged woman came in. It was Louis Dunst. Michael stopped wiping the dust, climbed down the ladder, and approached her.
“Mrs. Dunst, is there anything you would like me to do?”
His posture, with his hands clasped together in a respectful manner, was the same as on Cullinan Island. His faint smile and his sparkling face were the same. The young man who had held an axe and smiled eerily on the day the island burned was nowhere to be found.
“Michael. The Master has instructed you to come to the study in ten minutes. Yesterday, he was dealing with the royal delegation, so today is the only day he has free time.”
Louis treated him the same way she did on the island. There was no need or reason to use honorifics or show courtesy. Even though he was Edward's blood, he was still an illegitimate child of the Empire of Trieste.
“I see. I’ll go and check it out now.”
“Wait a minute, Michael. Before that, let me talk to you first.”
Mrs. Dunst sat down at a table with a pile of books in the corner. Michael sat across from her. She asked without hesitation.
“What do you plan to say to the master?”
“Yes? I didn’t plan on telling him anything... I just wanted to say hello, but I don’t really...”
“Your future plans may change. As you know, illegitimate children do not usually live in one place. Even if the master sends you to the capital or another fief in the provinces tomorrow, you must comply. If you refuse, you will have to leave the Blackwell family completely and live independently. Since the master will provide you with sufficient funds for independence, it may be better for you to live freely.”
“I... want to stay here. I want to live faithfully as a servant who serves the master and fulfills my duty as I have done so far. Because I have nowhere else to go.”
“I actually want you to stay here. Everyone thinks so too.”
Of course, not everyone is like that. Jerome came and went from Louis' mind.
“But it is uncertain whether the young master will do so. He holds the decision-making power.”
Knock, knock.
“If Master wishes to leave, I cannot help it. Thank you for your concern, Madam.”
Michael bowed his head politely and left the room. The hand that had been straightening his messy bangs swept down the back of his neck. A small blue rose appeared and disappeared like a tattoo.
It was a pattern that had been embedded like a dot since birth. The same thing was on Edward and Kyle's bodies before they were born.
'I want to live forever, Angie.'
Angie's eyes shot open wide. Her lips opened in spasms. She wanted to scream, but her throat was blocked, and only the sound of wind escaped. Her body, just woken up, was soaked with sweat.
She asked him one day what he wanted.
'What is your wish, Master?'
'Wish...?'
'Yes. Do you have any other wish or earnest wish besides getting healthy? Your body will definitely get better.'
'Live forever...'
Her hands gripped the sheet tightly. Angie stared into the darkness for a long time before lighting a candle. There was a light, but she was used to conserving fuel as much as possible. Bryn begged her not to worry, but she couldn't.
Angie carefully got up and walked to the window. The outline of her slightly swollen belly was visible on the window. As the weeks passed, her pregnancy signs became more evident. Angie instinctively covered her belly with both hands. Beyond the window, the full moon was brightening the wealthy Citadel neighborhood.
Angie took a deep breath and sat on the edge of the bed, clasping her hands together. Bryn's luxurious townhouse was safe, and the neat room was warm and cozy. But her hands still didn't stop shaking.
It still didn't feel real. Three months ago, her mom and dad were shot and killed in front of her. And then she heard the whole story from Martin and found out that they weren't her biological parents. But the shock and grief didn't go away at all.
Laura and Patrick Ridsdel cherished and loved her like their own daughter. Among the unbelievable things, there was one thing that was certain.
Her mother had risked her life in the thunder, lightning, and torrential rain to make a potion for her. What kind of foster mother could be so devoted? So it didn't change the fact that Kyle had brutally shot and killed her parents.
For the first month, Angie had nightmares every night. It was always the same. Kyle was holding a gun in one hand. Before her eyes, her mom and dad were shot one after another, and she staggered over the edge of a cliff and threw herself into the sea. Kyle was running towards her, screaming.
As her falling body was engulfed in the crashing waves, a deep coldness crept into her bones. Angie closed her eyes and let go of all the strength in her body. At that moment, she thought her body would slowly sink below the surface and reach the abyss. She prayed that she would die before she hit the bottom. At the same time, she prayed for forgiveness. To her mother, father, and perhaps to the baby in her womb.
Sbe thought and pondered countless times. Could there have been some misunderstanding or reason why Kyle had to kill them? But no matter how much she squeezed and pondered, the conclusion was always the same. Nothing could justify the murder.
Besides... if only he had known about the child in my stomach.
A shudder ran down her spine. Angie wrapped the blanket around her body and shivered slightly. When she lost consciousness and opened her eyes again, she was in the cabin of the Vintergar's ship. And for the first time in her life, she met Martin da Silva, real name Philip Beckett, whom she had only met in her dreams.
She couldn't tell if it was a dream or reality. A flood of overwhelming emotions came at her, sending her into a state of panic. The relief that she had been saved from death was not there. The tragedy of her parents dying before her eyes, and Martin not only being a real person from Vintegar, but also her cousin.
"You're from Vintergar too. Angie. No... Amber. Your name is Amber Wynn. Your mother and my father were cousins. We met twice a year when we were little... and you taught me songs, but don't you remember at all?"
"I don't remember anything from when I was young. But there was a song that came to mind sometimes. A sunset over the sea after the wind and rain had passed..."
"That's it! It was a song that was widely sung in my mother's hometown."
"I was from Vintergar... But I don’t remember anything. All I remember is that I lived on Cullinan Island. It felt like I was born there and lived there my whole life, but how did I..."
"It was because your memories were manipulated by hypnosis and then maintained by opium rose and rose tea. But don't worry, Angie. I also almost got my old memories back after coming to Vintegar, the environment changed, and I stopped drinking rose tea. It will be the same for you. I'm really glad I could take you here safely."
As if by God's help, the storm subsided as soon as Angie, who had been swept away by the waves, was picked up by the other castaways from the nearby islands. The two talked for a long time until they arrived at the Citadel.
As he stood up to change his clothes, Jerome opened his mouth again. Kyle gave him a look that told him to speak. Jerome had difficulty opening his mouth, but finally, he opened his mouth.
“Your Highness. The late Duke Edward... had another successor.”
"What...?"
“There was a boy born a year before you, my lord. This was before his marriage to Lady Eugenia.”
Kyle sat back down. He didn't seem particularly interested, since nothing was more important to him than Angie. But it was something he needed to know.
“Actually, he was a servant from Blackwell Heights. We all found out when we came to the capital. There is a diary left by the deceased Hester Randle as evidence, and above all, there is clear physical evidence...”
As Jerome continued speaking, a glint began to appear in his eyes. It wasn't a very bright light.
***
Five days passed in the blink of an eye. Te Deum was bustling from dawn with the royal guests. The royal delegation from the capital arrived at the ducal residence in high spirits and mockery, and could not hide their bewilderment at the sight of Kyle Loden Blackwell, who greeted them so calmly.
“Oh, all these horror stories have been going around, but they were all just rumors and hearsay. You may be a little thin, but you look just like the late Duke Edward. You’ve really grown up well on that barren island.”
“Cullinan Island was a very beautiful and rich place before the fire. It was far from being a harsh environment, to be honest. On the contrary, I got a fever as soon as I arrived in the capital and have been sick for the past two months, but have been feeling better recently.”
“I see. That is truly fortunate. The Duke’s family must have been blessed and cared for by the Gods! Now, if you come to the capital in ten days to meet His Majesty and hold the succession ceremony, everything will go smoothly.”
One of the aides made the sign of the cross with his hand and smirked. Kyle swallowed his laughter and brought his teacup to his lips. The delegation looked on in awe at the noble and elegant gestures and the dignified charisma. They had long since forgotten that the title was actually a purchased title.
It had long been forgotten that if the next Duke of Blackwell died without an heir, not only would the debt owed to the crown be automatically forgiven, but a great deal of wealth could be siphoned off. After all, the royal servants were merely subordinates. Whoever it was, they simply sided with the strongest side and took advantage of it.
In the sinister eyes of the current group of aides, the next master of the Blackwell family seemed a much more attractive lord than the incompetent and gullible Rainier VIII.
***
His purple eyes scanned the rows of hardcover books. At that moment, the library door opened and a middle-aged woman came in. It was Louis Dunst. Michael stopped wiping the dust, climbed down the ladder, and approached her.
“Mrs. Dunst, is there anything you would like me to do?”
His posture, with his hands clasped together in a respectful manner, was the same as on Cullinan Island. His faint smile and his sparkling face were the same. The young man who had held an axe and smiled eerily on the day the island burned was nowhere to be found.
“Michael. The Master has instructed you to come to the study in ten minutes. Yesterday, he was dealing with the royal delegation, so today is the only day he has free time.”
Louis treated him the same way she did on the island. There was no need or reason to use honorifics or show courtesy. Even though he was Edward's blood, he was still an illegitimate child of the Empire of Trieste.
“I see. I’ll go and check it out now.”
“Wait a minute, Michael. Before that, let me talk to you first.”
Mrs. Dunst sat down at a table with a pile of books in the corner. Michael sat across from her. She asked without hesitation.
“What do you plan to say to the master?”
“Yes? I didn’t plan on telling him anything... I just wanted to say hello, but I don’t really...”
“Your future plans may change. As you know, illegitimate children do not usually live in one place. Even if the master sends you to the capital or another fief in the provinces tomorrow, you must comply. If you refuse, you will have to leave the Blackwell family completely and live independently. Since the master will provide you with sufficient funds for independence, it may be better for you to live freely.”
“I... want to stay here. I want to live faithfully as a servant who serves the master and fulfills my duty as I have done so far. Because I have nowhere else to go.”
“I actually want you to stay here. Everyone thinks so too.”
Of course, not everyone is like that. Jerome came and went from Louis' mind.
“But it is uncertain whether the young master will do so. He holds the decision-making power.”
Knock, knock.
Ten minutes had passed. The maid stood at the door, urging Michael to go to the study, and turned around. He stood up from his chair blandly. And smiled faintly at Mrs. Dunst. It was the kind and gentle smile that everyone liked.
“If Master wishes to leave, I cannot help it. Thank you for your concern, Madam.”
Michael bowed his head politely and left the room. The hand that had been straightening his messy bangs swept down the back of his neck. A small blue rose appeared and disappeared like a tattoo.
It was a pattern that had been embedded like a dot since birth. The same thing was on Edward and Kyle's bodies before they were born.
***
'I want to live forever, Angie.'
Angie's eyes shot open wide. Her lips opened in spasms. She wanted to scream, but her throat was blocked, and only the sound of wind escaped. Her body, just woken up, was soaked with sweat.
She asked him one day what he wanted.
'What is your wish, Master?'
'Wish...?'
'Yes. Do you have any other wish or earnest wish besides getting healthy? Your body will definitely get better.'
'Live forever...'
Her hands gripped the sheet tightly. Angie stared into the darkness for a long time before lighting a candle. There was a light, but she was used to conserving fuel as much as possible. Bryn begged her not to worry, but she couldn't.
Angie carefully got up and walked to the window. The outline of her slightly swollen belly was visible on the window. As the weeks passed, her pregnancy signs became more evident. Angie instinctively covered her belly with both hands. Beyond the window, the full moon was brightening the wealthy Citadel neighborhood.
Angie took a deep breath and sat on the edge of the bed, clasping her hands together. Bryn's luxurious townhouse was safe, and the neat room was warm and cozy. But her hands still didn't stop shaking.
It still didn't feel real. Three months ago, her mom and dad were shot and killed in front of her. And then she heard the whole story from Martin and found out that they weren't her biological parents. But the shock and grief didn't go away at all.
Laura and Patrick Ridsdel cherished and loved her like their own daughter. Among the unbelievable things, there was one thing that was certain.
Her mother had risked her life in the thunder, lightning, and torrential rain to make a potion for her. What kind of foster mother could be so devoted? So it didn't change the fact that Kyle had brutally shot and killed her parents.
For the first month, Angie had nightmares every night. It was always the same. Kyle was holding a gun in one hand. Before her eyes, her mom and dad were shot one after another, and she staggered over the edge of a cliff and threw herself into the sea. Kyle was running towards her, screaming.
As her falling body was engulfed in the crashing waves, a deep coldness crept into her bones. Angie closed her eyes and let go of all the strength in her body. At that moment, she thought her body would slowly sink below the surface and reach the abyss. She prayed that she would die before she hit the bottom. At the same time, she prayed for forgiveness. To her mother, father, and perhaps to the baby in her womb.
Sbe thought and pondered countless times. Could there have been some misunderstanding or reason why Kyle had to kill them? But no matter how much she squeezed and pondered, the conclusion was always the same. Nothing could justify the murder.
Besides... if only he had known about the child in my stomach.
A shudder ran down her spine. Angie wrapped the blanket around her body and shivered slightly. When she lost consciousness and opened her eyes again, she was in the cabin of the Vintergar's ship. And for the first time in her life, she met Martin da Silva, real name Philip Beckett, whom she had only met in her dreams.
She couldn't tell if it was a dream or reality. A flood of overwhelming emotions came at her, sending her into a state of panic. The relief that she had been saved from death was not there. The tragedy of her parents dying before her eyes, and Martin not only being a real person from Vintegar, but also her cousin.
"You're from Vintergar too. Angie. No... Amber. Your name is Amber Wynn. Your mother and my father were cousins. We met twice a year when we were little... and you taught me songs, but don't you remember at all?"
"I don't remember anything from when I was young. But there was a song that came to mind sometimes. A sunset over the sea after the wind and rain had passed..."
"That's it! It was a song that was widely sung in my mother's hometown."
"I was from Vintergar... But I don’t remember anything. All I remember is that I lived on Cullinan Island. It felt like I was born there and lived there my whole life, but how did I..."
"It was because your memories were manipulated by hypnosis and then maintained by opium rose and rose tea. But don't worry, Angie. I also almost got my old memories back after coming to Vintegar, the environment changed, and I stopped drinking rose tea. It will be the same for you. I'm really glad I could take you here safely."
As if by God's help, the storm subsided as soon as Angie, who had been swept away by the waves, was picked up by the other castaways from the nearby islands. The two talked for a long time until they arrived at the Citadel.
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