CHAPTER 48
The Capital
Laman ng mga dyaryo ang iba't ibang balitang yumanig sa buong kontinente. Mula sa Forland Incident, sa misteryosang babaeng may itim na buhok at demonyong mga mata, hanggang sa nalalapit na kasal nina Crown Prince Vincenzo Amadeus Vacardi at Lady Rassia Saint Quentin.
Walang ibang pinag-uusapan ang mga tao kundi ang mga pangyayaring unti-unting nagbabago sa buong imperyo.
Maging ang pagtaas ng ranggo ng mga Grand Duke at Archduke, ang pag-angat ng House Quentin, at ang biglaang pagsikat ng R Atelier Café ni Madame Riche ay naging sentro rin ng usapan ng mga maharlika at karaniwang mamamayan.
Forland Incident: All noble ladies successfully rescued
The entire continent has been shaken after the horrifying underground auction in Forland was exposed. According to reports, every kidnapped noble lady was safely rescued after an unknown black-haired woman with terrifying demon-like eyes destroyed the organization in a single night.
Witnesses claim the mysterious woman possessed powers capable of silencing magic itself.
Could this be the same individual involved in the infamous Emberman Local Market Tavern Incident?
The Crown Prince Announces Formal Intent to Wed Lady Quentin!
The title for this year's grandest debut has officially been claimed. With a silver tiara upon her head and a royal proposal before the entire empire, Lady Rassia Saint Quentin has achieved what countless noble daughters could only dream of.
The future Crown Princess now holds not only the heart of Crown Prince Vincenzo Amadeus Vacardi...
But perhaps the future of the entire Erenhal Sartorias Empire itself.
Archduke Cesare Fuegoleon Quentin has once again proven the overwhelming influence of House Quentin after successfully securing the prestigious Silver Tiara for Lady Rassia Saint Quentin during her debut.
No amount of ink could fully capture the grace and elegance displayed by the future Crown Princess that evening.
Who was this Madame Rische? By sponsoring the banquet with her legendary sweets, she turned Lady Quentin's debut into a culinary revolution. The nobles were so enchanted by the flavors of Rische Atelier that they spoke of nothing else for weeks.
R Atelier Café rises under Madame Rische!
The grand opening of R Atelier Café has become one of the most talked-about events among nobles and commoners alike.
From the elegant interior to the luxurious atmosphere, guests described the café as something far beyond ordinary.
However, what truly captured the hearts of the people were the unique desserts, signature coffees, and rare teas personally introduced under the name of the mysterious Madame Riche!
The newly appointed Archduke, Cesare Fuegoleon Quentin, has become one of the most talked-about men across the continent, not only because of his rising influence, but because of his striking appearance.
Many nobles described the Archduke as overwhelmingly handsome, possessing the kind of presence that could silence an entire ballroom the moment he entered!
All hail the newly appointed Grand Dukes and the Archduke of the Empire! By the decree of the Imperial Crown, the ranks of the nobility shall rise to usher in a new era of power and authority across the continent!
Mabilis na pinunit ng Empress ang mga dyaryong kaniyang nabasa.
Bakas sa kaniyang mukha ang galit at poot sa mga balitang nagsisigawan sa bawat pahina.
Maraming dyaryo ang nagkalat sa marmol na sahig, bawat isa ay may pagmumukha ni Cesare at Rassia na tila nangungutya sa kaniya.
Ang mga maidservant ay nanatiling nakayuko, walang nangahas na huminga nang malakas, ngunit halata sa kanila ang matinding kaba habang nanginginig ang kanilang mga kamay.
"Damn it! They are really getting onto my nerves!
That Vincenzo and Cesare especially his bitch of a daughter!
Everywhere I look, all I hear are their names!
The empire keeps praising them as if they already own the entire continent!
Even their engagement became the center of everyone's attention.
.. How disgusting. But I swear, even an engagement will never stop me from crushing them into the very dirt they walk on-Ah! "
Marahas niyang ibinato ang wine glass sa pader dahilan upang mabasag iyon at magkalat ang pulang alak sa sahig na tila dugo.
"Damn you, Cesare! Kahit naging Archduke ka na, hinding-hindi kita titigilan!
I'll destroy everything you built with your own hands.
I'll tear down your pride, your influence.
.. everything! And when that day finally comes.
.. I'll make sure you kneel before me with absolutely nothing left! "
Padabog na hinampas ng Empress ang kaniyang mesa, dahilan upang magtalunan ang mga mamahaling kagamitang nakapatong dito. Ang kaniyang paghinga ay mabigat at puno ng pait.
"I have to move now! Pagsisisihan nila ang lahat ng ito! Hindi ito maaari!"
?Ramdam ng Empress ang malamig na haplos ng panganib.
Alam niyang kapag natuloy ang kasal ng Crown Prince at ng anak ni Cesare, malaki ang posibilidad na bumaba na sa trono ang Emperor na si Luthor.
Kapag nangyari iyon, mawawalan na siya ng kapangyarihang manipulahin ang palasyo.
Maiiwan siyang bilanggo sa isang ginintuang hawla, walang boses at walang pangil, habang pinapanood ang pag-akyat sa kapangyarihan ng pamilyang kaniyang kinasusuklaman.
?Napakagat-labi ang Empress at napatingin sa basag na salamin.
Mula sa matatalim na piraso nito, nakita niya ang repleksyon ni Lurtheron na tahimik lamang na nagmamasid sa kaniya.
Ang kaniyang sariling anak, ang Cardinal Prince, ay tila walang pakialam sa nagbabagang galit ng kaniyang ina.
?"Lurtheron! Kailan gaganapin ang kasal?!" bulyaw ng Empress. Ang kaniyang boses ay nanginginig sa poot tuwing naiisip ang nalalapit na pag-iisang dibdib nina Vincenzo at ng anak ni Cesare.
?Humakbang si Lurtheron patungo sa bintana ng silid. Ang sinag ng araw ay humampas sa kaniyang mala-anghel na mukha, na nagbibigay ng banal na anyo sa kaniyang kasuotang pang-Cardinal, ngunit ang kaniyang titig ay nanatiling misteryoso.
?"The day the Holy Prophecy Gathering is held. I personally requested it, Mother. That way, the Holy Cathedral can gain more supporters, at ang unyon ng Crown Prince at ni Lady Rassia ay magmumukhang itinakda ng langit."
Nanatiling seryoso ang tingin ng Empress sa kaniyang anak, ang kaniyang mga mata ay tila naghahanap ng anumang bitak sa kalmadong maskara nito.
?"The wedding is not just a ceremony, it is an altar of truth.
I have smelled the scent of a hidden shadow trailing the Crown Prince for far too long.
By placing him under the blinding light of the Holy Prophecy, he will have nowhere left to hide.
Kung may itinatago man siyang bahid o lihim na kayang magpabagsak sa kaniya, doon ko iyon kukunin, sa harap ng Dakilang Diyosa at ng buong imperyo. "
?Isang malamig na ngiti ang sumilay sa kaniyang mala-anghel na mukha habang tinititigan ang sariling repleksyon sa basag na kristal.
?"I am building him a stage for his own execution. By the time the bells of the Cathedral ring, we will finally know if the man who claims to be our future emperor is a savior... or a traitor."
Huminahon ang Empress at tumungo sa mesa upang kumuha ng wine. Nilanghap niya rin ang kaniyang lavender flower na sa nasa plolera. Ang tanging plolera na hindi niya binasag.
"There is something unnatural about that girl, Lurtheron, and I want to expose her too," lumingon siya sa kaniyang anak na nakatitig pa rin sa liwanag na nagmumula sa bintana.
"Light mages can sense the purity or the corruption of a soul, Lurtheron.
And whenever Rassia is near, my mana recoils.
It is like looking at a beautiful lake, only to realize that beneath the surface lies a bottomless abyss. "
Ang Empress na kanina lamang ay nagwawala ay na mahinahon na ngayon, ngunit ang kaniyang mga mata ay nananatiling puno ng talim.
"Nadea was the same. The bitch. Whenever I am in the presence of her daughter, I also feel her presence. Tell me, Lurtheron. As a Cardinal Prince whose light is far more potent than mine, what do you feel about her? Is there something truly forbidden lurking within her?"
Dahan-dahang napatingin si Lurtheron sa kaniyang ina. Ang kaniyang mukha ay blangko, tila isang pader na hindi matitibag.
"I told you, Mother. I don't sense anything about that... woman."
Kumunot ang noo ng Empress at dahan-dahang sumilay ang isang mapang-uyam na ngisi sa kaniyang mga labi.
"Are you really not sensing anything about her... or are you just turning a blind eye because you are captivated by that same forbidden charm that bewitched the Archduke before?"
Inilapag niya ang kaniyang baso ng wine at humakbang palapit kay Lurtheron.
"Huwag mong kalimutan, Lurtheron. Ang liwanag mo ay hindi lamang para sa Holy Cathedral.
Ito ay para sa ating proteksyon. Kung magbubulag-bulagan ka dahil lamang sa kaniyang ganda, baka sa huli, ang liwanag mo mismo ang maging mitsa ng ating pagbagsak. "
?Muling tumingin si Lurtheron sa labas, ang kaniyang pansin ay naagaw ng isang puting ibon na tila walang pagod na humahabol sa isang itim na ibon sa malawak na kalangitan.
"I am a Cardinal, Mother. My eyes see only what the Goddess allows me to see. If there is a shadow, it will be revealed in time. But for now... the only corruption I see in this room is your obsession with the past."
The Empress rolled her eyes.
"The eyes, Lurtheron. They never lie."
Napailing na lamang muli ang empress sa blankong ekspresyon ng anak.
"I do not know what thoughts are crossing your mind, Lurtheron. But I am your mother. I know the weight of your silence, and I clearly saw the sparkle in your eyes when you looked at that girl during her banquet. It was a look I haven't seen you give any other noblewoman."
Bahagyang inikot ng Empress ang kaniyang kopita, ang mapulang alak ay tila sumasayaw sa loob ng kristal bago siya dahan-dahang lumapit sa kaniyang anak.
Sa kabila ng kaniyang poot, may bakas ng babala at pag-aalaga ang kaniyang paggalaw nang haplusin niya ang kanang pisngi ni Lurtheron.
?"Lurtheron... do not forget who you are and the path you have chosen.
You serve the Great Goddess, and her light demands an untainted heart.
Do not let the ghost of Nadea or the beauty of her daughter blind you to the rot that lies beneath.
You are a Cardinal Prince, your duty is to purge the darkness, not to be captivated by it. "
Bahagyang ngumisi si Lurtheron, isang ekspresyong panandalian lamang at hindi man lang nagawang baguhin ang lamig sa kaniyang mga mata na nananatiling blanko.
?"My devotion to the Great Goddess is absolute, Mother, and that devotion demands that I destroy anything that pretends to be divine." panimula niya.
?"I am serving the Great Goddess, and that is exactly bakit ko siya pinagmamasdan.
Ang bawat kislap, ang bawat titig... iyon ay pagsusuri.
I am looking for the crack in her armor, the shadow in her pulse.
If I was captivated by her at the banquet, it was because her presence is a riddle that challenges my faith. "
?Rassia...
?The name felt like a forbidden chant in his mind. He looked back at the empty sky where the birds had vanished.
You are quite interesting. So interesting that the prayers I've memorized since childhood are starting to sound like empty echoes.
Why am I feeling this way about you?
I am a Cardinal, the ultimate servant of the faith, yet you caught my attention, a woman who is not a worshipper of the Great Goddess.
This is not attraction. This is... observation. Yes, observation...
I do not want her. I want the truth she hides. I am not captivated by her beauty, I am captivated by the potential of her destruction.
Isang mapait at mapanganib na ngisi ang gumuhit sa mga labi ng Empress. Humakbang siya palapit at mariing hinawakan ang balikat ni Lurtheron, ang kaniyang mga kuko ay tila bumaon sa mamahaling tela ng kaniyang kasuotan.
?"Lurtheron. Prepare the Light Grimoire," deklara ng Empress, ang kaniyang boses ay umualingawngaw sa tahimik na silid. "The book that forces every hidden truth to come into the light, whether the soul is ready or not, in the holy prophecy gathering."
Tinitigan ni Lurtheron ang mukha ng kaniyang ina.
Ang mukha ng Empress ay nananatiling kalmado, isang larawan ng kabanalan at dangal. Ngunit sa likod ng kaniyang banayad na ngiti at inosenteng anyo, may nakakubling lason na tanging si Lurtheron lamang ang nakakaalam.
?"Raise the Holy Silver Cross to reveal the truth about your suspicions."
Isang tipid at mapanganib na ngisi ang gumuhit sa mga labi ni Lurtheron.
Vincenzo... My dear, brother. Your downfall is near. My plan for the entire empire is getting near... ?I am excited to witness the truth you hide in the holy cathedral.
Dahan-dahang pumikit si Lurtheron, hinahayaan ang kaniyang isipan na bumalik sa mga sandaling unti-unting nabuo ang lamat sa perpektong imahe ng kaniyang kapatid.
Naalala ko ang gabing iyon...
?In the middle of the night, I decided to go underground of the holy cathedral where the hidden books about history are hidden.
The books and records of The Blood of Old Erenhal, as well as the history of all bloodlines, even the oldest, most primal lineages of Vermeleyon lay there, rotting in the cold.
But amidst the endless shelves of ancient books, one caught my attention.
The oldest of them all.
Napakaluma na ng takip nito, halos kupas na ang gintong letra sa pabalat.
Ang makapal nitong libro ay tila ilang siglo nang hindi nahahawakan, habang ang bawat pahina ay naninilaw at halos hindi na mabasa.
Ang iba ay may punit na sulok, at ang tinta ng mga nakasulat ay unti-unti nang nilalamon ng panahon.
Sinindihan ko ang isang maliit na kandila na magsisilbing liwanag sa gitna ng kadiliman at binuksan ang libro.
The Blood of Old Erenhal - The Last Vampiric Bloodline
When the Great Goddess descended upon the world, her wrath fell upon the bloodlines of the vampires, for they had committed sins beyond forgiveness.
Yet among all the vampiric bloodlines that vanished beneath the Goddess' wrath, only the Blood of Old Erenhal survived.
Not because they were stronger. But because they were different.
The Erenhals were neither fully vampire nor fully human.
They were beings born from the union of ancient mages and vampiric royalty, half mage, half vampire.
Unlike the other clans who drowned themselves in greed and bloodshed, the House of Erenhal remained distant from the sins that condemned their kind.
For centuries, people believed the Blood of Old Erenhal was the highest form of royal blood ever created.
Some legends even claimed that a true Erenhal could command every element if their blood fully awakened. But despite their prestige, the Erenhals slowly disappeared from history. One by one, their names faded from records until only myths remained.
Napatigil ako sa pagbabasa.
Even I couldn't deny the overwhelming power the Blood of Old Erenhal held.
Tahimik kong tinitigan ang lumang pahina habang unti-unting bumibigat ang hangin sa paligid ko. Para bang kahit ang simpleng pagbanggit sa pangalang Erenhal ay may dalang kakaibang bigat na hindi maipaliwanag.
"The Erenhals are a very old and powerful family..." I whispered.
They possessed overwhelming mana and abilities that no ordinary mage could ever hope to achieve.
It was said that a fully awakened Erenhal could survive fatal wounds, regenerate from destruction, and continue living for centuries without aging like ordinary humans.
No wonder people called them the highest form of royal blood. Perhaps, that was the reason the world feared them so much.
The Old Holy Cathedral, known as the center of faith across Vermeleyon, declared the Blood of Erenhal as an abomination against the gods. They began forming alliances with the most powerful noble houses across the continent of Vermeleyon.
Even royal bloodlines that once respected the Erenhals turned against them.
All houses united for one purpose alone,
To erase the Blood of Old Erenhal from history forever.
I continued reading, my eyes slowly tracing the list of names written across the ancient pages. The ten rulers who carried the blood of Old Erenhal centuries ago.
The blood of Old Erenhal carried various elemental affinities, yet every single member of the bloodline possessed one thing in common, the element of darkness.
Drakkon Vykar de Erenhal, dark mage.
Dimitri Zykar de Erenhal, fire and dark mage.
Overon Klaylar de Erenhal, air and dark mage.
Leonardo William Erenhal, water and dark mage.
Rovan Alucard de Erenhal, earth and dark mage.
Jazer Parzeus de Erenhal, air and dark mage.
Morticia Eve de Erenhal, air and dark mage.
Cassandra Helen de Erenhal, earth and dark mage.
Natalia Van de Erenhal, water and dark mage.
Devi Cordella de Erenhal, fire and dark mage.
"Even their name alone was enough to send goosebumps crawling down my spine." I tilted my head.
Makalipas ang ilang minuto, nagpasya akong magbasa pa tungkol sa lahat ng maharlikang dugo ng Vermeleyon.
Isa-isang dumaan sa aking mga kamay ang makakapal na librong naglalaman ng kasaysayan ng mga dakilang angkan ng imperyo.
May mga pamilyang kilala sa apoy, may ilan namang pinagpala ng liwanag, hangin, lupa, at maging banal na mahika.
Bawat dugo ay may sariling alamat, kapangyarihan, at kasaysayang nabahiran ng digmaan, pagtataksil, at ambisyon.
Kumuha ako ng isang libro na naglalaman ng kasaysayan ng bloodline ng dugong Vacardi, ang aking sariling dugo.
The blood of House Vacardi was feared and revered across the continent, known for producing some of the most powerful mages in history.
Water was known as the element of life, healing, and purity, but in the hands of the Vacardi bloodline, it became something far more terrifying.
For centuries, House Vacardi stood as one of the empire's most respected noble families, protectors, healers, and rulers blessed by the element of water.
Beaumont Stavros Vacardi, healer and water mage.
Ladarvord Stavros II Vacardi, water mage.
Pargaeus Azero Vacardi, air and water mage.
Ghastel Rolan Vacardi, water mage.
Yuan Guavel Vacardi, earth and water mage.
Eiandel Arked Vacardi, water mage.
Vargan Arkandal Vacardi, air and water mage.
Orpheus Jacques Vacardi, healer mage.
Maximillian Arkagash Vacardi, water mage.
Lorgan Dwendal Vacardi, water mage.
Lozkal Maximillian II Vacardi, healer mage.
Lurezus Maximillian III Vacardi, water mage.
Luthor Maximillian IV Vacardi, water mage.
"Vincenzo Amadeus Vacardi... dark mage."
Kumunot ang aking noo sa huli kong nabasa.
"The Crown Prince is the only... dark mage?"
That was when my suspicions about the Crown Prince and Princess Cayena started.
There was a high possibility that Vincenzo and Cayena carried the Blood of Old Erenhal. After all, Cayena and Vincenzo were pure-blooded siblings.
Cayena was a water mage... though I still didn't know whether she carried the dark element as well.
And according to the ancient records, every descendant of Old Erenhal possessed the element of darkness alongside another elemental affinity, except for the first emperor, Drakkon, who wielded only pure darkness itself.
Same as Vincenzo.
Even he carried the dark element alone, he is still powerful, even the sovereign spirit, the panther of the darkness, chose him as its master.
I even searched for books describing what the Erenhals looked like, wondering if they resembled Vincenzo and Cayena in any way, but I found nothing.
The marriage was a mistake, Vincenzo... You dug your own grave the moment you tied yourself to that woman. You should have remained untouchable... and feared... But love makes even monsters foolish. Now, the truth hidden within your blood will finally come to light.
Oh, Vincenzo... the truth I've been seeking is finally getting closer. Even if you surround yourself with the most powerful noble houses in Vermeleyon, you will never escape the truth written within your blood.
Tahimik na sumimsim ang Empress sa kaniyang kopita, ang malamig niyang mga mata ay nakatitig lamang sa kawalan.
"Through the Light Grimoire, it will expose the darkness I suspect within that daughter of Cesare," malamig niyang sambit. "And through the Holy Silver Cross... we will reveal the truth about Vincenzo and Cayena's real blood."
Kinuha ni Lurtheron ang isang pulang rosas mula sa plorerang nakalagay malapit sa bintana. Marahan niya iyong pinaikot sa pagitan ng kaniyang mga daliri habang tahimik na pinagmamasdan ang kalangitan sa labas.
Rassia...
I hate to admit this... but part of me truly hoped that my mother's suspicions about you were wrong.
After several days, the long-awaited day of the Grand Imperial Wedding of the Crown Prince and the future Crown Princess had finally arrived.