Chapter 96
The Iron-Blooded Emperor Marcus spilled rivers of blood before ascending to the throne. He killed his brothers, cousins, and even distant relatives, not to mention his adversaries. Anyone with even a smidgen of imperial blood had their blood squeezed until they became nothing but dried bones. The bodies piled into a mountain, and their blood filled the moat of the Imperial Palace.
In the end, Marcus became the only male of the Britten Family. Since the Imperial Family only had a few members remaining, Marcus feared that his pure bloodline would end on his generation, so he took extreme and frightening measures.
‘Such is the tragedy of the Britten family. It will go down as the darkest moment in Avalon’s history.’?Joshua’s eyes drooped.
Beyond the wall, Princess Serciarin was the first casualty of that disaster.
‘There was a good reason why Princess Serciarin was born with a congenital disorder. It was all because of the Brittens’ inbreeding.’’
Joshua revealed a sour smile and shifted his gaze to the huge wall in front of him.
If his memory served him right, Princess Serciarin was the child of Emperor Marcus and his paternal cousin. She was the result of incest, so the princess could truly be considered a pure-blooded imperial noble.
“Please tell me! Please tell me how much you know!” Princess Serciarin started.
However, another woman’s voice could be heard beyond the wall, and it made Joshua take a step backward.
“Your Highness?”
“...”
“Are you talking to the wall?”
“Oh! No… what’s going on, Ellen?” Princess Serciarin muttered.
“You have to take care of your health, Your Highness. Why are you here? Let’s go inside now, Your Highness.”
“I see…” Joshua sighed after grasping the general atmosphere and turned around.
'We will meet again when the time is right,'?Joshua muttered to himself as he slowly walked away.
Joshua swiftly left the scene, leaving behind him the wall that was so high it seemingly pierced the skies.
***
'I don’t believe it. He seemed like he knew everything...'?As she gazed at the flower garden full of vibrant flowers, the girl's face became flushed with surprise. She was seated in a wheelchair and was being pushed back to her chambers. She recalled her earlier encounter with Joshua.
The eyes were important elements to one’s appearance, but even the girl’s blind eyes didn’t diminish her beauty. She closed her mouth shut after muttering to herself.
She had always been living in a dark world. The girl’s blonde hair shone beautifully in the sunlight as if to boast that she inherited imperial blood, and her small face, straight nose, and delicate features were in perfect harmony.
She looked like she had never been touched by the sun before. It looked like if she went outside, her pristine white skin would melt under the sun’s rays. She looked so delicate that everyone would find even her furious side adorable.
She was Princess Serciarin—a child whom everyone admired as a kid who looked like a doll. However, she was on her way to becoming one of the empire's most beautiful women.
“Joshua… Sanders?”
“Yes?”
Ellen, the private maid pushing the wheelchair from behind, tilted her head.
“Have you ever heard of the name Joshua Sanders, Ellen?”
“Joshua… Sanders?” Ellen’s voice was thick with doubt. “I'm not sure. Since he doesn't have a nobiliary particle, it means he’s a peasant. Do you know someone with that name?”
'A peasant?'?Princess Serciarin snorted. There was no way an ordinary person would be cognizant of one of the empire’s closely-guarded secrets.
“Ah, now that I think about it…” Ellen clapped upon recalling something as she said, “I thought it was just a familiar name, but it seems I’ve heard of the name, ‘Joshua’ before.”
“Really?” said Princess Serciarin. She seemed anxious.
The empire had so many people with the same names, so there was a huge chance that the ‘Joshua’ Ellen was familiar with, and the Joshua she just encountered earlier wasn’t the same individual.
‘I can always double-check… The feeling he gave me was distinct, even through the wall. I’d definitely know if it’s him.’?Princess Serciarin's face was filled with confidence.
In any case, the presence or absence of a wall didn't matter to her.
Even if there were no walls, she was still blind anyway.
“Tell me, Ellen, When was the first time you heard of that name?”
“I heard it on the way here...”
“Please speak.” Ellen seemed afraid to respond. However, she sighed upon seeing Princess Serciarin’s desperate look.
“The knights said we have a potential Rising Star named Joshua.”
“You mean someone who could be considered to be one of the next Nine Stars?”
Ellen smiled and nodded. “Yes, we have another Rising Star named Babel von Agnus. So that's a total of two Rising Stars that we already have. If we get a third one, Avalon Empire would have its future secured. As such, His Majesty holds very high hopes and expectations.”
“So he is a Rising Star…”
‘I knew there was something strange about him, but I didn’t expect him to be such a talented person because he sounded so young,’?thought Princess Serciarin.
Noticing Princess Serciarin’s contemplative expression, Ellen spoke, “However, he is not a Rising Star yet. After all, he needs to get everyone’s acknowledgment first.”
“But since he got nominated, there’s a huge chance that it will become true, right?”
“That’s true… The people who had been nominated before emerged successful in the world-renowned Reinhardt Masters' Battle.”
“So that’s how it is…” Serciarin nodded.
Ellen continued with a stern look. “However, according to the knights, it seemed that the majority of the nobles have criticized the nomination.”
“What do you mean?” asked Princess Serciarin with a tilt of her head.
“The two Rising Stars would most likely become a part of the continent’s Nine Stars. The main issue is that both talents are from the same family and the nobles were worried about a single family wielding that much power and influence,” replied Ellen.
Princess Serciarin flinched. ‘Two Rising Stars from the same family?’
Since there were only two Rising Stars?at present, there was a huge chance that Joshua was the sibling of one of them. She was well acquainted with one of them, and would have heard of Joshua if he was the sibling. With that out of the way…
“Ah, perhaps that person named Joshua…”
“Yes.” Ellen firmly nodded and said, “His full name is Joshua von Agnus. He is said to be the second son of the Avalon Empire’s pride, Duke Aden von Agnus.”
***
An unexpected visitor had appeared at Duke Agnus' office.
“I greet the Duke.”
“Chiffon? What brings you here?”
“That…” Chiffon grimaced.
‘I can’t just say the truth since Her Grace told me not to…’
“Why are you not responding?”
“Please accept my apologies, Your Grace.”
Chiffon knelt on the floor right away.
Duke Agnus’ mana bore down on Chiffon, making the latter gulp as his body started to quiver violently against his will.
“I asked you: what brings you here when I have entrusted you with the security of the duchy?”
“Y-Your Grace… Please calm your anger...”
“Valderas den Chiffon, whom do you serve?”
Chiffon bit his lips. He knew he had to answer.
Chiffon couldn't take it any longer and slammed his head on the marble-tiled floor as he exclaimed, “My lord is Duke Aden von Agnus, the great star of Ava—!”
However, Duke Agnus' fury toward him grew stronger rather than calming down.
“I am well aware that you listen to Vanessa rather than me.”
“This is a misunderstanding—keugh!”
“You have been doing well, so I decided to leave you alone, but you crossed the line. Do you admit your offense?”
“Please accept my apologies…” Chiffon said.
“Explain why you should be forgiven.”
Chiffon frantically wracked his head for a solution.
‘I have to make sure that I get this right!’?Chiffon inwardly screamed. After all, he knew that Duke Agnus wasn’t particularly forgiving when it came to mistakes.
He had to speak the truth now, or he would forever be unable to do so.
As such, Chiffon said, “His Majesty the Emperor—His Majesty had requested to meet Young Master Babel privately.”
“What?”
“I had to escort Young Master Babel to Arcadia—cough!”
Chiffon coughed hard as the pressure boring down on him disappeared like a lie.
“Is that true?”
“I didn’t speak a single life, I swear on my life.”
“What else have you failed to inform me of?”
Chiffon instantly straightened his back in response. “There is nothing else, Your Grace!”
“You best think hard. If something like this happens again…”
‘I already know what will happen even without His Grace telling me about it.’
As such, Chiffon once again slammed his head into the floor. “There is nothing else, Your Grace! Have faith in me!”
Duke Agnus coldly stared at Chiffon’s drenched back for a moment before he rose to his feet.
“Where is Babel now?”
“I only know that he is in a private meeting with His Majesty in a while. That's all I know.”
“Private meeting…?” Duke Agnus' expression stiffened.
“Chiffon, let me give you a piece of advice as your liege.”
“Yes! I appreciate it.”
“If you really want to be part of the political game, you have to make sure that you’re holding on to a rope that would never break. Otherwise, you and he will fall together. As you grow older, you have to pick the right rope to hold on to.”
“I will carve You Grace’s advice deep into my bones!”
“Go and take a rest.”
“I hear and obey!” Chiffon hurriedly responded.
Duke Agnus then left the office, leaving Chiffon on his own without sparing another glance at the latter.
“Damn it all.” Chiffon cursed.
‘Do you even know how to pick the right rope? Heed your own advice first.’
If Duke Agnus insisted on sticking to his way…
“In that case, I would like to see who will get the last laugh.”
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