Kingdom’s Bloodline

shing in all of the world's beauty.
No manner of ugly or dirty things could make him change his expression.

“As for your father Kessel, at that time, he was still a pompous prince who was famous for being wild and unbridled.
The only thing on his face was a devilish grin that made ladies become seized by fear and trepidation.
He didn't have this type of reassuring smile.”

Thales looked at Jines in shock.

'King Kessel… wild, unbridled; a pompous prince?'

He saw that Jines' gaze was shining, as if harboring countless emotions and sentiments.
She then slowly uttered each of the following words.
“That day, the one who came to our palace was the late king's eldest son.

“His Majesty Kessel's eldest brother, Midier Jadestar, the former crown prince.”

…..

Duke Zayen frowned and put down a letter that had a symbol of black fangs as a seal.
“And so, the three supposed elites that we thought were honoring the Corleone family's agreement to provide help were merely the losers of their clan's internal struggle.” He crossed his hands below the Tricolor Iris Flowers.

“Under the guise of the Corleone Family name, they used our invitation card, borrowed our voyage ship, relied on our passports and used us—the Covendier Family—like idiots.
They then sailed across the Ocean of Eradication, escaped the Hill of Pain, and went into hiding in Eternal Star City.
They stayed for a long time in our manor, and took away a considerable amount of blood…”

“Is that so?”

The two supreme class knights who stood before his study table, Lord Cassain and Lord Seychelles, did not speak.
They just looked at the sweat-drenched, bald, middle-aged man who kneeled on the floor between them with a complicated expression.

Cassain remembered that the bald, middle-aged man came under the old Duke's command at the same time as he did, and was a Tower of Eradication batch mate who served under the Covendier's Tricolor Iris Flowers.

Unfortunately, the middle-aged man lacked skill and was heavily injured in a battle.
Ever since then, he could only deal with civil duties.
Even so, the old Duke still pitied his circumstances and with trust, assigned him to handle all affairs related to crossing the ocean.

'What was his name again?' Cassain searched through his memory with effort, but could not recall it no matter what.

“Yes… it is so… they showed the Sacred Blood Signet that only Blood Clansmen in the direct line of descent of the Corleone family have.
That blond-haired one also threatened us with a terrible attitude…” The head of the kneeling middle-aged man almost touched the floor.
He explained, stuttering, “They also had your… your handwritten letter…”

“Enough.” Duke Zayen heaved a sigh and massaged the area between his eyebrows.
The butler, Ashford, who was beside him, immediately grasped the situation and poured him a glass of handmade grape wine, which had been made in the Sera Dukedom.

With effort, Zayen smiled in resignation.
“You are not at fault in this matter.
You can go now.
Remember to be more careful next time.”

As though granted an amnesty, the middle-aged bald man kept nodding his head in apology.
Only after being urged by Seychelles did he leave the room, trembling.

“He used to be a talented person, but he is useless now,” Zayen said with a face filled with lament and raised his wine glass.
“Send him immediately to the Eastern Peninsula again, and get rid of him in the international waters.
Don't do it within the nation's border or territorial waters.
I don't want to be charged with murder.”

Upon hearing this, a thought appeared in Cassain's heart.

“My esteemed Duke,” he could not help but speak, “if you let him stay, he would presumably become even more dedicated…”

Cassain did not notice Seychelles signaling beside him.

“I can forget about it if it was a normal affair.
However, for this type of crucial secret, I do not want there to be careless mistakes.” Zayen sighed and said, “He already made a mistake, and he will definitely harbor grudges and become gloomy.
His doubts towards his future will only increase as time goes by. 

“And he knows about our contact with the Corleones.
This is related to that plan.
And both of you know how important that plan is.”

Cassain finally noticed Seychelles' signal.
He lowered his head and did not speak anymore.

“For the next voyage, get someone new.” Zayen tasted a mouthful of wine with disappointment.
“When father was still around, they were much less undisciplined when it came to work.”

Ashford calmly replied, “It takes time for loyalty and prudence to be formed.”

Zayen shook his head and sighed.
“Unfortunately, what we lack the most right now is time.
That thing will be happening in a month, and our people cannot be a part of it.
There had better not be any accidents.”

Seychelles nodded slightly.
“Sir, please rest assured that for those mercenaries we paid such a high price to hire, even if they were asked to assassinate the king, there is enough chance that they would succeed.”

Lord Cassain trembled slightly, he did not know why his colleague was so daring in his speech.

Zayen paused for a moment.
He only looked at Seychelles after a while.

“Do not speak carelessly,” the young Duke said coldly.

Seychelles lowered his head and apologized.
However, he was laughing coldly in his heart.
'It doesn't seem like the duke is displeased.'

“You people should be departing.
Both the Cullen and the Nanchester family will be sending people over.
Be careful about this, do not begin any conflicts with them.”

Zayen's gaze was ice-cold.
He carefully said to Cassain and Seychelles, “When those mercenaries succeed, both of you get rid of them.”

Cassain trembled violently.
He raised his head in disbelief.
“Sir! Get rid of them? Aren't we using someone else's name to hire the mercenaries? Some- some of them are from the Tower of Eradication and are my—”

Zayen suddenly looked towards him, his gaze was as sharp as swords.

Cassain's throat trembled.
The supreme class knight could not finish his words.

“Then, advise your friend to go home,” Zayen said calmly.
However, Ashford knew that this was how he showed his dissatisfaction.
“And switch someone who is not your friend over.”

Seychelles pulled hard on the back of Cassain's clothes, stopping the latter from speaking.

“As you wish, sir.” The clever Seychelles nodded and dragged the pale-faced Cassain away.

Zayen slowly heaved a sigh to calm his mood down.
He looked at the old duke's portrait some distance away.

“Cassain is already old,” he said plainly.
“After this matter is over, send him back either to Jade City, or his own territory.”

Ashford's countenance was calm.
He nodded slightly.

“As for the issue related to those Corleone refugees, Ashford, handle it personally.
Start the investigation from those cavaliers who suddenly broke into Vine Manor that night.” Zayen spilled the red wine from the bottom of his glass onto the floor.
His gaze was ice-cold.
“Contact the Corleone Family.
Write a letter directly to the Night Queen.
Tell Katerina what happened over here, and take the opportunity to increase our bargaining power.”

Ashford nodded his head.
“As you wish, Sir.”

“I remember that Mindis Hall's investigation was assigned to Blood Bottle Gang.
Is Nikolay not found yet?” Zayen narrowed his eyes and looked at Ashford.

“No, sir.” Ashford bowed slightly.
“Blood Bottle Gang is like a host of dragons without a head now.
There are rumors that he went overseas in search of the Blood Mystic.”

'The Blood Mystic?' Zayen shut his eyes tight and exhaled.

All the education he had ever received compelled him to use his entire body's strength to swallow the entirely crude words that he really wanted to say.

“There is no other way then.
Dispatch our people to directly control Blood Bottle Gang.” Duke Zayen opened his eyes.
There were no emotions at all in his pupils.
He put down his wine glass and said, “Within these two months, I want to take control of all the rumors and information in Blood Bottle Gang's territory, from civilians to soldiers, and from nobles to traders.”

Ashford nodded lightly.

“The messenger dispatched to Eckstedt should be on his way back.
Let's see whether the Archduke of Black Sand is willing to seize this opportunity.” Zayen leaned back on his comfortable couch and narrowed his eyes.

'Wait for it, father.
Tricolor Iris Flowers will very soon take a step forward…

 '…
If all goes well.'