November of the Sainted Year (Second Civil Month)

The Duke laughed, his tone carrying both pride and amusement. "My dear, she is a Dragon Knight, so skilled in the sword that it is frightening."

Lady Selserika gasped upon hearing his words.

The Duke then turned his gaze upon his son. "Edouard, do you know why you felt such strong compatibility with Rakaelle?"

Edouard smiled warmly. "Yes. Because we are made for each other. It is Mana magnetism."

The Duke sighed, while his brother Hereil lowered his head with unease. "You are mistaken. I had not considered it before, but I am certain Lady Rozen knows. This is why she is indulging you."

Edouard froze, his joy extinguished in an instant. His brother, who had once coveted Rakaelle himself, dared to ask the question that Edouard could not voice. "Father, what do you mean?"

"I am certain her father knew as well," the Duke went on, ignoring his son's question. "That is why he treated her so harshly. I tested her blood myself, to ensure she was truly compatible, as tradition demands."

Lady Selserika paled. "When did you ever do that? I told you that I would take care of it."

"I did not trust you," the Duke replied sternly, "for I knew you would try to protect your son's happiness, especially now that Rakaelle is with child."

"It was a false alarm," Lady Selserika answered quickly. "Like Cindy that time."

The Duke exhaled. "I see. But it changes nothing. Rakaelle cannot claim any worthy title. Her Noble blood is too thin and corrupted by neutral Commoner blood, making her compatible with almost anyone. Heriel detected it first, and I should have trusted his judgment. The fault is mine."

Heriel looked shock stricken but did not comment on his brother's words. Lady Selserika cast him a reproachful glance.

"You must have tested it wrong," Edouard said desperately.

"I am afraid not," the Duke replied. "I confirmed it with others. She had already been tested several times. Rozen had been giving her Potions for years to thicken her Magic blood. With the decline of Mana and Magic, even Noble blood weakens quickly, though never as quickly as the one tainted by Commoners' blood."

Edouard's eyes widened then started looking around the chamber, searching for answers that were not there. He could not even find support. Now, he felt utterly lost.

His brother, Kenry, spoke with frustration leaking through his every word. "Father, you sound far too much on Saint Sylia's and Rozen's side. Perhaps we should report you to the King."

Lady Selserika gasped as she watched, incredulous, her impertinent son. Her husband only laughed, which unsettled her even more, for such words could mean her son's death.

"I shall forgive your insolence, my son, for you are young and foolish," the Duke said. "But which King would that be? The one bound to a chair and unable to move, or the Regent who will be killed the moment he displeases Saint Sylia? Do you know how many Kings, Queens, and Princes she and her children have slain, directly or indirectly? Saint Sylia has been exterminating the Royal Families for over fifty years."

Edouard and Kenry both stared at their father in shock. The Duke merely waved a hand. "In fact, it was she who executed my mother, your grandmother, when she succumbed to corruption from Potions she had been injecting into herself. She tried to kill both me and my grandfather. My other siblings did not survive. It was Saint Sylia who released Heriel from the cell where my mother had confined him, and she even forced us to take him in and protect him for life. She knew well enough he was not of our bloodline. My mother had lied about that, as she lied about many things."

Kenry stammered. "What? Fifty… fifty years?"

The Duke nodded. "Indeed. Saint Sylia was involved with both my grandfather and my father. She even bore children by them."

The color suddenly drained from Lady Selserika's face, queasiness swelling as the reality dawned upon her.

Edouard clenched his fists. "Then why would you force me to marry Rozen, if you already had a blood connection to her mother?"

The Duke seemed almost surprised. "Did I not mention it? Saint Sylia is a Division of a powerful Goddess, the Goddess of Nights and Rights, who has divided herself many times into new Goddesses. Decades ago, she was far less divided. Her children are Divisions of Gods. My half-brother and uncle, both born of Sylia, received Enclaves with their Kingdoms, but they were never meant to remain there. Their purpose was to merge back into their Divine self or become Minor Gods themselves."

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Edouard could only whisper, "What?"

Heriel spoke solemnly. "Brother is right. The engagement itself was a test. He wished to see whether you were worthy to succeed him, or whether you inherited too much from our mother's treacherous side."

Terror seized Edouard at his uncle's words. His father did not even deny it. He merely closed his eyes and nodded. Stuardo, Edouard's half-brother, looked stunned. His mother shifted her gaze between him, her brother, and her other children born of different men.

Stuardo rose in anger. "Were you testing me as well, with those questions about Saint Sylia?"

His mother urged him silently to sit, to avoid disgracing himself in front of the whole household. The Head Butler, the Evening Butler, and the Head Catering Butler all remained expressionless, their composure unshaken after so many years of service. They had witnessed far worse before. But the younger servants, of lesser rank, could not hide their unease.

"I have never tested you," the Duke said firmly. "Sit down."

Stuardo flushed and returned to his seat, adjusting his napkin with forced composure. A young servant poured him some water, perhaps thinking he had drunk too much. Stuardo nearly smiled at his own mistake, for such behavior was unworthy of a Duke's household. The reaction of the staff was the obvious proof of his lack of decorum.

Heriel spoke again. "If you are this distressed, you must have received other news. I have heard some myself."

The Duke nodded gravely. "Yes. Rivana Nizareus told me a little, and we shall speak of it privately later, as it is not fit for all ears. However, I also received a letter from Saint Sylia and her Green Crow Guardian. They have ordered the creation of a small Semi-Enclave at the border of my Domain, one with shielded lands around it. Stuardo and his close family are to evacuate there for their safety. You are to spend at least half your time there, in order to avoid corruption exposure. I am permitted to visit under Lady Rivana's supervision."

Heriel smiled faintly. "So you have come to an understanding with Lady Rivana."

The Duke coughed. "I would not call it that. I would only say that Lady Sylia is wise beyond words."

Kenry suddenly cried out, "Impossible! Saint Sylia has fallen. She was enslaved."

The Duke looked startled. Even Kenry's mother and sister turned toward him, visibly confused. Edouard asked, "What are you talking about?"

Kenry flushed and turned away, refusing to meet his family's searching eyes. His whole body tensed.

The Duke sighed then studied him closely. "Try enslaving even a strand of a Goddess's hair. That is all they managed. Tell me, where did you hear this? Perhaps you know that Rakaelle's true father has been captured by Saint Sylia and now languishes in her underground torture chambers, along with his associates. Something tells me they will come for you soon if you know this much."

Kenry's eyes widened. His sister whispered, "What did you do? Do not tell me you became involved with that man. You heard what Sonia said of him and his family."

Their mother's confusion deepened.

Kenry scoffed. "Nonsense. Everyone in the Capital knows. I heard it only this morning, from good friends of mine."

"Let us hope you are not lying," the Duke replied coldly. "You have already threatened me in my own house, despite your lowly Viscount rank. Did you know that Saint Sylia does not even consider you a Noble? You are too low Level for that honor."

Kenry smirked and said nothing. Inwardly he thought with satisfaction that the Saint would fall soon. She would become a Slave to the National State Church, and would be violated in the most degrading ways.

The Duke noticed the smirk and sighed.

A few minutes later, Kenry was lifted into the air within a shimmering bubble. Two golden-haired Celestials with Elfish features appeared beside him and inclined slightly their heads in greeting.

"We shall remove this corruption magnet," the first declared. "He is too far gone to salvage. We will not extinguish him immediately since he must first receive punishment for his crimes against our Mistress. If you desire news of his fate, you may contact Lord Izranaga. The Supreme God himself bears grievances against this man. If you have the ear of one greater than Izranaga, our co-Maker, we might shorten his torment and end him swiftly."

The Duke's eyes widened. He could not believe Izranaga himself was involved. This was quite shocking news.

The second Celestial studied the bracelet on his wrist and spoke. "It seems your half-brother, whom you contacted earlier, wishes to strike him once. Lord Izranaga has agreed to resurrect him afterward, once your sibling has made his message clear. He waited for our arrival, since he did not wish to waste Lord Chester's Resurrection cards on one so unworthy. He is forbidden to use his own power to raise such a lowly man, though it would be no great task for someone like himself."

At once, Kenry was cast to the floor by a Divine force. His body disintegrated, even as cruel laughter echoed from beyond. The Duke watched with sorrow his wife collapse in tears. Their daughter immediately rushed to her side, trying to comfort as much as she could.

Not long after the terrible smiting, Kenry's body re-formed, piece by piece, until he knelt once more, dazed and weeping.

The Celestials paid no heed to his cries, however. They lifted him and carried him through a radiant Divine Portal, offering only a curt farewell to the Duke.

All those present were left in stunned silence. The Duke of Kyenzemel could only watch in grief as his family staggered beneath the weight of a terrible truth. Saint Sylia was not only a Goddess's Division, but one closely guarded by Supreme God Izranaga himself, who had intervened in Mortal affairs to protect her and her children.

And another truth became clear to all who remained after Kenry's fate. Others within Kyenzemel had spoken against Lady Rozen, and they too would likely pay. All eyes turned to Edouard and his mother, who stood at the center of it all. Nothing remained for them but to wait, and pray.

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