Turning Chapter 1299

After taking a sip of tea, Kishiar began to explain.

“As you know, those who became Dukes of la Orr while retaining the surname were royal bloodlines stripped of succession rights because their vessel had fractured. But from another perspective... that might also mean they were so innately powerful and talented that their vessels couldn’t withstand it and cracked early.”

Just like Kishiar himself.

“There are no precise records, so I can’t say for sure. But Laflaim la Orr was the generation directly before me, so I’ve heard some things. Rumor has it that he showed magical talent as a child and was physically gifted enough to train in swordsmanship without issue.”

His crimson eyes narrowed.

“And now, with the new information we’ve uncovered today, that’s truly shocking. It means he inherited strong Diarca blood... and yet still possessed talent.”

According to Kishiar, Inella la Orr was the cousin of the previous Duke of Diarca.

“She was practically direct lineage. Becoming Empress was only possible due to a convergence of specific political circumstances. The royal family at the time was adamant about avoiding a second Empress at all costs, but Diarca forced the issue under the pretext of an ‘ancient promise’... Though, I imagine far more was happening behind the scenes.”

“If there was already fierce opposition from the Imperial side, then the fact she gave birth to a child at all must’ve been a miracle.”

“Exactly. And I don’t mean metaphorically—it really was a miracle. My guess is that neither Diarca nor the Imperial family expected Laflaim la Orr to be born at all. The royal records show nearly a two-year gap before he was granted a proper prince’s palace.”

It was customary to assign a palace immediately after birth—meaning the official recognition of Laflaim as a prince had been considerably delayed. Even from that one brief line in the records, the political strife and suspicion surrounding it could be felt clearly.

“It’s a little shocking... that you’ve even read those records.”

“Well, he was my immediate predecessor as Duke of la Orr. I did my research.”

Kishiar winked with a grin.

Before Inella was brought in as the second Empress, the Emperor already had a son. They would have sooner adopted a child from another house than let Inella—essentially Diarca’s direct bloodline—produce another heir.

And Diarca surely knew this. The only reason they’d have pushed for Inella to become Empress despite that would be because they saw her as the ideal tool to check the Emperor’s power and expand their own influence.

But even so, Inella managed to conceive and give birth to a child. That child, despite his Diarca blood, had talent.

“Looking back now, those who knew the truth about the Diarca bloodline probably saw it as a miraculous event. They must have placed tremendous hopes on him. But...”

Laflaim la Orr’s vessel cracked at a young age.

He was stripped of his succession rights, received a duke’s title, and was forced to leave the palace.

“And he lived out the rest of his life in his eastern territory.”

A somewhat tragic life, perhaps. But what did that have to do with Kishiar? Seeing Yuder’s furrowed brow, Kishiar gently motioned for him to take another sip of tea. Only after watching him swallow did he continue.

“As his child, it may sound harsh, but my father had very little ability. He was physically frail—he never once held a sword in his life. He had no magical aptitude at all, to the point he struggled with even basic magic tools. He possessed a bit of divine power, but that was it. Even after becoming Crown Prince, he was so frequently ill that people worried every year whether he’d survive to adulthood.”

Which meant...

“With a father like that, the idea that Laflaim la Orr might have become Emperor—if only his vessel hadn’t cracked—must have seemed extremely plausible to certain people.”

“Exactly. Which means my brother and I, being his children, were naturally resented. But my brother took after our father. He wasn’t particularly skilled in magic or swordsmanship, and as a child, he was somewhat frail as well. I, on the other hand...”

Kishiar pointed to himself and gave a mischievous smile.

“I was healthy, lively, beautiful, and noticeably talented.”

The prince born after her own son had died a terrible death.

From Inella’s perspective, as someone who belonged to the Orr royal line, she must have hated both of them. But especially Kishiar, who was strong and exceptional, unlike the relatively weaker and unremarkable Keillusa.

Kishiar had been hated simply for being born.

“When signs of a crack first began to show in my vessel, the Empress Dowager greeted me for the first time. And when the crack truly appeared... she even smiled when speaking to me. Nathan, you remember that, don’t you?”

“...The most repulsive greeting I’ve ever witnessed.”

Nathan Zuckerman replied without expression. Yuder, whose anger had just barely calmed thanks to the tea, felt fury flare up again in his chest.

“You just stood there and let her do that?”

“That’s not quite it. The Duke visited the Apalit Palace, where the Empress Dowager resided, every single day under the pretense of assisting her. Eventually, she asked him to stop coming.”

Given his condition at the time, what could he have possibly done to prompt that? When Yuder turned a doubtful gaze toward Kishiar, the man smiled sheepishly.

“Well... I delivered her food myself, brewed her tea... did some cleaning... tended the garden... apprehended a few suspicious visitors... and took the opportunity to get in a little sword training here and there.”

“The Apalit Palace was so damaged during that time, it was never fully restored before her death. The Dowager’s illness was even rumored to have been triggered by the stress she experienced then. You can still see the damage if you go there.”

“I see.”

He couldn’t be sure, but at least it was clear Kishiar hadn’t simply stood by and done nothing. Yuder’s rage cooled—just slightly.

“Anyway. Now we understand how Laflaim’s death affected Inella, but what about the main house of Diarca? That’s the real question we never had answers to until today.”

Kishiar cheerfully changed the topic.

“If I were the Duke of Diarca, I might’ve thought something like this upon seeing Laflaim: Even if he has royal blood, the fact that someone with talent was born from Diarca’s line could mean new possibilities were opening up.”

“......”

“Among the hidden records we found in the secret vault—those related to Kiole’s mother, Langretsi da Diarca—there were also medical files. She was born frail, and the cause was a condition called magic fluctuation syndrome.”

Magic fluctuation syndrome? Yuder blinked at the unfamiliar term, and Kishiar explained.

“It’s a rare disorder where the amount of latent magic in the body constantly shifts. It doesn’t threaten your life, but your health tends to fluctuate along with your magical balance. It’s said learning magic can stabilize it, but Langretsi never had the chance.”

“I see.”

“In a family like Diarca’s, even that kind of condition could be life-threatening. But Langretsi survived, and lived a relatively normal daily life. You can’t exactly call that talent... but if Laflaim was born with talent and his vessel shattered, then perhaps the Empress Dowager’s blood really was something unique. Occasionally, mutants like me are born, after all.”

“Please don’t say it like that.”

At Yuder’s warning, Kishiar immediately apologized.

“I didn’t mean it negatively. Poor word choice. I’m sorry.”

Nathan Zuckerman silently refilled Yuder’s teacup. It felt like a subtle way of saying, Well said.

“Please continue.”

“Hm. Well, what I’m saying is: if the Duke of Diarca believed the Empress Dowager’s bloodline held promise, then maybe... he also thought Kiole could overcome the limits of his lineage.”