Blood-Colored Star Kingdom (Part 2)

Toros, help me.

"I cannot."

I know you can; you are the most powerful among us. And I still have consciousness, which means this seal is not complete...

"Why."

Because you must help me. I must return to my physical form immediately and go back to the Star Kingdom.

"I must decline."

Toros, you are not the will of the world, nor are you one of those foolish Gods. Why must you be as stubborn as them?

"Ignorance."

I beg you, Toros! I have encountered a child; he might be the only new Magic User in a thousand years.

"What is that to me."

Why can you not understand? He, I, you—we fourteen, plus him, fifteen—Magic Users, we are all one!

"One?"

Toros, believe me, we coexist and sustain one another, even if our paths differ...

"Blood Thorn, Black Orchid, do you remember them?"

That is different. I refuse to acknowledge them as one of us—they betrayed us!

"Everyone has a choice, that is all."

We are not human!

"Choice has nothing to do with species."

Then I made my choice long ago! I chose the Magic Users! Do you not wish for us to stand freely in this world?

"I also have a choice, that is all."

Toros! That child needs guidance! Otherwise, he will sooner or later...

"Such is fate."

Third-rank apprentice of the Soul Tower, Toros Mill! Do not forget! You were the one who killed the Mountains and the Sea Shepherd first! You are the one who started the war! You were our first example! If not for you, none of what followed would have happened!

"."

Toros, help me.

"."

Help me.

"Wait!" Tales raised his hand, interrupting Gilbert's slightly sorrowful account.

"The bloodline of the Crescent Star Family was almost completely slaughtered?"

"Who did it?"

Gilbert only looked at him with sorrow in his eyes.

Tales narrowed his eyes.

There were problems in those first two sentences alone.

"You said Edi II—my Grandfather—his reign was long and stable, known as 'The Steadfast King'?"

"Then what about the rebellion in the 'Year of Blood'?"

"Great stability led to rebellion? That makes no sense."

Tales looked at Gilbert, but the man only tapped the book in his hand, frowning slightly.

The middle-aged nobleman with graying hair said calmly:

"The reasons for the Year of Blood are many and complex; some are top-secret matters only known to the highest levels. You will learn these in later lessons, or perhaps it will not be too late to study them once you become the official heir and possess the authority to access such secrets."

"For now, I can only tell you that His Majesty has already exacted all the vengeance that could be taken. The hidden dangers have been basically resolved; as for the remaining grudges, they are either impossible to settle or beyond our reach."

Tales's eyes narrowed.

Basically resolved?

He had a premonition that the events of twelve years ago were of vital importance to him.

Gilbert continued his narrative with a hint of pity and pain:

"In that year, the five central territories suffered natural disasters and total crop failure, the six southwestern cities rebelled, the suppression army suffered setbacks and mutinied, the Desolate Bone Tribe revolted, Exeter invaded, the northern front sent urgent distress signals, the sea was blockaded, the supply line from the capital to the south was severed, and the rebels even besieged Everstar City for a time. The nobles in the city even united to force the throne; everything happened so abruptly."

"Every day, bad news came from the palace: territories fell, enemies invaded, armies failed, allies broke their oaths, nobles were killed, and massacres occurred. Everyone was filled with fear, praying for the next day, only to receive even worse news the following morning."

"The commoners in the city were in rags, struggling to survive under the suppression of the military; those who were not soldiers could barely even receive food. Nobles below the rank of Count were as lowly as beggars; their former authority was like dirt, and no amount of Gold Coins could buy even a single loaf of bread."

"Thieves, robberies, and mobs emerged one after another, and even the army could not suppress them. Within the military, the number of those dying from disease, hunger, and battle increased every day, piling up until the moat was blocked and stinking. The citizens outside the capital suffered even more; many became refugees or rioters, drifting with the wind, having nowhere to rely on, while bandits and criminals ran rampant in the wilderness."

"Many lords were hanged in their own territories, and some officials were even skinned alive in the Government Affairs Hall; people could not survive without taking up arms. I heard from a Knight who rode out to deliver a message that there were piles of corpses every few steps in the wild. It was impossible for a horse to gallop freely for even a quarter of an hour; if there were fewer than five Knights traveling together, the refugees and mobs would dare to swarm them."

"That was a year like a Prison River."

Gilbert looked out the window, his tone calm, yet Tales could hear the desolation and resentment within his words.

"The misfortune of the Radiant Star Royal Family is the greatest footnote of that year."

Tales did not speak.

Gilbert sighed and continued:

"The King touched his white hair day after day, trapped in a city of sorrow. The oil lamps in the Imperial Council burned almost without pause. Every younger brother and prince of the Crescent Star Family was assigned a task—either overseeing logistics, swaying nobles, or even being sent to the front lines to lead armies."

"Until they were ruthlessly slaughtered to the last."

"The late King was beheaded on his throne, the princesses were strangled in their sleep, the Princess Consorts were burned alive in their castles, and the royal grandchildren even died in their cradles. As for the late Queen—alas."

"The heroic First Prince held his sword alone, never taking a step back, and ultimately fell in battle alongside his guards before the palace gates. Duke John, the King's younger brother, was the most unfortunate; on the southwestern front, at the very moment victory was within his grasp, he suffered a shameful sneak attack from behind."

"As for the princes on the front lines, one was pushed from the highest room of a castle, one was poisoned at a noble's treaty banquet, and one led his troops into an encirclement by Exeter, left without reinforcements for three full hours until his entire army was annihilated and he died fighting. His Majesty Kessel even 'happened' to encounter a professional army of five hundred while traveling through the wilderness, at a time when only Yordel was by his side."

"The death and bloodshed of that year spread across the entire nation. From the high-ranking nobles and ancient, powerful families down to the Knights, merchants, and common folk, the casualties were heavy. It is a page of history that the Star Kingdom is least willing to uncover."

Tales took a deep breath.

Before I transmigrated, did this country really experience such terrifying turmoil?

Gilbert steadied his breathing and said solemnly:

"Therefore, the answer to the Year of Blood is something you must seek out for yourself in the future."

"At the same time, please be prepared. The Year of Blood is merely the tip of the iceberg—the history of the Star Kingdom has never lacked bloodshed."

Tales nodded, suppressing his curiosity and excitement, and filed the questions regarding the Year of Blood away in his heart.

Seeing the cautious look on Tales's face, Gilbert nodded slightly, turned his head, and continued:

"Tales, your search for your own bloodline begins here."

"Your father, the current His Majesty Kessel, although he survived, lost all his kin that year, including a son and a daughter—your older brother and sister."

"Among them, one-year-old Luther Crescent Star met with misfortune in his cradle; the assassin was discovered on the spot, but in the ensuing chaos, four-year-old Lydia Crescent Star was abducted as a hostage."

Speaking of this, Gilbert gave Tales a complex look, his eyes filled with hidden meaning.

"Tales, child," the middle-aged noble said slowly, "that lamp was not originally meant to find you."

Tales lowered his head, looking at the wound on his hand.

So that was it.

"After His Majesty was crowned, High Priest Licia of the Sunset Temple personally cast a Divine Art capable of finding any living being in the world who carried His Majesty's bloodline."

"It was just that, when we found Princess Lydia—"

"In short, His Majesty and the Crescent Star Family lost all legitimate heirs, and this continued for twelve years. During these twelve years, no new bloodline was born to His Majesty."

"For twelve years, the Star Kingdom had only a Supreme King, no prince or princess. Even political marriages with foreign powers were chosen from the children of the Six Great Houses."

"Until one day, that Bloodline Lamp lit up once again."

The study fell into a long silence.

A scene from last night surfaced in Tales's mind.

He had to confirm one thing.

"His Majesty was likely in his fifth or sixth year of ruling—"

So, when Gilbert continued, he interrupted the middle-aged noble without hesitation.

"—the royal family was slaughtered with such meticulous planning," Tales said softly, "who was the most direct culprit?"

Gilbert closed his eyes, silent for a moment, but eventually spoke:

"It was House Sarridon, and the Shadow Shield."

Tales sighed silently in his heart.

"One is an assassin family that has passed down its craft for a thousand years in the dark; the other is an assassin organization that has run rampant in the shadows for hundreds of years."

"They, along with the masterminds behind them, jointly planned the rebellion known as 'Starfall'—this was the subsequent investigation by the Kingdom Secret Bureau."

"Two of late King Edi II's secret guards were lured away by those with ulterior motives. Due to the late King's benevolence, the elite Royal Guard was sent out alongside the First Prince to suppress the rioters suddenly gathering before the palace. Although the forty city defense soldiers guarding the late King were experts ranging from Mortal Tier to Transcendent Rank, capable of lining up from the palace gate to the rear hall, they couldn't even hold back that legendary assassin for half a quarter of an hour—and so, the late King had his head severed by Lordan Sarridon."

Indeed, Tales thought silently: I have seen it with my own eyes, that unstoppable, forward-charging blade technique.

"His Majesty Kessel's several older brothers, including the First Prince, were assassinated by the killers of the Shadow Shield using various methods and schemes. And His Majesty's two children, left in the palace, died at the hands of Baanette Sarridon alongside several Princess Consorts and the eldest princess."

Baanette, that name sounds so familiar.

Tales exhaled through his nose; that was the "stranger" Yala had mentioned.

He fought the urge to reach for the JC Dagger, and he fought the urge to return to his room immediately to question Yordel.

"Please continue." Tales shifted his emotions, nodded, and said, "Please tell me about my part."

Gilbert straightened his tie, which had shifted slightly due to his agitation, and continued:

"I know a little about your birth mother. According to your father, the esteemed His Majesty Kessel, her name should be TherrenGirana. As for her surname—His Majesty did not speak of her background; she was likely not a noble. Judging by this name, I even suspect she was a foreigner."

"But that is all; I do not even know her age, when she met His Majesty, or if she is still alive."

Tales frowned.

"I was sent to the Black Street Brotherhood at least seven years ago," Tales lowered his head, pondering, "which means my birth mother met the King in 665. Can you—"

But Gilbert shook his head at this moment.

"Throughout the years, His Majesty has had many lovers, both public and secret, some lasting only a month or two, others as long as ten years. The specifics of their situations are likely known only to Yordel, who follows His Majesty closely."

"But none of them bore children?" Tales asked skeptically. "Only my mother, whom I have never met, happened to give birth to me? And then, when my blood dripped onto the ground, it was discovered by the Bloodline Lamp? Isn't that a bit too suspicious?"

"My father—His Majesty the King—is also indifferent toward his illegitimate son, and he doesn't seem to have any intention of discussing my mother with me. Are you sure I am truly their child?"

Gilbert furrowed his brows.

"It is neither convenient nor appropriate for me to comment on His Majesty's actions."

"As for your mother, one can only say it is the arrangement of fate," the middle-aged noble said with slight discomfort. "Also, I must remind you that such thoughts are very detrimental to your future status, so please do not bring them up again."

Gilbert's gaze was stern, causing Tales, sitting in the leather chair, to shrink back involuntarily.

"After all, the Bloodline Lamp under the divine power of the Sunset Goddess cannot be wrong, and His Majesty insists that the lady—TherrenGirana—is your birth mother."

"So please keep this in mind and bury it deep in your heart. Perhaps one day, His Majesty will answer this question for you."

With the icy expression and unquestionable majesty of Kessel the Fifth flashing through his mind, Tales turned his head and rolled his eyes.

"That concludes the answers to where you came from and who you are."

Gilbert said with a serious expression.

"Now, regarding where you are going—"

At that very moment, a person suddenly appeared in the study!

They landed silently right in front of them!

Gilbert's expression changed; in an instant, he rose swiftly and kicked a cane up from his feet!

By the time the cane was in his hand, the middle-aged noble was already standing firmly in front of Tales.

Only then did Tales realize that this seemingly gentle and refined middle-aged noble possessed remarkable combat skills!

But the middle-aged noble immediately exhaled, relaxing along with Tales.

Because the person who had suddenly appeared was covered from head to toe in a black hood and tight-fitting suit, with a dark purple mask on their face.

"Concealment."

Yordel Gato, the secret guard of the Supreme King, said in his hoarse, clipped voice.

"Someone is approaching here at high speed, twenty of them!"

At that moment, the words Gilbert had just spoken flashed through Tales' mind:

The history of the Star Kingdom has never lacked bloodshed.