novelraw Chapter 179 : Black News
Chapter 179 : Black News
Chapter 179: Black News
The news of Visen Kasein’s death began to spread the very next day.
Because it was delivered by a fast horse, when Yam’s family received Monica’s message, the Newborn Festival had only just passed six days 一一 from the last two days of the old year to the tenth day of the new year, the entire Newborn Festival lasted twelve days. So when Yam calculated the courier’s speed, he knew that Marquis Visen had died on the very first day of the Newborn Festival, not even making it into the new year.
And when he received this invitation summoning him to attend Marquis Visen’s funeral, his mood grew equally heavy.
But it was not because of Visen Kasein’s death, rather because he realized that a new round of war was about to begin.
The feud and conflict between Marquis Visen and Count Shuvaric were no secret to any of the great nobles in the Southern Region. The reason both sides had been able to maintain peace before was largely because of that secret transaction surrounding Baron Ster, and afterward, Marquis Visen, despite his grievous injuries, had forced an exchange of lives with Count Shuvaric. That made Count Shuvaric understand that since Marquis Visen was close to death, he no longer cared and had gone mad, so naturally Shuvaric would not continue provoking him then.
But this blood feud that had left Count Shuvaric severely wounded could never go unavenged for the Antares Family, a house as ancient as the Bourbon Family, who in nearly every generation produced one or two Sixth-Tier Bloodline Users.
臺灣小說網→𝓽𝔀𝓴𝓪𝓷.𝓬𝓸𝓶
So, whether the Kasein Family or the Soderbell Family, even Cynthia and Anna all understood that once Marquis Visen died, the Fertile Territory would certainly send troops southward. At that time, the Second Battle of White Mountain Defense would inevitably erupt 一一 whether for new grudges or old hatreds, the Fertile Plains would never miss this opportunity.
Although White Mountain Territory was no longer as impoverished and constrained as before, and its overall strength was far stronger than it had been five years ago during that war,
if given more time to grow, Yam would certainly not have refused it.
This point, whether for the Soderbell Family or the Kasein Family, was an advantageous factor.
Thus, Yam did not believe that Marquis Visen, such a shrewd man, would have overlooked this. So he was certain Marquis Visen would never allow Monica to hold a funeral for him. After all, that would be the same as publicly declaring that the Red Eagle Territory no longer had a Sixth-Tier Bloodline User, turning it into a fat piece of meat anyone could take a bite from.
Therefore, upon receiving this black invitation, Yam immediately gathered everyone for a council.
「Monica is not the kind of person to act rashly out of emotion.」
At the meeting, Anna, who clearly knew Monica well, was the first to speak.
「Not necessarily.」 Cynthia shook her head and countered Anna’s words. 「She already has a child now. During pregnancy, a woman’s temper undergoes very obvious changes. You should know that. So in this state, with Marquis Visen’s death, no one can predict what strange actions Monica might take.」
「She may well have acted on impulse, but when she calms down and regrets it later, it may already be too late to stop. After all, the news has already been spread. Even if she wanted to halt it, there would be no meaning, because the crucial point is not that Marquis Visen has died, but that news of his death should never have been made public. So once the news spreads, whether the black invitation continues to be sent or not no longer matters.」
「If it reaches that point, then not sending black invitations would instead be a great humiliation for the Kasein Family.」 Ion picked up Cynthia’s words and spoke solemnly. 「Beyond this, we cannot ignore another possibility: Count Shuvaric’s spies placed within Red River Territory.」
「Don’t forget, back then they already attempted an ambush. Anna, you were the victim.」
Anna recalled that ambush aimed at Joshua. Because she had been with Joshua at the time, she had been caught up in it. She later learned that if Akar had not come to rescue her, she would already have been abandoned by the Kasein Family.
And as the so-called “Most Brilliant Pearl of the Southern Region,” had she been sent away afterward, the outcome was all too clear.
These layers of factors left her with no affection whatsoever for the Kasein Family, and even filled her with hatred for her own house.
Yet Anna, though not a powerful Bloodline User, was absolutely a competent, even excellent, politician.
Thus, she was able to continue playing her role alongside Joshua, maintaining pretense with the Kasein Family, until ultimately she betrayed Joshua, seizing that as her excuse to officially break free from the Kasein Family’s cage.
「Father, are you saying that perhaps Monica never intended to hold a funeral at first, but only did so because Count Shuvaric’s people learned of it, leaving her no choice but to proceed?」
Anna frowned in thought, then realized that things might very well be just as Ion said.
From what she knew of Monica, Monica was never one to act on emotion. She had long been groomed as Burton’s assistant, responsible for filling in his gaps. From the very start within the Kasein Family, Monica’s training path was that of an aide 一一 the Kasein Family had a very mature training system, tailored according to each person’s potential, aptitude, and specialty.
The greatest feature of an aide was that everything was considered with priority for interests and issues, but they were never granted decision-making authority. In other words, they bore the risks without having the confidence or authority to act. They could only offer suggestions, never dare to make decisions on their own, to avoid calamity.
Only later, after Burton’s death, was Monica forced to learn the mindset of a governor.
But many ingrained habits of thought were difficult to change. This was why Marquis Visen, so unusually, kept Monica close, teaching her personally, even directly naming her heir.
One had to know, Monica’s inheritance rank had been third at the time.
Anna had not understood Marquis Visen’s intentions before, but later she gradually realized that Monica too was a pitiful tool.
Born and trained as an aide, even with Marquis Visen’s personal guidance later, that only further cemented her mindset: that all her governance of Red Eagle Territory would begin from the perspective of the Kasein Family’s growth and strength, everything for the continuation of the house.
「What are you thinking about?」 Akar, noticing Anna suddenly dazing off, asked softly.
「I think perhaps it is time to speak with Monica again.」 Anna answered in a low voice.
「About what?」 Akar was curious.
「A secret between women.」 Anna smiled charmingly, not answering directly, clearly unwilling to satisfy his curiosity.
Seeing her fairy-like smile, Akar’s eyes glazed, no longer caring about any answer.
If not for the meeting hall, crowded with others, Akar would already have acted. Still, his slightly hurried breathing betrayed his mood. Anna rolled her eyes at him, but inside, she was smug at his reaction.
「Ahem.」 Ion suddenly cleared his throat.
Anna and Akar then realized that their little interaction had not escaped the others’ eyes 一一 though the others had not heard their words, they all assumed the two were flirting, and so their gazes carried a teasing air.
Akar’s dark skin hid any blush.
But Anna’s pale and delicate complexion 一一 perhaps the Kasein Family’s diet truly was excellent, for Angelina and Monica also had the same fair, smooth skin, though with slight differences: Anna’s was the smoothest, followed by Angelina, while Monica, perhaps due to later pressures, was no longer as smooth as before 一一 now flushed red, her entire face glowing.
This mature charm was entirely different from Angelina’s timid, deer-like aura.
The killing power was several times greater.
「If you two feel unwell, you may leave and rest.」 Yam quickly tried to cover for Akar.
「No need. I was discussing serious matters with Anna just now.」 Akar stiffened his neck, glaring “fiercely” at the assembled Bloodline Knights before continuing. 「Anna believes that now is perhaps the best time to negotiate with Monica.」
「Negotiate?」 Ion looked at Anna curiously.
「Not yet.」 Anna shook her head. 「After sending out this black invitation, Monica’s future choices are fewer. That gives me greater confidence to persuade her. But all of this depends on her giving birth to a daughter. If it is a boy, or if she gives birth to a boy but pretends it is a girl, then we might misjudge, and the negotiation would fail.」
She had already once swapped another’s child in such a way.
And precisely because she had, she knew others might too.
And no matter how lacking the Kasein Family’s foundations might be, they were still far stronger than theirs. The Soderbell Family had only Ion in the first generation, and in the second, only Yam and Akar. Counting her and Cynthia and Jinna, that made only five in total, with no collateral branches. The Bole Family and the Billy Family also lacked collateral lines.
The Bole Family had been wiped out in war, while the Billy Family Anna herself had sent to destruction.
So, if Monica wished, she could easily find a suitable baby girl from the vast Kasein Family to pose as her daughter, then marry her to Liam. Anna was certain Monica would do such a thing. For whether the bride was Monica’s true daughter mattered little; what mattered was that she bore the Kasein name, carrying Kasein blood.
「I understand.」
Ion realized immediately what Anna meant. He nodded. 「I’ll have Yorles follow this matter. We must obtain reliable intelligence before telling you the result.」
「Thank you, Father.」 Anna spoke softly.
「We are family, no need for thanks.」 Ion shook his head. 「Now, back to our original topic: how White Mountain Territory should respond next. War is nearly certain, though we don’t know when it will erupt, for the initiative is not in our hands. And also, how to arrange for Aches, Angelina, Cindy, and Liam.」
「Angelina, Cindy, and Liam should be sent to Gem Territory first.」 Anna spoke. 「If war breaks out, White Mountain Territory will certainly be engulfed in flames, becoming the front line. Liam and the others are still young; staying here would be dangerous. I recommend sending them to the rear.」
She made no mention of Aches.
That was because under the laws of the Tyrella Kingdom, Aches was already an adult.
She was unsure of the Soderbell Family’s customs, so she dared not speak lightly, afraid of offending. Even if Akar had never told her of any such traditions, she knew how to give her man respect.
「Aches is grown. It’s time for him to see blood.」 Yam pondered, then said. 「And war is the best whetstone. For his Bloodline potential to become strength quickly, he must experience true war.」
「Wouldn’t that be too dangerous?」 Cynthia hesitated. 「If it’s only to stimulate his Bloodline potential, there’s no need for him to fight on the front lines. If Westerburg can hold, White Mountain Territory will soon be filled with small raiding units. I think at that time, he could rely on White Mountain City, joining the skirmishes against those small units.」
「That’s acceptable.」 Yam nodded.
「At that time, you or Akar must accompany him.」 Ion said. 「We don’t need the Kasein Family’s so-called trials. The Soderbell Family has no need.」
「Yes.」 Yam and Akar responded in unison.
「Good. Next time, let Aches join these councils.」 Ion thought for a moment, then added. 「He’s already grown. We can’t keep treating him as a child, only giving him the results without letting him join the process. Never mind, don’t wait till next time. Call Aches here now, let him feel the atmosphere.」
Quickly, a knight left to fetch Aches.
Soon, Aches arrived, and the council resumed.
Amidst all the discussions, the planning for the imminent Second Battle of White Mountain Defense advanced in an orderly fashion. Then, as the council ended, everyone grew busy.
Some prepared for the coming war.
Some prepared to depart: Yam, Akar, Cynthia, and Anna had to leave at once for Red River Territory to attend Marquis Visen’s funeral.
Some prepared to escort the Soderbell Family’s third generation away from White Mountain Territory: Cindy and Liam were certain to be sent off, and Angelina as well 一一 for her name had not been mentioned in the black invitation. After discussion, Yam and the others decided to ignore the omission and not bring Angelina back to attend Marquis Visen’s funeral. Since the Kasein Family had not mentioned her, the Soderbell Family, who now considered her one of their own, would not invite trouble by sending her.
Almost everyone grew busy.
At that moment, within Red River Territory,
Monica Kasein, now elevated to Marquis, gazed forlornly at the gloomy sky.
This year’s Newborn Festival brought no good news for the Kasein Family nor for Red River Territory.
For nearly a week, torrential rains had poured without pause, half a year early from their usual season.
「Uncle Dean, Grandfather won’t blame me, will he?」
「No.」 Dean Seia nodded. 「Marquis Visen will not blame you. You are already a worthy marquis, Marquis Monica.」