The Rules of Blood

Volume Two ; Chapter 90 (306) - Celine, News From Blood Seraph

“Celine, Miyanna, welcome,” Lucien said with a nod from his chair.

The seat he usually claimed in the center of the circular room had been moved closer to those of Celine’s mothers, where he sat with them as the two women approached.

“Mothers, Father,” Celine bowed lightly, “It is rare to see you all together during the Concord.”

“The Daughter will be presiding this time,” Lucien explained, “And we are eager to hear what she has to say. But do not fret, had it been grave, she would not have kept it from us.”

After a few light words exchanged with Celine’s mothers, the two women moved further inside, their steps carrying them toward the others present.

The next figure to emerge from behind the pillars was the one who had summoned them.

“Sophie? Why are you sitting alone?” Miyanna asked, brows raised in curiosity.

“It became tiring to sit beside our mothers and all their whispers,” Sophie admitted, her golden eyes calm, “I prefer a space where I can think clearly.”

“Then come sit with us,” Celine smiled, offering her a hand, “We are far quieter than they are.”

“Truly? May I?” Sophie’s eyes widened.

“Of course,” Miyanna nodded, “It is better to share company.”

At that, Sophie rose with a smile, accepting their invitation. “Quite right, sister Miyanna.”

“We intend to greet Blanc’s mothers next,” Celine said, glancing toward the next row of pillars where Mera and Auren waited. “Will you join us, or come after?”

“I will join you,” Sophie replied, lifting her chair with ease. “Lead the way.”

“Celine, Miyanna,” Mera nodded, as she was first to notice them approaching, “And Lady Sophie too, welcome.”

“Mothers-in-Law,” Celine and Miyanna bowed lightly.

“Sophie is fine, Lady Mera,” Sophie placed the chair down for a moment, “Our Bloods are bound together, after all, are they not?”

“Quite right, Sophie,” Auren smiled, although her smile was a facade to her worries, “Have you heard anything?”

“We have not,” Celine shook her head, before trying to calm the woman’s anxiety, “But Father assumes nothing bad happened.”

“That’s good,” Auren nodded, lost in thought.

“Stop being anxious,” Mera placed a hand on Auren’s knee, “Blanc and Sera are not weak children.”

“Talking of children, how are Kael and Lune?” Miyanna asked, changing the subject, “I haven’t seen them since breakfast.”

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Auren sighed, “One is throwing that Chakram of hers at any tree or target she sees, while the other is lost in his books. I swear, they are twins, but their hobbies are too different.”

“It would be too boring otherwise,” Celine smiled, placing a hand on her growing belly. “I just hope our own kids would be as disciplined as Kael and Lune are.”

Auren began laughing, covering her mouth, “They are disciplined, but they are just as much of a headache as Valar was.”

“I remember those days,” Mera nodded, joining in on the laughter, “I miss that playful side of Valar, a pity he had to grow out of it too quickly.”

As Auren’s laughter slowly subsided, her eyes turned to the ground. “I miss him.”

“Yeah… me too,” Mera sighed, before realizing that Celine, Miyanna, and Sophie were still there, “By the Vita, forgive us.”

“There’s nothing to need forgiving, Mother Mera,” Celine smiled, “We will take our leave either way.”

“Take care of yourselves and your pregnancies,” Mera mirrored the smile, “You too, Sophie.”

“We will talk during dinner,” Auren nodded.

“Mothers-in-Law,” Celine and Miyanna said while bowing lightly before taking their leave.

But Sophie stood there for a bit longer, watching the two Matriarchs of Blood Denegis.

“Is there something wrong, Sophie?” Mera asked, feeling her stare crawling along her skin.

“Ah,” Sophie shook her head, “I was lost in thought for a moment, I apologize.”

With that, Sophie picked up the chair and moved to catch up with Celine and Miyanna as they moved to the person presiding over this time’s Concord.

“Daughter,” Celine nodded as her sapphire-blue eyes met the Daughter’s red.

“Celine and Miyanna of Blood Denegis,” the Daughter bowed lightly, “Thank you for joining.”

“Hello to you, too, Daughter,” Sophie muttered, placing the chair down once again.

“Lady Sophie,” the Daughter bowed once more, “I did not notice you there.”

Sophie smiled as a reply, although the smile did not quite reach her eyes, “Not to worry.”

“Will there be much to talk about?” Celine asked.

Miyanna was unable to hold back the question and joined in with one of her own, “Is our husband okay?”

“There will be much to talk about, both during the Concord and… privately,” the Daughter replied to Celine’s question before turning to Miyanna, “And yes, Lord Blanc is safe.”

“Thank the Vita,” Miyanna sighed, letting her forehead fall on Celine’s shoulder.

“About those private matters you spoke of, Daughter,” Celine narrowed her eyes, “Could you join us before or after dinner so we can properly speak?”

“Of course,” the Daughter nodded once, “After dinner would be most convenient for all of us.”

“Then, Daughter, we won’t be taking more of your time,” Celine said, moving away from the Daughter, with Miyanna and Sophie following closely behind.

Not long after, behind two of the pillars stood two chairs, which Celine and Miyanna took for themselves, making place for Sophie to stay between them.

And a minute after they were seated, silence fell over the circular room as the Daughter made her way towards the middle.

“My Lord, My Ladies,” the Daughter bowed deeply, facing all those present, “Thank you for accepting the summons to this Concord.”

Once she straightened her back and took a deep breath in, the Daughter began speaking.

“At this very moment, Lord Blanc, together with Lady Sera, Princess Velakia, and her Protectors, are traveling towards the edge of the Domain of Blood Seraph.”

And before she could say another word, claps began echoing through the circular room, drowning every other noise.

But once the Daughter raised her hand, the sound slowly dissipated until silence took over the room again.

“But many things have happened. Things that are not worth celebrating,” the Daughter continued, “Three days ago, in the early morning, after Lady Sera had a failed attempt at escaping Blood Seraph’s Domain, her former fiancé, Aidan of Blood Seraph, apprehended her, and… was about to behead her.”

Chaos erupted at the Daughter’s words.