The Rules of Blood

Volume Two ; Chapter 91 (307) - Sophie, Beneath Golden Eyes

“Damn Blood Seraph and all their ancestors,” Mera hissed, jumping to her feet.

“Lady Mera-” the Daughter began, but Lucien interrupted.

“This is war,” he muttered.

And soon after, almost all had something to say. Auren, Lea, Manon, and Salina joined in with opinions of their own that mirrored Mera and Lucien’s, drowning the room in chaos.

Celine, Miyanna, and Sophie stood silent, watching everything unfold at a fast pace.

“Enough,” said the Daughter, her red eyes turning a darker shade for a moment, as her singular word towered above all the cacophony they were making.

And none dared speak again.

“It is as if you forgot that she is safe,” the Daughter muttered as Lucien and Mera sat back down in their chair. “Feel free to ask questions, go to war, or speak between each other after I am done, but I will not be interrupted again.”

No reply came.

Which gave the Daughter the signal to continue, “She was to be executed, but Lord Blanc, by the grace of the Vita, got there just in time to stop and incapacitate Aidan of Blood Seraph before a tragedy could occur.”

Satisfying looks painted the faces of some of them, although it was obvious that many questions already brewed inside their head.

Yet none spoke them out loud, not out of fear, but out of respect for the Order’s help.

And so, the Daughter spoke again, “Lord Blanc made a wise decision in not killing him, as a minute or two later, the Matriarch of Blood Seraph appeared, demanding the release of her son. But Lord Blanc refused, taking the opportunity to begin the negotiations right then and there between the corpses of Lord Aidan’s forces.”

A grim painting, but one that plastered a smile on Celine, Miyanna, and Sophie’s faces as they listened.

“However, both the Daughter present there, as well as Lady Seraph, agreed that no terms could be had with Lord Blanc, who had no authority to negotiate with her,” the Daughter inhaled, looking at Celine and Miyanna for a moment, “Lord Blanc presented both standing and valuables to negotiate with, but was refused, his attempts nullified.”

A loud click of the tongue could be heard leaving Lucien’s mouth.

But that did not stop the Daughter from speaking as she finally moved her eyes away from Celine and Miyanna, “But then, Velakia Iskahul, the first princess of Iskahul, who has acted as Lord Blanc’s protector, came forward, and… with a kiss, declared that Blanc had the authority of the entirety of the Kingdom of Iskahul behind him, as he was to become the fiancé of the Princess.”

All turned their widened eyes towards Celine and Miyanna, past the pillars, who appeared just as shocked, but for a different reason.

Yet, none spoke as the Daughter continued, “Which gave Lord Blanc all the authority needed to proceed with the negotiations that were to be held the next day.”

Their eyes turned back to the Daughter.

“At those negotiations, Lord Blanc presented many good points about Blood Seraph’s actions and how they affected the reputation of the Order itself by binding itself together with them. Lady Fiamma, however, instead of defending it, requested the reimbursement of the money they spent on Lady Sera’s well-being, despite the lack of freedom Lady Sera had. Lord Blanc pointed this out as well, arguing that such requests at the degree of preparations Blood Seraph showed could have only been premeditated attempts at wasting the time of everyone, to which the Daughter agreed, drawing a conclusion to the first round of negotiations.”

Murmurs could be heard here and there, but a consensus was clear in every group.

That Blanc’s actions, as well as Velakia’s, were wonderfully done in accordance with the situation.

“Sisters,” Sophie muttered, still stuck on the previous subject, “Are you fine with another woman declaring such a thing?”

Celine sighed, deciding not to tell Sophie everything she already knew, “In the situation they were in, Her Highness acted with Blanc’s intentions in mind, surely creating many issues for herself. That’s a low price to pay for a kiss, no?”

But Sophie already knew about it, seeing through the gaps Celine left out; still, she acted like she did not know. “That’s true, that’s true. How about you, sister Miyanna?”

“I think…” Miyanna muttered, her eyes to the ground. “That was the right choice as well.”

“I see,” Sophie replied, letting her back fall on the cushioned chair, covering the grin that formed on her face with her hand.

She was pleased to see such a lack of reaction.

Come home soon, Blanc, Sophie thought in her mind, biting her lower lip, as the Daughter began speaking again.

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“After the first round of negotiations was presented to the Order, a command was given to the Daughter assigned to Blood Seraph, aligning the Order and all its actions with Lord Blanc, and allowing the Daughter to take several strict actions to ensure a quick and decisive second round of negotiations. Not only because of the good points that Lord Blanc made, but also because of the approaching dangers for which Blood Seraph was attempting to delay the negotiations. After the Daughter warned Blanc of any reckless actions, the second round of negotiations concluded with the death of Lady Seraph’s first husband at the Daughter’s hands, the agreement to Lord Blanc’s terms, as well as the annulment of the engagement between Aidan of Blood Seraph and Sera of Blood Denegis, with Lord Blanc’s and everyone’s departure a few hours later. That is all.”

Lucien sighed, placing his head in his hands, “‘That is all’ is quite the end to way to end things, Daughter, after everything you’ve just said.”

“Many things have been said,” the Daughter nodded, “I would suggest you think things through for the next few days while the Daughter assigned to Blood Seraph is still with them, so that you can get in contact through us.”

“Yes, that would be a good idea,” Mera nodded, as she and Auren got to her feet. “Thank you for telling us everything that has happened, Daughter. And let me extend my appreciation to the Order for siding with our son on the matters regarding Blood Seraph.”

And with that, Mera and Auren left the room.

“We will have things to say, but only after we think things through,” Lucien added, getting to his feet, “Are you fine with seeing yourself out, Daughter?”

“Of course, Patriarch,” the Daughter nodded to his question.

“Well then,” he muttered, leaving the room.

Lea and the rest of the Matriarchs got to their feet as well, but instead of leaving, they walked towards Celine and Miyanna.

“Celine,” Lea said as they approached.

“Mother,” Celine nodded, raising herself slowly from her seat, “What is it?”

“How… are you?” Lea asked, somewhat worried.

“Worried, of course,” Celine smiled sadly, looking at Miyanna, “We worry about the repercussions that would come from Blood Seraph and how that would affect Blanc’s journey.”

“That’s it?” Lea frowned, “What about-”

“We knew, Mother, for weeks now we knew about it,” Celine revealed, interrupting her mother, “Blanc as well as Velakia wrote us about how things led to their weird relationship. The reveal that they used an engagement as an excuse for authority is just good planning on their side on how to weaponize the relationship they’ve already told us about.”

“We’ve already agreed we are fine with it,” Miyanna nodded to Celine’s words, “Although I will beat the fucker senseless.”

“I thought you two would be angrier about it,” Manon chuckled at Miyanna’s words.

“Mothers,” Celine stared at the women in front of her, “You and Father taught us how to handle such things. I am not worried our husband will see us differently now, on the contrary, even, for I know how Blanc is. And as I’ve told Miyanna when we first found out, this could also be an opportunity for Blanc, for us, and for our Bloods.”

“Well said, Celine,” Salina placed a hand on her shoulder, grinning, “It would be even greater news if they really married or if Blanc got the princess pregnant.”

“About that…” the Daughter muttered, as she approached the six women.

They turned baffled towards the Daughter, silence filling the hall for ten entire seconds.

Only for the silence to be broken out by Sophie as she burst out laughing, first to figure out what the Daughter wanted to say, “This guy.”

“Daughter,” Miyanna clenched her jaw, getting on her feet, approaching her, “Do not tell me this is what you wanted to speak privately.”

“It is,” the Daughter nodded, “But since you knew about Lord Blanc’s relationship, now is as good a time as any.”

“Did the Daughter assigned to Blood Seraph confirm it?” Celine asked, her eyes calm as she looked into her red eyes.

“She did, but…” the Daughter was unsure on how to say this, “As requested by Her Highness, Lord Blanc wasn’t made aware of the fact that the princess is pregnant.”

“Why?” Lea muttered, “It would be advantageous.”

“Her Highness sees things differently, perhaps due to them walking towards the boat Lord Maroux has prepared for them to leave these lands and return home,” the Daughter guessed.

“Of course, she wouldn’t say anything,” Sophie wiped a tear from one of her golden eyes, “She is a princess, so she perhaps does not want to tie herself down to a Noble Blood of another Empire.”

Words meant as a trap. A trap that Sophie prepared only for her sister.

Sophie could only lick the back of her teeth as she waited to see if Celine would take the bait.

“No,” Celine shook her head, “On the letter she sent us, a letter she sent without Blanc knowing, she confesses she held feelings for him.”

“Hmm,” Lea muttered, lost in thought, “We need to think things through. Do you want this to remain between us seven?”

“It would help us a lot,” Celine nodded, “No reason to tell Father about it yet.”

“What about Mera and Auren?” Manon asked, “They are Blanc’s mother; they deserve to know.”

“We will,” Miyanna sighed, “After dinner, since it seems we have our schedule free then.”

“Not quite,” the Daughter replied, “There is more.”

“What the fuck could there be more?” Miyanna raised her head towards the ceiling, her eyes closed.

“Her Highness has also requested we share a letter for Lady Celine and Lady Miyanna’s eyes only,” the Daughter said, taking a sealed letter hidden behind her sleeve, offering it to the two.

“Anything else?” Celine asked, accepting the letter.

“Can I speak freely?” the Daughter replied with a question of her own, looking at Celine and Miyanna.

Guessing what it is about, Celine nodded.

“In that case,” the Daughter straightened her back, “As per the deal made with Celine and Miyanna of Noble Blood Denegis months ago, I’ve come to let you know that the Chosen Daughters have entered the Empire, and are traveling towards this location as we speak.”

“When are they to arrive?” Celine asked, ignoring the stares of the others, “And how many are there?”

“In a week,” the Daughter replied, “And there are twenty-nine, as per the numbers agreed.”

“Fuck…” Miyanna sighed, sitting down in her chair.

Sophie closed her eyes, the plan she had made long ago, now taking an unexpected turn for the better.

She could only lick her lips once more, in anticipation.

Somewhere beyond, along a winding mountain path near the edge of one of the many mountain ranges the Empire had, twenty-nine women moved as one, clad in white, veiled from head to toe, their crimson eyes and hair concealed from the world.

They walked bare feet across snow, rocks, dirt, mud, water, and sand, step by step, toward the Holy Ritual.