Volume 2, Chapter 53 – Right of Succession

As one of the Crown Prince’s trusted aides and possessing immense magical talent, Pelochi had always carried himself with arrogance within the imperial capital, Sky Dome. Now, in this frontier city, he was repeatedly being treated harshly by the Duke Family. Today, he had applied to see Afnora in the name of the Crown Prince, yet he had been stood up by her again. How could Pelochi, whose pride had been insulted, swallow such a slight?

Driven by rage, he ignored the obstruction of the maids and Duke Family guards, heading straight into the Marquis’s office. After hearing the content of the conversation between the Marquis and a woman, Pelochi clenched his fists in displeasure and then slammed open the office door, marching inside aggressively.

“My apologies, Lord Marquis, but your daughter will neither remain in Windward City nor go to the Red Lotus Leaf Empire to enter the Ashurmos Church. Since she is the Crown Princess candidate designated by the imperial family, she must go to Sky Dome next month to participate in the selection ceremony.”

Pelochi’s words were haughty and overbearing, causing Mengxi and the members of the Duke Family to reveal looks of displeasure upon hearing them. Even Miss Yumo’s brows furrowed slightly at the mention of the “selection ceremony”.

Xiumu was naturally the most infuriated by Pelochi’s insolent words. However, for the sake of the bigger picture, the Marquis did not lose his temper on the spot and instead inquired somewhat respectfully.

“Lord Envoy, the imperial decree did not require Xia’er to go to the capital. How could she become a candidate for the Crown Princess?”

“No, Lord Marquis, you must have misunderstood.”

“What?”

“The imperial family’s intention was to invite the direct daughter of the Duke Family to Sky Dome. It doesn’t matter who it is. Since Miss Yuan’er is missing and Miss Xia’er has returned, then Miss Xia’er can simply take Miss Yuan’er’s place and head to the capital.”

“This, how can this be allowed?!”

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“Why wouldn’t it be allowed?” Pelochi narrowed his dark eyes, staring coldly at Xiumu. “Lord Marquis, are you intending to defy the imperial family’s orders? Or do you think Windward City still has the power to challenge the throne? If you wish to resist, I suggest you consider carefully whether you have the capability to withstand a Magic Fission Bomb.”

Upon hearing the words “Magic Fission Bomb”, Xiumu’s tall frame visibly shuddered. This detail was undoubtedly captured by Pelochi, who could not help but sneer inwardly.

‘Heh, as expected, using the fearsome reputation of the fission bombs works quite well. The Marquis is clearly wavering.’

Of course, it was impossible to actually use a Magic Fission Bomb against the subjects of the Empire, as that would trigger domestic unrest. Furthermore, only two Magic Fission Bombs remained, which had to be reserved to deter the Red Lotus Leaf Empire at critical moments. Pelochi spoke this way naturally to pressure Xiumu into sending his granddaughter to the capital.

Even if the Marquis’s daughter was not chosen as the Crown Princess, they would have thousands of ways to keep her in the capital as a hostage. Everyone knew that Marquis Xiumu doted on his granddaughter. At that time, the Crown Prince could use her to control the perpetually disobedient Northern Frontier and gradually weaken the Duke Family’s influence.

“Lord Marquis, what have you decided?” Pelochi asked aggressively.

Xiumu, just as Pelochi had predicted, clenched his fists tightly and fell into a grim silence. Looking at the conflicted Marquis, the corners of Pelochi’s mouth curled up slightly.

However, at that moment, the Marquis’s wife, Afnora, who had been continuously comforting the pink-haired girl, shot a cold glance at Pelochi and said in an indifferent tone, “Lord Envoy, I’m afraid you’ve gotten something wrong.”

“Hmm? Madam, what do you mean by that?” Pelochi’s expression shifted, and he looked at Afnora with a serious gaze. Compared to the powerful but hot-headed Xiumu, he sometimes feared this Marquis’s wife even more.

The next moment, as Pelochi expected, Afnora spoke without hesitation. “Xia’er and Yuan’er are quite different.”

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“What do you mean by that?”

“Xia’er is the heir to the Duke Family’s title. According to imperial law, if an heir is missing for less than five years, they still retain their right of succession. In other words, Xia’er is the Young Marquis and cannot become a candidate for the Crown Princess.”

Afnora’s words were full of provocation, making the veins on Pelochi’s forehead bulge with anger. The imperial envoy then cast a vicious sidelong glance toward Benjamin, who was hiding in the corner.

“Haha, Madam, please stop joking. Haven’t you already passed the right of succession to Benjamin?”

“Hoho, says who? Benjamin indeed has the right to inherit, and I have said as much. However, the formal transfer procedures for the right of succession haven’t been completed yet. Why would you think I’ve already passed it to Benjamin?”

“Wh-what?” Hearing this, Pelochi’s face turned sour, and he glared fiercely at the nearby Benjamin.

‘You bastard?! To get in good with the Crown Prince, you actually dared to deceive me?!’

On the other side, feeling Pelochi’s dissatisfied gaze, Benjamin’s whole body trembled. After a moment of internal struggle, the young man of the Duke Family couldn’t help but rush into the office. This “heir” could no longer sit still after hearing Afnora say she would return the succession rights to Xia’er. After meeting Pelochi’s questioning eyes, Benjamin felt even more panicked.

He had worked so hard to obtain the status of the family “heir” and to gain the Crown Prince’s recognition. He couldn’t lose it like this! Thus, under Afnora’s somewhat somber gaze, Benjamin rushed into the office and pointed a finger angrily at the pink-haired girl.

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“I-I object!! Who knows if this girl is really Miss Xia’er! Who can prove she isn’t a spy sent by another power to control our Duke Family!”

“Benjamin!” Xiumu roared with an imposing aura. “What nonsense are you talking about!”

However, fueled by greed, Benjamin stubbornly withstood the murderous aura emanating from Xiumu and spoke with “righteous indignation”.

“Miss Xia’er went missing when she was so young! How could a pampered girl like her have survived until now! This person must be an impostor!”

“Benjamin, what is the meaning of this!”

“Lord Marquis, I am doing this for the sake of the Duke Family! This person might have some ulterior motive! Besides, it hasn’t even been confirmed if she is truly Miss Xia’er. If you let her become the heir just like that, I doubt the branch families will agree!” As he spoke, Benjamin pointed out the window toward the graveyard with a righteous air. “I suggest letting this girl meet the Guardian Beast! The Guardian Beast can see through the soul! If she is truly Miss Xia’er, the Guardian Beast will recognize her!!”

Benjamin’s tone gradually became ghoulish. Upon hearing this, Xiumu and Afnora fell into a brief silence, looking at Yumo with complicated expressions.

Although they had already accepted Yumo as their granddaughter in their hearts, they ultimately lacked this final verification step. If she was, it would be fine, but if she wasn’t, wouldn’t that be sending this child to her death? That Guardian Beast was not a merciful creature.

For a moment, the Marquis and his wife were torn. However, unexpectedly, the pink-haired girl who had been held in Afnora’s arms for a long time slowly spoke up. “Um, I… I want to go see it…”

“Xia’er?!” Afnora couldn’t help but cry out in alarm.

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In response, the pink-haired girl met Afnora’s eyes solemnly and used a rare, decisive tone. “I want to try. I also want to know if I am truly a child of this family.”

As she spoke, Miss Yumo revealed an imperceptible, mischievous smile. From the conversation just now, Yumo could easily judge that the identity of “Xia’er” would bring her a lot of trouble. Not to mention the added burden of being a Crown Princess candidate, this so-called grandfather and grandmother were unwilling to let her and Mengxi return to the Ashurmos Church. This was contrary to her original goal.

Since that was the case, although she felt a bit sorry for this family, she had to make them understand that she really wasn’t their granddaughter. With Mengxi present, showing her Shadow Essence was clearly inappropriate, so she might as well use that Guardian Beast. Didn’t they say it could see through the soul? Then it should be able to confirm that she wasn’t some “Xia’er”, right?

‘Hehe, I really am quite clever.’ Miss Yumo couldn’t help but chuckle inwardly.

Meanwhile, seeing that Yumo had agreed, Benjamin couldn’t help but reveal a cruel smile.

‘Hehe, you’re really seeking death…’ Benjamin knew very well that Xia’er couldn’t possibly be alive. Even if there was a one-in-ten-thousand chance that the girl had survived and returned to the Marquis Mansion, he had ways to ensure she died right in the Guardian Beast’s mouth.

‘Sorry, little girl,’ Benjamin muttered without a shred of remorse in his heart.

While wearing that strange smile, Benjamin’s peripheral vision caught sight of the stunning silver-haired girl leaning against the wall corner. Mengxi’s face and figure, which seemed like a masterpiece of the Creator, instantly made Benjamin’s heart skip a beat. But soon, Benjamin’s brows furrowed tightly.

‘Wait? Silver hair, purple eyes, and wearing the knight uniform of the Ashurmos Church… Could this girl be the target those people from the Divine Punishment Holy Church want to kill?’