Chapter 888: Scolding Belle

"We are from the same family through our parents," Edgar said, glancing toward his cousins. "We should at least try to get along."

"Can’t you blame us, Edgar?" Aiden replied, his hands slipping into his pockets. "They look completely different from the rest of us, and they are the son and daughter of our uncle who abandoned his duties as a Falkrona."

"Uncle Kleines chose his own happiness," Edgar calmly replied. "You cannot blame him for that. And having children shouldn’t be something we hold against him either."

"You’re right," Jordan said with a small sigh. "I suppose there are better things to blame our dear uncle for."

His expression became slightly more cynical.

"Like becoming an ally of the Iris Project. How shameful. How was he even allowed back into our family?"

At those words, Christina lowered her gaze.

There wasn’t much she could say.

She could never defend Kleines for that.

The Iris Project was not some ordinary organization with questionable morals. They were responsible for countless atrocities, and their experiments had involved innocent people, especially children.

"My father has indeed been working with the Iris Project," Amael spoke up.

He stepped forward slightly, his amber eyes meeting Jordan’s.

"But he never hurt anyone there. Especially not the children."

"That excuses very little," Erionne immediately replied, her cold gaze sharpening.

"There have been Falkrona children kidnapped by the Iris Project. Children we have never seen again. They probably died and were simply discarded somewhere."

Amael’s expression hardened.

"As I said, my father had nothing to do with that."

He paused before continuing.

"Unfortunately, you cannot understand how far a parent would go for their children."

"You..."

Erionne narrowed her eyes.

"It’s enough, Erionne."

Edgar stepped between them before the exchange could escalate any further.

"He is defending his father. You cannot blame him for that."

Erionne remained silent.

She clearly wasn’t convinced, but she at least stopped arguing.

Christina glanced toward Amael before speaking herself.

"I know what my father did is reprehensible."

Her voice was softer than Amael’s, carrying a genuine apologetic tone.

"And by no means will I ever defend him for working alongside such people. I know what the Iris Project has done, and I know why everyone would look at him with disgust because of it."

She lowered her head slightly.

"So... I apologize on his behalf."

Edgar’s expression softened.

"You don’t have to apologize for your father’s actions," he said. "But I appreciate that you are willing to say it."

He looked between Christina and Amael.

"I believe we should turn a new leaf in this story."

He said.

"We grandchildren have nothing to do with our parents’ decisions. Whatever mistakes they have made, whatever conflicts they have created, those things belong to them."

He smiled faintly.

"Now that you will also be attending the same academy, we should at least try to get along. We are still part of the same family, after all."

Christina’s expression brightened.

"I would like that as well."

She smiled at him.

The gloomy expression she had been wearing earlier disappeared, replaced by genuine relief.

For the first time since entering the living hall, she felt as though someone was actually extending a hand toward them instead of pushing them away.

Edgar was clearly trying and she appreciated that.

The other three, however, didn’t appear nearly as enthusiastic.

Erionne still wore that cold, disapproving expression.

Aiden simply stood with his hands in his pockets, an amused smile playing across his lips as he observed everything.

Jordan had a small smile of his own, though it was difficult to tell whether he was genuinely interested in Edgar’s suggestion or merely entertained by the situation.

Still, at least one person among them seemed willing to give them a chance.

That alone was enough for Christina.

"Oh, you are here."

A new voice suddenly rang through the hall.

Everyone turned.

Belle stood at the entrance.

The moment Christina saw her, her expression beamed.

"Aunt Belle!"

She immediately rushed toward her.

Belle’s eyes softened at the sight of her niece.

"Christina."

She opened her arms, allowing Christina to throw herself into the embrace.

Belle gently hugged her.

"I’m so happy to see you," Christina said, smiling warmly. "You haven’t come to see us for such a long time..."

"I’m sorry."

Belle pulled back slightly, her expression becoming apologetic.

There were many reasons for that.

Too many, perhaps.

Going to Sancta Vedelia had become difficult for her.

She was no longer particularly welcomed there after she had taken Utopia’s side, especially following the announcement as her being Edward’s mother when Edward appeared before the world as the Guardian of the Holy Tree of Eden.

That alone had made things complicated.

But then Kleines had returned.

And everything had become even more complicated.

Belle still remembered the day of the Blood Wedding.

The news had reached her like a blade through the chest.

Kleines had returned and he had killed Edward in Central Vedelia.

She could still remember exactly how Tihana and Orlin had broken down when they heard it.

Layla had been even worse.

She had been dangerously close to snapping, drowning in grief and anger, standing in a place so dark that Belle had genuinely feared what she might do.

How could Belle simply accept Kleines’s explanations after that?

How could she sit down with him and pretend everything was normal?

She couldn’t.

She hadn’t even tried to see him again for some time.

And unfortunately, that meant she had also been forced to stay away from Sancta Vedelia.

Away from Christina.

Away from Amael.

It wasn’t because she had anything against them.

Quite the opposite.

She felt guilty for being absent.

They were her niece and nephew, after all.

Neither of them deserved to be caught in the middle of the mess created by their parents.

"Aunt Belle."

Another voice interrupted her thoughts.

Amael approached.

Belle’s expression immediately softened.

"Come here."

She opened her arms.

Amael stepped forward, and Belle pulled him into a warm embrace.

"God, you have certainly grown," she laughed, reaching up and ruffling his white hair.

Amael chuckled.

"I’m in a perfect growing period."

"It certainly seems so."

Belle laughed before pulling back.

She reached up and gently placed her hand against his cheek, stroking it affectionately.

For a moment, she simply looked at him.

He really was different.

This wasn’t the Amael with Nyrel’s memories clearly.

There was still a faint resemblance to Edward after he had awakened his Olphean Bloodline, particularly in certain features and subtle traces of his presence.

But this Amael was definitely different.

His presence was calmer and softer.

There was a peacefulness to him that the Amael she had once known hadn’t possessed.

And yet, he was still her nephew.

The little baby she had once held in her arms.

The nephew she had probably been closest to.

Their relationship hadn’t remained perfect.

Especially after Amael lost Oryanna.

Amael had carried an enormous amount of guilt after her death, and when he had eventually reunited with Belle, he had remembered the way he had acted toward her before.

He had been ashamed but Belle had never cared about that.

She had only been happy that he was alive, that was all that had mattered to her.

Back then, Belle had been grieving too.

She had mourned the Edward she had known, believing she had lost him forever.

Thankfully, Edward had eventually revealed himself to be alive.

And once that happened, something inside Belle finally fixed.

She had come to accept the strange truth of her life.

There were two Edwards.

Two lives.

Two versions of someone she loved.

And she didn’t need to choose between them.

To Belle, they were both equally precious.

"Aunt Belle, it has been a while."

Edgar was the first to greet her after Belle finished embracing Amael.

He offered her a warm smile before looking her over with a faintly amused expression.

"By Eden, you really never grow older, do you?"

Belle chuckled.

"Unfortunately for all of you, I suppose I don’t."

She placed her hands on her hips and glanced toward the three younger Falkronas.

"And what exactly was happening here?"

Her eyes narrowed slightly.

"Were my nephews and niece bullying my other nephew and niece?"

Aiden simply shrugged.

"I thought of them as strangers."

"They look like strangers," Erionne added without the slightest hesitation.

Jordan merely chuckled.

"Sorry, Aunt."

Belle sighed.

Not one of them even sounded particularly apologetic.

"You three better learn to get along with them," she said, pointing toward Christina and Amael. "They have nothing to do with Kleines’s actions. Whatever problems you have with your uncle, don’t take them out on his children."

"Don’t worry, Aunt," Edgar said with a smile. "They will come around."

"I hope so."

Belle glanced at Christina and Amael before looking back at the four grandchildren.

Unfortunately, there was one problem.

"Though, Edgar, you won’t be attending the academy with them to watch over them."

"I’ve already graduated, Aunt."

Edgar smiled wryly.

Belle blinked before remembering.

"Right. You did."

Edgar was already twenty-five years old, and judging from his bearing and the way the other members of the family treated him, he was clearly being prepared to become one of the major figures of the Falkrona Household.

He was Silas’s eldest son.

And therefore, someone who had grown up carrying expectations from the moment he was old enough to understand what the Falkrona name meant.

"Don’t let my siblings overwork you," Belle said, her expression becoming slightly more serious. "Especially my father. You’re doing fine as you are."

She didn’t want Edgar to become another version of the people who ruled the Falkrona Household.

Powerful, respected and successful, yet emotionally distant from their own family.

Belle had seen too much of that.

She didn’t want the younger generation to inherit the same habits.

Thankfully, Edgar and his cousins at least seemed to have a relatively decent relationship with one another. They had their problems, especially the younger ones, but nothing that seemed impossible to fix.

They were still young.

There was still plenty of time for them to grow.

"Ah, hardly so, Aunt," Edgar replied with a small laugh. "But it is indeed difficult to take things easy when I have such incredible people as my grandfather and father as my examples."

His smile became slightly sheepish.

"They are both extraordinary. Sometimes I’m not even sure I can reach their level."

"Don’t be so hard on yourself."

Belle shook her head.

"You’re already at the Ninth Ascension, Edgar, and you’re still quite young. Your father was only at the Eighth Ascension when he was your age."

Edgar’s expression became slightly more serious.

"My dear father is in his First Transcendence now. I believe he is also considerably ahead of where Grandfather was at the same age."

"First Transcendence..."

Belle repeated quietly.

The First Transcendence.

The first true step into the Demigod Rank.

Silas had reached that realm only a year ago.

His advancement had been astonishing, especially after the awakening of his Core Falkrona Bloodline.

Since then, his reputation within the household had risen dramatically.

His position as the likely successor to Waylen had become even more secure, and his popularity among the younger generation of Falkronas had exploded.

Silas had always been talented.

But after awakening the Core Bloodline, he had taken another enormous step forward.

"You still have plenty of time," Belle said.

Edgar smiled.

Belle was genuinely happy for Silas.

He had worked incredibly hard to reach where he was now, and if anyone deserved his current position, it was him.

But she didn’t want Edgar, or any of the other children, to spend their entire lives chasing power.

There were things beyond cultivation.

"Hm."

Erionne suddenly lifted her chin proudly.

"My brother will become as great as my father one day, and I will follow in their footsteps soon after."

Belle smiled at her confidence.

"Don’t be so impatient. Graduate properly from the Holy Academy first."

She reached over and ruffled Erionne’s carefully arranged hair.

"There is no greater honor than graduating from that academy."

Erionne immediately grumbled and hurriedly fixed her hair.

"It is only a matter of time."

"Don’t underestimate it," Belle said. "It’s not an ordinary academy."

"We are already among the highest-ranked students there, Aunt," Aiden said with a laugh. "There is nothing to worry about."

"Yes, yes."

Belle waved him off.

"But you certainly aren’t the only talented people there."

Aiden’s smile twitched.

Before he could answer, however, something caught Belle’s attention from the corner of her eye.

A small figure was hiding behind one of the pillars.

Only half of her face was visible.

Grey hair.

Grey eyes.

A tiny figure who looked no older than ten.

Belle’s expression immediately softened.

Her eyes widened slightly.

"Is that you, Rose?"

The little girl froze.

She had clearly been trying not to be noticed.

After a moment, she slowly stepped out from behind the pillar.

"Um... yes."

Belle’s smile widened.

"Little Rose!"

She immediately hurried over and scooped the girl into her arms.

"A-Aunty... welcome..."

Rose’s timid voice was muffled slightly as she hugged Belle back with her small arms.

"Goodness, look at you!"

Belle pulled back slightly and lowered herself so she could properly look at Rose.

"You’ve grown so much!"

She remembered the last time she had seen Rose.

The girl had seemed almost half her current size back then.

Rose was Rosalyn’s second child and only daughter, and like many things within the Falkrona Household, she had been carefully sheltered and raised under her mother’s watch.

Belle hadn’t expected to see her here.

"And you’re still beautiful, Aunty," Rose said with a shy smile.

Belle stared at her for a moment.

Then she laughed.

"Look at you, saying things like that already."

She gently pinched Rose’s chubby cheeks.

"So cute."

Belle sighed then.

"One might wonder whether your mother is really Rosalyn."

Rose’s eyes shifted uncertainly.

"Mommy... um, Mother is very good with me."

"Only you in the entire world, perhaps."

Belle rolled her eyes playfully.

She then stepped aside and gestured toward Christina and Amael.

"Rose, I’d like to introduce you to your cousins."

Rose looked toward them curiously.

"You’ve never met them before, but they’re your Uncle Kleines’s children."

Christina stepped forward first.

She smiled warmly and extended her hand.

"It’s a pleasure to meet you, Rose. I’m Christina."

Rose stared at her.

Her eyes widened slightly.

"You... you’re very beautiful."

Christina blinked.

She hadn’t expected such a straightforward compliment.

A faint blush immediately spread on her cheeks.

Rose was simply too cute.

Christina couldn’t resist.

She reached over and gently patted the girl’s hair.

"You’re very beautiful as well, Rose."

Rose’s cheeks turned pink.

She lowered her gaze shyly.

Then Amael stepped forward.

He looked at Rose for a moment before giving her a warm, gentle smile.

"I’m Amael, Christina’s brother. It’s a pleasure to meet you."

He extended his hand.

Rose slowly raised her gaze.

For some reason, she stared at Amael for a little longer than she had stared at Christina.

There was something about him.

He had the same bright, beautiful features as Christina, yet there was something different in his presence.

Something difficult to explain.

It wasn’t simply his appearance.

There was a strange calmness surrounding him, a quiet warmth that made him feel strangely easy to approach.

But whatever Rose sensed, she didn’t dwell on it for long.

His kind smile immediately made her feel comfortable.

"I’m Rose."

She timidly reached out and accepted his hand.

"Thank you."

Amael smiled.

"You don’t have to thank me."

Rose nodded shyly.