Chapter 29: An Unwavering Choice [Bonus]

Seeing the unmistakable shock in Kael’s eyes, Elara could barely contain the surge of delight swelling in her chest.

What was the difference between her and the man standing before her? She was a pure-blooded royal princess, while Kael was nothing more than a former mercenary with no political backing or noble lineage whatsoever.

With an elegant movement and her delicate, well-manicured fingers, Elara slowly lifted the lid of the rectangular wooden box secured with a golden lock. Resting upon a luxurious red velvet cushion inside were a worn scroll bearing golden ink and a deep-red spherical crystal relic that radiated a warm magical aura.

"This may be very difficult for you to believe, Sir Kael... But I personally investigated these traces of the past shortly after our first meeting at the palace," Elara explained in a voice that was gentle yet emphatic. "If you still have doubts and don’t believe my words, you can verify everything yourself using this blood-revealing artifact. You can also read the entire copy of the important genealogical records contained here."

Elara presented such a tremendous secret before Kael with a captivating, sweet smile.

"And if you still refuse to believe that this person exists after reading all these records... I swear upon the name of the great Leonheart Kingdom that not a single word I have spoken is a lie!" Elara stared straight into Kael’s pupils, her expression growing so serious that it left no room for even the slightest hint of deceit.

Kael stood frozen in place. He could not conceal the shock and disbelief surging violently within him.

How could this be...? How could there still be a surviving member of the Valerius family? Even the late Luis himself, a son of that family, had once assured him that every last one of his relatives had been slaughtered by their enemies.

However, if a royal princess was willing to swear upon the honor of her kingdom, then this could hardly be some baseless boast or cheap lie.

Kael owed Luis an immeasurable debt of gratitude and held him in the deepest respect.

The Luis Valerius he had first met had been a rigid, fiercely ambitious young man consumed by the dark seeds of vengeance. Back then, Luis had devoted every breath and every step of his life to a single purpose: avenging the bloodshed that had destroyed the Valerius nobility.

Elara’s smile widened beneath her elegant facade, for she could feel the path toward drawing Kael into her grasp opening up before her.

"Sir Kael... If you’re willing to serve and work by my side for just a few years... I promise to support you with all the influence, power, and resources at my disposal. I’ll help you in every way I can, so that you may repay your debt to the late Sir Luis in full by restoring the Valerius family’s former glory across this continent."

Elara’s words sounded sweet and enticing to Kael’s ears. Yet at the same time, his brow furrowed deeply with confusion and reluctance. From the very beginning, he had despised the idea of getting involved in the filthy quagmire of palace politics.

However, from the moment this meeting began, it had never been a friendly offer that left him free to choose. It was coercion disguised as elegance.

If Kael rejected Elara’s proposal right now, he would almost certainly lose access to any information regarding the whereabouts of Luis’s surviving relatives. Worse still, there was a real possibility that he and the people closest to him would gradually come under pressure from the princess’s influence.

In the Leonheart Kingdom, women were legally permitted to ascend the throne and become queen regnant. However, their chances and political support were far more limited than those of male princes.

Elara herself was the daughter of one of the king’s concubines. Her political standing in the struggle for the throne was considerably weaker and more precarious than that of her two brothers, who had been born to the legitimate queen.

Nevertheless, the king actually doted on Elara and cherished her more than his other children because she was his only daughter. That excessive paternal affection, however, only fueled her two brothers’ envy, resentment, and deep-seated hatred toward her.

Perhaps because of her unhappy childhood and the constant pressure of intrigues between the two factions within the palace, Elara had come to understand that only absolute power could protect her.

She wanted to escape the condescending gazes of senior nobles, break free from the fate imposed upon her as a woman destined to be married off, and stand proudly at the very summit without ever having to bow her head to anyone again. Ever since her mother had died under mysterious circumstances, the political ambition burning within her had grown increasingly fierce and uncontrollable.

"I won’t force you to give me an answer right now," Elara said, signaling to her attendant to take the box back. "I’ll give you a few days to think it over. Consider it carefully, Sir Kael... This is your one and only golden opportunity to help the surviving members of the Valerius family who are still breathing. You’re a wise man. I’m sure you know which path is the right one to choose."

Before turning away, Elara even bowed slightly, offering a sincere gesture of respect that a high-ranking noblewoman would rarely extend to anyone. It demonstrated just how badly she needed Kael’s strength and reputation as a warrior at her side.

After closing the luxurious box and handing it back to her personal attendant, Elara proceeded through the gates of Vex City, accompanied by fluttering banners and rows of soldiers. She walked with extraordinary elegance, composure, and confidence.

Kael remained rooted to the spot, staring blankly at the retreating procession. If this matter had nothing to do with the late Luis, he would never have given the princess’s intrigues even the slightest consideration.

A few seconds later, a soft, amused laugh escaped Kael’s lips. He couldn’t help but marvel at Elara. She had needed only one brief encounter in the past to read his character, identify his vulnerabilities, and seize upon his greatest weakness.

"Ha... Hahaha! She truly deserves the title of princess..." Kael muttered, rubbing his face. "She dug into my personal background through the information available to her father, and even managed to uncover a secret that Luis himself never knew throughout his entire life... She’s truly left me powerless! Interesting... This is really very interesting."

Although the situation was deeply frustrating and had trapped him in a difficult position, the familiar thrill of battle—the same fierce excitement that used to surge within him amid the winds sweeping across a battlefield, suddenly stirred in his chest once more.

Kael lifted his head, gazing at the bright evening sky with sharp, gleaming eyes. Dark memories from the past resurfaced, bringing back the image of Luis’s face and the words he had spoken shortly after finally completing his quest for vengeance.

’In the end, every door demands a key, and every victory demands a price. But a fool is one who surrenders his home for the sake of a throne.’

---

"Wow... This looks absolutely perfect on you, Lizzy!" Cherry exclaimed admiringly, her eyes sparkling.

The two of them were currently inside a renowned dress shop in the city center. Lizzy stood before a large mirror, wearing a pristine white gown adorned with delicate, elegant floral lace.

Her appearance was truly breathtaking, like a snow princess who had just descended from the summit of an eternal glacier.

"R-really...?" Lizzy asked innocently, her cheeks flushing pink as she turned in front of the mirror. "Do... do you think Kael will compliment me too if he sees me wearing this?"

Cherry folded her arms across her chest and flashed a faint smile. "Of course! What man wouldn’t be captivated by a wife as beautiful as you? You should wear your finest dress when you take Kael away for your honeymoon."

Over time, Cherry had finally come to terms with letting go of her own dreams and had sincerely accepted the marriage between Lizzy and Kael.

Their outings and time together over the past few days had actually been focused on helping Lizzy choose and purchase the finest clothes for a romantic getaway, or "honeymoon," with Kael. The idea had originally been proposed by Cherry herself.

Lizzy had purchased several sets of beautiful dresses and outfits that she believed would accentuate her beauty and feminine charm. Deep in her heart, she held on to the desperate hope that her age would not become an obstacle preventing her from conceiving and bearing Kael a child.

After finishing their shopping, the two women headed back to the inn, carefully keeping their surprise honeymoon plans a secret from Kael.

However, upon arriving at the inn, they learned that Princess Elara and her main force had arrived and begun conducting an independent investigation throughout the city.

From the day the princess arrived, Kael had suddenly grown much quieter. He often became lost in thought, sinking into deep contemplation for long stretches of time. Seeing this change in her husband, Lizzy was overwhelmed by confusion and anxiety.

Lizzy repeatedly tried to ask him gently what was troubling him, but Kael always changed the subject, refusing to reveal what was truly on his mind.

Then, one morning, Lizzy awoke to find that his side of the bed had already grown cold. Kael had suddenly disappeared without leaving a single word behind.

He had vanished without a trace. Not just for one day, but for several consecutive days, Kael failed to return to the inn. Lizzy’s heart was immediately consumed by an unfamiliar sense of unease, anxiety, and paralyzing fear.

"Kael... Where have you gone...? Why did you leave me?!" Lizzy whispered softly in a corner of the room, her eyes brimming with tears.

Cherry had absolutely no idea where Kael had gone, and Loyd could only shake his head in confusion when asked.

Amid this uncertainty, they happened to cross paths with Princess Elara’s procession as it prepared to return to the royal capital. The palace troops had officially completed their investigation, a new government official had been appointed to govern Vex City, and every remaining trace of the black magic threat had been completely eradicated.

Princess Elara briefly stopped her carriage, a meaningful smile curling across her lips as her gaze fell upon Lizzy through the window. Naturally, the princess had already learned the details of the white-haired woman’s identity as Kael’s wife.

At the same time, in a region far removed from the hustle and bustle of Vex City...

On a circular stretch of fertile land surrounded by dense, tranquil forest, a tall, broad-shouldered man stood alone.

Kael stood there, holding the deep-red spherical crystal relic Elara had given him in his right hand. He was positioned directly before three neatly aligned stone graves.

His gaze rested upon the names carved into the gravestones. His expression was calm, yet the profound sorrow etched across his face could not be concealed.

Kael drew a long breath. He slowly clenched his fist and crushed the red crystal relic directly above Luis’s gravestone, allowing the magical liquid inside to drip onto the burial ground as memories of the past began to resurface in his mind.

That night, long ago...

Luis sat alone on the edge of a steep cliff overlooking a dark valley. His expression was utterly vacant, hollow, and lost in the aftermath of finally taking the life of his sworn enemy and completing his family’s revenge.

The primary goal that had sustained him for years had finally been achieved. And now, with his vengeance complete, the world suddenly seemed unbearably dull, lonely, and exhausting.

Kael approached without uttering a single word. He folded his legs and sat casually beside Luis, keeping his friend company through the bitter cold of the night.

The night wind blew gently, cutting through the silence. They had known each other for quite some time and had become capable of sensing each other’s emotional turmoil and inner burdens without needing to say much.

Suddenly, Luis broke the silence. He spoke in an exceptionally calm voice. The light in his eyes, which had once seemed so dim, gradually began to burn brightly again, dispelling the haze of sadness and emptiness that had briefly consumed his soul.

Luis realized that he was not truly alone in this harsh world. He still had Kael, Yohan, Tessia, and his comrades-in-arms. His life was no longer lonely; meeting these crazy people had gradually transformed him from a vengeance-driven young man into a much warmer and wiser adult.

Luis turned to look at Kael, offering a faint smile as he spoke softly.

"In the end, every door demands a key, and every victory demands a price. But a fool is one who surrenders his home for the sake of a throne."

Back then, the young Kael could only sit in stunned silence at the philosophical words, completely unable to comprehend the deeper meaning behind Luis’s statement.

But now... standing before his friend’s grave, Kael finally understood the full meaning of those words: Sacrifices in life are sometimes unavoidable, but one must never sacrifice one’s home, peace, or beloved family merely to pursue ambition, honor, or a throne.

Drip... Drip...

As the deep-red liquid from the shattered relic dripped onto the burial ground, Kael recalled the technical instructions Elara had given him before they parted ways.

"If the red liquid from the relic reacts, shines brightly, and rises into the air... then it can be confirmed that a pure-blooded individual related to the target is still alive somewhere out there. However, if the liquid is completely absorbed and solidifies into the earth... it means the entire family bloodline has been completely extinguished."

On the burial ground, the deep-red liquid suddenly reacted violently! The droplets swelled, emitting a dazzling silver glow before bursting upward and shooting high into the sky, piercing through the clouds above!

The relic was an extremely rare and expensive bloodline-tracking artifact, an item that even high-ranking nobles would struggle to obtain.

The suspicion had been proven true. There were still surviving members of the Valerius family alive somewhere on this continent!

Kael had made his decision and firmly chosen the path he would follow.

If Princess Elara intended to exploit his reputation and combat prowess to clear her path to the throne, then Kael would have no qualms about exploiting Elara’s position and political influence in return to protect and restore what remained of Luis’s family legacy.

With a resolute, unwavering gaze and not a trace of doubt remaining, Kael bowed his head and offered a brief prayer for the peace of his fallen companions. Then he turned and walked away from the burial ground.

"Luis, Tessia, Yohan..." Kael whispered softly into the evening breeze. "Your friend... has finally freed himself from the shadows of the past and is ready to face the future."