Chapter 39: The Truth |
But the old steward did not immediately withdraw.
“Duke, you have eaten little at dinner.”
“Shall this old servant have the kitchen prepare some late-night snacks?”
A nameless fire suddenly surged in Duke Spiritwind’s heart.
He slammed the table fiercely.
“I said it’s not needed!”
“Do you not understand what I’m saying?”
“Do not make me repeat myself a third time!”
The old steward trembled all over in fright and immediately knelt down.
“This old servant will withdraw at once!”
Duke Spiritwind took a deep breath,
wanting to continue thinking about the truth of the matter.
Unfortunately, once his train of thought was broken, it was difficult to resume.
Irritated, he stood up and walked to the window.
The night wind brushed past,
carrying away the heat from his body.
Spiritwind looked up at the starry sky,
silently praying in his heart for guidance from the divine.
At that moment…
The old steward seemed to recall something unintentionally. He stopped again and, in an extremely natural tone—as if merely reporting trivial routine matters—reminded:
“Duke, there is one more matter.”
“When the former king returned to the sea of stars and the funeral was held, Duke Ilo once sent someone to inquire…”
“Whether, according to the former king’s regulations, the remains of Ancestor Wa should also be invited out and placed within a crystal coffin.”
“But at the time, you were occupied with military affairs and could not spare the time, so you replied ‘we shall discuss it later.’”
“This morning, Duke Ilo’s side sent someone again to urge an answer on this matter. What do you think…”
But at this moment, Duke Spiritwind was in a state of agitation, so he responded absentmindedly.
“Since Ancestor Ze enjoys such honor, our Ancestor Wa should naturally also… wait!”
Spiritwind’s words abruptly stopped!
Ancestor Wa…
Ancestor Ze…
Boom!
In an instant, a flash of inspiration struck Spiritwind’s mind!
He felt as though he had discovered the truth!
If he and Duke Starshimmer were to completely fall out,
and even erupt into large-scale conflict…
Then who would ultimately benefit?!
It would be the newly enthroned king whose foundation was not yet stable—Yula!
It would be the lineage of Ancestor Ze!
Back then, how did King Ze ascend the throne?!
Was it not… because the two ancestors fought over the throne, ultimately leading to the death of Ancestor Wa!
Perhaps, from that very moment…
the lineage of Ancestor Ze had always been wary of them!
And now, King Ze had just passed, and Yula had only just taken power.
This was precisely when royal authority was at its most fragile!
And now, the descendants of the Wa, Ya, and Ze lineages jointly held the inheritance of the Divine Grace Technique.
Each possessed formidable strength, with deeply entangled networks of power.
Yula feared that the descendants of the two lineages would threaten his throne.
He had every motive to employ such insidious methods!
First, provoke internal strife between the Wa and Ya lineages, using the opportunity to weaken both sides.
And if both sides suffered losses…
then Yula could sit back and reap the benefits,
successfully stabilizing the royal authority of the Ze lineage!
Therefore, that Divine Grace Recipient who stirred up trouble was not some unaffiliated individual at all!
He was a confidant secretly cultivated by Yula!
His purpose was to muddy the waters!
“Good! Good, very good!”
Duke Spiritwind laughed in extreme anger.
All his previous confusion and irritation were swept away.
Replaced instead by fury at being schemed against!
“This Duke has not even gone to settle old accounts with you yet.”
“And your Ze family actually struck first, setting your sights on me!”
He had completely “figured it all out.”
This was not some accident at all!
But a long-planned conspiracy targeting the Wa and Ya lineages!
“Men!”
Duke Spiritwind shouted in a deep voice.
A personal guard immediately entered upon hearing the call.
“Take my token and secretly invite Duke Starshimmer for a private discussion!”
Spiritwind’s tone was cold and grim.
“Remember, it must be discreet!”
“Absolutely do not let anyone notice!”
“Yes!” The guard accepted the order and quickly departed.
Afterward, Duke Spiritwind sat back in his chair, lightly tapping the armrest with his fingers, a cold smile appearing on his face.
Yula, Ilo…
Since you want to play,
then this Duke will play with you to the end!
Trying to use such despicable methods to divide and dismantle us?
Dream on!
He would not let Yula have his way!
Moreover, he would unite with Starshimmer
to reclaim the throne that should have belonged to their Wa lineage…
…
After the old steward left, he did not return to his residence.
Instead, he slipped out through a side gate of the ducal mansion, weaving through several turns until he arrived at a remote corner within the Royal City.
He cautiously looked around. Seeing no one,
he stopped before a house and knocked on the door.
Lowering his voice, he said:
“Praise the great Lord of the Stars!”
Soon, a response came from within.
“Praise the great Lord of the Stars!”
But the door did not open.
The old steward did not mind and continued in a low voice.
“I have done what you asked me to do.”
“Where is what I want?”
As soon as his words fell,
a stone slab was thrown out.
A flash of wild joy appeared in the old steward’s eyes.
He quickly picked it up, tucked it into his robe, then cautiously glanced around before swiftly disappearing into the alley.
Inside the house, Shan looked at You,
a complex and uneasy expression appearing on his face.
“You, is this… really okay?”
“To spread the Divine Grace Technique so casually…”
You casually wiped the arrow in his hand, not even raising his head.
“What?”
“You don’t want revenge anymore?”
“Revenge is another matter!”
Shan’s tone became somewhat agitated.
“I just feel that the Divine Grace Technique is sacred!”
“We should grant it cautiously. It’s best to examine one’s character and morality. How can it be used as a bargaining chip in transactions?”
“Sacred?”
You stopped what he was doing, raised his head, and looked at Shan’s conflicted expression, then smiled.
“Shan, you’re too naive.”
“If not for the Divine Grace Technique, why would they risk everything to cooperate with us?”
“And what would we use to overthrow the Solar Dynasty?”
“But this is divine grace!”
“You, aren’t you afraid…”
“Afraid of divine wrath?”
Shan’s voice carried a trace of fear.
You fell silent. He looked deeply at Shan.
“Shan, do you think…”
“Does the divine really care?”
Shan was stunned.
“You, what do you mean?”
You looked at the eternally unchanging starry sky above, his eyes surging with longing and… madness.
“Have you ever thought…”
“Why Ya was able to create the Divine Grace Technique?”
“Why anyone can use the Divine Grace Technique?”
“Why it isn’t only those of Apollo’s bloodline who can use the Divine Grace Technique?”
Shan was at a loss for words. “W-why?”
You raised his right hand, as if trying to touch that starry sky.
“Because the divine does not care!”
“It simply does not care what this world becomes!”
“It does not care who is using Its power, or even… about this world itself!”
“What It cares about, perhaps from beginning to end, is only that Apollo upon whom It once cast its very first glance!”
Shan’s expression changed drastically as he shouted sternly.
“You! Do not recklessly discuss the divine!”
“Nor show disrespect to the divine!”
You withdrew his hand, his gaze falling upon Shan.
“I once thought that when I obtained divine grace…”
“the divine’s gaze would fall upon me, even if only for a single instant…”