Chapter 181: Banquet (part 2)_1 |
The Blood Fog dispersed.
Colin returned to his seat.
Walra was a third-class knight, based on Colin’s previous experience of transforming Queen Isa, he presumed that initially hosting a bloodline of someone lower than oneself should not see a decrease in his rank.
Quietly sensing the changes within his body, aside from some weakness, there was indeed no reduction in his rank.
Relieved, Colin poured himself another glass of deer blood wine, sipping it while waiting for Walra to awaken.
Honestly, Walra’s willing stance to atone for his sins through death had significantly moved Colin.
Facing such a knight committed to maintaining justice in his heart, Colin felt that he must slightly adjust his original plan.
After a while, just as Colin had almost devised a new plan, Walra finally awoke.
“I I didn’t die?”
“You have indeed died,” Colin said with slight indifference. “But I have granted you a second chance at life.”
Walra stared blankly at Colin. In his eyes, Colin was shrouded in a vast, sacred, irresistible light that made people want to bow down and worship him impulsively.
“Colin what exactly has happened?”
“Have you heard of Blood Angels?”
After a brainwashing session, Knight Walra’s attitude toward Colin became incredibly respectful.
He saw him slowly pull out his sword from his chest, raise it over his head, kneel down on one knee, and solemnly vowed:
“Thank you for the grace granted by the chosen one, my lord! I, Walra Uman, swear allegiance to you. From this day onwards till I return to the Lord’s arms, I will serve you at all times! Your will is the direction of my sword, and your command is my creed!”
Colin took Walra’s sword, lightly tapped his shoulder twice, and accepted his loyalty.
Considering Walra’s previous commitment to knightly virtue, Colin felt that this loyalty might be tighter and more reliable than the bond of the Blood Clan.
“Walra, do you know why I forgave your sins and granted you a second life?”
“Please enlighten me, my lord.”
“Because you’re just a pitiful person who has been kept in the dark.”
Knight Walra’s face was filled with confusion once again.
Colin continued to explain: “You said your mother Penny conspired to assassinate me to help you gain wealth. Now tell me, were you and Miss Penny that close?”
“Mother ” Walra was visibly hesitant, “Mother wasn’t the type to easily express her feelings.”
Colin chuckled coldly: “Unexpressive of her feelings? Do you really believe that a mother facing her own son would not know how to show affection?”
“Perhaps perhaps she found it hard to accept my status as an illegitimate son ”
“Ha. She herself was but a commoner, she has no right to look down upon an illegitimate child. Even if she really disliked your status and didn’t want to get close to you, why would she take such a great risk to help you seize the Angler family’s wealth?”
Walra was left dumbfounded and could only respond respectfully: “My lord, please forgive my ignorance, I could not grasp the reason behind it.”
“Actually, the real reason is quite simple.” Colin emanated a faint aura of authority, his tone becoming solemn, “Penny isn’t close to you because she isn’t your birth mother!”
“What?” Walra looked up in astonishment, not daring to believe Colin.
“Don’t forget, I’m a disciple of the Blood Angel. Naturally, I can use God’s technique to determine that you are actually the direct bloodline of the Uman Clan. In fact, Lawrence is the illegitimate child of Penny and the Count!”
“I I’m the legitimate child of my father?” Walra was dumbfounded, “Lawrence is the illegitimate child?”
Colin leisurely swirled his wine cup, refraining from continuing his explanation. Instead, he allowed Walra the chance to let this shocking news sink in.
The reason he didn’t bring up the science of genetic inheritance; is because a theory that hasn’t been proven in this world wouldn’t be as convincing as the obscure abilities of God’s technique to a devout knight.
As expected, Colin’s words left Walra in deep conflict. He didn’t dare to question Colin’s judgment, but he also couldn’t understand if he really was the Count Uman’s legitimate son, then why he had been treated as an illegitimate child all these years.
“Are you wondering why you, a legitimate child, were raised as a bastard?”
“Yes, Chosen One, please resolve my confusion!”
“Because although Lawrence is a bastard, his bloodline is more noble than yours!”
“This how is that possible?” Walra was even more confused, but then he seemed to understand something and hurriedly asked, “Are you saying that Lawrence’s birth mother, Penny, doesn’t actually come from commoners?”
“Exactly, Penny is actually a descendant of the St. Sean family. So, in the eyes of Count Uman, though Lawrence is illegitimate, he is obviously more noble than you.”
“St. Sean family ” Walra finally understood. A descendant of a Holy Knight family would naturally be much more noble than him.
It was only then that he realized why Penny had always been cold towards him and lacked a mother’s natural affection and care.
Upon knowing the truth of the matter, Walra, the knight, fell silent.
The humiliation he had suffered for many years due to his illegitimate status suddenly surged to his heart, turning into a deep resentment and discontent that refused to dissipate.
Colin curled his lips slightly and incited him again, “Walra, have you heard of cuckoo birds?”
“Yes.” Walra nodded, face gloomy, “Cuckoos lay their eggs in the nests of warblers, making them bring up their offspring.”
“What happens to the real offspring of the warbler then?”
“They are pushed out of the nest by the hatched cuckoo chicks, dying from falling out of the nest or starving ” Walra’s complexion was so grim that it seemed as if it could drip water.
“So, Walra, are you willing to stand by and watch your rightful count title be occupied by Lawrence, the Uman Clan becoming the nest for the breed of the St. Sean family?”
“Absolutely not!”
“And the Countess from the Sudor Family, who should be your real mother. They say she died of a disease, heh, do you believe in such an explanation?”
Walra’s eyes turned red in an instant, two words squeezed out from between his clenched teeth: “No!”
“And your father, Count Uman, I can assure you, the reason the army of Marquis Charles was defeated by the trolls, resulting in my father dying on the frontline and you being seriously injured, was because he was secretly informing the trolls!
“Moreover, this time, in order to help the St. Sean family rise again, Count Uman once again chose to betray his monarch and his citizens, intent on inciting chaos in the North Territory!”
“Do you still wish to serve and be manipulated by such a man?”
“Of course not!” Walra blurted out, his veins bulging on his clenched fists. He abruptly looked up and sincerely asked, “Chosen One, what should I do?”
Upon hearing this, a satisfied smile finally appeared on Colin’s face.