Gospel of Blood

Chapter 424: Escape

Upon hearing Charlotte’s words, the surrounding nobles and royal knights were stunned.

They followed Charlotte’s gaze and saw that “Countess Castell” who had just looked identical to Charlotte had now transformed into an unfamiliar-looking mercenary.

Recalling “Countess Castell’s” entrance in the royal guest carriage, the expressions of the elders responsible for presiding over the ceremony changed drastically.

They exchanged glances, quickly piecing together the situation.

“Guards! Listen up! Arrest this mercenary who impersonated Countess Castell!”

Commanded the leading elder of the Roman family sternly.

The mercenary mage’s expression changed, and she turned to flee. However, with Eudoxia’s dragon transformation, the gathered royal knights were already elite, and the leading knight commander was also a Blazing Sun-ranked warrior.

In the presence of the magical array, the mercenary mage, whose magical energy was already disrupted by Eudoxia’s attack, couldn’t mount any effective resistance and was quickly subdued by the royal knights.

“Countess Castell, Elders, what is going on here?”

Charlotte glanced at the silent mercenary mage and chuckled softly.

“What’s going on?”

“You should ask this mercenary lady, or perhaps Prince Henry and Duke Conte.”

“I’d also like to know why, when I accepted the invitation from the Starfall Kingdom to attend the ceremony, I was instead met with an attempted abduction by the Roman family.”

Prince Henry and Duke Conte?

Abduction?

The nobles exchanged puzzled glances.

The leading noble coughed, his expression both sorrowful and serious as he reminded.

“Countess, his Highness the Prince was brutally murdered during the ceremony just now…”

After saying this, his expression turned slightly gossipy.

“By the way, what do you mean by abduction?”

“Prince Henry was murdered?”

Charlotte feigned surprise, as if she was entirely unaware.

She narrowed her eyes, her gaze falling on the Roman family’s elders.

“The Roman Royal Family… Is this to silence witnesses?”

The elders presiding over the ceremony turned pale.

“Countess! Please mind your words!”

Charlotte knew it wasn’t the Roman Royal Family that killed Prince Henry. She saw clearly from underground that the spell that burned Prince Henry was dark fire, a not uncommon dark magic, and also a bloodline talent of the bloodborne.

From the familiar aura she sensed, Charlotte deduced that the assailant was likely a Legendary Bloodborne and possibly connected to the Nez Clan.

These things were clear to her as a “True Ancestor”, but the elders of the Roman family did not know.

Even though these elders did not know who killed Prince Henry, from their reactions, Charlotte surmised they had likely guessed how Prince Henry activated the contract book.

Charlotte was shifting all the blame onto the Roman Royal Family to prevent them from pinning Henry’s death on her.

This was quite possible, given that the number of people involved in her abduction from the Starfall Royal Family was unknown.

Such an abduction would be a massive scandal for the Starfall Royal Family.

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Prince Henry was dead, and his sudden death might have exposed many things unexpectedly.

Charlotte needed to guard against this.

For her reputation and stability, the Roman Royal Family might indeed shift the blame onto her.

Charlotte was very clear-minded. Since many things couldn’t be concealed, it was better to clarify some matters directly in front of these nobles to avoid being scapegoated.

“Mind my words? Ha, easy for you to say. The Starfall Kingdom invited me to the ceremony, only to ambush me with mercenaries. If it weren’t for the cards up my Castell family’s sleeve, I would still be under control now.”

Charlotte scoffed.

The elders of the Roman family, seeing the dissatisfied Charlotte and the attentive nobles around, felt their heads ache.

“Countess, there might be some misunderstanding here… Whatever happened, we will investigate thoroughly. The Roman family… will give you an explanation.”

The leading elder said apologetically.

“Forget it. I don’t want to be kidnapped again. Even Prince Henry was silenced; who knows if I won’t be next?”

Charlotte shook her head.

After saying this, she glanced at Eudoxia.

“Eudoxia, let’s go!”

Amid the embarrassed and helpless gazes of the Roman family elders, Charlotte left the square.

The nobles who hadn’t yet left the square began discussing again.

“Kidnapping? The royal family kidnapped Countess Castell?”

“That mercenary… was she a decoy?”

“Castell… Castell… Could it be that Prince Henry used Countess Castell’s blood to activate the contract book?!”

“This… can’t be, right? Does Countess Castell have Roman blood?”

“Then who killed His Highness the Prince?”

“I didn’t see clearly, but anyone who could assassinate in front of the Roman sword must be at least Legendary.”

“Could it be someone from the Red Lilac?”

“But the prince was rejected by the Roman sword, the ceremony already failed. What’s the point of their attack?

Moreover… judging from the Roman sword’s reaction, the real contract activator better fits the artifact’s requirements.”

“The Prince was about to reveal Castell’s name before being silenced. Could that be the reason for his murder?”

“But… this still doesn’t make sense. After all, Countess Castell is unharmed…”

The nobles weren’t fools.

After some whispering, the more perceptive ones began to piece together the truth, while others had more questions.

However, regarding the true contract activator, the nobles already had a vague answer in their hearts…

“Speaking of… I heard a rumor that the wife of the previous Count Castell was a member of the Starfall Royal Family.”

One noble speculated.

“The Starfall Royal Family?”

Others mused thoughtfully.

“Go and check the identity of the former Count Castell’s wife.”

Some more astute nobles quietly instructed their attendants.

Meanwhile, the Roman family elders, who had just watched Charlotte leave, slowly withdrew their gazes.

He let out a long sigh and ordered the knight beside him.

“Report today’s events and the bad news about His Highness to the capital through the Mage Tower. Let His Majesty decide what to do.”

…

Charlotte returned to the inn with Eudoxia. When she arrived, Yurst was already waiting there.

“Your Ex- Countess Castell…”

He hurriedly greeted her respectfully.

Charlotte noticed his expression was heavy. Her heart stirred, and she asked.

“Was it your people who killed Prince Henry?”

Yurst hesitated for a moment, then nodded.

“Judging by the aura, it seems so. It appears to be Elder Alec from the Luna Island faction.”

Worried Charlotte might misunderstand, Yurst quickly added.

“Your Majesty, this was not part of our plan. The Nez Clan did not intend to kill Prince Henry… Even if he revealed you were the true contract holder, the Nez Clan did not plan to oppose you.”

“This must be either Elder Alec acting on his own or a decision from the Luna Island faction. It has nothing to do with the Starfall faction!”

Charlotte was a bit surprised by Yurst’s words. She gave him a peculiar look.

“It seems that even within the Nez Clan, things are not stable.”

Yurst was momentarily speechless, effectively admitting it.

The division of the Nez Clan into the Starfall and Luna Island factions was well known among the bloodborne.

After closing her eyes and sensing Albrecht’s condition, Charlotte said,

“Forget it, I’m not interested in wading through this mess. I have some matters to handle. Do not let anyone disturb me.”

Yurst respectfully complied and left.

Charlotte ordered Eudoxia to lock the door and guard outside. Then she entered her room, connected to the Gospel of Blood, and sank into her consciousness.

The ceremony had been interrupted, but she had not yet achieved her goal. She wanted to check on Albrecht’s situation and see if there was a chance to acquire the fully awakened Roman Sword.

If it were an ordinary artifact, she might fulfill her agreement with the Nez Clan and let them retrieve the Roman Sword.

However, if the Roman Sword itself was forged by the Faceless Statue, it would be a different matter.

…

In a secret base of the Nez Clan in the northern part of the Roman Duchy.

Numerous black-robed Nez bloodborne were gathered there, ready for action. Accompanied by spatial fluctuations, a red circular magic array slowly appeared, and a tall figure stumbled out, appearing before the bloodbornes.

It was an ice elf with silver-blue hair. However, unlike other ice elves, his eyes were crimson, and with each labored breath, two sharp fangs could be seen.

This was a elven bloodborne.

At this moment, he looked quite disheveled. He had multiple sword wounds on his body, and the injuries seemed to contain some powerful force. Despite his body’s attempts to heal, the wriggling flesh couldn’t close the wounds.

However, the elven bloodborne seemed unconcerned about his injuries. His eyes were bright as he looked at the surrounding bloodbornes with anticipation.

“Are you all ready?”

“Lord Alec, everything is prepared. We can activate the sealing array at any time!”

The bloodbornes responded respectfully.

“Good! Be ready to act, it will be here soon.”

The elven bloodborne said. As soon as he finished speaking, another red magic array slowly appeared in the void.

The bloodbornes’ expressions quickly turned tense and solemn as they prepared to act.

However, the next moment, a tall figure’s voice emerged from the array.

“Alec! You lunatic! Why did you kill Prince Henry?”

As the array glowed, Duke Yorok’s figure gradually appeared. Seeing him, the bloodbornes were momentarily stunned.

“Duke Yorok?”

Yorok didn’t look at the other bloodbornes but instead stared at the nonchalant elven bloodborne.

“Alec, I need an explanation!”

“An explanation? Lord Yorok, I should be asking you. Allowing Castell to participate in the Ancestral Recognition Ceremony—are you eager for Nez to be infiltrated by the God behind the Northern Lands?”

The elven bloodborne chuckled and retorted.

Yorok’s expression darkened.

“The cooperation with the Northern Lands was a decision made by the Elder Council. But you, why did you act on your own?”

“Do you realize that your actions might ruin our Returning Star Plan?”

The elven bloodborne chuckled.

“So what? At least it’s better than being infiltrated without knowing. With Lord Casey in slumber, Nez doesn’t have the strength to oppose another God.”

“You…!”

“Alright, Sir Yorok, calm down. The Roman Sword will soon catch up. Although it can’t use teleportation magic like us, I’ve been marked. A wisdom artifact is still a wisdom artifact. We must prepare thoroughly for its recovery.”

Yorok looked at the surrounding bloodbornes, narrowing his eyes slightly.

“Are you planning to use force?”

“Heh, it’s enraged right now. Persuasion might not work. Let’s be fully prepared.”

“Let me tell you, Alec, the ceremony today was unusual. Its power might not be as easy to control as you think.”

“Are you saying it has regained its strength? Heh, Sir Yorok, it hasn’t been able to restore its power with the offerings from the Roman descendants for so many years. One ceremony won’t change much. Remember… only we can help it recover.”

The elven bloodborne smiled.

Yorok frowned, about to say something, when a silver light enveloped in furious power approached from the distance, accompanied by an angry roar.

“Nez! Stand still!”

Seeing the sharp silver light almost tearing the sky apart and feeling the immense pressure far greater than at the ceremony site, Yorok’s eyes widened.

He subconsciously made a comparison and felt he might not last a few rounds against this furious artifact…

Chasing all the way here, the aura of the Roman Sword seemed to be growing stronger!

Yorok subconsciously swallowed.

“Alec… can you still control it?”

However, the elven bloodborne behind him did not respond. Yorok turned around in confusion, only to find the elf’s figure had disappeared, leaving behind a fleeing black shadow and a group of bewildered bloodbornes.

Yorok: …

“Alec! You bastard!”

He roared in anger.

“Lord Yorok, should we… still set up the array?”

The bloodborne asked with difficulty.

“Set up my ass! Run!”

Feeling the Roman Sword’s hidden targeting, Yorok felt his scalp tingle and fled without hesitation…