Giliath demands your power stones! Let's try to get over 500 this week!
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"Putting familial matters aside, let us move onto the main reason as to why I've invited Your Majesty and Your Highnesses here tonight.", Giliath declared, shifting his eyes toward Princess Alfin. "But as for you, Your Highness, your presence is not required from hereon. If you would like, you are free to rejoin the other girls back in the bedrooms for the evening.", Giliath continued to say as he looked at the princess. Princess Alfin only smiled as she responded.
"Nuh-uh, I want to stay until the end. It was definitely a surprise to learn that you are Big Brother's father, but that doesn't change my opinion on things here. If there is an opportunity of discussion, I want to partake in it.", Princess Alfin responded with a clear look in her eyes.
"Very well. It is always a pleasure to hear you have an interest in taking matters at hand, Your Highness. St. Astraia has been teaching you well. And just so we are all clear, this is off-record. This conversation is about the Black Records after all.", Giliath said as a serious look appeared in his eyes. The moment Giliath uttered the name 'Black Records', Princess Alfin saw her father's eyes turn incredibly serious.
"So it's come down to the Black Records yet again. Why am I not surprised to know that you know the existence of them? You do have access to our restricted vault, after all.", Emperor Eugent said, letting out a defeated sigh.
"Only for added security, might I add. I do not aimlessly wander there without a goal in mind, but yes this conversation is about the Black Records. And if it means anything, no one under my jurisdiction of the Intelligence Division knows of its existence, at least not yet. Only I am aware that these records exist apart from the imperial family.", Giliath answered as Emperor Eugent looked at him. As he did, only confusion remained in Princess Alfin's eyes as she looked toward Emperor Eugent.
"What are these Black Records the Chancellor speaks of, Papa?", Princess Alfin asked with a confused look.
"It is only normal for you to not know of the Black Records' existence, my dear daughter. Only a couple individuals all over Erebonia know of its existence. It is a heavily guarded secret that is only protected by the Arnor family. The reason you haven't learned about the Black Records yet is because you are still a child, alfin. Only Olivert of my current children is aware of what the Black Records are.", Eugent said, beginning to explain the origin of the Black Records.
"A heavily guarded secret protected by our family?", Princess Alfin asked as her eyes started to turn wide. I followed along in silence, pretending to not know the existence of the Black Records, even though I know most of its content already.
"Yes. To put it simply, these records have been inscribed with pivotal moments that our nation had shared since its foundations were formed. It even goes back to the era of the Dark Dragon which rampaged all across Heimdallr, destroying and burning it into a crisp. Our ancestors had to relocate the capital to Saint-Arkh during those dark times, only to have Hector the First reclaim the burnt capital with his partner at his side. Tell me Alfin, have you read about the tale of the Divine Knights? That information is more known to the public, but it is still scarce, not everyone knows of their existence either.", Emperor Eugent explained, looking at Princess Alfin as he did.
"The Divine Knights...", Princess Alfin uttered, only to shake her head a tiny bit shortly after. "Can't say I've come across this information, at least not in school. I'm guessing it's also stored away in our vault?", Princess Alfin asked.
"More or less. Only those who have a keen interest in fantasy would likely come across the tale of the Divine Knights. It may be seen as fantasy in their eyes, but these Divine Knights are most certainly real. The Black Records describe their existences, and even we of the Arnor family protect one of these knights, even as we speak right now.", Emperor Eugent said. Surprise remained in Princess Alfin's eyes.
"Our family protects one of the Divine Knights, and are you saying there is more than one of them?", Princess Alfin asked with a surprised look again.
"Indeed. Seven to be exact. One has been sealed away here, far beneath Valflame Palace. It is far restricted to the public and not even the Railway Military Police have access to it. It is heavily guarded by the Imperial Family. You wouldn't have come to learn of this existence quite just yet, Your Highness, but I've made an exception tonight to bring up this matter. All within reason of course.", Giliath said as he cracked a rare smile.
"It would make sense to bring this up now. Just what did you want to talk about, Chancellor, even going as far as to bring up the Black Records?", Emperor Eugent asked Giliath. In turn, Giliath looked back at me, and I gently nodded my head. Giliath gave me a clear answer saying it was okay to proceed, since this falls back on what happened during my first visit to Heimdallr a decade ago.
"I may not know what all the Black Records entail, Your Majesty, but this involves the sudden appearance of the magic circle that appeared beneath the statue of Emperor Dreichels.", I answered, drawing Emperor Eugent's gaze my way.
"The magic circle that suddenly appeared under Emperor Dreichels' statue? It's been almost a decade since it first appeared but I've almost forgotten about it since it's been in a deactivated state the whole time. I recall quite vividly that you were the one to activate it the first time. Are you telling me that circle is linked to the Black Records we hold?", Emperor Eugent mused. I nodded my head in assumption to his words.
"Most likely. After all, I was able to form a bond with Testa-Rossa, who slumbers beneath the palace.", I declared, causing Emperor Eugent to suddenly tense his body as shock appeared across his eyes. Princess Alfin only grew confused more as she looked my way. The shock in Emperor Eugent's eyes was so great that it caused him to stand up from his cushion, and walk toward my way. He placed his hands over my two shoulders as a serious look appeared in his eyes.
"Are you telling me that you were able to forge a connection with one of those Divine Knights of legend!?", Emperor Eugent exclaimed.
"Yes.", I said, not backing down as he looked my way. My eyes started resolute, and he could see it. Seeing me not back down like this, Emperor Eugent eventually released his grip on my shoulders, and let out a sigh of defeat. He then looked back toward the Chancellor, as doubt now appeared in his eyes.
"You do realize what this implies, don't you, Chancellor Osborne?", Emperor Eugent asked as he looked at father.
"Indeed I do. It is a tight-lipped secret that only the blood of the Arnor family can make a pact with Testa-Rossa. Yet do not forget, Your Majesty, how His Highness first came here. He came here as a Duke during your inauguration. I am ashamed to admit it, but Naoto's mother is definitely at play here. I am truly sorry to burden you with such cursed blood, my son.", Giliath said as a hint of sadness appeared in his eyes as he looked my way. Seeing him react like this caused me to get surprised, but I nodded my head.
"It is no issue, father. I've long come to accept who I am. I may not have been around when mother was, but I am sure she was an exceptional person. It is as father says, Your Majesty. Mother's blood hails from Erebonia, as part of the Phoenix family. I've done my research of course. It was said the blood of the Phoenix family matched the Imperial Family, despite having it run thin. I'm sure it is very faint in my veins, but I hold the blood of the Arnors. That much is true, since I was able to form a bond with Testa-Rossa.", I answered. It took a moment for what I just said to register in Princess Alfin's mind, but her eyes turned wide the moment she realized what I had just said.
"...Are you telling me that you're a distant cousin to me, Big Brother?", Princes Alfin asked with a shocked look.
"You really are one surprise after another, aren't you, Prince Naoto? I was beginning to see why those eyes were so familiar. It is such a shame of what became of the Phoenix family, but to answer your question Alfin, that is one way of putting it. I didn't think members of the Phoenix family could continue to live on in secrecy after the War of the Lions. I'm hard pressed for what to say right now.", Emperor Eugent said, answering Princess Alfin. He felt the tense in his body release all at once, causing him to regain his composure. He let out another sigh as he proceeded to sit back down.
"Indeed. Prince Naoto's blood runs thin with the Arnor family. If you two end up having a child later on, it will not cause an issue. Even I found it a surprise that with such thin blood running through your veins, it was enough to trigger a response with the Vermillion Knight.", Giliath answered as his face remained calm, despite all of the outbursts just now.
"A-A child with Big Brother...?", Princess Alfin immediately retorted, only to have her cheeks turn bright red. I didn't expect my father to suddenly say this. Even Emperor Eugent stared at the Chancellor.
"That's a little too soon, isn't it, Chancellor? I mean, even their engagement was just announced earlier tonight. These two still have some years before they should even think about having a child, not that I'm against it, of course. Alfin's feelings are what matters the most to me, I can see clearly you like him. That's why you proposed such an outrageous proposal earlier, didn't you?", Emperor Eugent asked as he looked back at father.
"Hahaha, that was part of it, and you should know the rest by now after what has all been discussed so far.", Giliath said, nodding his head while revealing a rare laugh. Yet as the two said that, Princess Alfin's face turned the other way in embarrassment while thoughts began to swim around in my head.
'Did both father and Erebonia's Emperor just say that it was fine for me to have a child with Erebonia's princess...? For crying out loud she's still just a child, father! Hell, even I am still!', I couldn't help but inwardly retort in my mind as disbelief appeared in my eyes.
[Ding! Princess Alfin's Favorability has reached 100%. Granting [Alfin's Blessing] to Naoto. A new parameter has now been unlocked.]
'...', A sudden notification sounded off inside my mind, distracting my current train of thought. I don't know if I should rather laugh or cry at this.