“And just as that Emperor had anticipated, the Ancestor returned, after being gone for a full twenty years. And when he came back, he brought with him a young boy.”
“A boy? Could it be…”
“That’s right, that boy was the second-generation head of the Hayeral family, and he was also our Ancestor. At least, when Ancestor Orubert returned to his own fief with that child, that’s how he introduced him to everyone—that he was his own son…”
“And then… the Ancestor disappeared once more, leaving behind the young Hayeral heir, as if he’d only returned in order to leave behind his descendant. And after that, he never again appeared in this world. In fact, to this day, we don’t even know where he was finally buried…”
“…Fortunately, that Emperor took great care of the Hayeral family at the time. Under his protection, the second generation of the Hayeral family grew up safely and inherited the title and fief of the first Ancestor…”
The reception room fell silent once again. Even though Colette wanted to ease the mood, she had no idea what to say now. In fact, it was she who felt the most shaken.
Dong dong!
A knock sounded at the door.
“Master, the item you requested has been found.”
The arrival of the butler, Laurenz, broke the tense silence.
“Very well, come in!” Rezerian answered, then smiled gently at Colette. “Miss Colette, please don’t take what I said earlier too much to heart. After all, it’s not something the Hayeral family can be proud of, and even people back then couldn’t unravel what really happened to the Ancestor. All the more so after three hundred years.”
“Ah, yes… Forgive me, Mr. Rezerian, I lost my composure for a moment. And as for what was discussed today, I promise I won’t breathe a word of it to anyone!”
Colette quickly put on a faint smile and made her assurance.
Rezerian nodded with a satisfied smile, quite pleased with Colette’s understanding.
“Master, here is the box.”
Laurenz carefully placed the box onto the table.
“Thank you for your trouble, Laurenz.”
With those words, Rezerian stood up from his seat, drew a key from his breast pocket, and walked over to the box. He inserted the key into the lock.
Kacha!
With a soft click, the lock opened, and the box was slowly lifted open.
“Miss Colette, please take a look. This is the family heirloom left behind by the Ancestor, Orubert the ‘Solitary Sword’. The very sword that, in its day, was stained with the blood of countless rebels.”
Everyone’s eyes turned toward the box.
Inside, there lay a treasured sword that, even after centuries, still gleamed with a cold light. It was the heirloom sword of the Hayeral family, the very blade the ‘Solitary Sword’ once carried at his side.
Colette drew closer to the sword, her gaze unwittingly drawn to it. She reached out a hand, intent on touching the blade, but before she could make contact, a sudden, bloody aura of murderous intent surged into her mind.
Pa!
Rezerian quickly slammed the box shut.
“Miss Colette, please be careful! This is no ordinary sword. It was drenched in too much blood in its time and carries a fierce, malevolent energy. Unless you are of the Hayeral bloodline or possess an exceptionally strong will, touching it can lead to backlash!”
“Ah! I’m sorry, I lost control of myself just now!”
Colette snapped back to her senses and apologized hurriedly.
Rezerian let out a sigh of relief. “No harm done, Miss Colette, as long as you’re unhurt. If a guest were to come to harm in our home, the blame would rest squarely on me. From here on, I must ask you to keep some distance as you view the sword—for your own safety.”
With that, Rezerian once again carefully opened the box.
“Thank you!”
Colette expressed her gratitude and took several steps back to observe from a safe distance.
“Mr. Rezerian, may I ask—was this sword left by Lord Orubert when he entrusted the second-generation Ancestor to your family?”
After carefully examining the Hayeral family’s heirloom sword, Colette raised a new question.
“No, that’s not the case.”
To her surprise, Rezerian shook his head in denial.
“In fact, this sword was left behind when the Ancestor first disappeared. He entrusted it to the Emperor at the time.”
“Hmm…” Colette lowered her head in thought, and seemed to arrive at an understanding. “Come to think of it, rumor has it that this sword was originally bestowed upon Lord Orubert by the royal family. If he already planned to leave back then, it would make sense for him to return the sword to the royal house.”
“That’s correct. That’s exactly how it’s been passed down in the family. The reason it later returned to our hands was because that Emperor believed the sword, having accompanied the Ancestor when he saved the Empire from the brink of collapse, had already become the symbol of Hayeral. It could only belong to our family. So, when the second generation inherited everything, the sword was bestowed upon us once again.”
“So that’s how it is…”
After a long conversation, Colette’s visit came to an end.
“Mr. Rezerian, Madam, thank you both for taking the time today to indulge a few selfish wishes of mine!”
At the gates of the Hayeral estate, Colette bowed and expressed her gratitude.
“Think nothing of it!”
Rezerian smiled as he replied,
“I only hope we didn’t disappoint you, Miss Colette.”
“Not at all! On the contrary, I have gained so much from this visit. I’m grateful for all your patient explanations. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I shall take my leave.”
Rezerian nodded,
“Of course, Miss Colette. Please take care.”
Lilia smiled as well. “Miss Colette, our home will always welcome you.”
“Take care, Teacher Colette.”
Colette departed.
As the gates of the Hayeral estate slowly closed, Rezerian and his family turned and made their way back toward the house.
On the way, Xulim kept glancing at her father, looking as if she wanted to say something but hesitated.
“What is it, my little Xulim? Is there something you wish to say?”
Rezerian noticed his younger daughter’s demeanor and, finding it amusing, decided to ask.
Xulim stopped in her tracks, still a little hesitant. But after a few moments of deliberation, she finally voiced the question in her heart.
“…Father, are we really descendants of Ancestor Orubert?”
Rezerian was taken aback for a moment by the question, then he chuckled.
“I once asked your grandfather that same question. Do you know what he told me?”
“?”
Xulim shook her head.
Rezerian replied solemnly:
“Your grandfather told me that, before the Ancestor—Orubert the ‘Solitary Sword’—left the second-generation Ancestor, he said this—”
‘I have already failed. Child who carries my blood, let this bloodline continue to flow. Someday, the one whom this bloodline truly awaits will surely appear…’
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