175 The Cursed Blood (1/2)
The evening bells came from the direction of the Westminster Palace. The glow of the sunset fell from the sky and cascaded over the white city, making the royal palace shine majestically. Light passed through the narrow, colorful window and dimmed.
The dim light fell on Hermes's face. Sitting on the chair, he looked at the intricate patterns on the stained glass in boredom. Behind him was a heavy curtain.
Compared to the splendor of the royal palace, this room was too simple and too clean. There was not even the slightest bit of décor. The smell of medicine hung heavily in the air. A woman’s hoarse cough sounded faintly behind the curtain, making the room seem like a hospital; however, this was not a hospital room, but the bedchamber of the Queen.
-
Through the curtain, one could vaguely see a black iron coffin shaking crazily. The iron coffin was shaped like a gigantic infant. It had complete facial features and limbs. It seemed that something strange was sealed inside of it, and it emitted a strong smell of blood.
Some monks with gloomy expressions stood around the coffin. They were dressed in white, and were bald and barefoot, standing in a pool of blood. They took sharp iron thorns from their assistants and nailed them into the prepared holes on the coffin with expertise and cruelty. The thorns pierced into the living creature inside, digging into the bone.
The coffin trembled wildly as each nail was put in. The woman imprisoned inside screamed painfully with a hoarse voice. Blood spilled out from the holes endlessly, and dyed the monks’ white robes and hands black.
Yes, it was black. The sticky black blood gathered beneath the iron coffin and meandered along the reserved grooves before finally dropping into a silver urn.
”Enough.” During the long ordeal, Hermes suddenly spoke up, making the monks pause.
Someone carefully lifted the copper kettle from the stove. Some sort of light golden liquid boiled inside quietly. It flashed with red light as if it was melted iron. The burning ‘melted iron’ spilled out as the copper kettle was poured. It flowed through the coffin into the mouth of the woman. Gulping sounds could be heard from the coffin. They were full of greed.
The long nails stabbed into the coffin shook as they were forced out by the power brewing inside. The nails fell on the ground one by one, making crisp and heart-stopping sounds. Finally, the ‘melted iron’ had all been drained into that mouth. Not a drop remained.
The monks collected the long nails and tools, then silently retreated and disappeared into the darkness. The only sound in the stillness was the heavy pants from inside the iron coffin.
”More.” In the iron coffin, the woman’s hoarse voice came again, ”I need more…”
”It is beyond the limit, Your Majesty.” Hermes shook his head. ”If we add more, even the Red Dragon’s blood vessels would break down. The effect of the potion is getting worse, and if the guys at the Research Institute still can’t find a new way, it’ll be hard to maintain this situation, let alone find a cure.”
”...It is because the curse is getting stronger,” the hoarse voice said. ”It’s getting stronger and stronger. I won’t be able to suppress it soon.”
”Yes, Avalon’s Shadow is calling. It’ll wake soon. That’s why the perception of the curse is intensifying,” Hermes said. ”Your Majesty, you should’ve known long ago that there is no cure. Unless the curse is eradicated, it’ll always haunt the descendants of the royal family. You have to pay for what you’ve done.”
The woman in the coffin was silent for a long time. Then the hoarse voice asked softly, ”How much longer do I have?”
”Five years is the maximum. Then, you will die in pain and madness as Arthur did. Or in one year, you will die in your sleep as the Prince of the Thames did...” Grimly and bluntly, Hermes continued, ”If I may say, the most important thing for you now is to choose an heir since the crown prince is a retard...True, he didn’t inherit the curse, but if he inherits the throne, the entire country will be cursed, rather than the royal family.”
Faced with such blasphemy, the Queen was not angry. Instead, she pondered and asked, ”How about the crown princess?”
”Her Highness Mary?” Hermes thought for a while and nodded. ”She could be considered, but her cursed blood is no less than yours. You’re the one on the throne, but I’m afraid that she’s been affected too. I’ve heard stories about her since five years ago.”
”…” The Queen was silent and sighed softly after a long time. ”When will the humiliation of the past generations be cleared? I've given so much. Isn't it enough? ”
”Because everything you’ve done has been useless.” Hermes’s voice became cruel. ”Whether it’s the secret research that the Royal Research Institute is doing, or the purification technology for the Eastern Dragon Bloodlines, they are all in vain. These things can’t solve the core of the problem at all.
”That’s why you let the parliament study taboo technology freely, and let them explore the ‘Blood Path,’ right? Unfortunately, it’s impossible to reverse the situation with these things. Even if they succeed, they’ll only worsen the outcome.”
After a long silence, the Queen in the iron coffin sighed. ”Is Anglo doomed?”
”Perhaps. But, Your Majesty, you have another choice.” Hermes raised his eyes and smiled meaningfully. ”Why don't you try to trust me? I am the greatest artist, alchemist, composer, and musician in the world. This curse is a desperate situation, but if the royal family is willing to let me study it, there might be a way.”