276 The Secrets I Cannot Tell You (1/2)
”King Arthur actually passed down his lineage…”
”No sh*t.” Bai Xi glared at him. ”Otherwise, wouldn’t the current royal family be adopted?”
”I’m not talking about the regular lineage. It’s something more dangerous—even more dangerous and strange than the Eastern Deva’s blood.” Hermes glanced back at her. ”You don’t think only Eastern musicians have bloodline inheritance right? Western musicians don’t strive for intangible experience, inspiration, and talent. They like more direct things, more direct power…including our King Arthur.”
Bai Xi froze. She asked, ”Don’t the legends say he’s a demigod?”
”A demigod? Oh, that’s not entirely wrong.” Hermes nodded. ”Back in the day, he received the status of a god as a mortal. He forcefully instilled power above his level into his body and turned himself into a…non-human and non-demon ‘demigod.’ The people of Anglo say he has the red dragon’s blood because his blood is boiling, scalding, crazy, and inhuman.
”It’s the almighty Holy Grail that the Maiden of the Lake blessed upon him. He wanted power so his blood gave him power. He wanted more so his blood gave him more. At the same it, it cursed him, causing him to be restricted to his madness for life.
”Near the end of his life, he became greedy and insatiable. He wanted more and more power, but that only brought more and more curses. The bigger the curse was, the more power he needed to contain it. This was a vicious cycle caused by greed. The result was that he began going crazy.” Hermes savored the taste in his mouth and squinted as he recalled the past.
”Within ten short years, the glorious days were gone forever. The blood from Avalon had flowed into a river. The heads chopped off had been piled into a tower. The dead added their anger into the aether that wrapped around the crazy king’s ‘scepter.’ Avalon had transformed into a city of demons.
”Ten years ago, the city was perfect as heaven. Ten years later, it had fallen to Hell…this was how Avalon’s Shadow came to be. The greed from a thousand years ago resulted in endless disasters.”
Bai Xi said, ”But King Arthur is already dead.”
”Hopefully, but he still has many descendants, doesn’t he?” Hermes glanced at the night outside the window. The Elizabeth Tower below the palace extended into the sky like a hand reaching up. ”This is the cursed blood.” He lowered his eyes. ”The power and curse are all in the blood and passed down the generations. This is the original sin they’re born with and destined to live with for eternity. There is no cure.”
-
Late at night, an unmarked carriage appeared at the highest point of Avalon, outside the palace. The driver was a knight covered entirely in armor. With his guidance, the carriage silently passed through the checkpoint without anyone noticing. A weathered elevator was behind the checkpoint. The brass had turned smooth from years of friction. It had a gentle brassy shine.
The carriage stopped on it and the elevator was activated, pulling the carriage up. This was the only way to the top level of Avalon. When the carriage stopped on the square before the palace, the knight walked down. He opened the door and an old priest walked out.
”Father Mephistopheles, please follow me.” The knight pulled down the helmet, revealing a panicking girl. ”We don’t have much time.”
Mephistopheles nodded and followed her. ”How is the Princess? Are you sure it’s Hyakume’s curse?”
”…Yes.” Christine lowered her head. ”It is my fault. I didn’t even notice Her Highness was cursed.”
”You can’t approach when the dragon blood is out of control. This is not your fault.” Mephistopheles sighed. ”If the disease of the dragon blood acts at the same time as Hyakume’s curse… Her Highness is most likely much tormented. Unfortunately, St. George’s spear was lost years ago. Otherwise, this would not happen.”
Eyes filled with pain, Christine lead the way quietly. Soon, a white-faced servant hurried over. ”Ga—Galahad, Her Highness, Her Highness…” She froze halfway through and murmured something in Christine’s ear.
Christine’s expression changed drastically. ”Why didn’t you stop her?!”
”Her Highness…she said she’s going to lose control and was scared she’d do something she wouldn’t be able to take back.”
”B*stard!” Christine glared at her. ”How can Her Highness go into that place again in her state? This is different from before! If you can’t stop her, shouldn’t you notify me? When did she leave?”
”Her Highness knocked me unconscious as soon as you left.” The servant lowered her head as her shoulder trembled.
”Excuse me.” Christine bid farewell to the old man without bowing. ”I will go find the Princess right now.” With that, she put on her helmet, gripped the sword at her waist, and rushed into the palace.
Behind her, Mephistopheles suddenly called, ”Sir Galahad.” He looked up with muddled eyes. ”Please do not be anxious. I can still feel Her Highness’s sound of heart. She…she has returned already.”
”She returned?” Thinking of something, Christine gripped her sword. Her expression grew grave.
Sensing her thoughts, Mephistopheles shook his head. ”It’s not as you think. Her Highness did not lose control. According to my perception, her curse has been lifted.”
”Lifted?” Christine froze.
Mephistopheles fell silent. Sensing something, he nodded after a pause. ”Yes, I can sense that Her Highness is still very weak but Hyakume’s curse has undoubtedly been lifted. Even the frantic dragon blood has been calmed. It seems that Her Highness is loved by God. I am not needed anymore.” He smiled, signaling for Christine to relax. She quickly processed everything.
Without bidding farewell, she charged into the princess’s chamber. Her footsteps broke the stillness of night. Without caring for manners, she pushed open the bedchamber door. ”Your Highness!”
The room was not the mess she had expected. Everything was orderly and undamaged. Hearing the door open, the girl standing before the window looked back. She was still wearing the dress that had turned black from dust. Her face was covered with dirt and looked nothing like a princess. The ragged leather jacket on her shoulders was ripped and burnt, making her look especially like a trash collector girl.
But this time, she had not lost her sanity. Seeing the intruder, she smiled. ”Christine.”
Christine gaped at Mary’s smile, unable to react for a long time. She did not know what happened but the princess did not look like she was cursed. In fact, she had not smiled so calmly ever since her bloodline had awoken.