Chapter 55: THE BLOODLINE REACTION

ELENA

The Astronova family mansion was unusually quiet. Since the Zerg incident they had been laying low. Most of their staff were laid off for security purposes. The Astronova’s were scared if another Zerg would invade their house through a maid. So they removed more orc maids and got more Security Robots.

Inside one of the luxurious dressing rooms, Elena stood before a massive mirror.

Her golden hair was styled elegantly, with every strand arranged perfectly around her delicate face. A small silver crown rested on top of her head, sparkling beneath the crystal lights.

She wore a long silver dress that hugged her beautiful figure before flowing gracefully to the floor.

She looked like the perfect Saintess. Beautiful, Pure and Untouchable.

A young Orc maid stood behind her, trembling as she carefully prepared the final decorations.

"Careful," Elena reminded her gently.

"Yes, Saintess."

The maid reached toward Elena’s hair. But her hand slipped. The sharp pin she was holding accidentally pressed into the delicate skin near Elena’s scalp.

Elena’s body stiffened. "AHHH!"

Her scream echoed through the dressing room.

The maid immediately dropped to her knees.

"Saintess! Forgive me! Please forgive me! I didn’t mean to...."

Elena pressed a hand against the painful spot.

For a moment, anger flashed across her face. Then it disappeared instantly.

A sweet smile replaced it. "It’s fine..."

The maid stared at her in disbelief. "Saintess..."

"Don’t worry. It was an accident."

"Thank you, Saintess!"

The maid bowed repeatedly. Before she could continue, the door opened.

A woman in a neat military-style uniform entered.

She was Lydia, Elena’s personal assistant.

Her eyes immediately fell on the kneeling Orc. "You can leave."

The maid hurriedly bowed. "Yes, Miss Lydia."

She quickly left the room. Lydia walked behind Elena and picked up the Hair pin. "Let me handle the rest."

Elena raises her hand. "Throw that pin away....I don’t want it anymore."

Lydia bowed and threw it into a robot trash bin.

Lydia said. "Should I send the Orc away?"

Elena nodded. She had a sad look. "She isn’t steady. What if a Zerg had gotten in her already? We have to be wary of them. They get easily occupied by Zergs."

Lydia nodded with a bow. Then Elena smiled pitifully. "Pay her the last salary and make sure no other place in Haxia will hire her."

Lydia opened her communicator and made some calls. She walked back to Elena after she was done.

Elena sat before the mirror while Lydia carefully combed her golden hair.

For a few moments, neither woman spoke.

Then Elena’s gentle expression changed. "What took you so long?"

Lydia’s hand paused slightly.

"Have you found the girl’s identity?"

Lydia lowered her eyes. "No, Saintess."

Elena’s gaze sharpened through the mirror.

"I failed." Lydia continued carefully. "When I arrived at the location, the female soldier was already dead. According to the report, she had gone berserk and attacked several soldiers. They had no choice but to kill her."

Elena’s fingers tightened around the armrest. "She hadn’t gone berserk all this while.." Her voice was soft. "But she did by the time you arrived."

Lydia immediately lowered her head."Yes."

A faint smile appeared on Elena’s lips. "It must be a fabricated plan."

"Definitely."

Lydia resumed combing her hair. "But I never saw the female soldier myself. They said she was thrown away."

Elena looked at her through the mirror. "Did you identify the female seducing Caelan?"

Lydia continued. "The Female Federation approached them afterward. They provided a recording of the dead soldier attacking another female."

"And?"

"The problem is that the recording never shows the victim’s face."

Elena frowned. "Nothing?"

"Only her back."

Lydia hesitated before continuing. "And there is another problem."

"What?"

"Commander Caelan’s soldiers claim that the Victim is Caelan’s cousin."

Elena’s expression immediately changed. "A female cousin?"

"Yes."

"Have you investigated her?"

Lydia shook her head. "I tried."

She sighed. "But I couldn’t find anything. I don’t know her name, her face, or even where she lives. Caelan’s family has always been extremely secretive of their family members ."

Elena’s eyes narrowed.

Lydia lowered her voice. "You know the rumors."

Elena said nothing.

"There are rumors that Caelan isn’t simply from an ordinary military family. Some say he is secretly a royal who abandoned his status and disappeared into the military."

Elena’s eyes flickered. "Show me the video."

"Yes, Saintess."

Lydia pulled out her communicator and activated the CCTV recording.

A holographic screen appeared in front of them.

The video began. A female figure appeared. Only her back was visible.

She wore a beautiful dress that moved elegantly as she walked.

Her shoulders were slender. Her waist was remarkably small.

Elena stared at the hologram. Something about the figure bothered her.

She couldn’t explain why. "Pause it."

Lydia stopped the recording.

Elena stared at the woman’s back. "She looks familiar."

Lydia glanced at her. "Familiar?"

Elena’s eyes remained fixed on the screen. "Yes."

She narrowed her eyes. "Like someone I know."

Lydia immediately smiled. "You don’t have to worry about her."

Elena looked at her.

"No one in the military is allowed to marry their cousin. Even if she really is related to Commander Caelan, she isn’t someone you need to think about."

Lydia gently continued combing Elena’s hair. "Just forget about her."

Elena remained silent. Then she asked softly, "Are you sure we can trust Caelan’s people?"

Lydia’s hand stopped. "You know male, right?"

Elena smiled faintly. "They can lie when they want something. That’s why you can’t let them do whatever they want. You have to put them in check."

Lydia didn’t answer. The silence stretched between them.

Then...Elena’s smile disappeared.

Her hand suddenly flew to her chest. "Ah..."

Lydia immediately turned to her.."Saintess?"

Elena’s fingers dug into her dress. Her breathing became ragged. "Something’s wrong..."

Her heart suddenly twisted painfully.

Elena gasped. "....mm.h..m..Ahhhhh!"

She collapsed from the chair.

"Saintess!"

Lydia rushed toward her. Elena hit the floor and curled into herself.

Her body began trembling violently. "L....Lydia..."

"I’m here!"

"G ... .g..get...I..it. .."

Lydia’s expression changed.

She immediately ran toward a small metallic box hidden inside the dressing table.

She pressed her palm against it. Beep. The box opened. It requires palm print to unlock.

Inside was a strange syringe filled with thick, dark-red liquid.

Lydia grabbed it. She spun around.

Elena was rolling across the floor. Her beautiful golden hair was scattered around her face.

But something else had appeared. A black mark was spreading across her neck.

Lydia’s eyes widened. "No.....Be calm saintess."

The blackness crawled beneath Elena’s skin like living veins. It moved from her neck toward her jaw.

Then her cheek. Then her face.

Elena screamed. "AAAAHHHH!"

"Saintess!"

Lydia rushed toward her with the syringe.

But before she could reach her....The black veins suddenly spread across Elena’s face.

Her eyes widened in terror. "L..lydia..." Her voice trembled.

"What is happening to me?" The darkness continued moving.