Chapter 1395 - 1310: It’s Green

Chapter 1395: Chapter 1310: It’s Green

The two silver cups clinked softly, making a crisp sound.

The two people sitting opposite each other at the low table simultaneously raised their cups and took a gentle sip of the grape wine inside.

As soon as he took a sip, Ailard frowned.

The wine tasted dry and even had a faint rusty taste, utterly different from the ruby-glimmering, aromatic fine wine in Lakunio’s cup.

It’s too stingy of Lakunio—being the commander of the North Road Army, yet still discriminating even between cups of wine.

However, at the moment, Lakunio was favored by Serafe, and Ailard didn’t want to offend him, so he could only smile.

"Lord Lakunio," Ailard put down his cup, breaking the silence, "Did you invite me here just to drink this cup of wine?"

Lakunio chuckled, speaking slowly: "It’s been a long time. I just wanted to reminisce. Without you back then, Laslo and Stikal might not have made it out of Thousand River Valley."

Ailard quickly waved his hand: "Speaking of which, the credit still mostly goes to you. I just made some minor contributions."

Nodding, Lakunio took another sip of his grape wine: "Speaking of which, I often think of Stikal lately. That child was always steady as a youngster. How is he doing nowadays, any news?"

"You don’t know yet?" Ailard feigned surprise, "I heard he went to study at the Medical University in Celestial Maiden City after coming of age, and he even joined the military. Not sure if he might encounter..."

"He didn’t join the army." Lakunio shook his head, "To be precise, he once joined as a cavalryman, but later became lame due to a leg injury.

Later, he went to Black Snake Bay to study and even married a local woman there. Besides, he is also the manager of the local swordsmanship club..."

Isn’t it clear that he knows quite well? Why is he asking me?

Ailard grumbled inwardly but still nodded with a smile.

"Swordsmanship, horsemanship, discipline... that’s the real offspring of the Golden Flower family, unlike Laslo who is only obsessed with women." Lakunio bowed his head, gazing at his reflected image in the wine cup, "If only it was Stikal who left back then."

Ailard’s eyelid twitched suddenly, and he quickly defended, "Lord Laslo is just too protected; after all, he is Prince Kongdai’s only legitimate son, cherished by everyone in the Royal Court.

Besides, he’s still young. In a few more years, after experiencing some things, he’ll naturally mature. If in the future..."

The more he spoke, the quieter his voice became, because Lakunio was holding his wine cup, smiling while watching him.

That smile was calm and serene, without the slightest emotional fluctuation, yet it sent chills down Ailard’s spine.

On instinct honed from countless near-death experiences on the battlefield—Run, run quickly!

Ailard clutched his stomach, forcing a painful expression onto his face: "Oh dear, my apologies, my stomach suddenly hurts terribly. Your lordship, I must head home first; let’s reminisce some other day."

Lakunio said nothing, merely continued smiling while drinking, as if he hadn’t heard Ailard’s words.

Seeing this, Ailard could no longer care about anything else and struggled to stand.

But as soon as he raised his head, a sudden sense of weakness overwhelmed him, and his legs buckled, dropping heavily back into the chair, as if all the strength had been drained from his body.

The wine has something in it!

"You don’t need to rush away." Lakunio put down his cup, his tone terrifyingly calm, "There are some things we should clear up."

He stood up, walked in front of Ailard, with his back to the twilight outside the window.

"Back then, I joined the vampires, enduring the scorn of the world and carrying the reputation of a traitor. I even personally suppressed former comrades. Do you know why?"

Ailard mouthed wordlessly, able only to look at him in terror.

"Because I wanted to continue the Golden Flower bloodline." Lakunio’s voice bore a barely noticeable tremor, "After Prince Kongdai died in battle, my sole hope was to protect his descendants, to ensure the Golden Flower family lineage would continue and thrive once more...

This way, I would have the face to meet him again. But now, it has all become a joke."

He leaned forward suddenly, hands pressed firmly on the table, staring into Ailard’s eyes, one word at a time: "It’s all because of you."

"Me?" Ailard finally found his voice, "I don’t understand what you’re saying! I’ve always been dedicated to assisting you, never done anything to betray the Golden Flower family!"

Lakunio ignored his defense, retrieving a small cufflink from his pocket, which had a trace of dark red blood on its tip.

"Yesterday I met with Laslo, snatched a drop of his blood while he was unprepared using this." He also took out a small box from another pocket. Inside lay a piece of bone with a strange green hue, "And Cheka from the Holy Alliance sent me this—a section of Prince Kongdai’s spine."

Ailard looked at the piece of green bone, face filled with confusion.

"The Holy Alliance has a potion specifically for verifying bloodline kinship." Lakunio’s voice was deep and hoarse, "If not biological, it will turn green. Look, it’s green."

In fact, the color indicator for the potion is selectable, but the Holy Alliance sent him green through Cheka.

Though uncertain why, seeing that green sparked an unnamed fire within Lakunio.

He straightened up, back to Ailard: "After all the scheming, bearing humiliation, I found that I wasn’t protecting Prince Kongdai’s bloodline.

What Golden Flower inheritance, royal honor—all became a grand joke... Now, nothing matters anymore."

Ailard quickly pleaded: "Since nothing matters now, your lordship, why not let me go.

I pose no threat to you and will never appear before you again."

Lakunio slowly turned, his eyes filled with pity and bewilderment, as though looking at a fool.

"I’m just disheartened, not devoid of emotions." His lips curved into a cold smile, "You think I don’t know? Laslo is actually your son.

All along, you’ve kept it from me, watching me guard your bloodline like a fool, trying to have your son enjoy everything of the Golden Flower family. How could I not account for this?"

"What?" Ailard seemed struck by lightning, face draining of color instantly, "How... how do you know?"

Lakunio didn’t answer, only downed the remaining half-cup of blood wine.

His Adam’s apple rolled several times, and the next moment, his two canine teeth suddenly fell loose, blood seeping from the gums.

Then, two sharp, ivory-white vampire fangs began to grow slowly.

Ailard tried to escape but lacked any strength, only able to scream: "Don’t come any closer!"

Lakunio advanced step by step, pupils gradually turning a crimson color, a faint scent of blood emanating from him.

"I’ll ask you one last time, does Serafe know about this?"

Ailard opened his mouth: "You wouldn’t... you wouldn’t want..."

This question marked the clearest answer.

Lakunio asked nothing further, extending his right hand to grasp Ailard’s crown, lifting him entirely.

...

The next morning, in the Royal Palace of Skull Throne City, Serafe sat by the window, perusing a tome.

An attendant walked in quietly, bowing to report: "Your Majesty, Lord Lakunio transformed into a vampire last night and killed Ailard.

Do you wish to announce his appointment as Commander of the North Road Army?"

"Certainly." Serafe didn’t raise her head, as if she had anticipated all of this, "Notify the clans as per protocol."

The attendant hesitated for a moment, then asked: "Your Majesty, would he already know about Lord Laslo’s parentage?"

"So what if he knows?" Serafe closed the book, gaze calmly towards the window, "The Holy Alliance intended to sow discord between us and even woo Lakunio by doing so.

Yet they don’t realize every action of all high-ranking vampires is under my surveillance.

Even if he is a spy, replacing the commander is merely a matter of saying a word."

She paused, smile faintly curling at her lips: "Moreover, Lakunio knows this clearly yet still chose to transform into a vampire.

Once transformed, he can never return to humanity, nor ascend to the Celestial Kingdom.

This suggests he has entirely abandoned his human identity and beliefs, genuinely pledged allegiance to the Royal Court.

Such a person is more reassuring to employ."