Chapter 86: Blessing

The castle hall.

The sudden surge of magical energy instantly captured everyone’s attention.

Kallen, who had unleashed this torrent of power, stared fixedly at Victor before him, his eyes wide open, veins bulging on his forehead like writhing snakes.

“You dare demand my daughter be your concubine!” Kallen’s expression was furious.

In this world, nobles typically kept not only a lawful wife but also secondary wives and equal wives, with no expectation of fidelity; yet a concubine’s status was barely above that of a servant, and some perverted nobles even exchanged concubines among themselves.

Click.

Kallen clenched his fist, bones cracking like snapping twigs, as if he could crush the air itself.

Even Victor himself was stunned—he had never imagined Kallen, who had never reacted even when shoved, would respond with such fury.

After all, to most people, heterochromia was a curse to be avoided at all costs, and a noble family’s child with heterochromia could severely damage the family’s reputation.

I sacrificed my reputation to kindly take her in, and not only do you show no gratitude—you look ready to kill me!

“Kallen.”

At that moment, Danielle placed little Haydon in the crib at the center of the hall and hurried over.

“Calm down, calm down. Today is the most important day of our child’s life—don’t lose your temper until the blessing is complete.”

The woman embraced her husband and gently stroked his bulging neck, soothing him in the softest tone she could muster.

“Huh.” Kallen exhaled a long breath.

Thinking of his infant son and glancing at the shocked, bewildered faces of the guests, the emerald-green torrent of magic surrounding him finally began to fade.

“Victor, to you, perhaps Elise is merely a burden.”

“But to me, she is my most important daughter—just as vital as Haydon Hughes, the star of today’s ceremony!”

“I dote on her so deeply that I wish not even a single finger of hers would ever be injured.”

“I swear by the God of Storms and the Hunt—if you dare utter such absurd words again, I will treat it as an insult to the entire Hughes family, and declare a war of honor upon you!”

Kallen’s voice was low and icy, his suppressed rage palpable.

A war of honor was a conflict initiated by a noble to cleanse an insult inflicted by another noble.

In this world, honor was paramount to nobles—so much so that even kings rarely intervened in such disputes between vassals.

“.Is it really that extreme?”

Hearing Kallen invoke a war of honor, Victor could only flee in panic.

After all, unless he used the Pain Blessing, he had no chance against this cold-blooded killer.

“On the most beautiful day of one’s life, minor setbacks often arise—but they only make the beauty more unforgettable.”

At that moment, Rosha, her silver hair gleaming, walked toward Kallen.

“Like my husband, Crimson Flame, who was drenched in mud by a passing carriage while presenting me with violets—and nearly wept in rage.”

“He thought I’d reject him for it, unaware that the mist in his eyes meant more to me than all the flowers in the world.”

Rosha spoke calmly.

Hearing his mother-in-law’s words, Kallen’s anger finally began to fade.

“Thank you for your wisdom,” he bowed slightly, forcing a stiff smile onto his expressionless face.

“It’s nearly noon. Let’s begin the blessing ceremony,” Rosha said, glancing out the window at the brilliant sun.

Since an unexpected incident had already occurred, delay might invite more trouble—better to complete the ritual as soon as possible.

“Yes.”

Soon, bouquets of blooming flowers were piled around the baby’s cradle at the hall’s center.

Roses, lilies, tulips, forget-me-nots, baby’s breath—each flower’s symbolic meaning represented love, purity, wealth, and more for the child’s life, all indispensable.

Then, the lords of the Southern Region lined up before the cradle.

First to offer their blessing were Haydon’s parents, Kallen and Danielle.

“My dearest child, my Haydon,” Danielle gently kissed the sleeping infant’s forehead.

“Thank you for completing my life. Before you came, I believed I was the most important person in the world—and took pride in it. But since your arrival, I’ve realized that caring for and loving another is also a kind of happiness.”

Danielle spoke tenderly, her maternal radiance drawing every gaze.

“As your mother, I bless you to become a great hero, as active in legend and as mighty as your grandfather.”

With that, Danielle stepped back, making way for Kallen.

“My young son, as your father, I am not eloquent, nor am I wealthy like your mother—but I swear by my honor: any villain who dares harm you, I will oppose with everything I have, even at the cost of my life.”

“As your father, I bless you with safety.”

Kallen likewise kissed the infant’s forehead, then stepped back, satisfied.

Next came Rosha, Haydon’s maternal grandmother.

“Child, as my grandson, I believe you will never lack wealth, strength, honor, or status in your life.”

Rosha’s lips curled slightly—her confidence as the Lord of the Southern Region.

“Look, child—your parents and all the lords of the Southern Region have come to cheer your birth.”

“So I bless you: no matter how many trials you face, no matter how many sleepless nights you endure, never forget—you came into this world because of love!”

Clap. Clap. Clap.

Hearing these words, the line of lords behind her burst into heartfelt applause.

The old woman bent down, kissed the infant’s forehead, then stepped back.

Then came the turn of the major lords of the Southern Region.

Besides the earldoms and the numerous baronies scattered like stars, there were seven viscounties in the Southern Region, including Kallen’s.

The first to step forward was Warren Locke, Lord of Locke Hold, Kallen’s former close comrade, who thus moved forward first.

“Child, I bless you to become a strong and reliable warrior like your father.”

The tall, burly man with thick brown whiskers nearly woke Haydon as his rough beard brushed the infant’s forehead after the potion-induced sleep.

The second was Albert Ironhorse, Lord of Ironhorse Hold, famed for breeding fine horses and himself a muscular, bearded giant.

His blessing: “Never fall from your horse in battle.”

The third was Edward Ram, Lord of Ram Hold, whose appearance differed sharply from the first two.

Tall and slender, pale-skinned, with neatly combed silver-white short hair, he was still a handsome man despite his age.

“I bless you to be brave, but never pride yourself on brute strength—win honor through wisdom,” Edward murmured.

The fourth was Henry Watson, Lord of Watson Hold, a tall, silent man whose domain was famed for its numerous blacksmiths.

“I bless your courage to burn as hot and endless as molten iron in the forge.”

The fifth was Beren William, Lord of William Hold, the oldest among the Southern Lords after Countess Martha, his beard now white.

“I bless you to always cherish youth, and those who loved you in it.”

The old man plucked a forget-me-not from the floral arrangements and placed it gently in the cradle.

The final lord to step forward was Victor of Nightshade Hold.

“I bless you… to know gratitude and generosity.”

Victor spoke haltingly, his reluctance obvious.

He then tried to kiss the infant, but Danielle coldly blocked him.

This was an insult! An injustice!

Though he had no desire to kiss Kallen’s brat, if he alone refused while all others had kissed, he would be humiliated.

Victor wanted to rage—but seeing the old woman behind Danielle, he could only retreat in frustration.

At that moment, as the last lord finished his blessing,

Above the infant’s head, a flash of white light appeared, and a line of text materialized—“Noble.”

It was the Blessing—the world’s protection had finally arrived!

Then, a streak of emerald green emerged, rapidly spreading, and the text flickered between white and emerald green.

Seeing this, every face grew excited; Danielle’s eyes filled with tears.

For it meant that once the godfather delivered his blessing, Haydon’s identity blessing would surely stabilize at the Supernatural tier.

Recall that even her two brothers, Luo Yi and Luo Lan, had received only Supernatural-tier blessings during their infant honor ceremonies—and only later rose to Morning Star tier through personal renown and deeds.

Tap. Tap. Tap.

At that moment, a figure pushed past the attendants and hurried into the hall—it was Bishop Lu En of the Storm Church.

He was drenched in sweat, dusty and disheveled, clearly exhausted.

“Phew… made it just in time. Not late.”

Lu En stared at the flickering blessing above the infant, wiped his brow, and let out a long sigh of relief.

“Sorry, Kallen—I encountered a fugitive wanted by the Church and was delayed.”

He offered Kallen an apologetic smile.

“Move aside, move aside—I’m the child’s godfather, let me through.”

He shoved past the young man in a black top hat and strode toward the cradle.

Kallen immediately grabbed him and forcibly dragged him aside.

“Lu En, the godfather has been changed—it’s not you. Stand here with me,” Kallen muttered quietly.

“What?! Why didn’t you tell me? You know I haven’t slept for two full days just to get here!”

“Oh, come on, I’m sorry—I’ll get you a horse next time, and I promise to fulfill any request of yours, just like the old Black Bread Pact…”

Kallen pleaded until he finally calmed his comrade.

Meanwhile, Xia Mingyu slowly stepped forward before the cradle, amid the astonished stares of all the lords.

“Respected sir, are you willing to serve as this child’s godfather, to grant him the tender love of a father and the stern guidance of a father?”

Danielle gazed at the prince before her and asked softly.

She knew that success or failure rested on this single moment—her entire body trembled with tension, but she held steady to avoid shame.

Inside her shoes, her toes were nearly bleeding from pressure!

“I am willing,” Xia Mingyu said calmly, then slowly pulled from his pocket a smooth, mirror-like object—a mobile phone.

According to the customs of this world, a godfather must give his godchild a gift called the Bonding Gift.

The Bonding Gift need not be valuable, but it must be something the godfather has long carried and worn close to his body; people believe this forges the bond between godfather and godchild.

Usually it is jewelry—a necklace, bracelet, or ring—but Xia Mingyu had no habit of wearing ornaments, so he took out his mobile phone, which had been powered off since his arrival due to lack of charge.

After all, for a modern person, nothing is more intimately carried than a mobile phone.

“This is an object from my homeland. I have worn it day and night. It is called a mobile phone. I bestow it upon my godchild, Hayden Hughes, as the Bonding Gift.”

Xia Mingyu whispered, placing the phone gently into the cradle.

At these words, Rosalind’s gaze froze.

Then, under the eyes of all present, Xia Mingyu began his blessing:

“My godchild, your parents were dear friends of mine, which is why I stand before you today.”

“In this world you have entered, some are born naked, poor, ugly, weak, enduring life’s humiliations for a loaf of black bread; others are born surrounded by flowers, bathed in gold and splendor, destined to stand atop the world, where every choice affects countless lives.”

“You are unquestionably the latter. All the beauty the world craves will be yours—I need not bless you with these. So I bless you instead.”

“Justice, freedom, fairness, integrity, kindness. May you forever burn with passion, forever hold to belief, forever never lose yourself in darkness.”

“Lastly, may you be safe.”

Xia Mingyu bent low and gently kissed Hayden’s forehead.

After he finished the blessing, everyone turned their gaze to the blessing above Hayden’s head.

To everyone’s shock, the blessing had not stabilized the blessing into emerald green—instead, the green rapidly faded, and the blessing began shifting toward white.

“How could this be!”

The sight sent Danielle’s face ashen; she nearly collapsed, but her mother Rosalind caught her.

The lords in the hall erupted into chaos.

“This shouldn’t happen—normally, a godfather’s blessing stabilizes the blessing at the Transcendent rank.”

“Could this hidden-identity boy be a commoner?”

“Good heavens! Calen rejected Bishop Lu’en and chose a commoner as his son’s godfather—is he mad?”

Hearing their murmurs, Luo Yi and Luo Lan, the two New Moon Knights, turned ashen-faced, their glares toward the black-haired youth before the cradle growing hostile.

Hayden was their nephew; now, this youth had altered Hayden’s entire future, stirring in them a fierce urge to act.

“Silence!” Rosalind stepped forward, her voice sharp.

The authority of the Lord of the Southern Realm instantly silenced the clamor.

“I have heard that during the Infant Honor Ceremony, if the godfather’s identity is concealed—or unknown—the blessing cannot truly take effect.”

Rosalind explained slowly, then turned her gaze to Xia Mingyu.

“Respected sir, for the sake of your godchild’s future, would you please remove the hat concealing your blessing?”

Rosalind’s tone was gentle, almost pleading.

Xia Mingyu fell silent, hesitated long, then finally removed his black top hat.

A line of emerald text appeared—“Heir to the Kingdom of 1409670292.”

In the next instant, the hall fell utterly silent; all stood frozen as if turned to ice.

BOOM!

The noble blessing above Hayden, now faded to white, shattered outright.

A flash of white light—new text appeared: “Child of the King.”

Then, white, emerald, deep purple—until finally, it stabilized as deep blue: “Child of the King.”

Clap! Clap! Clap!

Amid the sound of glass shattering on the floor, the entire hall erupted like a horde of demons dancing!

Danielle fainted again, overcome with joy; Calen frantically checked her breath with his fingers.

The brothers Luo Yi and Luo Lan slapped each other’s faces with all their strength, testing whether they were under illusion.

Warren and Albert, two muscular giants, crushed their wine goblets in their fists; their faces twitched violently, as if struck by invisible hammers, muscles spasming uncontrollably.

Edward remained calm, but kept pouring cold wine from the table onto his face, desperate to wake from this absurd dream.

Victor’s eyes bulged like lanterns, his jaw hung slack, his face deathly pale, his tongue repeating: “Impossible! Impossible!”

The only one who retained composure was Rosalind Marsha. She stepped trembling toward the black-haired youth and asked:

“Who are you?”

“I am Xia Mingyu.”

Meanwhile, in the corner, the painter seized this once-in-a-millennium moment, using his blessing ability to swiftly paint the chaotic scene.

The mother fainted from joy, the brothers slapping each other, the panicked lords, the grotesque Night Shadow Viscount—all details rendered vividly, as if the moment had been reborn.

This painting became one of the most famous works in history, a priceless historical record, titled—“The Holy King’s Mercy Upon His Child.”

(End of Chapter)