Chapter 497: Harder to guess than the New Testament is the Kelin family genealogy

The first weekend after the civil war ended, the dungeon of Gladstone Castle was bone-chillingly cold.

The Campbell royal flag had already been hoisted on the castle tower, and the bayonets standing by the battlements reflected the cold light of winter, declaring the end of an era.

The sunlight of victory shone on the faces of every patrolling infantryman, in contrast to the servants queuing to leave the castle, and the confusion hanging on their faces.

At the same time, the castle dungeon.

The air was filled with a damp, moldy smell, and the silent flow of despair.

The traitors who betrayed the royal family were locked here, including accomplices like Baron Lukeville, and the head of the Gladstone family.

Jieluoke Campbell sat quietly in the corner of the cell on a pile of straw. He was no longer wearing that noble knight's armor, only a thin prison uniform remained.

Not only that, heavy silver alchemical shackles were locked on his wrists and ankles, the metal surface flashing with faint rune light, completely sealing the transcendent power bestowed upon him by Saint Xisi.

At this moment, the heavy iron door was suddenly pulled open, the harsh friction echoing between the narrow stone walls.

Hearing footsteps, Jieluoke slowly raised his head, only to see that the person who came was his elder brother—the master of the Principality, His Majesty Edward Campbell.

Edward stopped at the door of the cell.

He didn't bring guards, just stood alone outside the cell, looking at this younger brother who flowed with the same blood as himself with cold eyes.

"Do you have anything to say to me?"

The voice could not tell joy or anger.

And similarly, Edward could not see any regret or fear, or the begging he expected, from that silent face.

In the short silence, only the flickering candlelight swayed on the faces of the two.

The one who finally broke the silence was Jieluoke, his voice calm and hoarse.

"If our father were still alive, he would definitely do the same thing."

Edward's corners of the mouth tightened.

He didn't doubt what his younger brother said, and this was also the place he hated the most.

It cannot be denied that those nobles had made contributions to the Campbell Principality, but their pedantry and conservatism were becoming the shackles under the feet of the Campbell Principality!

He didn't hate his younger brother, didn't even hate Earl Derrick, but instead hated his father, Aaron Campbell!

If that sword were in his own hands, perhaps his life would burn in sacred duty, but there would never be today's fratricide!

And Ailin, she wouldn't have to be involved in a war that didn't belong to her, perhaps her life would be much happier than it is now...

"Very well."

Edward nodded, feeling that this conversation was no longer necessary.

He turned around, preparing to leave.

And it was also at this time that the stubborn Jieluoke suddenly spoke.

"When do you plan to execute me?"

Edward's footsteps stopped.

He turned around slowly, dropping a cold laugh.

"You want to die so much?"

Jieluoke didn't answer, just staring at him intently.

"According to the laws of the Empire, you have the power to do so. And... I hope you do so."

During this time, he had been reflecting on his mistakes, he shouldn't have naively thought he could grasp the degree of everything.

That is something even gods cannot do.

When he stationed in Gladstone Castle with the loyalty of the knights and the desire to return to the past, people would call him Your Majesty.

Even if he never thought about usurping his brother's throne, he just wanted to use the chips in his hand to pressure his brother, forcing him to slow down the pace of reform and ease the increasingly needle-pointed conflict.

And the facts proved that his naivety was ridiculous.

His elder brother would not compromise at all, and those knights would not be satisfied with being chips on the scale.

Earl Derrick just blew a breath lightly, and the war machine started, and it was not shifted by anyone's will.

Perhaps, it is best for him to die.

His big brother will no longer worry about the issue of legitimacy, and there will no longer be ambitious people gathering around him.

Although the future of the Principality is not what his father expected, at least there will no longer be Campbell people dying for boring reasons...

Looking at the calm Jieluoke, a cold smile suddenly appeared on Edward's face.

"It seems your reflection is not enough."

This guy treated himself as a savior again, falling into that void of self-moving again, as if he were a martyr sacrificing for ideals.

At this moment, he was not humiliating the loser as a monarch, but teaching his stupid younger brother as an elder brother.

Perhaps...

Such a naive knight indeed only by going to an uninhabited island can wake up from that unrealistic dream.

Edward turned around, hiding the exhaustion in the corners of his eyes, back to Jieluoke in the cell, dropping a cold ruling that carried a hint of warmth.

"I will not kill you, except for the King of the Kingdom of Lei En, no one will feel happy because of your death."

"But I will not pardon you either, I will exile you to Klanto Island. That place is far from the coast of the Principality, there is a castle with a thousand-year history, and a monastery. You will spend the rest of your life there, and then watch the Campbell Principality rise like the morning sun."

"Then, you will know how ridiculous you were."

After deciding the fate of the loser, Edward left the

Jeloke watched his elder brother's departing back in silence, calmly accepting his own fate.

Exile or death—to him, there was no longer any difference. He would spend the rest of his life on the island, praying for the souls of those who died because of him.

And it was at this moment that the torch in the jailer's hand illuminated Edward's face, the dim light outlining his profile.

By that not-so-bright light, Jeloke suddenly noticed that his brother's slightly curly golden hair was actually reflecting a pale silver glow.

He was stunned.

When... did that happen?

A sudden, inexplicable pang of pain climbed into his heart.

He realized with a start that his heart had been full of the "orthodoxy" and "glory" of the Principality, yet he had never truly cared about his brother.

He loved every abstract person, but had never loved a concrete individual.

A trace of pain finally appeared on that calm face; Jeloke knelt before the iron gate, pressed his forehead against the lock, and confessed to the deity in his heart.

Perhaps his brother was right.

His reflection was indeed too shallow...

Edward left Jeloke's cell, the sound of his boots echoing in the cold, gloomy corridor. At this time, he passed the cell where Count Derek was imprisoned.

The old Count, who had spent decades in the thick of battle, now sat quietly on the bed like a shriveled corpse.

Failure had drained his spirit.

Yet, as the mastermind, he felt no despair or sorrow, merely facing everything with composure and offering pious prayers to the deity in his mind.

That unrepentant appearance was disgusting.

This guy who sold his soul to the Demon King was actually worthy of praying like a martyr!

Having conquered Gladstone Castle, Edward already knew the secrets beneath the castle; although the Gladstone family had attempted to destroy the evidence of their crimes, their methods were clearly not clever enough, leaving behind traces that could be traced back to the source.

There were also human witnesses hidden among the servants.

In order not to attract the Inquisition, which was currently suppressing heretics in the Twilight Saint Saint Xingsheng, and to prevent a similar tragedy from occurring in the Principality, Edward had to hold his nose and destroy the evidence for this blasphemous traitor, and his mood was as if he had swallowed a fly.

It was fortunate that the Demon King of Lei Ming County was suspicious by nature and did not jump out to take advantage of the fire. Otherwise, even if the royal family could achieve final victory, it would certainly have ended in a pyrrhic victory...

Edward stopped, raised his hand to signal the jailer to halt, and then cast a gaze filled with undisguised hostility toward the Count inside the cell.

Seemingly sensing that condescending gaze, Count Derek also raised his head and looked toward the young Grand Duke Edward.

Their eyes met inside and outside the iron bars.

Neither spoke, yet it was as if they had been talking for a long time.

Knowing his time was short, Derek suddenly smiled—a gambler's salute to the victor after losing everything—

"Well played."

Failure is nothing more than death.

He was not afraid of death.

Because his soul would return here, and in a younger guise.

Edward understood the profound meaning in that smile, and then a cold sneer curled the corner of his mouth.

"I will not kill you."

"I will let you watch as the glory of the Gladstone family is erased from this land, with only shame nailed to those collapsed city walls."

The Principality's reforms would begin in the Creek Plains, and Gladstone Castle would serve as the future capital of the directly administered province.

In the future Land of Knights, there would be no more serfs.

Since these parasites fear change, then let the change come more violently!

Having broken the Principality's trident with his own hands, he was now fearless!

Seeming to read a meaning more terrifying than death in that cold sneer, the smile on Derek's face gradually stiffened, and a trace of panic emerged in his murky eyes.

Edward left the dungeon without looking back.

There were still many things waiting for him to handle; there was no extra time to waste on a corpse that had not yet been buried...

The winter sky cleared up for a change.

On this sunny day, after the scarred Gladstone Castle returned to the embrace of the Principality, it welcomed a special guest.

Atop the castle, the royal ceremonial flag of the Campbell family fluttered in the cold wind.

Two rows of fully armed soldiers stood solemnly on both sides of the city gate, carrying "Luo Ke Sai 1053 Rifles" on their shoulders and wearing shining medals on their chests.

They were the most elite soldiers under Sir Wesley, currently representing the Principality to pay the highest respects to their most important ally.

This welcoming ceremony was grand and enthusiastic.

And as Prince Kelin, who had been invited by the Grand Duke, Luo Yan did not come alone, but brought along his two uninvited family members on the way.

They would witness the Principality's return to peace after the war in the name of the Kelin family, and offer blessings for this hard-won peace...

Although the real reason was actually that Luo Yan was not at ease leaving the two little ones alone in Lei Ming City, and even less at ease leaving them in the Labyrinth.

So he simply brought them along; at least within his sight, he could remedy any problems in time.

Regarding such an arrangement, the clingy Wei Weian naturally jumped up with joy, swearing poisonous oaths that she would definitely be obedient and never cause trouble for her elder brother.

Although Nan Fu was reserved, he was clearly full of curiosity about the human world. Moreover, being able to stay by his elder brother's side was safer than following Wei Weian around causing trouble.

Just like that, Prince Kelin had two little tag-alongs by his side.

The carriage the three of them were riding in soon arrived at the castle gate, where Edward Campbell, dressed in formal attire, had long been waiting.

He was dressed in a dark blue Duke's formal suit, and that conspicuous short silver-white hair was particularly eye-catching in the sunlight, making Luo Yan feel surprised.

He remembered that the last time he saw this Grand Duke, there were only a few white hairs on his head; how did he turn into a white-haired man in the blink of an eye?

However, this was clearly not the occasion to ask about that.

Watching Kelin step out of the carriage, Edward strode forward with an unreserved smile on his face and gave his old friend a powerful hug.

"Kelin, my friend! Welcome to Gladstone Castle! Your arrival is a greater surprise to me than anything else!"

"Long time no see! My friend, it is also my honor to reunite with you on this sunny day... There is no better news than your health." Luo Yan also smiled and responded to his enthusiasm and that warm hug.

Releasing Kelin's shoulders, Edward was about to smile and exchange pleasantries when his gaze suddenly fell on the two little ones behind Luo Yan.

A look of perfectly measured confusion appeared on his face as he looked at Kelin and asked.

"Uh, my friend... didn't you say you didn't have a younger sister?"

That was in late autumn, when the two had sat and talked for a long time at the Andi Manor regarding the issue of Ailin.

He remembered Kelin saying this at the time—

"I don't have a younger sister, but I think even if I did, I would never use her kindness to complete my plan while knowing there was danger."

Luo Yan knew this guy had a good memory; sure enough, he still remembered this sentence, and was preparing to make up a reasonable explanation without changing his expression.

However, before he could speak, Wei Weian took the lead and said in a voice as pleasant as silver bells.

"My name is Wei Weian Kelin, it's a pleasure to meet you, Duke Edward Campbell. I have often heard my elder brother tell your stories. Besides, according to the traditions of the Kelin family, my elder brother cannot truly be counted as my elder brother... We have a different relationship."

After finishing, she secretly glanced at Luo Yan, her smug little expression as if saying—Look, am I not very smart?

I didn't lie, and I helped you smooth it over!

Luo Yan responded to her smugness with a non-committal expression.

Using the "automatic frame-filling" feature of the human brain to smooth over the Kelin family tree—this general excuse could only be said to be made up passably well.

However, objectively speaking, it was worth eighty points. Moreover, her proactive explanation did indeed solve many troubles for him.

Some things, when said by one person, inevitably fall into the embarrassment of self-contradiction, but when said by different people, it becomes "cross-validation."

As for why he didn't praise Wei Weian?

That was naturally because he was afraid she would get carried away.

However, Luo Yan didn't know if it was his own illusion, but his "cold reaction" instead poked the most sensitive part of Wei Weian's heart.

Looking at those cheeks that suddenly flushed red, and those aggrieved yet insatiable eyes, the expressionless Luo Yan felt a stormy sea rise in his heart.

No way—

Can this be rewarded too?

Edward, who was outside the situation, did not feel that twisted emotion, and after hearing the explanation, a look of sudden realization appeared on his face.

So that was it.

Being in the royal family, he almost instantly understood the hidden difficulties behind that "different relationship."

It seemed that this Miss Wei Weian should not have been born to the legitimate wife, but was a debt of love left behind by Mr. "Nan Fu Kelin" during his lifetime.

If so, her identity was indeed an unspeakable existence for the Kelin family, and it was reasonable that Kelin had not mentioned it to him.

On the contrary, it was he himself who had actually gotten to the bottom of such an unimportant matter, causing a lady to speak of that bitter past.

A look of apology appeared on Edward's face.

"Sorry, Miss Wei Weian, please forgive my presumption just now."

"No need to apologize, Mr. Edward," Wei Weian smiled and leaned close to Luo Yan's side, affectionately grabbing his arm and shaking it gently while acting like a spoiled child, "After Nan Fu passed away, we lived very happily. My elder brother accepted me very gently, we are very gra—gra, gratitude!!!"

Gratitude?

Looking at Wei Weian, who had suddenly stiffened to the point of cracking her voice, Edward was stunned and subconsciously asked.

"Are you alright?"

"I, I am fine... ju, just a little anemic, please don't worry about me." Cold sweat broke out on Wei Weian's forehead, her shoulders trembled slightly, but she still squeezed a smile of determined persistence onto her face.

This guy had indeed gotten a bit carried away.

Luo Yan didn't want to do this either, but in order to preserve Prince Kelin's glorious image, he had to use some upright little tricks.

Although his stomach was full of question marks about the word "gratitude," Edward was an elegant gentleman after all, and would not embarrass a lady in a social setting.

Realizing that the conversation was not going well, he quickly brought their talk to a close.

"... Your affection is admirable, I think my younger sister will be very happy to become friends with you, she has always wanted a younger sister."

Wei Weian was only a second away from flying into a rage, but fortunately, Luo Yan, who was standing next to her, anticipated her reaction and controlled her once again.

Meanwhile, Edward cast an admiring look at Kelin, who was supporting Wei Weian.

That was admiration from the bottom of his heart.

Reconciling with an illegitimate child has never been an easy thing; even those connected by blood can hardly avoid fratricide, let alone someone of pure blood facing an impure one?

The taste of this can only be savored by those who have experienced it.

Clearly, Prince Kelin was a truly good man.

His kindness and benevolence were not only directed at strangers in foreign lands, but he also handled his relationship with his family very well.

Entrusting his sister to such a person, he was ten thousand percent at ease.

Edward's gaze then turned to the other youth.

The youth was handsome, with facial contours somewhat similar to Kelin's, especially those deep purple eyes.

The only difference was that the youth's eyes were filled with more trepidation and cowardice, like a little deer wandering in the forest.

While Kelin's pupils were deeper, like the leader of a deer herd, gentle yet enterprising, and as ambitious as himself.

Perhaps because it was his first time attending such a grand occasion, the youth looked more nervous than Wei Weian, with an unconcealable awkwardness between his brows.

"... And this is?" Edward tried not to put too much pressure on him, asking in a gentle tone.

Nan Fu firmly remembered his elder brother's teachings.

Without waiting for Luo Yan to introduce him, he blurted out the answer, shouting his new name with all his might.

"Gustav Kelin!"

"Gustav..."

Edward chewed on the name, then associated it with something, and a smile of approval appeared on his face, "Is it the name of the Dragon God?"

"Exactly." Luo Yan nodded with a smile, "To commemorate the friendship between the Gustav United Kingdom and the Kelin Principality, my father gave him this name."

"What a mighty and majestic name!" Edward laughed and patted the youth's shoulder, "May your future fame be as enduring as a dragon... I have high hopes for you, your future will definitely not lose to your respected elder brother!"

Wei Weian, standing next to them, almost couldn't hold back her laughter, her shoulders shaking, and Luo Yan, who had Amethyst-level strength, almost couldn't control her.

Nan Fu's face turned red in a "whoosh," and he clenched his fists in excitement.

This Grand Duke has a good eye!

He actually saw his manliness at a glance; he is way better than Wei Weian, who only knows how to cause trouble and loves to shift the blame!

Although he is still far behind his elder brother!

In Nan Fu's heart, his elder brother was in a league of his own. After all, the miserable state Wei Weian was in when she returned that day truly shocked him.

"Congratulations, Your Highness, it seems the chaos in the Principality has completely subsided." Luo Yan shifted the topic at the right time.

Watching You You rolling on the ground laughing, he began to feel a bit of pressure.

Seeing Prince Kelin turn the topic back to business, Edward restrained his joking expression, replacing it with a touch of respect.

He gripped Kelin's hand tightly.

"Thanks to your help! Please allow me to express my gratitude to you again, Prince Kelin. If it weren't for the helping hand you extended, we would likely have shed much more unnecessary blood, and... this painful tragedy might have lasted a long time."

He thought this from the bottom of his heart.

Whether it was the "Luo Ke Sai 1053 Rifle," the overseas markets supporting Lei Ming City's economic reforms, or those pieces of advice regarding family and politics, this Prince from the Empire had given him irreplaceable help both materially and spiritually.

Without Kelin's support, he might still have won, but the final result would definitely have been a pyrrhic victory, or even affected the Principality's layout in the Twilight Saint Saint Xingsheng.

"I only did some insignificant things." Luo Yan responded modestly, "That the Campbells could achieve victory is more because of their deep-seated desire for change. I think if there weren't so many people supporting you, any amount of aid would be futile."

When he said this, Prince Kelin's tone shifted, and those still-gentle eyes gradually surfaced with a hint of sharpness.

"Now, we can focus on dealing with the mastermind behind this war."

Edward's smile remained, but his determination was the same as his.

"Yes."

He cast his gaze toward the north, the direction of the Laine Kingdom.

The blood of the Campbells would not be shed in vain, and the calls in the Lei Ming City newspapers were also the angry roars of his own heart.

He swore to make the Devalu family pay the price.

Never mind that they have a demigod—

Even if Saint Xisi stood behind them, it wouldn't save that king who fanned the flames!

Sensing Edward's determination, Luo Yan nodded.

Just like before, he would provide all necessary help.

In a friendly and enthusiastic atmosphere, the grand welcoming ceremony came to an end.

Bathed in pairs of respectful gazes, the two walked side by side across the castle gate, while Wei Weian and Nan Fu followed closely behind, also bathed in the applause of welcome.

At this time, Luo Yan's gaze finally fell on the top of Edward's head, and he asked him the doubt that had been hidden in his heart for a while.

"By the way, Your Highness."

"What is it?"

"Your hair..."

Edward noticed that Kelin was staring at his forehead.

He smiled knowingly, raised his index finger to fiddle with the slightly curly silver-white short hair, and said freely.

"I thought carefully about the things you said, and I did indeed do some things improperly regarding Ailin. Although what has happened cannot be undone, I think... if someone can share some of the strange looks, perhaps it can alleviate the pain in Ailin's heart. In any case, I cannot let my sister bear these things alone."

A flash of genuine surprise crossed Luo Yan's eyes.

"So you..."

Edward revealed a calm smile.

"I dyed my hair silver. As it happens, I found that this color actually suits me quite well; perhaps this is the 'Holy Will' from the netherworld."

Although there were other reasons involved, the reason he declared to the outside world was indeed what he thought in his heart.

In the past, people felt he was too young, and that face in his thirties was not enough to replace the great Aaron Campbell in shouldering the future of the entire Principality.

But now, no one should feel that way anymore.

Long before Gladstone Castle in the Creek Plains, Edward had already appeared in the Principality's army with his silver-haired image.

In order not to let the enemy see through the exhaustion and pain in his heart, and not to let his supporters waver because of his haggardness, Edward, after careful consideration, simply dyed his golden hair silver and gave those who watched him a reasonable explanation—

Ailin sacrificed her beauty and youth for the Principality, and the Grand Duke of Campbell will bear that lost pain with her!

Rather than letting people suspect his health and pointing his premature aging to the illusory "divine punishment," he simply accepted his fate calmly.

And it was precisely because of his calmness that this seemingly unconventional choice unexpectedly produced miraculous effects, earning him the title of "Silver-Haired Duke" in the new army dominated by civilians.

Not only that.

His declaration inspired many people who were sinking in the civil war, and also gave some comfort to those who were struggling in pain because of the Campbell family's "fratricide"... at least their Grand Duke and Princess Ailin's relationship remained harmonious.

The Campbells lost a lot in this war, but fortunately, there were things they didn't lose.

As for what that thing was, different people have different answers.

This year's winter was colder than ever, but fortunately, there was still a trace of warmth left in people's hearts...

Meanwhile, on the other side, in the most inconspicuous slum in Roland City, upstream of the Running River, a sudden boiling fire engulfed the shacks of the ragged beggars.

Baron Wickton finally came up with a way that wasn't a way, forcing those mud-legged people who couldn't contribute tax money but refused to leave to abandon the shacks that were crumbling but just wouldn't collapse.

He didn't need to do it himself; those poor ghosts who picked coal cinders to keep warm would set themselves on fire if they weren't careful.

He only needed to let the night-patrolling soldiers take a longer route, let the church bell tower ring late, and let the guild craftsmen act late.

In the end, he would lead His Majesty's soldiers to turn the tide, and then point the spearhead at these unruly poor ghosts, perfectly completing the task His Majesty gave him.

The terrace of the Royal Palace.

Theodone Devalu, holding a wine glass, revealed a pleasant smile on his face, having rarely watched such a satisfying performance.

The firelight illuminated his royal capital.

As winter was about to end, Baron Wickton finally did not disappoint him, excellently completing the task he had assigned.

Perhaps he should be sent to be the Viceroy of the Twilight Saint Saint Xingsheng.

On the first weekend of 1054 in the Aus calendar, the capital of the Laine Kingdom fell into a sea of fire, the tragedy of the night unrecordable.

Not until the sky turned white did Baron Wickton and the Royal Guard finally turn the tide and stop the fire that had almost burned into the city area.

On the slum turned into charred remains, a group of children with frozen red faces were picking up charcoal from the ruins.

And further away, another group of children with frozen red faces were bargaining with cunning merchants, using a feigned steadiness to seek a way out for themselves or their younger brothers and sisters.

The children needed to bargain, while those strong and able-bodied people were much luckier; they soon sold themselves for a good price.

Now the citizens had enough firewood, the nobles' manors had a new batch of cheap farm tools, and a large piece of land could be cleared in the spring to build newer houses.

They even had extra manpower to go to the Twilight Saint Saint Xingsheng to reclaim wasteland, so as not to let the most fertile royal land be snatched away by the Campbells.

However—

Not everyone was willing to leave.

A man who had lost everything in the fire sat dejectedly at the door of his burned-down shack.

He stared at the charcoal on the ground in silence, muttering some names that no one cared about, as if to bury his despair in the howling wind and snow.

In this winter that was about to end, it was hard to say whether those who survived were lucky or unlucky.

And it was at this moment that a pitch-black shadow covered that face ashen with death.

It was a man wearing a cloak; he had an unremarkable face with a faint scar on it.

Like many people here, he was also here to look for tools.

It was just that he was different from those "good people" who showed mercy; he specifically picked those "waste" who had been squeezed dry of everything and had burned everything.

Someone had pointed out to him that to do big things, you can't look for those who have a way out; you must look for those rats pushed into a corner.

The one in front of him seemed not bad.

"Your name?"

"..."

Hearing the voice above his head, the man did not respond, just sat there silently, waiting for Saint Xisi to take his soul away.

The man in the cloak looked at the surrounding ruins and thought for a while, then changed his way of asking.

"Want to take revenge?"

This time, the man who looked like a ghost finally reacted and slowly raised his head...

(End of chapter)