Chapter 176: Catherine

The iron ore master stopped there, saying no more.

Afraid of bringing trouble upon himself, he bowed deeply to Gervas, then boarded his carriage and left the mine.

"This… how can this man speak such nonsense? He has absolutely no professional integrity!" Old John's face turned pale, fearing Gervas would be angry.

After all, this was the very first day of mining.

For the ore master to question the mine's reserves—wasn't that deliberately dousing their hopes?

Previously, our lord had said the discovery came from Yueyue's survey.

Thus, our lord could not possibly be wrong.

Yet Gervas would not be angry; he smiled and said, "Old John, this ore master is good. If we have similar work in the future, we can hire him again!"

None of the subordinates knew Parker had falsified the data, but Gervas knew.

Parker had meticulously disguised the mine tunnels to fabricate the ore reserves.

This ore master, despite risking trouble, still revealed some truths—his professional integrity was clearly intact.

Moreover, he managed to identify two tunnels leading to the main vein despite the interference—he had real skill.

Old John was bewildered, but still replied, "Yes, my lord!"

"By the way, today is a joyous day for opening the mine. Every miner gets a bowl of meat tonight, and black bread is free—let them enjoy themselves!"

"Yes, my lord! The miners will be delighted by your kindness!"

…

The House of Hernade lay in the eastern kingdom, bordering the ocean with hundreds of miles of coastline.

Though for many minor families, proximity to the ocean meant danger.

For the House of Hernade, it became an unparalleled foundation for maritime trade.

Relying on the sea, Hernade's ships spread across the Podia Peninsula, the South Hurricane Isles, and even the Snow Lands to the northeast.

The Hernade family's seat, Blue Sea City, was vast—no smaller than the royal palace.

"It's out! The results are out!"

A cry erupted from the outer parlor and pierced the luxurious inner chamber.

Inside the inner parlor—larger than her own viscount's banquet hall—Catherine trembled slightly, a faint unease appearing on her pale face.

It wasn't fear of failing to leverage this chance to climb into the famed Hernade ducal family.

It was fear that, if the bloodline test confirmed it, she truly was a Hernade descendant—what then?

How would she face this completely unfamiliar grandfather and family?

Though she had only resided here a few short days, Catherine had already sensed the hidden complexities and currents within the ducal house.

Soon, the castle steward hurried into the inner chamber from the outer parlor.

The Hernade Duke, whose hair was now streaked with gray, showed rare concern. "What is the result?"

His tone revealed no emotion, yet carried undeniable authority.

"Your Grace, according to the court mage's magical analysis, Miss Catherine carries strong Hernade bloodline—she is your direct descendant!"

Splash!

The Hernade heirs around her stirred, all turning to Catherine with varied expressions.

"Let me see!"

The Hernade Duke took the evidence—a vial filled with rich golden liquid.

The Hernade Duke had heard of and seen other families' bloodline tests before.

They involved mixing two people's blood into a vial.

A mage would cast the Bloodline Truth Spell; if the two drops fused and turned golden-yellow, it proved a blood connection.

The deeper the gold, the tighter the bloodline bond.

The golden hue in this vial now was unmistakably the mark of a third-generation connection.

"Catherine!"

The Hernade Duke's stern face softened.

That softness made the Hernade heirs' thoughts turn even more active.

"Catherine, sister, bow and greet your grandfather—you truly are Hernade blood!"

"That's right. Grandfather had five sons, but no daughters. Your mother was his only daughter—you are our only maternal granddaughter."

"Catherine, I'm Bunardo. From now on, I'm your brother. Come to me for anything!"

Yet amid the clamor, Catherine grew even more uneasy.

Seeing this, the Hernade Duke immediately snapped, "Enough!"

As the hall fell silent, the Hernade Duke spoke gently: "Catherine, I failed your grandmother, and I failed your mother."

"But they are gone now—I cannot make amends. Yet since you are my Hernade granddaughter, I will double my compensation to you."

Catherine was immediately enrolled in the Hernade ducal family register.

To better compensate her, the Hernade Duke even offered to grant Catherine a viscountcy-sized territory from the duchy.

This was land deep within the kingdom's heartland.

No one had received a new land grant there in at least decades.

The value of such a viscountcy was obvious.

Yet as all the heirs stared at Catherine with envy, she suddenly shook her head.

"Thank you, grandfather, but I do not want the land—I wish to remain in Violetland."

The Hernade Duke frowned.

The other heirs looked at Catherine as if she were a fool.

"Catherine, if you're worried about the Violetland family's holdings, don't be—I'll assign staff to manage them. That land will remain yours."

"Later, when you marry and have children, you can send your second son to inherit it."

The Hernade Duke assumed Catherine feared losing Violetland.

But Catherine still refused: "Thank you, grandfather, but… I still wish to stay in Violetland."

The Hernade Duke studied Catherine deeply, then did not press further.

"Very well. Stay in Violetland for now. My promise still stands—when you change your mind, come to me."

"Also, as my granddaughter, your safety is vital. I heard you were once kidnapped—I will assign you a cavalry unit."

The Hernade Duke then bestowed upon Catherine countless gifts.

Their total value reached three or four thousand gold coins.

The heirs watched, envious.

"Peter, find out why Catherine refuses to leave Violetland."

"Is it truly out of simple attachment—or because of someone or something else?"

The Hernade Duke, old and shrewd, deduced possibilities in moments.

Especially Catherine's earlier expression.

At first, she had been slightly surprised—but then, as if recalling something, her gaze hardened, and she refused him.

So he suspected other reasons lay beneath.