[Vol. 7] Chapter 263: Secrets
The battle here had probably been going on for a while. Carinvega and her teammates had likely already made it inside.
Judging from how the fire was spreading, it seemed the fighting had started right around the time when the [Eternal Day] Barrier was about to collapse and the [Tower of Origin] launched the [Origin Storm].
In the middle of all the fire and thick smoke, the black-haired girl wandered around casually, looking around as if she were searching for something.
Although it felt like a lot of people had died, there weren’t many extra bodies or wounded along the way.
Maybe it was because that guy Xiluo had already dismissed most of the Lionheart Society members in advance. This meant the fighting was probably focused in just a small area.
Based on what the priestess girl knew about Xiluo Frederick, even if he realized the Austre Empire needed him dead as a stepping stone, he definitely wouldn’t pick any cowardly way to survive.
As royalty, he would never bow or beg others for mercy. But at the same time, he wouldn’t just sit there and wait to be killed either.
So, Xiluo would definitely fight with everything he had. Either to somehow grab a slim chance to survive, or to end it all with a beautiful, grand finale.
Of course, Violet wasn’t here to save him. Not only did they have old grudges between them, but even if he were just a stranger, the Austre Empire’s shady plan to start a war had nothing to do with her. It definitely wasn’t something worth her time to try and stop.
A war that’s meant to happen won’t simply disappear just because they lose their excuse or perfect timing. There were plenty of people who could play those political games. Violet’s goal was always very simple.
"Bang!!!"
She kicked open a special door, one that seemed to have some kind of high-level magic lock on it. Using this "not very official" way to break into what looked like an empty study, the priestess glanced around for a moment. Then, her SP scan spread naturally throughout the room.
Very quickly, her eyes locked onto something under a fancy office desk. She reached underneath and felt around for a while.
"Oh, found it! The info that [Shadow] gave me was spot-on. With this, everything I need is now complete~"
Smiling happily to herself, Violet pulled a small box from a very well-hidden secret compartment.
She opened the lid.
Inside the box was a ring.
It was a small, finely crafted ring made from an unknown kind of metal, designed with great care and beauty.
On it, a lion was carved with amazing skill, looking as if it was proudly gazing down at all living beings. Even just sitting in the box, the ring naturally gave off a feeling of invisible power and royal dignity.
This was the [Lion’s Ring], the one and only symbol of the direct bloodline of the Frederick Royal Family.
Back at the [Fantasy Sky Courtyard], Xiluo had once gotten into a public conflict with her over this ring when it was stolen. But that time, it was just a fake copy.
This one, however, was the real thing.
By the way, this [Lion’s Ring] didn’t actually belong to Xiluo Frederick. It was originally the property of a royal princess named Carinvega.
That’s right, almost no one knew this.
Princess Carinvega Frederick had lost her [Lion’s Ring] long ago, when she was only 12 years old, after an assassination attempt that left her badly wounded and separated from her guards. The ring somehow changed hands many times, and in the end, ended up with Xiluo.
The [Lion’s Ring], as a royal symbol of the Austre Empire, had special properties that made it impossible to truly fake or copy. This reason could be traced back to the bloodline flowing in the Frederick family.
The Frederick families were not pure humans. They were a mix, a blend of humans and another being. Within their bloodline flowed the ancient power of a creature known as the [Emperor Lion Beast].
The [Emperor Lion Beast], also called the Sovereign Beast or the Beast of Destiny, looked very much like a regular lion, but was far more beautiful, noble, and majestic.
According to legend, there could only ever be one [Emperor Lion Beast] in the world at any time. When the old one died, a new one would mysteriously be born somewhere.
No one knew exactly how the [Emperor Lion Beast] came into being. While it could have offspring, very few ever inherited its true powers. Most lived normal, unremarkable lives.
Because of this, the [Emperor Lion Beast] was called the chosen one, the Only King.
Compared to other legendary beings, it wasn’t actually the strongest. Many of its powers couldn’t even be used in battle.
But just like its name suggested, except for the proud and mighty dragons, almost all other species would naturally lower their heads before an [Emperor Lion Beast], acknowledging it as their supreme ruler without resistance.
The [Emperor Lion Beast] didn’t even have to gather followers. Just by existing, nearby creatures would feel its presence and gather around it, gradually forming a growing, structured society, much like the “kingdoms” seen today.
This wasn’t some kind of mind-control power. It was something much more real and direct, a kind of benefit that almost no living creature could resist.
Luck.
This thing, which sounds mysterious and hard to explain, really does exist.
If a country wants to prosper and grow strong, it’s not enough to have just a wise ruler, talented officials, or hardworking people. It also needs good weather, stable seasons, and protection from disasters and invasions.
Natural forces like the weather, earthquakes, storms, floods, and droughts won’t change just because people wish it.
If a place suffers from endless natural disasters all year long, no matter how capable the leaders are or how hardworking the citizens, the country will still struggle to develop, and might even collapse in the end.
And luck, the power that the [Emperor Lion Beast] had, was the ability to control these normally uncontrollable forces of nature, to make life better for the people living under its protection.
Because of this, even though the [Emperor Lion Beast] vanished after the end of the Age of the Gods, and hasn’t been seen for over a thousand years.
It’s said that those who inherited a part of its bloodline and power, the Frederick family, suddenly rose to power a hundred years ago. They crushed everything in their path with unstoppable strength and founded the mighty empire that exists today.
Much of that success was thanks to the power of luck.
The bloodline is strongest at birth. So, whenever a direct descendant of the Frederick family is born, the royal family would take some of their blood and, using a special method, forge a personal [Lion’s Ring] for them.
This ring would be useless in the hands of outsiders. Even though it’s extremely valuable, few people would dare to openly sell something that proves royal identity. But if the true owner wears it...
With its special forging, the ring can greatly awaken the [Emperor Lion Beast]’s bloodline within the wearer, allowing them as a monarch to bring powerful luck to the empire’s lands and all its people.
The benefits are countless. And because of this, if a royal family member loses their natural-born [Lion’s Ring], they forever lose their right to inherit the throne.
Strangely enough, even Carinvega herself didn’t know that the [Lion’s Ring] she carries now is not her original.
Back when she was injured and unconscious after an assassination attempt, a loyal old butler, realizing the ring had been lost, secretly had a fake one made to protect her until she recovered.