NOVPUB
Chapter 272: The Problem of the Flamecrest Family
The vision he just experienced—he can say that is the most powerful feeling he got from any vision he got. He saw numerous universes, each accompanied by countless realms and dimensions, all within his sight. Some appeared as large as his hand, while others were as small as grains of sand. They sparkled like stars in the night sky yet seemed like mere toys in his perception, as if he could play with them at will.
He couldn’t fully comprehend what he had done in the vision, but one thing was certain—the power he wielded at that moment was immense.
He put aside that feeling and looked at the lone star that had moved closer again, although it was still far away. He decided to do what he usually did in this place—a comprehension session.
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Emperor Durand and Irene, who were watching Aldrian remain unmoving for several minutes, chose not to disturb him. However, the emperor’s gaze held admiration as he observed the surrounding energy converging toward Aldrian. The energy moved like tidal waves toward his body, gradually forming a vortex that began to take shape little by little.
"Miss Irene, you can try cultivating here. Although your son seems to be attracting most of the energy in this chamber, this place is still far better than anywhere else on the continent," Emperor Durand said.
"Thank you for your offer, Your Majesty. I will try to cultivate here," Irene replied. She certainly didn’t want to pass up this opportunity; this was a cultivation sanctuary even superior to what her family possessed. Moreover, she didn’t want to fall behind her son—she wanted to grow stronger too.
She looked at her son for a moment before picking a spot on the side, sitting in a meditative position, and closing her eyes. Emperor Durand smiled as he watched the mother and son, then quietly left the chamber, giving them time to cultivate in peace.
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On the northwest border of the Doria Empire, there is a large noble family with a reputation rivaling that of the Rivas family.
The Flamecrest family, which borders the Rivas family’s lands to the east, also serves as the spearhead for the Vindas Empire in facing the devil territory. Although the two families are not on good terms, they share the same stance on the importance of guarding their respective borders against the devil territory.
They are a well-known family but not overly involved in the empire’s internal affairs. They do not indulge in the empire’s power struggles or intrigues. Like the Rivas family, they are more focused on the security of the border, having no time to engage in the political struggles of the empire.
Their position and power at the border have made them highly popular among the populace. Many consider the Flamecrest family a role model for what a noble family should be—a power used for the people’s safety and in the right cause.
However, in the past few days, the Flamecrest family had a stain on their name, as it was revealed that one of their commanders was actually a devil. This caused an uproar in the Vindas Empire, sparking many opinions on the matter. Some believe the news, while others remain skeptical. The Flamecrest family, famous for their loyalty to the empire and the people, harboring a devil? That doesn’t make sense to many, but there is strong evidence spreading that is hard to deny, even for the Flamecrest family.
Due to the rising voices of the populace in the empire, the situation within the family has grown tense. At this time, inside the Flamecrest family mansion, Grand Duke Flamecrest gathered all of his family’s high-ranking members to discuss the matter. Their faces were solemn, yet also filled with irritation.
"Those nobles dare to bare their fangs at a time like this! We cannot back down. If they want to provoke our family, we must show them that we are not pushovers!" said one of the elders.
"Don’t act too impulsively. Responding with more hostility will only cause more misunderstandings. What we need to do now is find a way to explain our stance to the people of the empire," replied another.
"Explain? With that solid proof, it will be difficult! Even those on our side can’t find a way to defend us from this. We’re losing support with each passing moment!"
"Let’s not concern ourselves with others’ opinions. We just need to give them a satisfactory response, and it will recede on its own."
"No way it’s that simple..."
Many voiced their opinions, but it seemed they weren’t reaching any good solution at the moment. A number of those present wondered why this had happened to their family, or more specifically, how one of their trusted men could have turned out to be a devil. This was a massive question mark, and they still didn’t know the answer.
If the news were fake, they could easily debunk it with their own proof; however, the problem was that the news was, in fact, true.
Yes, they didn’t understand why one of their knights had become a devil. The proof spreading to the people outside was solid, making it difficult for them to debunk. There were several witnesses who saw a member of their family actually turn into a devil. All of them gave the same testimony about it.
Grand Duke Flamecrest, seated at the center, massaged his temple. He felt a deep headache as he faced the situation. It could be said that this crisis was far worse than when their family faced the devils on the frontline. To make matters worse, the man who had turned into a devil was one of their trusted commanders and one of the closest people to his son. This made the situation even more complicated.
Aldrey, seated on the right side of the table, was also thinking hard. The person who had become a devil was one of his trusted men. This not only made him feel betrayed but also left him with several unanswered questions.
Why had Marcus become a devil? Since when had he been one? Aldrey had known Commander Marcus for a long time and was well aware of the man’s integrity and strength. There was no reason for him to betray the family or become a devil. Just thinking about it gave him a headache. 𝚗ov𝚙𝚞𝚋.c𝚘m
While they were still discussing possible solutions, a butler approached the Grand Duke and whispered something to him. Upon hearing it, the Grand Duke’s expression frowned, and he looked at all of his family members.
"The imperial family is almost here, it seems they are sending an envoy to investigate. The envoy is led by Princess Loraine."
When they heard the news, they fell silent. The worst had finally come. The imperial family was taking action, and it seemed they were treating the matter seriously by sending one of their descendants to personally lead the envoy. Although their relationship with the princess was good, and she shared a friendship with their young master, they didn’t know if she would support them given the strong evidence against them.
Aldrey also sensed a larger problem with the arrival of the imperial family. He could only hope that Princess Loraine would understand their situation and explain to the imperial family that they had no knowledge of the devil’s presence among their family members.
Not long after, a convoy of carriages arrived at the Flamecrest family mansion and stopped right in front of the main doors. Grand Duke Flamecrest and Aldrey were already waiting to greet the envoy.
The moment the carriage door opened, revealing the beautiful Princess Loraine, all the cultivators of the Flamecrest family straightened their posture. As for Grand Duke Flamecrest and Aldrey, they simply smiled and greeted her.
"Welcome to our humble residence, Your Highness. It is truly an honor for us to receive your esteemed presence." Grand duke Flamecrest said.
"I apologize for coming unannounced, Grand Duke Flamecrest. It is by my father’s orders that I make this trip. I would have preferred to visit under different circumstances," Princess Loraine said, slightly bowing her head. However, Grand Duke Flamecrest quickly stopped her, not allowing her to bow.
"No, it’s quite alright, Your Highness. I anticipated this. We, too, were shocked by this incident, and we are still investigating to determine if there are others like ’him’. There is still some uncertainty within our family."
"Thank you for your understanding, Grand Duke Flamecrest. The imperial family also believes this issue could cause bigger problems in the future, so I intend to assist the Flamecrest family. I personally find it hard to believe that the Flamecrest family would harbor a devil," Princess Loraine said before turning to smile at Aldrey.
"How are you, Young Master Aldrey?"
"I’m well, Your Highness. You’ve just arrived from the capital, and we have already prepared a room for you to rest before we continue with our business. Allow me to escort you inside personally," Aldrey replied. However, as he spoke, a thought crossed his mind.
"That strange sensation from Princess Loraine has returned again."
