Surviving The Fourth Calamity

Chapter 322: Chapter 123 Hill Confirmed He was Blind with Eyes Wide Open

Everyone knew what decision the Earl finally made, he was a man whose heart was steeped in self-interest.

There wasn’t much written about this affair, and the Undead Tribe felt there wasn’t much to say, except with a disdainful tone, they wrote that the Earl was very pleased to offer up his wife, sporting a rather conspicuous green hat, henceforth becoming a core member of Edward’s faction.

The Earl making such a choice also coincided with the year when the Old King began to age excessively.

Even the Sky Knights began to fall ill.

Many had already turned towards Edward’s side, placing their bets there.

Hill quickly flipped through the pages concerning the Earl, knowing already what came afterwards.

Hill truly didn’t intend to read about how the Earl kept making foolish mistakes, leading himself down the path to his own demise.

This father truly left Saral plenty of jokes to remember him by, from birth until death.

Edgar’s decision to change his surname was indeed very wise, for otherwise the publication of this book would have made it impossible for him to show his face in noble society.

In the recommendation letter Hill wrote for Edgar, he merely mentioned him as an acquaintance, an apprentice; he originally did not want to be associated with the Earl and his family but ended up saving Edgar instead.

From now on, he would only deal with members of the army, staying far away from the so-called noble class, with few asking about his relationship with the Perelast Family.

As long as Edgar could stand on his own two feet, he should hurry south as soon as he became a Knight!

Perhaps he would even meet his mother, who had traveled far and wide preaching the doctrines of the Goddess of Love.

Hill took the book back to his bedroom, thinking he needed to lean against a wall, and at times when he wanted to bang his head, there should at least be a soft bed to protect it.

Finding a safe place to sit, he began reading Melanie’s story.

Melanie had entered Saral Royal Palace’s social circle at the age of 12, quickly becoming friends with the Princesses of Saral.

The Princesses took a fancy to her because she was a girl very skilled in Alchemy.

Whether it was clothing or jewelry, they were all second to none in terms of luxury and beauty.

Hill’s thoughts wandered for a moment, no wonder he said that jewelry designs were all Melanie’s, and no one questioned it. It was her natural talent.

A Mage Apprentice willing to mingle with commoners was a rarity in the Royal Palace, and with her generous gestures, the Princesses could easily exchange Alchemy Items from the young girl, so they were very willing to take her along to play.

Though young, the learning ability of a Mage Apprentice was undeniable, and Melanie soon joined the Princesses, who were at least ten years her senior, throwing herself into the intoxicating court life.

She was smart and quick-witted, and even though she neglected her studies, she became a Mage by the age of 16.

At that time, she wanted to inherit the Magic Tower that her father was sure to receive in the future, but without wanting to exert herself, she thus sought to find someone among Fran’s students who would listen to her commands.

Unfortunately, as soon as Fran became aware of Melanie’s behavior, he immediately turned to the student Adrian.

Melanie was left empty-handed in an instant.

She had no idea that none of Fran’s former apprentices qualified to inherit Fran’s teachings.

Those people were so accommodating to her because only by marrying her would they have the slimmest chance.

Fran didn’t take on good students simply because he wanted to save the best for his own daughter.

But since Melanie didn’t want it, he didn’t insist and instead chose another student he liked; Adrian was more satisfactory to Fran than Melanie in everything except blood ties and affection.

By this time, Melanie had become famous in the Royal Palace, a beauty at 16 that was beyond words. Had she been of noble birth, she would have already been the new Pearl of Saral.

The Old King took to her quite easily.

But Melanie, having spent a few years in court, deeply understood that the Old King would never marry her.

She thought about playing with the Old King after getting married, but when single it was out of the question, too disgraceful.

When Hill read these words, marked as Melanie’s own, he felt like the world was spinning around him.

Thus she chose the Earl who presented himself at her doorstep.

She felt that this Count Perelast, lacking in stature, would absolutely not interfere too much with her.

And besides, he already had a son, so even if she didn’t want children, there wouldn’t be a problem.

After getting married, she settled in the castle of White Horse City, planning to return to the Royal Palace once the Old King’s interest in her waned.

Therefore, her communications with the Princesses turned to writing letters.

Hill was curious how the Undead Tribe found those servants who had been dismissed before the Saral Princesses had left.

The ones who knew the specific contents of the letters Melanie sent to the Princesses would have had to be very intimate servants, like someone of Lina’s status.

In any case, every line in these letters seemed to point at Hill and say: Your eyeballs are just like glass balls, not seeing anything.

Especially those few lines:

’How unlucky, the potion actually failed, and now I have to bear a child for a fool.’

It’s like I’ve taken too much of the potion, the child might be miscarried, which albeit being a bit harmful to the body is better than having it.

Is there trouble at court again? It’s just as well I’m staying in the castle for my confinement. Such a nuisance, this child’s life force is rather tenacious, actually managing to survive. Fine, let it be born! I don’t want to ruin my own body.

My father sent me a letter, did you blab about me not wanting the child? I said I would have it! Still got an earful though.

That idiot Earl! I don’t plan on playing along with him anymore. Now that I’ve received benefits from the Kral Clan, I might as well take the child and leave!

It is my child, after all. Does the Earl really think I would leave it for him? Allow my child, whom I suffered to birth, to be ruined by him?

But living with this child, no one will suspect my activities outside. Anyhow, with Lina here, she’s very good at taking care of people.

I’ll be free soon, so you all hurry up and find some fun! I’m dying of boredom here! To think I’ve stayed with that fool of an Earl for so long!

The King has a new mistress now? Then I’m going back to have some fun! You all test the waters, see if he still remembers me.

The King is clearly a Sky Knight, so why does he need potions to get things done? I need to stay away from him, there are so many young, handsome and strong boys around! Why should I endure torment from such an old thing?

Stay away from that old fool, he’s losing his mind. We might as well play in the outer city!

Raising a child isn’t as difficult as you say. It seems the children of mages just innately have a bit more intelligence.

My child, to have mage aptitude, that’s wonderful. I should teach him for the next couple of years, then I won’t need to bother with him afterwards.

The only good thing about this child is that he’s not as stupid as the Earl, my father would probably like him. It’s a shame he’s too gentle, I wonder who he gets that from?

I’ve made a thorough contraceptive potion, do you want some?

Don’t joke with me, I’ve already made him swear an oath of nobility; this child isn’t capable of surviving on his own.

But he’s still my own flesh and blood, and the daughter of a princess at that, am I crazy? At the very least, he could become a mage! And he knows alchemy, at the worst he’d make fine jewelry and live comfortably, no need for me to worry.

Sigh, having children really does make women age, whether they’re mages or not. I need to think of a solution.

The Undead Tribe goes with Lina’s words.

’Lady Melanie isn’t well, and doesn’t have much time to care for young master Hill, so it’s me and the wet nurse looking after him every day.

Young master Hill is truly of Lord Fran’s bloodline, just like Miss Melanie, understanding everything from a young age.

Young master Hill had a hard time when he was born, not having much strength to cry as a baby. But as he grew older, he got better, being naturally good-natured.

Lady Melanie is fond of alchemy, so she’s not that close with young master Hill. But they still have a very good mother-son relationship.

In a mage family, well, they have to practice all year round. It’s normal not to see each other all year.

Alchemists aren’t poor, so of course, Lady Melanie isn’t worried about the young master’s livelihood. Her inheritance is enough to support him.

The Earl wouldn’t dare, holding back the dowry of an archmage’s daughter. Initially, we were only worried that he would play dumb and let that woman be the bad guy, but she’s not stupid either. Her sights were set on Manton; she wouldn’t come forward for the Earl! And the money she got wouldn’t necessarily belong to her.

Young master Hill loves Lady Melanie dearly. He was helping her make jewelry when he was very young!’

Hill flung the book onto the ground and collapsed onto the bed.

Have his eyeballs gone blind? How does he not know Melanie has always been out playing?

Did she sneak away in the middle of the night?

The villa where Hill lived as a child was actually quite large. Living on the 2nd floor, Hill indeed didn’t know much about Melanie who lived on the 4th floor.

But he really couldn’t fathom someone flying out at night to seek pleasure!

Studying every day is exhausting, and he slept very deeply at night.

After lying there for over an hour, Hill got up again, picking up the book.

He had to know just how foolish he really was.

It was indeed due to a failed alchemy incident that Melanie was severely injured. Hill looked at the reason for her injury: trying to create a youth potion through less repulsive methods.

She didn’t want to use human flesh and blood, finding it too disgusting.

She complained about this in her letters to the princesses, telling them not to send her children’s flesh and blood, as it felt like cannibalism.

But she still tried using those materials the princesses gave her, saying that Lina threw up, and she herself couldn’t handle it, unable to persist.

Forget it, she burned them all.

She would rather experiment with magical beasts instead.

Thank goodness, Hill clutched his throbbing heart, even if not the most moral person, at least there’s a line she wouldn’t cross.

Otherwise, if the scandal broke that he had a mother who consumed a youth potion made from human flesh, Hill really felt he would go insane. It was too much for his sanity.

Hill didn’t know what Melanie and Lina were thinking, why they maintained the facade of a good woman and good mother in front of him, but he was now very grateful for their decision.

Otherwise, Hill’s life would definitely not look like it does now.

If it had been the Hill who had just come into this world, seeing the true nature of the Earl and his wife, he likely wouldn’t have chosen such a stable life.

Many choices would have been much more selfish, and he certainly wouldn’t have trusted anyone.