Chapter 2 Unwelcome Family Flaws

Surrounded by dozens of apprentices in short robes and led by the estate's steward, Gauss, Dr. Moss walked into the hall filled with sunlight and the fragrance of flowers, leaning on a cane. "Master Lucien, please allow me to examine the healing of your wound."

"Thank you for your help."

Xiao Yun lay down as he was told, and his eyes were unconsciously attracted to a young man beside Dr. Moss.

The young man was about twenty-five or twenty-six, with delicate features and a slim figure. His quiet temperament reminded people of a woman. His long brown hair was tied behind his neck, and the loose hair on the sides of his ears was meticulously groomed. He was wearing a brown robe that represented his scholarly status, with a linen shirt without lace decorations visible at the collar. A cross-shaped amulet symbolizing the god of life and knowledge hung on his slightly thin chest, and he was holding a handful of books in his hands.

(who is he?)

The young man obviously felt Xiao Yun's gaze and lowered his head with a smile: "Hello, Master Lucien."

"Who are you--"

"He is John Dill of Milos, twenty-five years old, the youngest professor at the Royal Academy and a trusted advisor to His Highness. He often presides over the monthly Rosa Marie Academic Salon on His Highness's behalf, who is often overwhelmed by official duties."

Rosa Marie is the favorite flower of Lucien's brother, the Grand Duke, and is also the flower that appears most often in the vase. The large and colorful flowers resemble peonies, and the rich fragrance reminds Xiao Yun, who comes from Earth, of roses.

(Twenty-five years old... Professor at the Royal Academy... Although this world's level of civilization and technology is comparable to Earth's Middle Ages, but... becoming a professor at the highest institution of learning at twenty-five... and... judging by his attire, he's clearly not a noble...)

Xiao Yun muttered to himself.

While Dr. Moss was checking the wound healing with the help of his apprentices, he enthusiastically introduced John Deere.

"When he was appreciated by the Grand Duke, you had already left Guangming City, so naturally you didn't know him..."

"Don't be fooled by his frail appearance. At the age of thirteen, he left his hometown with his childhood mercenary friend and traveled to the Empire... Because he had no noble status, he went through a lot of trouble to get the Grand Duke's recommendation to enter the Royal Academy..."

…

Before I knew it, the physical examination was over.

After confirming that Lucien was in good health, Dr. Moss left surrounded by his apprentices.

John Deere did not follow him out of the hall.

He glanced at the butler, Gauss, and stepped forward. "His Highness is worried that you might refuse to meet him due to your amnesia, or that you might become anxious and distressed after meeting him because the conversation involves past events that you have no recollection of. He has therefore sent me to the Outer City Manor to assess your amnesia."

The tone was so calm that there was almost no emotional fluctuation.

What do you mean? Why does it feel like… the Grand Duke… he…?

Xiao Yun was confused.

With the help of the servants, he put on his clothes and sat up straight. "How do you want to identify it?"

"I will first confirm your common sense."

John Deere leaned over and sat opposite Xiao Yun with a book on his lap.

"How much do you remember about the Empire of the Sun and the Holy Family?"

"The Sun...Empire..."

Xiao Yun's mouth moved slightly.

He suspected that Yaris had other motives in sending John Deere.

"I... my head hurts. I'm sure I know about the Solar Empire, and I'm also very familiar with the term Holy Family, but... the information related to them seems to be sealed... No matter how hard I try, I can't remember the content... I... What's wrong with me?"

"you--"

John Deere was silent.

After a brief pause, he replied in a slow but rhythmic tone, "The Dark Magic has indeed caused serious harm to you, young master."

“—I’m sorry.”

"You don't have to feel sorry for this. Helping you recover your memory by explaining the basics of this world is the job the Master entrusted to me."

He turned the pages of the book with his slender, clean fingers and began to lecture.

"The Solar Empire is located in the western continent of the northern hemisphere of Planet Ella. It is the cultural, artistic, and religious center of the entire western continent. The empire is vast and fertile, and the southern plains through which the Ebola River flows are known as the empire's granary.

The royal capital of Bright City, nestled in the middle reaches of the Ebola River, boasts a picturesque landscape, with spring-like weather year-round. The city's towers often incorporate gold derived from sun fragments, silver representing the hair of the Moon Goddess, and crystals symbolizing light, air, and magic. Consequently, it is also known as the City of Spring, the Golden Royal Capital, the City of Light, the Magic City, and the City of Towers...

...The Solar Empire has a history of at least five thousand years. Although dynasties may change every few hundred years, the Holy Family, known as the soul and essence of the Solar Empire, has never been interrupted for five thousand years."

(Five thousand years... never interrupted...)

Xiao Yun felt extremely uncomfortable.

"...Four thousand years ago, the Sun Empire's land area was less than one-tenth of its current size. During that period, the Holy Family, as king and high priest, monopolized both royal and divine authority, hence the name "Holy Royal Family."

Everything has its ups and downs. As the world grew and the land expanded, the Holy Royal Family's rule became less secure. Approximately three thousand years ago, the Holy Royal Family formally renounced their royal authority and retreated to a sacred family with a hereditary high priesthood.

Over the next three thousand years, the Solar Empire experienced countless wars and coups, and the royal family changed countless times. However, the Holy Family, which monopolized divine power, remained the center of power in the empire.

"Why?"

Xiao Yun blurted out: "Why is it that no matter how the regime changes, the Holy Family always——"

"Because the Holy Family is the bloodline of the Twin Gods on earth."

"ah?"

"At least, that's what all the believers of various religions in the Western Continent think."

John Deere flips the pages and tells the story.

"The Twin Gods are the most widespread belief in the Western Continent, bar none. These two deities are both brothers and father and son. Ya possesses black hair and black eyes, while Shan possesses silver hair and purple eyes. Holy families with divine blood, regardless of gender, possess exceptional beauty and talent. They are taller and slenderer than ordinary people, and direct family members often sport distinctive features like silver hair and purple eyes, or black hair and black eyes."

(Silver hair and purple eyes are fine, but black hair and black eyes——)

Xiao Yun frowned.

As if reading his mind, John Dill added, "Black hair and black eyes are not uncommon in the Solar Empire, which values ​​black hair. However, the black hair and black eyes of the Holy Family are completely different from those of ordinary people, especially their eyes... Their eyes are the purest black, absorbing even light."

(The purest black...)

Xiao Yun thought of Yaris's eyes...

In the dream, he indeed had a pair of impressive eyes. Not only were his pupils black, but his irises were also a pure black, which was contrary to common sense. They were deep and mysterious, just like darkness itself.

"...To maintain their specific appearance and unique abilities, the Holy Family has, for thousands of years, followed the divine command to marry the chosen one and give birth to the supremely pure-blooded offspring known as 'Divine Pets.' However, due to the excessive concentration of divine blood within the 'Divine Pets,' it is difficult for them to reproduce with ordinary people."

Therefore, after the firstborn son is born to the wife married according to God's command, the Holy Family will find another lover and have other children with the lover as a backup for the inheritance of the family bloodline.

"In that case, why..."

(I am an unwelcome family blemish…)

"Your father was a rebellious Grand Duke. After he fathered his eldest son, my master, with his divinely chosen wife, according to tradition, he fell in love with a wandering dancer of no status. For love's sake, your father sent his wife and son away and lived with his mistress in the Little Palace of Love on the shores of Lake Lilia, forbidding anyone to bring my master inside. It wasn't until his death ten years ago that my master, as the new Grand Duke, entered the Little Palace of Love for the first time and met you, his half-brother."

Hearing this, Xiao Yun couldn't help but have more respect for Yaris, who had been treated harshly by his father since childhood but had been able to take care of and love his half-brother for ten years.

John Deere went on to introduce Empire of the Sun and Holy Family.

"For three thousand years, any political force that seized supreme power in the Sun Empire and founded its own dynasty would ennoble the Holy Family as the dynasty's hereditary Grand Duke and legislate to confirm the various privileges enjoyed by this family..."

(Another world version of Sheng Yan Gong?)

Xiao Yun complained silently.

John, who knew nothing about Xiao Yun's thoughts, explained in detail the complex relationship between the Holy Family and the many beliefs popular in the Western Continent.

It turns out that the people in this world believe that there are gods in the world. These gods live in a higher dimensional world that is beyond the reach of humans. They use methods that humans cannot understand to interfere with and adjust the rise and fall of the human world.

Among them, the most widely spread belief in the Central Plains of the Western Continent is the twin gods Ya and Shem, who are brothers. Due to the drought and lack of rain in the border areas, people regard the storm god Sera as the main god. The half-human, half-snake sea god is the core of belief in coastal areas.

The Eastern Continent and the continents of the Southern Hemisphere also have their own belief systems.

Moreover, since people firmly believe that all gods in the world are real, even the most fanatical believers will not claim that their god is the only true God. Instead, they are keen to prove that the gods of other faiths are incarnations or subordinates of the gods they believe in.

Just as the White Magic Path and the Black Magic Path are both magic paths, there is no absolute division between good and evil among the gods in the world. Even the Demon God of Hell who dominates evil, destruction and death is the favorite object of prayer and transactions of black magicians because of his special properties of controlling death and black magic.

"...Although it may seem a bit arrogant to say this, the public's belief in gods does have a certain utilitarian nature."

John changed the subject and sharply criticized, "Today's temples are less the abodes of gods and faith than markets selling idols and beliefs... People enter temples motivated by profit, buying amulets with specific effects, and then return the promised rewards to the temple within a year of their wishes being fulfilled..."

…

…

In the evening, John finished his class and prepared to leave.

He handed Xiao Yun an extremely luxurious and exquisite book inlaid with gold, silver, and gemstones, and instructed him, "Master Lucien, please be sure to read this book thoroughly before meeting His Highness."

Xiao Yun lowered his head and glanced at the title of the book——

"A Study of the Five Thousand Years of History and Peculiarities of the Holy Family".