Alora took her place on the opposite sofa, watching Raiden with hungry eyes over the rim of her coffee cup.
"Your family, huh?" he said while she made a thoughtful expression. "The Night family relished their feud with the Dawnbringers. That’s why they never suggested the bloodline ritual."
Raiden held Alora’s gaze through the tense silence. He hated being trapped in her living room, and the glaring white walls combined with the searing light from the chandelier above sent pain shooting through his skull.
"This is all I know, I guess."
The instant her words ended, Raiden got to his feet. "I’ll be going then. The high court is expecting me."
Alora stayed where she was, her tousled white hair shifting against her shoulder, a smile playing on her lips as Raiden walked away, never once glancing back at her.
Once outside, Raiden stopped and pressed his finger to his bottom lip, thinking. Yesterday, he had requested an audience with the high court about the bloodline ritual.
They had consented to meet, and if what Alora said held true, the process might unfold easier than expected.
But her smile... he shook his head, clearing his thoughts. Deciphering Alora was like attempting to comprehend the entirety of existence—impossible and maddening.
Without delay, he headed for the courtroom down the hall. Upon entering, he found the elders positioned in their raised seats as expected, all awaiting the arrival of King Hannes.
Raiden glanced at each elder in turn, their expressions making it clear they had no fondness for his presence.
This only broadened Raiden’s smile. Age was confused with intelligence, which was the sole reason the elders remained in court—they provided nothing except misguided advice, corruption, and financial waste.
Something he knew everyone would do if they ever discovered what the six elders they worshipped were really like.
Before Raiden could voice his thoughts and undermine his reason for being there, the king walked into the room, instantly capturing everyone’s focus.
Everyone turned his way with barely concealed deference, watching as King Hannes settled into his seat at the room’s longest table.
He cleared his throat. "What brought you here?" he demanded as soon as he was seated.
Raiden smirked and took a deep breath, clearing his throat as he steeled himself for the inevitable.
"The constant threat from the assassins has ended, and this brings good news not only to me, but to the kingdom as well."
He paused for a moment to collect himself, and his expression immediately darkened.
"But I am not happy," he continued. The elders traded puzzled looks while King Hannes kept his eyes fixed on Raiden.
"From where I stand, I could die at any moment." His eyes became slits as he stared at them menacingly. "And the instant that happens, you people will already have a bloodline prepared to assume my duties."
Murmurs began rising among the elders.
"This situation gives these families, who are certain that my duty will fall to them the moment I die, a clear motive to want me dead."
His voice darkened further. "And yeah... most of the elders know the family I’m referring to, considering they’re already collaborating with them to orchestrate my death."
An elder slammed his hands on the table as he rose. "How dare you bring such accusations against the six elders?!"
"Silence, Elder." King Hannes declared. "Let him speak."
The elder gradually settled back into his seat as Raiden suppressed a laugh of excitement.
"If this strikes such a nerve, then prove your innocence..." A faint smile crept into his threatening tone.
"I need a bloodline ritual."
The elders’ eyes went wide with shock, as though his words were blasphemous.
"The Dawnbringers want me dead," he declared bluntly, his voice raw and unfiltered.
"And what’s painful is that this very court knows of this but will do nothing but wait until I’m corpse to act remorseful."
He shut his eyes for a moment, released a long breath, then prepared to settle this matter once and for all.
"I risk my life daily for this kingdom, and I think I’m entitled to some guarantee that when I die, my position won’t pass to those who’ve worked against me and hunger for power."
His gaze sharpened slightly, but his tone grew gentler, a contradiction to his typical presence.
"Regardless of whether you’re conspiring with my enemies, this is simply the logical choice to prove the kingdom cares about the pride of its servants."
He lowered his head a fraction. "If my enemy claims victory upon my death, it dishonors my bloodline and everything we’ve sacrificed in service."
"This is the very least this kingdom owes my family."
Raiden finally raised his head and looked at the others. His words sank in as the elders’ murmurs grew louder. In that brief moment, he resembled a condemned man awaiting his fate.
King Hannes cleared his throat, immediately capturing everyone’s attention.
"You consistently demonstrate your dedication to your responsibilities, and this shouldn’t be ignored."
Raiden held the king’s steady gaze, noting the soft smile on his lips.
"Even I, the king, sometimes encounter unusual threats against my reign."
King Hannes rested his hand on the surface before him. "Enemies will continue to emerge whether you undergo the bloodline ritual or not."
Raiden searched for hidden meaning in King Hannes’ words but came up empty. The uncertainty left him on edge, unable to determine if he’d succeeded or failed.
"It goes without saying that the bloodline ritual is beneficial and will ensure your family’s legacy continues." The king smirked. "My own family underwent the same ritual centuries ago, so I believe it lives up to its reputation."
He sighed deeply. "Are you certain this is your desire? This won’t make you an enemy of just one family—it’ll make you an enemy of the whole kingdom, since everyone becomes a potential successor."
Raiden paused to consider. King Hannes had a point. The bloodline ritual would randomly select a family to receive his position as bookkeeper once the last member of his bloodline perished. With everyone eager to try their luck, and him being the sole survivor of his family, it was essentially putting a price on his own head.
But he craved this peace. The Dawnbringers’ constant pursuit forced him to remain vigilant, robbing him of the time he needed to focus on truly important matters.
"Does the public need to know about this ritual?"
King Hannes gave him a gentle nod. "Yes, Bookkeeper."
"By law, binding a particular bloodline to royal duties must be publicly announced, as no other family can claim that role unless the bound lineage dies out."
The decision weighed heavily on Raiden. He hadn’t viewed it from this perspective. If the public reacted poorly to this ritual, it could create more problems than he already faced. But what if they supported it?
After a moment of consideration, he decided.
"Alright... I still want the ritual."
He had to go through with it without dwelling on the consequences. The citizens wouldn’t strike right away, and most would be deterred by the realization that his luck couldn’t be controlled—only fate could determine the outcome.
"Very well," King Hannes said, standing. "The court has heard your petition, and we must consider it carefully before providing you with our decision."
He struck his fist against the counter, and the six elders mirrored the gesture as they stood and followed King Hannes out of the room.
Raiden exhaled in relief. The decision hadn’t been easy, but with returning to his world still a possibility, it was worth the risk.