After wiping the tears on her face, Belle starts to tell Lowell a long story.
“In our world, there is a myth which tells it’s creation. It wasn’t a very popular one, since it’s full of absurd information. It is said that our world was created out of whim by the Gods. They got bored and tried to make something that could entertain them. They created our world excitedly, since they expect that this could be the answer for the ‘entertainment’ they were looking for. After creating this world, they didn’t place predetermined fates of humans, since they favored the humans. They think of us as their perfected works.”
“That’s when the human civilization started to bloom. When Gods found that we’re too weak to fend ourselves from dangers in the world, they gave us a part of their power. It was the birth of Magic.”
“When the time humanity reached the apex of the food chain, we desired to be unique, by being superior to others. It started the war between humans. The Gods didn’t do anything, since they want to see the outcome of this event - a part of their 'entertainment'. After years of bloody struggle, Four Kingdoms emerged. The Kingdom of Wands, The Kingdom of Chalices, The Kingdom of Swords, and The Kingdom of Pentacles.
Each are named on how they built their own country. The Wand created its kingdom by using Magic, Chalices is by making a religion, Swords is by fighting with physical strength, and Pentacles is with money. Each has their own strengths and weaknesses. Each of them has a different belief, and wants their belief to topple others and be the main belief of the world. This created the Thousand Years War. It was a desolate period where negative emotions like fear, anxiety, and anger are rampant.”
“After a thousand years, the Gods felt bored with the continuous fighting which would last forever if they don’t intervene. Now, the Forgotten Gods gave another gift to humanity.. which is the ‘Supreme Thrones’.”
Lowell heard another foreign word.
“Supreme Thrones?”
“Yes, these are the proof where a person reached the top of his/her discipline. There are 22 Seats in Supreme Thrones. For one to obtain a Seat, one should know themselves and start to walk the path they choose. Each one has strengths and weaknesses, but they are all equal in power.”
“What are those 22 Seats?”
It was Louis who answered Lowell's question.
”Zero – Fool, One – Magician, Two – High Priestess, Three – Empress, Four – Emperor, Five – Heirophant, Six – Lovers, Seven – Chariot, Eight – Justice, Nine – Hermit, Ten – Wheel of Fortune, Eleven – Strength, Twelve – Hanged Man, Thirteen – Death, Fourteen – Temperance, Fifteen – Devil, Sixteen – Tower, Seventeen – Star, Eighteen – Moon, Nineteen – Sun, Twenty – Judgement, and Twenty One – World.”
Belle nodded as she continued to explain everything to Lowell.
“Each Path has a different way to achieve. A person can only get one Seat, since these Thrones would serve as your path in life. The frequent candidates for these seats are the rulers of the Four Kingdoms. This way, the war would end. The Gods gave each ruler of the Kingdom to choose their candidates for these seats. Each has to pick thirteen vessels, and the rulers are automatically the ‘Kings’ of their vessels. After picking, a total of 56 participants.
Their goal is, to reach the pinnacle of their respective paths and get the seats themselves, or eliminate one of the ‘High Officers’ of the enemy vessel. After that is a just a continuous cycle of fights. When it was presented by the Gods, the first one to act was the King of Pentacles and the King of Swords. They made an alliance, since their beliefs have similarities. It revolves around worldly desires and ambition. The King of Wands and the King of Chalices also made an alliance, since their belief revolves around spirituality and connection with nature. It started as a cold war, and next is a series of betrayals. In the end, Both Kingdom of Wands and Chalices are destroyed.
The leader of the Wand-Chalice Alliance, which is the King of the Chalices and Wands, were given the Mark of the Defeated, presently known as the Demon King’s Mark. The Winner of the battle, King of Swords and King of Pentacles, are given the Brand of the Victorious, also known as the Hero’s Brand. But before the King of Swords and King of Pentacles receive the Hero’s Brand, the King of Pentacles strikes the King of Sword from behind. This is why the Demon Kings have two successors, but the Hero has only one. It is said that the events during this time was manipulated by the King of Pentacles, making the act of deception a part of the history. This is why the story was made a taboo by our Kingdom, since it is considered an act of treason for the Royal Family, who are direct descendants of the First Hero.”
“But, why is there only one Demon King being battled by the Heroes of the legends? It should be one against two, or three against one, since the betrayed King of Swords should ally himself with the two defeated Kings?”
“It’s because-”
Lowell interrupted Belle and answered her question in his wife's stead.
“The King of Swords is a proud man. He might have been betrayed, he doesn’t want to receive help from people whom he defeated. In most of the time, he was the most reluctant about the Sword-Pentacles alliance. His principle is against the principle of the King of Pentacles. He doesn't see the world as a big gold mine, but he sees it as a big playground. He wants to test his skills to its limits unlike the Pentacles who wants to acquire all of the world’s treasures.
In an excerpt of the story, it was said that he’s deceived by the King of Pentacles, giving him a proposal he couldn’t reject – it was freedom to travel around the world. He wouldn’t be limited by his own territory, but also the territories of the other Kingdoms. He, who received the Seat of the Fool, believed him and that started an alliance between them.
Now, for the two Demon King candidates, it is always said that when both of them meet, they would always fight each other. The defeated would lose his mark, and the winner receives the Full Mark. They always become friends afterwards. Each reincarnation, the Two Marks will become One, and the one who lost his mark becomes the Demon King’s right hand man.
When this happens, the one who receives the Full Mark become much stronger while the other one wouldn’t receive that kind of spurt in power and would stay the same. Most people would think that the King who lost his Mark would feel envy and jealousy, but most of the time, these two successors maintain their friendly relationship. It was still a mystery why, since it was one of the mysteries of the Demon King’s Mark.”
Knowing that, Lowell felt relieved.
My brother has a chance of not turning into a full-fledged Demon King, but.. Big Brother is a King?! I got a pretty strong brother..
“Eheheh~”
“Why are you looking happy, Little Elle?”
Her Mom looks at Lowell with confusion, sensing her daughter's inner thoughts were leaking.
“N-Nothing! I wanted to ask.. How are both Mom and Dad related to this myth?”
Lowell looked at them with confusion.
“That’s…”
Her Mom looked worried.
She looked at Louis, as if trying to get his help while Louis was… smiling and still calm.
“Why not tell her? There’s nothing to be afraid of anymore.”
“But… If she get into this mess.. I-I won't forgive myself if something happens to her!”
“From the time she heard you, she’s already into this mess.”
Stolen novel; please report.
“Ugh-!”
Belle’s expression turned sour as Louis said that.
“Well, if you don’t want, then we’ll stop here..”
“Wait!”
Before Louis could leave, Belle interrupted him.
“Little Elle, don’t tell anyone what you’ll see here. This is for the safety of our family, okay?”
Belle looks at her with a serious face, making Lowell nervous.
“Y-Yes!”
“Then..”
Belle showed Lowell her right palm.
There was nothing in it until…
“Watch closely.”
A mark with two chalices forming a ‘II’ mark when she concentrated her mana into it.
“W-what!”
“Lowell-sama, look here~!”
Lowell saw her Dad, who was sticking his tongue out.
There is also a mark in it - eight chalices forming a ‘8’ symbol. Instead of ‘8’, it was a ‘♦’ placed on top of another ‘♦’.
Lowell noticed that the position of their marks are appropriate to their personality and history.
Belle, who was orphaned at a young age, was seeking for vengeance towards the culprit of her demise – the life dragon and used her own hands to attain her goal.
It may also mean that she’s looking for a helping hand that would take her burdens, even if it’s only half of it, away from her.
Dad, on the other hand, was a person who thinks deeper than what he speaks. But I think, it must be because of his ‘Madman’ tendencies. Now, he looks like one of those delinquents that casually cause trouble just to have fun.
Lowell thought of that, but she also thought that it might only be coincidence.
Lowell was still thinking when her Mom spoke again.
“I’m the Two of Chalices, while your Dad is the Eight of Chalices.”
“Both of you are vessels?! If I could recall, you said that the chalices is one of the candidates of being the Demon King.. Well, that’s strange..”
Lowell started to ponder while looking at Belle.
“How is it strange? Is it because why I am married to another vessel?”
“There's that.. It’s just that…”
“…That?”
“Whenever Mom tells the story of the Hero, her eyes shines brilliantly, as if he’s telling the story of his idol.. and to think that she’s a vassal of the Demon King’s successor. Aren’t you being a traitor in a sense?”
“That’s what you’re thinking about?!”
Belle was surprised when Lowell mentioned that.
Now, Lowell saw her Dad, who was looking devilishly at Belle.
By the way, he’s now in ‘Madman Mode’, since he acts like that whenever he’s using or gathering mana.
Lowell thought that when he showed her his mark, he placed too much mana into it, making the Dye Jewel inactive.
“My dear wife~ I want to hear more about this~”
“Eh?! What?! Wahhhhh!!!”
Belle panicked, but Lowell knew that her Mom is unlikely to panic like this without any reason.
Louis smiled innocently, which is also unlikely, and starts to tease Belle.
“In the name of my King, I’m the Eight of Chalices, start the trial! I suspect Two of Chalices for being a traitor!”
He’s in high spirits. Then suddenly..
“I-Idiot! What are you doing!!”
Light starts to emerge around their foot.
That’s when Lowell heard a deep voice of a man.
“Trial Start.”
The Mark of Eight of Chalices emerged on thin air, making Bell look pale in fright.
This was the first time Lowell see her like this..
“Stop this now! I don’t have any intention to betray anyone!”
“Then, Why are your eyes shining whenever you tell stories of the Hero, which is our main enemy?”
His smile still remains at his face.
Lowell really don’t know what her Dad’s thinking..
“That’s-?!”
“Then I hereby..”
“W-wait!”
Louis still continued to speak.
“Declare that the Two of Chalices!
“Uuuu… Stupid Louis… Waaaaaaaah! I don’t care anymore! I hate you!”
Belle starts to cry, which is out of her character
“Hahahaha! It’s refreshing to see my wife like this.
“I’m not trying to betray anyone.. *sob* I don’t want this… *sob*”
“-isn’t a Traitor!”
He continued the declaration.
The previous voice starts to speak again.
“Declaration accepted. Accused is Innocent. The prosecutor shall receive proper punishment for false accusation.”
Louis starts to hold his head, showing that he's in pain.
Instead of pain, what Lowell saw in his eyes were contentment.
“Hehehe. This pain is nothing. Seeing her like this refreshes my heart.”
“You stupid Louis.. I’ll divorce you!!”
Belle, who was still sobbing, starts to throw a tantrum.
Louis hugged her from the back, but Belle starts to struggle like a child.
“Don’t do that. You know you’re my only love, right?”
“*sob* Really?”
Belle looks at him with innocent eyes.
What’s this?! This is more than weird!
“W-What happened to Mom?!”
“Oh, that? It’s just one of the stupid ideas of those Gods. A vassal shall not betray his King. If he or she ever betrayed, the punishment is something worst than death. What happened earlier is a ‘Allegiance Trial’. One vassal can accuse another vassal if he or she heard something that could endanger their King. When the trial starts, the heart of the vassal being accused becomes truthful, pure, and innocent. This makes lying impossible. If the prosecutor finds the accused innocent, he’ll receive a divine punishment, which is by cursing them. The curse drops your mana into the critical levels, and you can’t regenerate it until the effect wore off. In my case, I think a whole day or two days is enough to remove this curse. Your Mom’s condition would go back to normal after an hour or so. Thank you for that wonderful opportunity, Lowell-sama!!”
Louis looks like he’s very happy and gave a thumbs up.
So there’s a rule like that?!
“I heard a deep voice of a man earlier. Who was that?”
“Oh? It’s the voice of the First King of the Chalices. His voice became the default voice whenever there is a trial held by Chalices.”
Lowell realized that her Mom’s life would really be in danger if her Dad declared her guilty..
“But, why did you do that?”
“Well, just for fun.. Ahahaha~!”
He starts to laugh, making Lowell thought that he's really tough…
He can handle the stress of being in critical levels as if it was nothing..
“Now, I’m starting to also hate you, Dad…”
Lowell looked at her Dad with disgust.
“Wah?! Please don’t! I’m not serious when I did that, I promise!”
Lowell looked at her Mom, who was dozing off like a child.
Lowell thought it was also good to see her Mom’s innocent side.
She was cute, unlike her normal attitude, which is somewhat crude.
When Lowell was trying to recollect the things that happened, Lowell pondered what she saw on her Big Brother’s hand.
It was… Huh?!
“Dad, do you know the present location of the King of the Chalices?”
“Oh? Why did you suddenly asked?”
“Well, I think you have a means to reach him..”
“Hahaha! That kind of convenient thing is only available to the Higher Officers.”
“I heard it earlier, but what are these Higher Officers actually?”
“They are the four vassals which is at the top of the Kingdom’s hierarchy. The Queen is the strongest among the four. Followed by the Ace, the Knight, and the Valet. They are the most loyal ones towards the King. That’s why they also have the means to connect with each other.”
“I-Is that so..”
Do I have to tell them.. that I saw Big Brother’s mark? It was a Chalice with a Crown above it.. So my Big Brother’s their King?
What kind of joke is this?
“Well then, we shall depart. Go to sleep afterwards, okay?”
Her Dad said as he carried Belle who was still sleeping.
She was like a princess when she was being carried by Louis.
Lowell returned to rummage around the library to gain more knowledge.
***
“Haaah…”
Louis looked at his wife’s blissful face.
“To think I got a chance to use that… well, it would only work if the vassal is accused first by a Higher Vassal. I just took the initiative to continue it. Really… the Gods have a bad taste..
Lowell carried her wife towards their bed.
“I promise you, my wife. I won’t let anyone destroy this family I build for us. This is my only happiness.”
He kissed her forehead and chanted a ‘Spatial Hole’ to the wall.
“Destination: Mycaenean House.”