Though the banquet was of a high standard, in essence, it was the same familiar proceedings that one would have already become accustomed to.
Thus, in the eyes of some, everything about tonight seemed somewhat unremarkable.
In the ballroom, the young men in their crisp military uniforms led elegantly dressed academy girls in a graceful dance, the tapping of heels and the billowing of skirts bursting with the youth and vitality unique to the young.
The Fourth Prince Joshua idly sipped champagne, utterly bored.
Meanwhile, after a long silence, Eunice, by his side, voiced the confusion in her mind, "The secrets... of the Bartleion family?"
Clearly, it was the first time she had heard such a reason.
The Fourth Prince glanced at her, "In our circles, it's hardly a secret."
"As one who grew up alongside Eleanor and others, aren't you at all curious? The Bartleion family, though few in number, seems to have every child who grows up show remarkable innate talent in the field of transcendency?"
Eleanor's two brothers were prime examples.
The eldest son William may have died on the battlefield, but left a legendary name in the Military Department, holding many records, and he most likely would have entered the realm of a Fifth Rank Legend sooner than Irina had he not met his demise.
As for the second son Lynn, his monstrous life needed no explanation.
Even Eleanor, at her current age, was not far behind her two brothers, becoming an unmatched presence in the academy.
Even though she is only Second Rank now, she is just 14 years old this year, having become a Transcendent merely a year ago.
How many believers of noble birth are just managing to pass the First Rank trial at her age?
After all, children's bodies are not fully developed and cannot withstand the washing of extraordinary power, hence generally speaking, 13 years old is recognized as the best time for awakening.
"That's the power that comes from the bloodline," the Fourth Prince Joshua said with a faint smile, "such cases are quite rare, and had not the Bartleion family just happened to fall into decline, I wouldn't have been able to find a suitable sample."
"Xiya, the new subordinate of Sister Hillena of the Mosgla family, also has a similar bloodline, but purer than that of the Bartleions, a pity she treasures him too much and won't let me take a single drop of blood."
"So for now, I have to settle for second best."
After listening to Joshua's calm narrative, as Eunice looked at the petite figure in the corner, a trace of sympathy actually appeared in her eyes.
And she had already pronounced her doom in her heart.
"It's about time to show my face at the banquet," said the Fourth Prince, emptying his glass with a swig, "I have to go to the Council Hall later. The Emperor is awarding honors to the victorious heroes returning from war."
"I hear my foolish third sister got lucky and bagged some military merit on the frontier too."
The Fourth Prince Joshua shook his head, then slowly walked toward Eleanor in the corner.
In the corner, Eleanor leaned against the cold wall, her head bowed low as she stared intently at the smooth marble tiles beneath her feet.
Even after several hours had elapsed, she was still somewhat unsettled.
As soon as she quieted down, the image of the maid Celine dying before her would emerge in her mind.
This inflicted a great trauma on her psyche.
To her, Celine, who had silently been by her side during the most difficult times, had become as much a family member.
Yet so easily, her life was taken by those demon-like individuals.
Eleanor's blue eyes were dull and lifeless, as if they could see no hope.
What... should she do?
She weakly covered her face with her hands, feeling an urge to cry, yet not a single tear would fall.
Just then, out of the corner of her eye, she suddenly noticed a figure approaching and offering her a handkerchief.
Eleanor quickly collected herself, took a deep breath, and apologized, "Sorry, I..."
But as she looked up to see the newcomer, her expression instantly turned ice-cold.
"May I have the honor of dancing the final dance of the evening with you?"
Seeing that she didn't need his handkerchief, the Fourth Prince Joshua smiled indifferently, tucked the handkerchief back into his pocket, and then extended his hand toward Eleanor.
He seemed to be merely asking her for a dance, but that outstretched hand also seemed to represent something else entirely.
Behind him, Eunice sent a suggestive look full of threats.
With the Bartleion family's fate entirely in the hands of the Mosgla family, even the Marquis's life was in their grasp.
With such a safeguard, Eunice didn't believe Eleanor would dare disobey her command.
Sensing Eunice's gaze, Eleanor was overwhelmed with despair.
She clearly understood.
Once she accepted the olive branch the Fourth Prince offered, what awaited her would surely be never-ending human experiments, probably never to walk out of the research institute unharmed in her life.
But if she didn't do so, what about her father, languishing in bed, her missing sister-in-law, and her brother, whose fate at the frontier was unknown?
A choice to trade her own life for her family's survival.
However, Eleanor knew all too well that striking a deal with these demon-like individuals was merely quenching thirst with poison.
If she accepted the Fourth Prince's proposal, could her father and brother really live in peace and safety?
It was obvious to anyone with half a brain that this was impossible.
At that moment, Eleanor found herself in an impossible dilemma.
Her dull eyes became even more vacant as her wrist hidden under the sleeve shivered slightly.
Noticing this, the Fourth Prince frowned.
He hadn't expected the girl to still be dreaming of a reunion with her family.
"Let me offer you a piece of intelligence," the Fourth Prince suddenly spoke, "After returning from the frontier, Felit approached me and told me something quite interesting."
"On the Orn City Memorial for the Fallen, he seemed to have seen a familiar name."
"Guess whose name it was?"
The words of the Fourth Prince struck like a spike, suddenly piercing into Eleanor's heart.
She lifted her head in a daze, staring at the man before her, lips trembling slightly, but unable to muster any words.
If there was anything that had always sustained her until now, it was the elder brother who'd been exiled to the frontier.
She had always believed that someday in the future, her omnipotent brother would regain his strength, return to the family, and rescue everyone from the mire of despair.
That's what Eleanor had thought, and it was what had driven her to live.
But at this moment, feeling the unwavering gaze in Joshua's eyes, she suddenly wanted to cover her ears.
As if by not hearing, she wouldn't have to face such a reality.
However, no matter how she tried to escape, reality still existed.
The Fourth Prince began to speak slowly, as if to shatter the last illusions and hope lingering in her heart.
"Yes, that name is... Lynn Bartleion."
"No... don't... don't..."
Eleanor sobbed, covering her ears, shaking her head weakly.
If not for the wall behind her, she might have collapsed under the weight of her trembling body.
A voice buzzed in her mind, as if mocking her efforts over the past year, suggesting that the so-called Bartleion family had long ceased to exist in anything but name.
The cracks in her heart creaked audibly.
It was as if, if this continued, Eleanor's spirit would completely shatter.
Brother William was dead.
Brother Lynn was dead too.
Until now, only my father and I remained of the whole family.
Eleanor, oh Eleanor, the hopes you've kept buried deep inside have become a laughable subject in the eyes of others.
Given the circumstances, should she still resist a fate that seems already sealed?
Tears slid silently down her cheeks, but Eleanor made no move to wipe them away.
Seeing this, the Fourth Prince grew somewhat impatient.
"People cannot be brought back to life," he said with a bland expression. "That's why life is so precious; for those who have died, we can only pay homage."
"And for that reason, we must seize the present, grasp those who are still alive, right?"
He implied more than he said.
"So, what is your answer?"
Looking at the black-haired girl with her head bowed in silence, the Fourth Prince offered his hand once more.
To trade her life for her father's was the only thing Eleanor could do at this moment.
The girl gently lifted her hand.
Seeing this, a smile crept onto the lips of Fourth Prince Joshua.
It would greatly increase the success rate in many aspects if she willingly became a test subject without resistance.
However, the next second, his expression froze.
The hand the girl had raised did not reach for his, but instead, a slender dagger had appeared at some point.
Under Joshua's astonished gaze, she unhesitatingly pressed the dagger to her own throat and slowly lifted her head.
Her eyes were red, yet her expression was filled with tragic beauty and stubborn defiance.
"I... even in death, will not succumb to your wishes."
The death of the maid Celine, followed by Lynn's loss, had dealt her blows too heavy to bear, robbing her completely of any hope for survival.
The sudden turn of events caught everyone's attention, silencing the entire gathering place.
"Put down the knife!" Feeling the varied gazes around her, Eunice grimaced, lowering her voice, "Think of your father, don't you care about his life and death?!"
Clearly, she had not expected Eleanor to go to such lengths, to bring such a disgraceful matter to light in public.
"If father were still lucid, he would surely agree with my decision."
Even in death, she would uphold the dignity of nobility to the end.
Not to become a pathetic test subject, at the mercy of others.
Hearing this, Eunice's face grew even more embarrassed.
She carefully looked towards the Fourth Prince: "Your Highness, I..."
"It doesn't matter." The Fourth Prince glanced at Eleanor. "I know what you're scheming."
"Unfortunately, I, the prince, have never cared for reputations."
"Guards! Seize this criminal who attempted to assassinate the prince!"
He raised his voice suddenly.
The next second, four guards appeared out of nowhere.
An invisible extraordinary power instantly immobilized Eleanor's movements.
Four Third Rank Transcendents... Despair flashed in Eleanor's eyes.
"The world is such a helpless place," the Fourth Prince said slowly, his gaze on the motionless black-haired girl. "Sometimes, what you want to do isn't something you can simply do on a whim."
Can't I even choose to end my own life?
Eleanor's heart felt as cold as ash; she slowly closed her eyes, ready to meet her final fate.
In an instant, accompanied by the sound of flesh being pierced, countless black threads shot out like arrows from all directions.
"She can certainly do anything she wants; that's how I, as her brother, tolerate her whims."
"Do you have any objections... Fourth Prince Joshua?"