âYou alone bear it?â
Colin sneered, disdainfully said, âCan you afford it?â
Franco nodded, straightening his back forcefully, and said solemnly: âI want to try.â
Due to being paralyzed for many years, Francoâs body was frail and weak, seemingly able to be felled by a gust of wind, but at this moment facing the notorious Earl Angler, he did not show any signs of shrinking back.
As Colin and Franco stared silently at each other, Count Morrison strode up to his father, blocking Colinâs probing gaze, and asked:
âFather, as Earl Morrison, I am entitled to know any secret within our family! So please be honest with me, what is going on?â
Lady Grace also said solemnly: âFranco, be honest about Horusâs matter. If it is truly unforgivable, the Morrison Family will naturally bear the deserved responsibility.
But, if this matter has nothing to do with the Morrison family, I will not allow anyone to tarnish the glory of the Morrison family!â
âGood!â Colin smiled slightly and said, âSir Franco, please tell us about this Mage Horus, so as not to have people always think I am in power for bullying others and falsely accuse the innocent.â
Franco hesitated for a moment, then said, âRegarding the matter of Horus, I only know a partâ¦â
âNever mind, just say it.â Colin chuckled lightly, âI will make the necessary supplementation.â
Francoâs face changed, as if he found it difficult to speak up.
Seeing this, Lady Grace slapped the table heavily, and exclaimed: âFranco, what are you afraid of? Does the Morrison family have any unspeakable secrets?â
Franco sighed helplessly and had to say:
âMother, brother Horus did not actually die at that time, but he was not far from dying either. His deformity was not only on the outside, his internal organs also had problems, so he was destined not to grow up healthyâ¦
At that time, a mysterious mage came to Floral City, saying that he had a certain degree of confidence that he could let Horus grow up healthy. Father was overjoyed and immediately promised a very high reward as long as that person could cure Horus.
But the mage said that he didnât need any other rewards, as long as our father allowed Horus to become his student. Plus, he wanted to take Horus away from Floral City.
Despite his reluctance, father ultimately agreed to the mysterious mage, because at least Horus had a glimmer of hope for survival after becoming a mage apprentice.
To avoid making you, mother, sad and to prevent others from thinking that the Morrison family was too close to Yevir, father concocted the lie that Horus had died⦠â
Hearing this, Colin couldnât help but ask: âWho was the mage that took Horus away?â
Franco shook his head and said, âI donât know, maybe father knows something, but he never told me.â
Colin frowned, he didnât expect there to be another mysterious mage.
This mage was clearly not Mr. Ji, because the age didnât match.
It seemed that Yevir might still hide some secrets, and he must visit The Tower of Mages when he has the chanceâ¦
Seeing that Colin was deep in thought, Franco continued:
âThat mage took Horus away and disappeared for twenty years without any news. My father and I thought he probably had not succeeded and treated Horus as if he had died.
But unexpectedly, one day, Horus appeared in Phoenix Butterfly Fort again.
Moreover, he has become a powerful mage.
My father was very happy and originally planned to let him recognize his ancestors and return to his roots, but Horus refused.
He said that he was carrying out a great experiment that might be a little heretical, but there was a chance to completely solve the deformation problem in the Morrison familyâs bloodline.
Of course, my father agreed without hesitation, did not disclose Horusâs identity, and helped him provide everything needed for the experimentâ¦â
âIs this where the blood pool under the clock tower at the west corner of Phoenix Butterfly Fort comes from?â Colin asked.
Franco nodded.
âWhat blood pool?â Count Morrison couldnât help but ask.
After some hesitation, Franco confessed, âItâs a blood pool formed by the blood of noble women from the St. Hilde family who have married into the Morrison family.â
There were a few sharp gasps in the hall.
You see, because of the Morrison familyâs insistence, the number of noblewomen from the St. Hilde family who have married into their family is not small.
Countess Nina, newly married, was aghast, asking with a trembling voice: âSaken, is this the real reason you married me?â
Count Morrison was also shocked by the news, shaking his head repeatedly and saying, âOf course not! Nina, my love for you is incredibly pure, totally uncorrupted by anything inappropriate!â
Nina calmly gazed at her husband, uncertain whether to believe him or not.
Lady Grace was so angry that she was shaking. She asked sharply: âSo youâve also stolen my blood?â
Franco lowered his head, dared not to look into his motherâs eyes, and murmured a faint âyes.â
âIngrate!â The old lady picked up a plate and smashed it towards Franco.
Franco didnât try to dodge, so he was hit, leaving him bleeding and in disarray.
Watching this scene with interest, Colin couldnât help but fan the flames of drama.
âRight, Sir Franco, I heard that there are still many living people hanging above the blood pool. Who are they?â
Franco casually wiped the blood from his face. Having almost given up, he spoke casually:
âThey are all abandoned infants from the Morrison family. They were born with disabilities and were secretly given to Horus for treatmentâ¦â
At this point, Franco looked up at Lady Grace and declared, âMother, I admit that Horusâs methods may seem sinister, but they are effective. At least those deformed infants are still aliveâ¦â
âAlive?â Colin scoffed, âhanging between life and death above that blood pool, you call that âaliveâ?â
âHorus said his experimental method needs perfecting. But he did save those infants who should have died!â Franco looked at Colin without any shame, growling, âCount Angler, you are not of the Morrison family, you canât understand the pain of seeing one deformed baby after another born into the clan!
So, even if Horusâs methods are heretical, as long as thereâs a glimmer of hope to solve the bloodline problem of the Morrison family, Iâd be willing to try anything, to bear any blame!â
Colin chuckled lightly, âSo, thatâs why you stole the remains of the previous Duke St. Hilde?â
Franco was suddenly speechless.
âWhat? You stole the remains of Duke St. Hilde?â Lady Grace stood up abruptly, raging at her son.
Franco nodded silently.
Lady Grace, suppressing her rage, demanded:
âWhere are the dukeâs remains now?â
Franco opened his mouth, but didnât know how to answer.
Colin sneered,
âThe dukeâs remains⦠I reckon they are playing hide and seek with Prince Lexie right now.â