Chapter 18

After the silent laugh, Friedrich became serious again. "The emperor has announced at night that the war against the Kholodny Empire would become more active again."

"Again? And why did he call for a meeting in the night?" Isabel asked.

"It seems that the empire had invaded into the lands of the Nordic Union, and they asked for our help. It seems that our situation of a cold war wasn't enough, giving them so much freedom as to attack a different country. Since we are allied with the Nordic Union, we will naturally help reduce the enemies they face."

"Who will lead the attack?" Ludwig was also curious. After all, unlike the Holle Family Mansion that was southeast of the empire, the Trugbild Family Mansion was northeast and had close connections to the Nordic Union. After all, the Trugbild family carried the role of Foreign Affairs Minister for so long. From his guess, it was likely that the informants of the Trugbild family arrived before the request for help from the Union.

"A prince and several other royal family members will be sent by his majesty. The two grand duchies will send a ninth stage wizard or a knight each, while the five duchies have to sent a person of the high stage."

 "What did the family say?"

"They will send my cousin, Konrad the Vicious Eye."

"Uncle Konrad?!" Isabel asked "Isn't he… a practitioner of negative prophecies? But a war… isn't it too dangerous for uncle?"

Friedrich sighed "It seems that your uncle attempts to break through to the ninth stage with this… after all, unlike us, if his line doesn't actively produce prophecies, they won't advance. It can be said to be the disadvantage they gain for having strong offensive powers, which is uncommon for us who walk the path of prophecies."

"Did uncle come to the city this time? Why don't we invite him and others that will leave for the war to my banquet today?" Adele asked in a soft voice.

Isabel heard this and wanted to reject, but then she asked "Are you sure? If we do this, then you will likely not be able to enjoy your birthday."

"Mother, how can this be as important as war? After all, even if I don't invite them, most that will come will still talk about it. It's better to properly invite everyone than to hold more meetings afterwards. And… mother, isn't it common practice for us to make our first prophecy when we turn ten? I can feel… that fate is guiding me today. I thought it was because of my birthday, but maybe it's because of this."

Friedrich was surprised, while Ludwig was angry. He had learned of many customs of the family and firmly rejected them… but if he was honest, he knew very well the customs in his own family, in contrast, doing a prophecy at ten isn't bad at all. Although it would cost something, lifespan was only a cost for when you make large prophecies. It was usual to only prophesize something small and then become weak for a few weeks.

Looking at the firm look of her daughter, Ludwig didn't say anything, while Isabel finally accepted it "In fact, you don't need to make a large prophecy. As long as you make one that is weaker and doesn't cost much, but is precise, then you will gain a lot of reputation this time."

The topic was concluded and the soon finished their breakfast.

Although servants were all around, they had many seals on their whole body. Since the Holle bloodline was inept in sealing in exchange for a prophecy, they naturally were experienced in seals too. The highest servants even got prophecies and were marked with seals that are supported by the law of the spiritual world.

…

Time passed and Adele got dressed up. It was a white long dress that resembled true nobility in any fashion. Frills seemed to grow out of everywhere, while she wore her purple necklace around her neck. She had asked for a copy of this necklace for her eight birthday, it was an artifact that was defensive, but definitely worse than her inheritance necklace.

So instead, she wore her inheritance necklace and put the other necklace into the necklace's space… she would treat it as a gift of sort.

Her skin was very pale and her hair was extremely white. It was even white than her mothers hair, who had a rather silver hue on her white hair. Pale skin and white hair were common characteristics of the Holle's, for a simple reason: these were the most obvious body changes that would happen when one loses lifespan. Since they have these characteristics in their blood, even when they perform a prophecy, it won't be obvious on their face.

She looked into a mirror and her eyes turned from deep violet to a blank white too. There was a commonly used spell among the Holle family that had this effect, but since her bloodline allowed her to change it, there was no reason to learn that spell. As for why they used it… it was actually only cosmetical, and didn't change their ability at all, but it was proven that other people felt more relaxed under these eyes.

After all, they all knew the story behind the purple eyes of the Holle. Well, most would be relaxed, as for the imperial power, grand duchies and duchies… they knew very well that these hidden eyes are much more vicious than when they are openly presented to everyone. A snake is the most dangerous when you don't know of their existence.

When Adele looked at herself in the mirror, she still admired her beauty. Although her doppelgänger bloodline mainly went towards the magical route, she still had a physical aspect and was able to subtly change her facial structure. With this, she changed her face to look just like a doll.

From her previous 'life', she always felt that these innocent looking dolls were the most dangerous, and the many stories around them were similarly scary. So, feeling that a doll was the scariest existence, but also cold and indifferent, it was fitting to her.

It was only when she was with her family that her facial expressions relaxed and she looked like a young child instead of a doll. Though her mother thought it was weird, her father told her that this behaviour was actually very common among the children of the Trugbild family, and it shouldn't be dismissed but even encouraged.

Who knows how well her training is rewarded? One day she might even awaken more of her bloodline, and then shaping her whole body wouldn't be impossible. Although her ability would be weaker than others, after all, in a technical sense, Ludwig's bloodline also went towards the magical route, yet he was able to shapeshift very well.

Adele left the room and came downstairs, waiting in front of the mansion with her mother for the guests that would arrive soon.