Zwarteschwan [1]

The member of Zwarteschwan Household finished with their brunch. The maids and servants began their cleaning duty before leaving the master and madam there.

Martinus Zwarteschwan, The Head of Zwarteschwan household started his serious talk.

"Venetia, your marriage partner has been decided. It's the Court Magician of our kingdom, and also the next head of Araphaime Marquisate, Eldrite Vanessa Araphaime." he suddenly dropped a bomb out of thin air.

"Huh? Please wait a moment, Esteemed Father! I never heard anything like this before? Moreover, that Court Magician ..., the person named Eldrite Araphaime, isn't that person a middle-aged man in his thirty?" Venetia protested with despair planted on her beautiful face.

"Husband, didn't I made it clear that you cannot use my daughters to raise your influence in politics! Do you want to renege on your promise?" Petra gave her husband a deathly glare.

Marth who was seated beside her felt a sense of dread because of the aura exuded by his mother.

Getting such a reaction from his wife, Martinus could only let out a despaired sigh. He drank the red wine on the silver goblet before saying his reason.

"What can I do? I'm just your puny 1-star General in the Kingdom Army. Compared to that Araphaime young lad, who hold such massive authority in the court and also in the Magician Association, I'm nothing. I didn't dare to reject him without any reason just like that, it could lead to fatal disaster into our family. And if they really want to swallow our territory, they could do it anytime they want."

Petra went silent while frowning. She was also of [Noble] household, so she understood the conflict that could arise if the two families clashed. But more so, it was this household who will crumble if they fight.

"I-is there no other way? I, I don't want to marry a man that I don't like. And of course to the man who is twice my age." Venetia pleads with teary eyes, she really didn't want to live that life.

"...," Martinus gazed at the clean tablecloth in silence, his thick lips shut tight unable to give his daughter an answer.

"...," Petra also put on difficult expression while delving into her own thought.

Live as a daughter from a [Noble] household mostly ended up with unhealthy and unhappy life. They would be sold into other households as a bargaining chip, to be the other party wives, concubine, or even mistress. This is a common practice of the nobility, the essence of a political marriage.

However, Petra Grossvelg the wive of Martinus Zwarteschwan never let her daughters live that life. She was also wedded into this family because of the political agenda, but Martinus love her deeply and they both share a common feeling. 

She managed to make Martinus promise to not use their daughter for political purposes after the first daughter was born.

But only this time, Martinus could do nothing against it. How could he refuse a proposal that comes out from the upper echelon of the kingdom?

He himself served the Osterreich Kingdom and led a successful life as a military general. In the kingdom court, he also had his voice, albeit not that influential.

But even with that military and political achievement, he couldn't go against some mighty figure like that Eldrite Araphaime, the Court Magician itself!

Mage is a rare entity, and a Mage that serves the kingdom as the Court Magician of course has reached a certain level.

Eldrite Araphaime has reached the Fifth Circle from the Nine Spellcircle. And that was considered high attainment! Even the [Sage] that guarded the [Forbidden Library] in the Hastem Desert rumored to have reached the Seventh Circle. 

Being a Fifth Circle Mage in his thirty was a rare achievement.

Probably for some of the [Noble] lady in the kingdom, married into such a high-status Mage like this Eldrite was god bless. Some even said, that if Eldrite Araphaime wanted a woman to conceive his child, there would be a thousand women who would line up just for his slimy white seed.

Bloodline of a Mage is precious, his descendant has the probability to inherit his parents' talent as a mage. This would raise the prestige of the women's family. It should be a happy occasion if Venetia was such a simple-minded [Noble] woman and her family was the like of [Noble] house who only care about benefits.

But that was not in Venetia's mind right now. Right, even if she hadn't yet transformed into 'onee-san ara-ara fufufu' archetype just like how she is in the [Golden Ark]. She still had the mindset of a heroine. She would accept the person who could conquer her heart. And surely, it wasn't a wizard uncle that she never met before.

As expected from one of the heroine, what a praiseworthy unbending attitude. She should be a role model for every woman in this world. Though, if that was the case, it would be bothersome in itself.

Marth the only one in this room who had otherworldly knowledge and know about the future fate of this family and his sister went silent and decided to hear what they had to say.

He also wanted to know what made Venetia, this former [Noble] daughter to be sent into an ominous place like [Light Dragon Temple] and served the Light Dragon as a [Shrine Maiden].

'Do-don't tell me that this conversation is the turning point? Let's first wait and see ...,'

"..., there is actually way, to make Venetia avoid this marriage engagement." Suddenly Martinus said, a bit unsure from his tone.

"Huh, what is it, Esteemed Father? Please tell me, what is the way? Whatever it is, if it could make me didn't marry that wizard uncle, I'll do anything!" said Venetia getting back her hope.

"...," Martinus glanced at his wife, Petra while smiling wryly.

Petra at first didn't understand what her husband thinking, but soon enough she got a glimpse of it. She widened her eyes and shook her head in a panic!

"No! Don't! Don't tell me-" "[Freadrought]"

Before Petra finished with her words, Martinus cut by saying whatever language that is. 

A silence ensued the whole room. In this stillness, Marth racking his average performance brain.

'I see ..., so this is the start. To avoid Venetia's marriage arrangement, the family sent her to the [Light Dragon Temple]. Well, I guessed it so.'

[Light Dragon Temple] has another name and that was [Freadrought].

This has something to do with the ancient tongue and some weird etymologies. [Freadrt] was the name of the Light Dragon that worshiped by the majority of the continent's citizens. While [Freadrought] was something that means [House of Freudrt] or something along those phrases.

After some time passed and age change, it changed into Temple and Freudrt became [Light Dragon]. Thus, the biggest religious organization in this continent now called [Light Dragon Temple].

"Ara ..., that is so." Venetia clapped her hand in front of her humongous breast, seemingly jumped into her own conclusion.

"If I become a Shrine Maiden in the Temple and left the secular world, I didn't have to wed with that person. Ufufu ..., isn't this the best solution!" muttered Venetia while using her left hand to close her giggling mouth.

"Father, I will join the [Light Dragon Temple] and become a [Shrine Maiden]!" exclaimed Venetia with burning eyes, she was glad about that because she didn't have to deal with wizard uncle that soon to be her husband.

"...,"

"..."

Once again, the parents put on heavy expression.

Marth remembered about something crucial about this Temple from the game.

On the surface, [Light Dragon Temple] was a faction that supports the protagonist. Since the beginning of the Chapter until the middle of the game, they always on the same side as Roman Einvogel.

All of the [Class] that related to the [Light Magic] like the [Cleric], [Priest], [Paladin], [Monk], [Shrine Maiden], and [Oracle] all of them were trained in the [Light Dragon Temple] and they were helpful in the beginning because the enemies were mostly Dark-attributed.

However, behind that kindness and support to the 'Hero'. The [Light Dragon Temple] secretly did an unforgivable thing behind the shadow.

In Chapter 23, their secret ritual was found out by the protagonist of his party. This ritual was one of the rare gore scenes in this game. 

That's not strange, even if this game isn't an eroge, [Golden Ark] is rated as [+18] because of the gore and violence. Agil played it when he was about 14 or 15 years old ..., but meh, the rule was meant to be broken anyway. Besides, when he was sixth-grader, he already played eroge alone in his room.

Back to the rare gore scene inside the [Golden Ark] game. There was a cutscene in Chapter 23 that shows little children, starting from 5 to 10 years old, were thrown into a bottomless pit called [Light Well].

'Thrown' wasn't the best word to describe it, but imagine this. There were seven hundred little children sealed inside a room. One side of the wall in this room was opened, showing the bright abyss in the bottom. While the opposite wall slowly pushing them to that very abyss.

It's not thrown, but they push them to the edge until no one left!

The purpose of this ritual was to awaken the [Red-Eyed Corporeal Dragon] and [Black-Scaled Hell Dragon] who became the boss in chapters 23 and 24 respectively.

In those two chapters when the protagonist fought against the Temple, many party members left and joined.

Those who left the party were the people who dedicated all of his life and soul to the [Light Dragon Temple] despite knowing the dark truth. While the one who joined was the ex-member of Temple who didn't like the truth hidden from their temple and decided to fight against it.

If the side-heroine Venetia Zwarteschwan and Claire Parte hadn't yet joined the party, then they could be recruited in these two chapters.

After that, [Light Dragon Temple] becomes an enemy faction to the protagonist and his party.

Let's ignore these useless in-game detail that runs rampant inside Marth's brain this time. Even more, that was not what his two parents worried about.

Marth thought that his father and mother hesitated because they were unwilling to send their daughter to those dangerous factions. However, that was not the case inside the two parents' minds. They didn't think about that at all.

Two pairs of eyes fell on Marth, it was Martinus and Petra's. Marth who received their gaze could only tilt his head in wonder. Because he felt that they need to talk it out with him, Marth asked curiously.

"What is it, father, mother?"

Martinus didn't respond to his son's question, rather he gazed at Petra at his side, asked.

"Petra, can you ask for help from your family regarding this matter?"

"Is perhaps husband forget that recently my elder brother just presented some middle-grade [Sacrifice] to baptism Raymond-kun?" Petra answer with rhetoric.

"That's right, the [Sacrifice] for Marth's Baptism Ceremony ...," Venetia also murmured with a clouded face.

It seems it really was related with Marth in some sense.

'Ahh ..., I see, I remember something about this.'

[Freudrt] famous because it's stinginess. Although He was worshipped as the Temple God, he was incredibly stingy.

Unlike the other idol that bestows power to the follower instantly and freely, [Freudrt] didn't want to spare His divine power if there wasn't any [Sacrifice].

This is also the rule inside the game. The protagonist could borrow the [Freudrt] divine power, but he must pay the necessary [Sacrifice] for it. It could be a corpse of monsters, demons, or even souls of humans. As long as the [Sacrifice] had the tiniest bit of other divine power(beside Freudrt's) the Light Dragon could accept it.

Unsurprisingly, [Freudrt] didn't accept any [Sacrifice] in the form of currency. But of course, the Temple would gladly receive it.

Continuing with the topic. The [Light Dragon Temple] Baptism Ceremony was a ceremony that bestows a divine grace called [Freudrt's Divine Blessing] to a person who undergoes it. The price for the ceremony was an [Sacrifice] of any grade. 

The middle-grade [Sacrifice] that would be used to baptism Marth was a level 30 monster corpse his father bought just a week ago. It was bought for 700,000 Geld which was a huge sum of money.

Mostly only those from [Noble] could afford to do this. But there was no rule that [Commoner] couldn't do that, if they could bring a [Sacrifice] then all is good.

The divine grace adds a passive effect [+Growth Rate] and [+Weapon Mastery] that could help character growth. If we talked about it in the perspectives of a player. 

'When was it, the first time that I know about this divine blessing. Ahh ..., I didn't even know about such cheats even after Chapter 10 when I first played the game.'

The Baptism Ceremony that bestows the [Freudrt's Divine Blessing] restricted only to those who haven't yet undergone the first [Class Promotion]. And this could be done only once in a lifetime with the duration of the divine grace starting from three to six months, it depends on the grade of said [Sacrifice].

Enough with the sacrifice and divine grace thing, and tell you this one more time. [Freudrt] is a stingy dragon.

Even those who was a devout worshipper in the temple, the priest, shrine maiden, paladin, monk all of them must pay for the adequate price just to join in their fraternity. Right, they have to pay to be part of the temple, there were no such things as volunteers or stray believers.

That's why all of the [Light Magic] users from the [Light Dragon Temple] almost all of them were from the [Noble] household before joining the temple. Because it was almost impossible for a [Commoner] to gave a [Sacrifice] to the light dragon [Freudrt].

Marth thought it was a pity if he couldn't get the divine blessing this early in the game. The earlier he got that blessing, the more he would grow. But, he knew that Venetia must go out of this house and serve as the [Shrine Maiden] in the temple. That was if he wanted her to follow the original storyline.

"..., I think it won't pose a problem." Marth suddenly said.

"Marth, did you follow what are we discussing?" Asked Martinus with a creased brow.

Marth nodded in an understanding manner and answered, "Yes ..., father wants to use the sacrifice prepared for my baptism to make Venetia-aneue enroll the Light Dragon Temple. I'm fine with that, besides, to Venetia-aneue this matter couldn't be postponed, while my baptism could be delayed for the later date. Father could just do that, I can wait."

"Marth ..." Venetia gazed at her brother feeling guilty.

Only the main heir of the [Noble] Household who will inherit the title and land that could undergo the [Baptism] Ceremony. Killing a sacrifice was difficult, even if their private soldier couldn't defeat those, they could just hire a [Mercenary] and that was expensive.

In summary, there would be no meaning to give such luxury to the second or third son, moreover to the daughters. In the Zwarteschwan House, the only one who has the right to get the Baptism was Marth, the second-born and first son.

For him, that should be getting that, but willingly gave the [Sacrifice] to her. Of course, Venetia would feel guilty about it. The family spent an entire sum of 700,000 Ost Geld just to buy this middle-grade [Sacrifice] from a Regia [Mercenary] group.

"..."

Martinus was drowned in his own dilemma. On one side, he really unwilling to hand his daughter to the man named Eldrite. But he couldn't think any possible excuse besides sending her to serve the Light Dragon Temple for a while. And doing that would mean he will forsake the golden chance for his son to get the [Freudrt's Divine Blessing].

"..., I'm sorry, just forget it! I'll agree with this arrangement, a-and marries that person," said Venetia, with a broken voice as if holding back the tears on her eyes.

Even though that would mean she let go of her own happiness, Venetia forced herself to accept this proposal. For the sake of his brother, she made herself willing to accept it.

Martinus gazed at her daughter with the same sad expression, just like him, Petra was also doing that. Marth knew exactly, how hard it was for Venetia to come into that conclusion and say it to them.

Venetia was feeling guilty over this matter. It was true, compared to the ordinary [Noble] girl, she was lucky because her family didn't sell her here and there to strengthen the family influence. She was able to choose her partner herself and that was as if she could choose her own destiny.

But for her to get a proposal from a person that her family couldn't afford to refuse. What a cruel fate. It's like there was a village girl that was forced to serve a prince as his concubine. 'No matter what, you must do it! I don't accept any objection, must means have to!' something like that, perhaps.

Venetia felt a huge burden on her shoulder, she herself didn't want to burden her family that raised her with love and affection. Though, that itself was something weird because, in the typical [Noble] Household, siblings could stab each other in front of benefits.

But that's just how different the environment she grew up. She had the naughty little brother whom she adores, and there was also a cute little sister who was too spoiled. Venetia loves them both.

However, her brother Marth, he...

As the first son in the Zwarteschwan family, Marth was responsible for the continuation of the Zwarteschwan name. To do that, he needs sufficient strength to protect the Zwarteschwan. And having done the [Baptism] to get the [Freudrt's Divine Blessing] was one of the things he could do to get that power.

As explained earlier, this divine grace would give [+Growth Rate] and [+Weapon Mastery]. This means if he trained or get a level up, then he would get a better stats distribution compared to the normal one.

That was why in the game, the stats of characters with [Freudrt's Divine Blessing] were so different compared to the others. It's true, later on, they could catch up with him/her. But it needs a long, long time before that.

Back to the Venetia who was feeling troubled over this matter.

For her, she would never become an inconvenience in the family that raised her. But this time she was really unwilling to marry that man.

However, it even made her brother comply to let go of the chance to get a [Freudrt's Divine Blessing]. Just to make Venetia had the reason to refuse that man's proposal. Venetia felt a stuffy feeling after hearing this.

She perhaps wasn't the heroine of the game just yet. Venetia Zwarteschwan in the game could be described as a mature older sister fluffy woman who always put on smiling face and sometimes let out a chuckle with 'ara-ara'. But since the beginning, her inside was a fragile woman who wouldn't let anyone troubled with her. She didn't want to make other people feel burdened, moreover her own family.

"Sorry ..., just, let me back to my room."

Venetia with teary eyes stood up and walked to her room as if trying to run from them.