Adelia (1)

If someone asked me what the closest yet most complicated relationship in the world was, I would answer without the slightest hesitation: blood ties.

As the word itself suggests, blood ties are bonds that cannot be severed because they are connected by blood, but ironically, they can also become worse than relationships between strangers.

Moreover, just as the word "family disgrace" suggests, there are virtues and responsibilities that must be upheld even among family members. The moment someone violates them, they become a disgrace to their family and commit a grave sin as a human being.

Unfortunately, countless people in this world abandon their responsibilities toward their families. This is even more pronounced in the medieval era, where society is stratified and the concept of human rights is faint.

Refusing to accept an illegitimate child as part of one's family and casting them aside is commonplace, and family members even occasionally slaughter one another to inherit a title.

Since ancient times, people have tried to avoid fighting among blood relatives whenever possible, but once greed blinds them, blood ties mean nothing.

Thus, blood ties can become objects of hatred, worse than mere strangers, and unfortunately, people far more often remain attached to them even in such circumstances.

'I had roughly expected this...'

I stared at Adelia's face, which was trembling with something beyond nervousness—she was bordering on panic. Not only her sky-blue eyes but even her lips were trembling aimlessly.

The cold sweat running down her face made it obvious to anyone that she was suffering from severe anxiety. Considering Adel's normally carefree personality, she seemed like an entirely different person...