The Cursed Extra: Bloodline of Sacrifice - Chapter 89

Chapter 89: The Journey Back to the Royal Castle

POV: Ed

The hum of the car’s engine was steady, a quiet backdrop to the silence inside.

The three of them—Zareth, Vynesaa, and Ed—were finally on their way back to the royal castle after completing their journey across the kingdom.

The roads stretched endlessly ahead, illuminated by the soft glow of the streetlamps.

Ed leaned against the car window, watching the blurred city lights flicker past.

His thoughts, however, were far from the peaceful view outside.

Their mission was over.

The survivors had been safely handed over to the Human Association.

He exhaled slowly, his fingers tapping against the car door.

“It’s good there were no martial bloodlines when we fought those elves.”

They had won the fight against those sadistic elves, but it wasn’t because they were overwhelmingly strong.

It was because those elves were weak. Regular farmers.

Fighters without any powerful bloodline backing them.

If even one of them had a strong martial bloodline, the fight would have been completely different.

In this world, bloodlines determined everything.

They were divided into two main categories:

Firstly Martial Bloodlines

Martial bloodlines granted combat-related abilities—enhanced strength, reflexes, speed, or even unique magical powers.

Those born with these bloodlines could surpass human limits.

But the reality was only about 20% of the population had martial bloodlines.

And even among them, there was a massive gap.

Not all martial bloodlines were equal.

A soldier with a weak bloodline was still just a slightly stronger fighter.

But a noble-born warrior with a high-tier martial bloodline? They could tear through battlefields like living calamities.

The power of these bloodlines wasn’t random either—it was inherited.

The stronger the parents, the stronger the child.

That was why noble families arranged political marriages, carefully selecting their partners to maintain and strengthen their bloodline.

It was all about power.

Secondly Artisan Bloodlines

While martial bloodlines ruled the battlefield, artisan bloodlines ruled society.

These were bloodlines that didn’t give combat power but enhanced craftsmanship, farming, cooking, smithing, and other practical skills.

A person with a blacksmithing bloodline could forge weapons far stronger than any ordinary smith.

A farmer’s bloodline could grow crops even in harsh lands.

Artisan bloodlines made up the majority of the population.

And unlike martial bloodlines, these weren’t seen as special. They were useful but not respected in the same way.

Bloodlines didn’t just appear randomly—they followed strict inheritance rules.

If both parents had martial bloodlines, the child would almost always inherit one.

If one parent had a martial bloodline and the other had an artisan bloodline, the chances were heavily skewed: 80% chance for an artisan bloodline, only 20% for a martial one.

If both parents had artisan bloodlines, their child would almost always inherit an artisan bloodline.

This was why nobles only married nobles—to ensure their children inherited powerful martial bloodlines.

Mixing with commoners was seen as wasting their lineage.

Ed rubbed his temples.

It was a harsh reminder of the reality of this world.

Power wasn’t just about training or effort. It was in your blood.

And those who had the strongest bloodlines dictated the rules.

The car continued its smooth ride toward the royal castle, the city’s towering structures growing larger in the distance.

Ed glanced at Zareth, who sat quietly, staring out the window. His expression was unreadable.

Zareth was still thinking about what happened in that village.

He still believed in justice. Still believed in law.

Ed looked away.

“You’ll learn soon enough,” he thought.

Because in this world…

Justice belonged only to those with power.

The moment the car rolled to a stop at the outer gates of the royal palace, a group of heavily armored guards stepped forward.

Their hands rested on their weapons.

“State your identities,” one of them demanded, his voice firm.

Vynesaa let out an irritated sigh.

“This annoying mask,” she muttered before yanking it off and tossing it aside carelessly.

The reaction was immediate.

The guard’s face paled as recognition dawned.

His stiff posture snapped into a sharp salute

“Crown Princess Vynesaa—! I-I apologize for not recognizing you!”

Zareth, sitting beside her, pulled off his own mask, The guard’s eyes widened further.

Ed remained silent, watching the exchange. He also took off his own mask.

As they stepped out of the cab, the driver’s eyes also widened in astonishment.

“The princess and prince, one photo please?” the guard requested. Vynesaa smiled and nodded.

“Okay,” she said, turning to the cab driver. “Cheese!” she exclaimed, posing for a selfie.

The cab driver, still starstruck, snapped the photo.

Then—

The guards quickly stepped aside, allowing them to enter.

They switched to an open car, designed for the inner palace roads, and began their final stretch toward the main palace.

As the car moved forward, the full vastness of the royal estate stretched before them.

The palace itself was more than just a single structure—it was a city within a city, spanning nearly 50 square kilometers.

Two massive army cantonments flanked the palace grounds, housing elite royal guards and high-ranking officers.

Moving further inside, the main palace district emerged—a magnificent architectural wonder that rose high above the surrounding lands.

To the right, the true royal palace stood—a grand fortress of luxury and power, where the ruling family resided.

Every inch of it radiated authority.

Even after years here, Ed still found himself shocked.

The car finally slowed as they approached the main palace gates.

The royal banners fluttered in the wind, their golden insignias catching the soft glow of lights lining the grand entrance.

Standing at the top of the palace steps, waiting for them, were the King and Queen.

The moment they stepped out of the car, Queen Aeloria didn’t hesitate.

She didn’t wait for formalities.

She didn’t care for the guards standing at attention.

Instead, she leapt forward from the palace steps, her long robes fluttering in the night air, and wrapped Zareth in a tight embrace.

Her hands pressed against his back as if she needed to physically confirm that he was real.

“You’re okay,” she murmured.

Zareth, caught off guard, hesitated before responding. “Yes-s, Mom,” he said, his voice steady.

Aeloria pulled back just enough to cup his face, her piercing lavender eyes scanning his features, as if searching for unseen wounds.

‘This was expected,’ she thought to herself.

She knew what he had been through.

The weight of everything he had seen, everything he had endured, was written in his eyes.

And it broke her heart.

Her gaze flickered to Vynesaa, who stood nearby, arms crossed, an irritated pout on her face.

Aeloria’s lips curved into a knowing smile.

“Oh my.”

Without warning, she jumped at Vynesaa, pulling her into an embrace.

“Ugh! No, no—show your full love to him!” Vynesaa groaned, struggling against her mother’s grip. “He’s the one who ran away! I was here the whole time!”

“You,” Aeloria scolded, tightening her hold. “Always acting so tough.”

“I am tough! Let me go!”

Ed watched the exchange with amusement, though he kept his expression neutral.

This wasn’t something he was used to seeing—raw, unfiltered familial affection.

Zareth sighed. “Mother, you’re suffocating her.”

Aeloria finally released Vynesaa, who dramatically stepped back, brushing imaginary dust off her sleeves.

“About time,” she muttered.

King Elora, who had been standing quietly at the top of the stairs, finally spoke.

“Alright, alright,” he said, “If your reunion is done, let’s allow them to rest. There will be time for questions tomorrow.”

Aeloria sighed, regaining her composure. “Yes, yes. Fine.”

Then, she turned to Ed.

Her sharp gaze softened slightly as she studied him.

“Are you okay, Ed?” she asked, her tone quieter but still firm.

Ed met her gaze and nodded. “Yes.”

She searched his face for a moment longer before giving a small nod.

“Then get some rest,” she said, stepping back. “We have a lot to talk about tomorrow.”

Ed exhaled….