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Heir of the White Lotus (Web Novel) - Chapter 2096: Three Choices
Chapter 2096: Three Choices
This chapter is updated by JustRead.pl
Genevieve and Valentina spoke for hours.
There was so much Genevieve needed to learn. To suddenly be told she was a daughter of House Fortuna and that she descended from the Angel of Miracle was a great surprise to her.
She almost didn’t believe Valentina. But after the latter showed her solid proof, Genevieve had no choice but to be convinced. The truth was too shocking.
From her aunt, she learned more about her mother, her father, how they met, and how they fell in love. It was a deeply emotional experience for Genevieve, who never knew much about her parents.
Valentina said that her mother was quiet, polite, and beautiful. That she was a prodigy of the Domina Occulta. She was selfless in the matters of the Imperium. But she was also selfish in the matters of the heart.
Madeline first met Genevieve’s father on a diplomatic mission. Valentina claimed that they fell in love at first sight.
Genevieve had a smile on her face the entire time she listened to her parent’s story. She chuckled when she heard that her mother used to sneak out and secretly meet with her father.
"...the Domina Occulta were enraged when they learnt that she ran away," Valentina said with a hearty laugh. "For all their supreme control of their emotions, they were red with anger at the time."
Genevieve’s eyes were red from crying. But it wasn’t just tears from sorrow. There were also from joy and happiness. It was a bittersweet feeling that swelled in her heart.
"And Father’s family?" she asked. "Did they not object to their marriage?"
"Oh, yes, they did." Valentina nodded.
"The Domina Occulta and the Great Noble Houses have a deep relationship. Ours is a relationship that has spanned for countless millennia. We both want only the prosperity of the Imperium. But there are certain lines that must not be crossed.
"And it was a big taboo for a Domina to get married. So when they learnt that not only did Madeline get married, but that it was to the son of House Fortuna, you can imagine how that must have strained the relationships between our House and the Domina Occulta. But your parents did not care. They went ahead and got married, anyway."
Genevieve had a distant smile on her face. "I wish I had gotten to know them..."
Valentina glanced at her niece gently. "You have Madeline’s facial structure, her cheekbones, and her mannerisms. And you have your father’s hair and eyes. There is very little of your mother in you, but that’s only because the blood of the God Emperor is dominant. That is why everyone in our House shares the same appearance."
"I see," Genevieve said, lowering her head. "Will I... ever get to see him? My father, I mean."
"Hmm, let’s see," Valentina murmured.
She tapped a bracelet on her wrist. Following that, an illusory three-dimensional shifting image appeared before her.
Genevieve was intrigued. The illusion showed a chart of a star system.
Valentina swiped her hand and the illusion moved through the blackness of the cosmos. A minute later, the image stopped at a giant red planet in a distant star system. She zoomed in on the planet and details appeared on the side. Reports of the ongoing war.
"Aer-2740," she murmured, eyes squinting. Then she waved her hand and the illusion disappeared. "No. He’s too far away. And I don’t think he could extricate himself from the war so easily. He is of the Great Noble Houses. So certain things are expected of him."
"I see," Genevieve muttered softly.
Her heart suddenly ached for the father she never met. She wondered if she’d ever get to meet him before war claimed him. One way or another, war claimed a soldier—dead or alive.
"Don’t be so tense, my darling." Valentina waved her hand dismissively. "Us children of House Fortuna are very difficult to kill."
Genevieve smiled politely. She probably thought Valentina was just saying that to comfort her. But little did she know how true her words were.
"So, then." Valentina’s eyes narrowed. "You have three choices now."
"First, join the Domina Occulta," she continued. "Dedicate your life to the Imperium. Because that is all those crazy women think about. Which, I must say, is admirable. They can be considered the backbone of the Imperium. Still, I despise them."
Although that was a choice, Genevieve did not really think it was. For some reason, her aunt hated the Domina Occulta. And she wouldn’t want her to join. The first choice was just an illusion of it.
"Second." Valentina raised another finger. "You can come with me to Providentia."
"Providentia?" Genevieve asked curiously.
"House Fortuna’s seat of power," Valentina explained. "It’s a high-tier planet."
Genevieve was shocked. "Like Myrrandor?"
Valentina laughed. "No other world is like Myrrandor, darling."
"How come?"
"Even among other high-tier worlds in the known universe, Myrrandor stands head and shoulders above the others," Valentina said.
"Is it because of the God Emperor?"
"To an extent, yes." Valentina nodded. "And also because of this world’s capability to produce many Emperors."
She did not explain much about it. Perhaps she thought it wasn’t time for Genevieve to know about such matters. Or perhaps she didn’t know it herself. It was unknown.
"But our home world is still quite good," she continued. "We have abundant resources. You’ll have teachers and instructors to guide you in academia, arcana, and martial matters. You can also meet your other family members."
Genevieve was hesitant about going to her homeworld. A part of her wanted to reach out to her roots. Another part wanted to stay here in Myrrandor, her birthplace. A secret part of her did not wish to leave Adam behind. Her feelings for him were deeper than she imagined.
Valentina saw the hesitance and instantly knew it was about that boy whom she had earlier seen her niece with. She rolled her eyes dramatically.
"Third," Valentina continued. "Stay here in Myrrandor. Finish your studies at the Tower. Travel the supercontinent. Gain valuable experiences. And when the time is right, you will apply to the Imperial Military Institute."
Genevieve frowned. "The Imperial Military Institute?"
This was the first time she had heard of it.
"Yes." Valentina nodded. "The Imperial Military Institute—or IMI, for short—is where Magi and Paladins of the Imperium go to learn astral warfare. The scions of the Great Noble Houses study there as well, learning the art of war from the best instructors in the Imperium.
"You will learn war strategy, military tactics, naval warfare, and ground battles. They’ll teach you how to command astral ships, use military artifacts, wield specialized weapons, and lead soldiers in the field. This is where the future commanders of the Imperium are forged."
