Ancient Imperial Calendar Year 1815
When Ricardo emerged from the portal, he was surrounded by his friends and Kislavein vassals.
"Dynasty Heir, you're alive!"
"We were worried something happened to you!"
"Are you injured?"
Ricardo was pleased by the intense attention he received.
"Step aside."
The people bowed their heads and moved aside. The owner of this authoritative voice was Orsman. He had a serious and angry expression.
"When that mad Spirit Mother pulled you into a portal, I wasn't sure if you would return, but..." His angry face softened, replaced by a gentle smile. "...you've made me proud once again, son."
Ricardo was happy to have made his father proud.
"We just finished off the last of the spirits. Come with me, Ricardo. Tell me what happened after you entered that portal."
Ricardo went to the palace with his father. They entered a soundproof room.
"Tell me, Ricardo. What happened?"
Ricardo recounted his duel with Ahamenna, his curse, and the Spirit Realm.
"You've been cursed? Damn it, that's terrible news! This is a very bad situation for future generations of Dynasty Heirs."
Ricardo didn't fully understand his father's concern.
"What's the relevance now?"he thought.
Orsman moved on to another question.
"So,why did she attack us?"
Ricardo explained the event in a veiled manner, revealing that the Payrist Dynasty's lineage traced back to the last Ancient Emperor, Harloumen, and the Spirit Mother Aherlenna.
"So, the Payrist Dynasty descends from the Spirits and the last Emperor. This means you also have Spirit blood."
"Yes, Dynasty Lord."
"Ha! That explains your unique potential. You are the culmination of both a Spirit Mother and 800 years of perfect genetic cross-breeding."
Ricardo didn't understand these words.
"What is'genetic cross-breeding'?" asked Ricardo.
Orsman stood up.
"Follow me,Ricardo."
Ricardo followed his father. They entered the Dynasty Lord's study.
Orsman placed his hand on his desk. A spell activated, and the doors to a hidden room opened.
"Another secret passage? How many secret passages are there in this palace, Dynasty Lord?"
Orsman thought for a moment as they descended the stairs.
"Two."
Ricardo found the number low.
"I expected there to be more."
The duo descended the stairs and arrived at the door of the hidden room.
Orsman opened the door. They entered a laboratory-like room.
"What is this place?"
Orsman sat in a chair.
"This is the secret vault where the Dynasty's Gene Scientists work."
Ricardo asked curiously,
"What is Gene Science?What is its purpose?"
Orsman began to explain the Gene Scientists.
The Gene Scientists are a secret organization created during the reign of II Arlous, aiming for the Kislavein Dynasty to possess stronger Warrior and Mage members.
The Gene Scientists study the family trees of the Dynasties, create an estimated Genetic Tree, and based on this genetic tree, predict which marriages would result in the birth of stronger individuals.
In the past, since the Kislavein Dynasty was in the phase of conquering the Western Lands, these genetic crossbreedings couldn't be carried out with full dedication.
There were marriages for politics rather than for genetics. However, thanks to the polygamous system, genetic marriages could still be performed.
The children born from genetic marriages were generally stronger than those born from political marriages, so usually, the children from marriages arranged by the Gene Scientists ascended the throne.
From the 16th Dynasty Lord, II Thermion, onwards, Heirs born from genetic marriages always sat on the throne. Thus, Genetic Marriages replaced Political Marriages.
What he learned had both surprised and impressed Ricardo.
"The Kislavein Dynasty impresses me more every day."
Ricardo then realized something.
"So,all those marriage candidates you said were chosen for me are actually..."
Orsman nodded in confirmation.
"Yes,chosen by the Gene Scientists."
Ricardo asked a skeptical question.
"And how can you be sure these Gene Scientists are doing their job correctly?What if they are deceiving you?"
Orsman laughed.
"Ricardo,do you think we, the Kislavein Dynasty Lords, cannot think of what you're thinking? We brainwash all of them so they cannot deceive us."
"I see. So, how are the Gene Scientists trained? I haven't seen them mentioned in any book, nor have I seen any lessons or anything about them at the Blood Academy," asked Ricardo.
Orsman answered the question.
"We train the Gene Scientists in secret.Usually, we train the children of the Gene Scientists. So, their positions pass to their children after the parents."
Ricardo took a deep breath and processed all the information in his mind.
"Alright,I've learned a lot. This Dynasty is like an onion; as you peel it, a whole new layer appears, and I feel like there are still things I haven't learned."
Orsman stood up.
"I will teach you everything before I die,Ricardo. Don't worry. But for now, we have another problem to deal with."
Ricardo stood up.
"You're right.I have to break off my engagements with all the women I'm betrothed to."
"That's one thing, but that's not the main issue right now," said Orsman.
"What is the main issue then?" asked Ricardo.
"Your first wife," said Orsman.
"My first wife?"
"Yes."
Father and son exited the secret passage.
"The Dynasty Lord can take a wife from foreign lands. However, whether she is a wife or a concubine doesn't matter; the first woman in his Harem must be Western. This is a tradition almost 677 years old."
"Which clever person came up with this absurd tradition?" Ricardo mocked.
Orsman laughed.
"Puhahahah,I hadn't laughed like that in a while! Ha! After our ancestors conquered the Western Lands, they always took wives from dynasties ruling in foreign lands to expand into foreign territories. After a certain point, due to protests from the Dynasties in the Western Lands, such a tradition emerged."
"Wow, so back then, the protests of the Vassal Dynasties actually worked," said Ricardo.
"Well, absolute central authority wasn't established like it is now. As a result of the protests, the 27th Dynasty Lord, II Kaldrion, started the tradition that the first woman in the harem must be Western."
Ricardo asked in despair.
"So,getting to our main problem... is there a Dynasty in the Western Lands that does not carry Kislavein blood?"
Orsman answered with equal hopelessness.
"No."