Chapter 26: Condoned Pursuit26.0“W-why are you leaving me?!”

  “I am afraid that my honor prevents our love.”

  “But you promised.”

  “This is the end of our discussion. You shall no longer distract me from carrying out my duties.”

  No sooner after the lines were spoken by the two actors on stage, a third person appeared behind the woman, sliding what seemed to be a sword through her chest.

  Gasp!!!

  The twist in the py stunned the audience, causing turmoil among the crowds as the scene on stage changed.

  Yawn…

  John who was seated with his family could barely keep his eyelids open. Bored to tears by the predictable show everyone else was invested in. He was not one to judge the quality of story, but the pys his father would take the family to tended to be, to put it respectfully, predictable.

  At worst, they were the same story about people who fought for family honor and tragic love stories that never come to fruition—either killed or to never be vital to the story.

  “John, you better watch closely, this is quite the interesting py!” his father beckoned beside him.

  Next, the main character will abandon his goal and seek revenge instead.

  “You! It can’t be you!? Why did you kill her!?”

  “You have forgotten what your father gave you. What of the glory that our family held? Instead, you waste it on this woman.”

  “O-our family!? That voice…i-it can’t be…”

  “Yes, it is I… Your brother.”

  The crowd started howling as an actor from a previous scene showed himself.

  The following py continued as John expected.

  Outraged by his brother killing his love interest, the protagonist began a crusade against his own cn, killing blood retives and the like.

  “W-what a tragedy…”

  Even his mother, Fenley, was invested in the poorly written story.

  This is terrible… First he doesn’t want to be with the girl, and then when his brother kills her, only does he realize he loves her? Bullshit!

  Unable to stand the show, John left his seat, decided to roam the theater to distract himself until the show was over.

  “Who the hell likes those stories, it’s always about empty glory…”

  He grumbled to himself as he walked about the theater, pacing himself at the open courtyard where stalls that sold various trinkets and souvenirs reted to the test shows.

  “Bah, even the shops are infested with the crappy py’s merchandise.”

  It was not that he did not like a tragic story.

  Compared to the ones he read to Kahnira, the py barely held a candle.

  The characters had no personality, the story was predictable in a bad way, and there was nothing to be learned from it.

  Lately, he had been getting into Binding Atonement, that started off the story with an underdog hero who was defeated at each turn of his life. An obscure book Kahnira introduced him to, one that took him great effort to locate.

  Young John would usually scoff at such a cliched storyline in Binding Atonement, but the more he read, the more he became fascinated by the characterization of the hero who, for all intents and purposes had reason to give into his temptations, chose not to.

  John had yet to finish the series, however Kahnira who knew the ending had refrained from spoiling him, saying something about ruining the whole epic tale itself.

  Supposedly, Binding Atonement was an altered biography of a local hero who lived during the Great Demon War, according to Kahnira’s mother who used to read her the story back when she was alive.

  Psst…

  “!?”

  “John, over here…”

  Catching a glimpse of a face from the crowd, John arched his head in the voice’s direction.

  “It’s me.”

  “Ha Zun?” his friend gestured before taking cover behind a wall. “W-what, how did you— When did you come here?”

  At Ha Zun’ beckoning John followed his friend to the back of the theater.

  His friend had pulled him towards the closest bush and into a crouching stance where they would have their presence hidden.

  “I’ve been looking for you, man!” his friend blurted out.

  “How did you know I was going to be here?”

  “You told me in school, didn’t you? You were compining about—”

  Ha Zun shook his head.

  “That’s not important now. Here!” he thrusted a booklet of loose notes into John’s hands. “I-it’s all I can get. Make sure your family doesn’t find out, or the both of us will be in big trouble!”

  “What’s this…?”

  Attempting to read the notes, John moved his hands but was met with a hard smack on his hand by Ha Zun gring at him sharply.

  “What else, you moron? It’s the thing I promised you. You better go through it quickly when you get back, because—”

  “Ha Zun!”

  A low voice belonging to Ha Lun Mien shouted from somewhere beyond the courtyard.

  “We have a long weekend, I can read it in my time. We don’t have school for tomorrow and Friday, with the state’s—”

  “Just do as I say, you have to at least read it by tonight. Make sure no one sees you with that.”

  With that, Ha Zun made himself scarce, fleeing the scene before anyone found out about their little congregation.

  “Where did you go to, Ha Zun?”

  “I thought I saw someone in school. Turns out it was someone else.”

  “Is that so? Let’s hurry, we don’t want to miss the show.”

  “Alright, dad! Let’s go in now!”

  It was until Ha Zun and Ha Lun Mien had disappeared from his audible range did John decided to return to the theaters where his family was.

  It had only been 5 days did he beat Ha Zun in their friendly competition againt Madam Xuan—who now, had transferred from Shi Jou’s State Academy.

  Though reluctant, Ha Zun held up his end of their bet.

  But what was the rush?

  Ha Zun himself seemed to be pressed for John to read through it.

  Unfortunately for John Sarvod, he realized why he returned home.

  The majority of the notes had unfolded into a rge blueprint, one that indicated the yout of a particur government building in Shi Jou that many frequented, with detailed markings in red within its premises, indicating people or barricades to be stationed surrounding the pce.

  From what young John could infer, the pns indicated the chokeholds and the exit routes located throughout the building, something akin to a security pn in case something happened.

  Granted, Ha Lun Mien worked tightly with the Federation and John’s father, it made sense that he would have such a blueprint ready that illustrated the security personnel’s whereabouts.

  Attached to the different parts of the blueprint were notes and figures, all of which involved a detailed raid of some sorts with cryptic words that he had never seen before in his life.

  Words that was not written in the common nguage.

  Belonging to archaic times.

  Besides that, something else was off about the notes Ha Zun sent John.

  The blueprints, and the archaic words did not bring up the Perxin family at all.

  What John had thought to be the conspiracy against the Perxins seemed to be all a misunderstanding on his part, perhaps, for once, his irrational fears prove to be—

  His eyes caught on to the paragraph at the center of the blueprint, written in miniscule handwriting.

  Dalene Perxin is scheduled on Saturday and Monday’s panel where the representative of the Perxin family is to appeal their standing against Shi Jou’s mandatory annual donations.

  Donations?

  Mandatory?

  One would think donations were done out of one’s innate desire to help others. The act of charity itself is contradictory to a mandatory w.

  Should the current head of Perxins remains her stance, she would be repced with another Perxin as per Shi Jou’s 60th amendment regarding wealthy families overextending their realm of influence, and convict the sole leader alone, otherwise backed by her supporters, with the crime of treason.

  Treason, in Shi Jou, was as high of a crime as murder. John had heard his fair share of stories from his father who sent traitors of the state into lifetime imprisonment or complete asset confiscations.

  In theory, the w of punishing and bankrupting ‘traitors’ among Shi Jou’s ranks was to dissuade disruptions that would occur within the sovereign states of the Eastern Federation.

  The Sarvod family, had to oblige this w and surrender in a portion of their wealth to the government of Shi Jou annually. Which was why, among his brothers, Dai’Ne, John’s father was elected to be the Sarvod family’s representative.

  Because Dai’Ne Sarvod knew the workings of the Eastern Federation that he was able to skirt around the ws somewhat, reducing the mandatory ‘donations’ the Sarvod family as a whole would give.

  Would it not be easier for Dalene to pay the fees—mandatory donations—instead of risking the government up her tail?

  John’s head hurt, but the more he read, the more complicated the ‘conspiracy’ his father and Ha Lun Mein discussed became.

  Could he even call it a conspiracy at all? Or was Aunt Dalene the one truly at fault for not abiding by government regutions?

  Or was it the other way around?

  That the Perxins were being extorted by Shi Jou’s government.

  That the once high and mighty Shi Jou people had finally been tainted by the hands of evil forces.

  And that this blueprint was the proof that his father involvement in it.

  “…”

  Even with Kahnira’s help of deciphering the material Ha Zun handed him, John was still left in the dark of the machinations that went on in the complex world of Eastern Federation politics.

  He can only hope that his friend had mistakenly copied the wrong information.

  …

  …

  …

  The next day, John was dining in the main house at his father’s request.

  And, as per usual, his sister, Taelyn bbbed unimportant nonsense to his parents. Nonsense that caused John to quip under his breath for being in the same room as someone as dimwitted her.

  But today, he paid none of it any attention.

  “Father…” in a neutral voice, he called to Dai’Ne. “How was the visit to the parliament building today?”

  Their state had decred a 2 public holiday because Shi Jou decided that it was efficient for their state to hold their annual government business. It also meant that his father, who was the Defense Advisor was particurly busy earlier today.

  “A child shouldn’t interfere. The less you know, the better,” his father pushed John’s comment aside as he continued his meal.

  “That again?” John, irritated by the overused response from his father snapped. “Is it so hard to ask about my own father’s work? Isn’t it reted to the Sarvod family as well? I am also a Sarvod, I deserve to know what goes on.”

  A quiet silence came over the Sarvod’s table, even his insufferable sister ceased her empty chatter in pce for John’s question.

  Dai’Ne’s eyes opened wide, as his father gave him a suspicious look.

  John knew well that silence among his family indicated something wrong was going on.

  Many times his incessant curiosity and words got him trouble with his parents, to the point where if his parents were silent and gave him a funny look meant imminent punishment was nearby.

  Ever since John lived with Kahnira and no longer resided in the main house, he had rarely been punished by the hands of his parents.

  For the span of the st few months he can only count up to two occasions of his father hitting him—for not living up to the Sarvod family’s standards—and he no longer paid attention to his mother’s verbal assaults on him.

  John who moved out of the main house found that whatever his parents did to him we just nuisances at most. Ironically, the less he interacted with them, the lesser their judgment affected him.

  In his eagerness to prod information from his old man, he may have inadvertently over spoken his position.

  “I-I am just curious, t-that’s all. If you don’t—”

  Snatch!

  “Do you mean what you’ve said?!”

  His father’s rge hands gripped John’s wrists tightly, with a potent force that felt as if his hand would be crushed at any instant.

  “I-I…” John stuttered at his father’s grasp.

  “There was confirmation that one of the Sarvods are in contact with the enemy, your father however, had reported no such incident. I presume it must be one of your distant retives, but I am unsure myself. Be careful, be cautious and weary, John.”

  For a brief moment, Miss Elisabeth’s warning about evil lurking among the ranks of the Sarvod family came to his mind.

  Reminding him of the wedge that drove between the Sarvods and the Perxins.

  Whether John believed an assassination attempt was true or false, the fact of the matter was, external forces had infiltrated Shi Jou.

  This was confirmed by Elisabeth’s message to him and the unusual notes that annotated Dalene Perxin’s intentions to make her case against Shi Jou’s ‘mandatory donations’.

  So what if his father would beat him for asking an important question?

  If this was the price he would pay, then so be it.

  He had suffered under Dai’Ne Sarvod’s disciplining methods for his whole life, he was no longer fazed by the man’s beatings.

  Worse comes to worst, he can always learn recovery magic to heal himself.

  “Yes.”

  Young John decred without skipping a beat, his dark eyes met his father’s, burning with unbounded defiance.

  “It seems like living on your own has finally brought you around, John.”

  “M-mother!?” Taelyn, just as surprised as John was spoke aloud. “W-what do you mean!? He is asking stupid questions like always! Just throw away his stupid books like st time. Or better, remove that useless servant that he brought back—”

  “You leave her out of this, Taelyn!!!” the mere suggestion of doing anything to Kahnira had John sprung from his seat. “That is my servant! If you even so do something to her, I will make sure—”

  Tap.

  The moment his father’s hand touched his shoulder, John tensed his body muscles, anticipating a backhanded strike from his father for daring to threaten Taelyn.

  “!!!”

  “Lower your voice, son. There is no need to shout.”

  “!?”

  Instead, Dai’Ne gave him a look of approval, one that bewildered John.

  “Taelyn, what did I tell you about your fowl tongue? Don’t interrupt important matters!” Fenley followed up with an ice-cold expression.

  “B-but, h-he—”

  “Finish your food and return to your room. Whatever pns you had with your friends tonight will be canceled.”

  What is going on?

  “I am proud that you are finally taking an interest in our noble family’s cause, son.” Dai’Ne pulled John aside as his sister wailed in protest.

  Family’s cause? What cause? I just want to know what is happening inside.

  “I am busy tomorrow, but I can bring you to visit the Parliament Saturday. Since you’ve finally gained an interest, it will do you some good to experience the pce yourself, what do you say?”

  “S-Saturday? T-this coming Saturday?”

  “Of course. That way I can introduce you to many of the important figures for the Sarvod family, besides, it doesn’t hurt to get you acquainted at your age.”

  Visit? This Saturday, I just wanted to—

  John halted his train of thought as he remembered something.

  Didn’t Ha Zun’s notes said something about the Perxins and being scheduled on this Saturday?

  If he were to learn what goes on behind the political curtains, where else could he find a better opportunity than to investigate the hearth of Shi Jou’s Parliament building itself.

  “I-I…will go. Thank you, father.”

  “Good. If we are lucky, the defense minister might be there with his family.”

  “???”

  “If you can catch his daughters’ eyes, it will be a great help to our family.”

  “W-what!? Don’t joke about this! I have no interest!”

  “So you say, but I think it is time to pn your prospects, son. You don’t want people to think the only son of Dai’Ne Sarvod would marry a repulsive and low servant. What a joke that would make.”

  Lowly servant? What the fuck are you talking about!?

  Unlike his inner monologue, John hid his rage towards his father under a guise of calm.

  “Do you mean Kahnira?”

  “Is that your servant’s name? I am afraid I don’t remember,” Dai’Ne said dismissively. “It matters not. If the minister’s daughters can’t do, there are always others. As long you get together with the right woman for the Sarvod family, there is no need to worry about me removing her from serving you.”

  “…”

  John can only swallow the insults his father directed to Kahnira.

  The Sarvod family traditionally viewed servants as lesser beings for in the distant past, his ancestors would purchase sves and make them serve their family.

  “With luck, you might even get to keep that lowly maid of yours,” Dai’Ne chuckled. “If things go well, I may allow you to make her the wet nurse of your child, something simir to what your great grandfather did. Hahaha!!!”

  “…”

  What Dai’Ne talked about, was allowing John to take Kahnira as John’s mistress.

  While Sarvod family tradition allowed the male figure head up to three wfully wedded wives, his father was implying that Kahnira would have the ‘privillege’ of only taking care of John’s child from another woman and not be recognized by anyone in the Sarvod family as his wife.

  John’s great grandfather had a mistress that was the daughter of one of the Sarvod family’s servants.

  His ancestor greatly loved the woman, so much so that he had refused to marry John’s great grandmother until she was permitted by the family for the woman to be his legal mistress.

  However, no child ever came from that woman with his great grandfather despite the countless times she got pregnant.

  It was suspected that someone in the family sabotaged the mistress’ pregnancy due to their hatred of the idea a Sarvod would come from the likes of a house servant.

  Every time his father spoke about this tale, it would be followed by a chuckle of mockery towards the mistress, ridiculing the fact that all Sarvods should come from noble blood.

  By the time Dai’Ne finished his mockery of his great grandfather’s mistress, the strict man was pced into a good mood.

  “It is getting te, son. Do wish for me to send you back?”

  “No need, father. You should rest well for tomorrow.”

  With a swift reply, John exited the main house before quickly hopping onto the carriage that drove him back to where Kahnira was.

  His shoulder tensed as immoting heat surged his body. He more he recalled what his father said about Kahnira, he more fervent he became.

  The comments of Dai’Ne implying Kahnira to be a lowly maid, only suitable as a mistress, despite not knowing her name or who she was.

  In both the Sarvod family and nobility, a child is viewed as a political pawn for their cn.

  While, in of itself, that notion was not without its reasonings, the way his father spoke about shaping John’s future with a surgeon’s precision irked him.

  His great grandfather’s mistress suffered under the Sarvod family for wanting to having children, but with constant meddling from the family, she died without ever fulfilling what his great grandfather wished for.

  Even three generations ter, this mistress of his great grandfather remained to be a ughing stock to the Sarvods despite how much his great grandfather loved her.

  The sickening twists and mental hoops the rest of the family tried to go through to besmirch her, ciming that she was not a real Sarvod had even misled a few of his cousins to deem her a vixen who sought to break up the Sarvod family.

  But John knew the untainted truth.

  Of all the talk among his family about love, honor, and loyalty, the Sarvods failed at all of them.

  As the son of Dai’ne Sarvod, John experienced neither from his own family unit.

  His father only ‘loved’ him when he was useful, honor was enforced only to discipline him to do whatever they wanted, and loyalty? Loyalty was no more than blind obedience to serve the interests of the Sarvod family.

  His mother could love him less if she was able to, to her young John was a mere accessory to funt herself with. He was her son until she decided that he embarrassed her.

  His sister hated him, his retives only cared for the ‘achievements’ that he attained, only to besmirch him when he could not measure up to their standards.

  No one should be born into this…

  For the fate of a Sarvod was to suffer.

  I don’t want to have children.

  The thought of him doing the same to his own child disgusted him.

  The mere fact that his great grandfather and his mistress had their names dragged into the mud by everyone around him told him all he needed to know.

  John cared very little about continuing the lineage of the Sarvods when all it did was to bring John the deepest of sorrows.

  He chose to love, to honor and to be loyal to people on his own accord, not as his family dictated.

  None should feel the disgust and pain that he had.

  Worse still, humiliated for his sake.

  “Welcome back, master.”

  Kahnira greeted him as he returned to his home, this was the girl whose significance outweighed his entire family.

  “Kahnira…” he went to wrap his hands around her, gave the maid a hug without speaking another word.

  Someday, someday… I will free the both of us from them.

  This was his burden to bear.