30 – Madam Penélope’s Dislike
There were no historical recordings. Only through some knight novels could the local customs and practices as well as social development be conjectured.
This was Liszt's perception of the matter.
He equally did not know when humans had risen in this world.
The only thing that he knew for certain was that the Sapphire Grand Duchy had been founded 150 years ago. Last year, a grand celebration was held to commemorate the anniversary, leaving an impression on Liszt.
There were many knight novels about the Sapphire Family. In some novels, it was recorded that the Sapphire Family had a heritage of 1,000 years.
As for the Tulip Family, there was no such thing as genealogy. According to Liszt’s knowledge, during the time of a great-great-great-grandfather of his the family still had no tulip greater sprites or tulip lesser sprites. Therefore, the family’s name had still not been Tulip.
Originally, their family name had been ‘Tiles’, indicating that their family had originally belonged to the commoner class. According to the history passed down in his family, the great-great-great-grandfather had extraordinary power. He had followed an aristocrat of the Sapphire Family, which at that time had just recently founded its state. With the contributions accumulated in battles, he had been conferred the title of chevalier.
Since then, the family had risen in the ranks of aristocracy.
The great-great-grandfather had become a baron, the great-grandfather had become a viscount, and the grandfather had obtained a tulip lesser sprite.
It was not until Leewilliam had inherited the family that the lesser sprite had evolved into a greater sprite, hereby changing the family name to Tulip. A few years later, Leewilliam had become a Sky Knight, and then, through meritorious deeds, had been conferred the title of Count of Coral Island by the Sapphire Grand Duke.
In order to express that the family had reached the ranks of upper class aristocracy, the Serpentine ‘L’ in Leewilliam’s name had been used at the beginning of his offsprings’ names. Every descendant of his would have the Serpentine L at the beginning of their names to show respect for the family’s founder. They would be called ‘LXX’, ‘LXXX’, or ‘LXXXX’… As for the number of ‘X’ (Serpentines) used, that would depend on the mood of the people giving the names.
According to Liszt’s understanding, the symbol ‘L’ was roughly equivalent to a family name.
His mother’s family also had this custom, but they used the symbol ‘M’ instead.
Therefore, the Tulip Family only had a history of six generation, spanning 150 odd years.
Going further back, it was not known who the ancestors were.
“The magnificent count family, not even mentioning eighteen generations of ancestors, only had six generations of ancestors recorded, how barbaric.” Liszt scoffed. A civilization without history, was there any heritage to show for?
In his birthplace, his family’s genealogy, with the exact names and surnames, could be traced back to the period of the Ming Dynasty.
As for tracing back his bloodline, it could be traced back to the period of the Yellow Emperor.
“Also, these boasting knight novels regarding the Sapphire Family were quite nonsensical, with the family’s millennium of heritage being an agglomeration of fantastic oddities of every description. According to them, the family had originated in the southern part of the Steel Ridge Kingdom, migrated to the Blast Furnace Kingdom, then wandered towards the distant Blue Dragon Empire… If it was the Sapphire Family blowing their own horn in these novels, then it was too careless.
He really wanted to sort out the general history of this world, but felt that it was hopeless. In the knight novels he had read, the furthest dated history was recorded in the novel [Knight Daitou vs. the Redtailed Fire Dragon]
According to this novel, the tale had taken place 10,000 years ago in the Unsetting Radiance Empire. However, Liszt had confirmed that the Unsetting Radiance Empire was founded not more than 3,000 years ago.
Also, the Unsetting Radiance Empire was the longest-running state of the continent.
Many states were founded along with a dragon’s companionship. The death, departure, decline of the dragon, or even a dragon slaying battle, could commonly result in the state being destroyed.
When the Sapphire Grand Duchy was first founded, a dragon slaying battle had taken place.
At that time, the sapphire dragon was almost killed by the invading Eagle Kingdom. It was unable to gain a foothold on the wast land of the continent. During its escape, its dragon blood had dyed a mountain range, giving rise to countless sapphires amidst the mountain range. Following that, the mountain range, the Blue Blood Mountains, had become an important mine of the Steel Ridge Empire.
Although the dragon did not die, but the Sapphire Grand Duchy had taken a serious hit. It had not choice but to leave the continent and escape to the distant islands.
Of course, this period of history was inferred by Liszt.
In the knight novels flattering the Sapphire Family, the Blue Blood Mountains had originated and turned into a mine when they were dyed with the blood of the hostile Eagle Empire’s white iron dragon after being bitten by the sapphire dragon.
As for why the white iron dragon’s blood would bring about a mountain range where sapphire could be extracted…
Different people had different views, it was okay to fool the common people.
……
Knock-knock, the door was knocked.
“Please come in.” Liszt looked up from a book called [Guidebook for Developing Fire-Attributed Qi].
The one who came in was the castle’s assistant butler, Silva, Lewis’ assistant and successor.
“Young Lord Liszt, your grandmother, Madam Penélope, is in the living room chatting with Young Lord Levis and Young Lady Lvera.”
“Grandmother has come? Then I will go greet her.”
Liszt rubbed his forehead, feeling a bit vexed. His grandmother did not like him.
His father's loathing was based on the disappointment he felt towards Liszt. Now that Liszt had returned and his temperament had changed, the Count to longer showed any loathing, obviously happy with the change. But his grandmother was different. She did not like Liszt simply because he reminded her of Melissa, that is, her daughter-in-law.
Penélope lived in a small castle inside Coral City. The reason why she did not live together with her son was because she and Melissa did not get along.
Liszt greatly resembled his mother, and as such, had become the target of Penélope’s wrath.
No matter how vexed he was, he still had to go downstairs to greet her.
“Grandmother, you have come? I am glad to see you in good health.”
“Oh, look at who has come!” The wrinkles on Penélope’s face were already quite pronounced. She was nearly sixty years old, “Liszt, had you not spoken, I would have believed that Melissa had come back. That pretty face of yours… Thank heavens that she had already went to the Heavenly Kingdom. Which is why I, this old woman, dare to pay my son’s castle a visit.”
Liszt’s face lacked any expression as he sat down calmly, not saying a word.
The old lady did not like him, so why should he ask to be snubbed. Anyway, he rarely met her, so just like with a stranger, keeping a respectful facade was good enough.
Lvera smiled and said: “Liszt, grandmother had immediately rushed over when she heard that you have returned. Usually at this time, she would be in the middle of her several-hour-long prayers for the family.”
Penélope turned her head, no longer looking at Liszt. She whispered, “I did not come to see him.”
Was that saying one thing and doing another?
Liszt thought that Madam Penélope probably loved her grandson, it was just that she had a habit of attacking Liszt because of his striking resemblance with Melissa. This habit had been fostered for more than a decade. In fact, it did not matter whether she loved or disliked him as Liszt only wanted lie low.
“After listening to your sister, the Flower Town seems to be even cruder than I imagined, practically resembling a small village, is that right?” Madam Penélope asked.
“It really is somewhat crude, but it is quite suitable for expansion and development. I already have plans to develop it.”
“Look at you, that majestic tone has little to do with the Tulip Family’s temperament. Do not learn from Melissa and assume that tranquil attitude of someone who is a cut above others. You already look like her. If your temperament were also to become like hers, that would be an impossible to get rid smudge on this old woman’s life.”
Liszt did not answer.
He did not have much of an impression of his mother as she had died from an illness when he was little.
Madam Penélope proceeded to long-windedly enumerate Melissa’s shortcomings. To sum it up, the Marquis’ daughter looked down upon me and was always at loggerheads with me, do not succeed her many shortcomings.