Chapter Nineteen: Heart’s Mark

Cormer’s coming-of-age ceremony ended in a somber atmosphere. Baltimore Cathedral was one of the most famous churches in Sepulcus City and a key site for the Church of Light. Followers of the Church of Light often chose this place for personal confession and atonement. When the priest of the Church of Light poured what was called holy water on Cormer’s head, declaring that it had washed away his impurities and made him a new person, it marked Cormer’s official adulthood. He now bore full responsibility for his actions and could enjoy the rights that came with it.

The family members watched Cormer with strange expressions, as he appeared unusually calm during the ceremony. Especially Ramla had mixed feelings about his son. When he told Cormer that the Duke intended to grant him the title of baron and award him Caucasus as his fief, to his surprise, Cormer showed no great reaction and accepted it readily. He couldn’t believe his son wasn’t aware of what Caucasus was like. Though he himself didn’t want his son to become a so-called lord there—after all, Cormer had caused him many troubles—father still couldn’t bring himself to abandon his own blood. Sending him to Caucasus would be tantamount to sentencing him to death.

His guilt couldn’t change his decision. As the head of the Lessor family, he had to consider the fate of his entire family, including his other members, his eldest and youngest sons, and Qiqi. The Duke’s cold voice echoed in his ears repeatedly—abandonment was the only option. He had to accept this arrangement. The fault lay with Cormer for being so reckless; he had brought disaster upon himself, and no one else was to blame.

Leaving the cathedral, Cormer felt unusually relieved. The decree, sealed with the emblem of the Royal Council and signed by Grand Duke Philip, declared him the lord of Caucasus in the Homer Region of the Kingdom of Nicosia. The decree didn’t specify whether Caucasus was a city, town, village, or even uninhabited wasteland. Few in Sepulcus City knew exactly how large or what it looked like. They only knew it was a graveyard for ordinary people and a paradise for the abnormal. Everyone understood it was just a title—perhaps it would be revoked soon, as noble lands without heirs reverted to their grantors upon the owner’s death.

He carefully placed the letter of appointment in his bosom and politely declined the invitations from several noble youths with whom he got along fairly well. He didn’t want to see the sympathetic expressions on their faces, as if he were a condemned prisoner about to be led to the execution ground; they were not worth talking to. Ilot and Pube didn’t show up either—Komer didn’t want to see them in such a situation. He hoped they would take the time to plan and prepare for their own affairs. Since they had resolved to join him on an adventure in the Caucasus, it was necessary for them to make the proper preparations.

Strolling along the spacious seaside promenade, the surface was covered with smoothly polished hexagonal stones. Despite decades of weathering, they remained in perfect condition. Thirty years ago, the former grand duke, who loved the sea view here, had spent a fortune importing large quantities of ochre flint from the Huling Mountains and having them carefully polished by craftsmen before paving them on this coastal road. The brownish-red stones were shaped into uniform hexagons, laid side by side like fish scales, creating a truly pleasing sight. An excellent drainage system kept the road surface dry, and precious purple maple trees were planted along the way. Their palm-sized leaves swayed gracefully in the sunlight, adding to the unique beauty of the area. The fresh sea breeze carried a faint scent of maple leaves, making the seaside promenade one of Sepulus City’s most famous attractions. Coupled with the region’s famous mandarin fish—known as one of the top ten dishes on the continent—the place attracted countless merchants and tourists who came to visit and taste it.

As he walked along the promenade, Komer’s mood gradually relaxed. The beautiful scenery helped ease his stress. The grand royal resort was the most luxurious complex by the sea. A side path from the promenade led directly to the royal bathing area. Rows of tall logs enclosed the beach, creating a large semi-enclosed space that served as the king and his relatives’ exclusive sunbathing area. Adjacent to it was a slightly smaller area reserved for the grand duke’s family.

Gazing at the distant blue sea, Koemer set aside his worries and fully enjoyed the breathtaking view of sea and sky. White sails appeared here and there, like frostdrops on a huge sapphire. Seagulls flew across the sky from time to time. With the gentle sea breeze, Koemer stood there, filled with deep emotions. He was about to leave this place, this beautiful and prosperous city. Though he didn’t have much nostalgia for it, it had witnessed more than a decade of his reckless youth. Scenes from his past—hanging out with friends—flashed before his eyes. All the splendor and vibrancy of those days, exposed to the rain and wind, left no trace.

Footsteps and voices in the distance pulled Koemer back from his thoughts and memories. He glanced casually behind him. It was a group of young people coming out of the Wang family’s resort—men and women, probably some elite descendants from the kingdom’s capital, Jazair. Maybe even two royal heirs. Koemer disliked these people who acted arrogantly, relying on their ancestors’ influence. Although he had once been one of them, his illegitimate status made him gradually realize the difference between himself and those true heirs. Yet just as he accepted this difference, a sudden emotional entanglement pushed him into darkness. The painful memories made his heart ache again. He had to take deep breaths to calm himself. Fortunately, after more than three years in exile, his emotional control had improved greatly, and the sea breeze helped soothe his restless mind.

“Is it Koemer?” A gentle, elegant, and slightly flirtatious voice came from not far behind him.

It was like a heavy blow to his heart. Koemer trembled all over and instinctively turned around, staring intently at the woman standing less than ten meters away.

The sea breeze lifted the edges of her snow-white dress. Her golden hair fluttered in the wind beneath her sky-blue brimmed sun hat. Her flawless blue eyes and those faintly visible dimples on her delicate face still stirred the deepest strings of his heart. Her porcelain-like neck was as graceful as that of a swan, and the charming expression on her lips, as she bit her lower lip, once made him utterly obsessed. Now, this scene appeared before him once again.

The lingering fishy smell from his tongue and lips finally snapped Comer out of his daze after a long period of shock. Though he had imagined countless times what their meeting would be like, encountering her by chance under such ordinary circumstances still left him unable to control his emotions. After all, she was the woman who had once truly captivated his heart—his first love. People say first love is the most unforgettable, and unrequited love is even more persistent. The combination of the two could drive any normal person crazy. Would he go crazy? After three years of suffering, he thought everything was far behind him, but upon seeing her today, he realized he had been deluding himself—nothing was as he had imagined.

“Princess Tracy, it’s an honor to meet you,” came a hoarse, weak voice, as if spoken by a dying patient. It was hard to discern any sincerity in the speaker’s words. Comer tried hard to stay calm, but it was difficult. Years earlier, vague memories resurfaced when she glanced at the handsome young man beside her with her proud and charming eyes. Comer felt as if struck hard in the heart, and an indescribable bitterness spread throughout his body. Yet after that bitterness, his confused mind gradually cleared.

“This is Prince Hoffman, and this is Princess Lenta,” said the girl in the white dress. She removed her white silk gloves with graceful fingers and introduced them generously, “And these two are Viscount Krean and Viscount Sorata.”

Hoffman was the fourth son of the King of the Kingdom of Nicolia and the third in line to the throne. Lenta was the seventh daughter of the King of Nicolia and the tenth in line to the throne. Viscount Krean was the only son of Windsor, the Grand Duke of the neighboring Netherlands region of Nicolia. Viscount Sorata was the eldest son of Marquis Nicholas, the Minister of Finance of Nicolia.

“These two are Prince Thomas and Princess Dou Lvtai, from the Kingdom of Rosenburg,” she continued. Her bright smile seemed to reach all the men present. Everyone nodded politely and smiled when she introduced them, though the two princesses remained reserved, merely nodding slightly.

“And this is Baron Comer, my friend. His father is my father’s chief financial officer,” the girl in the white dress finally introduced Comer to everyone.

“It’s a great honor to meet you all,” Comer said. By now, he had completely regained his composure. If it had been just her alone, he thought he might have struggled to control his emotions and even lost his temper. But in front of others, Comer had grown accustomed to using various methods to force himself to stay calm.

Polite handshakes and kisses; the two ladies didn’t even bother to take off their gloves, merely raising their hands indifferently.
“Comer, I heard you had your coming-of-age ceremony today. Has my father also granted you the lands of Caucasus?” The innocent expression in the girl in the white dress seemed to show she had no idea what Caucasus was, but Comer knew all too well how the cold heart beneath that seemingly innocent and delicate appearance had shattered his spirit three years ago.
“Oh, yes, Princess Tracy. The Grand Duke exceptionally granted me the title of baron and has bestowed Caucasus upon me as an acknowledgment of the Lessor family’s long-standing loyalty to the Philip family. After receiving the fief from the Grand Duke, my father asked him to grant it directly to me.” Comer’s face showed a mix of excitement and gratitude as he spoke earnestly to the girl in the white dress.
His companions clearly showed signs of impatience. They didn’t understand why the girl in the white dress would be interested in such an unremarkable lowly noble—people like him could be found everywhere in Jazair or Sepulcus. There were even more broken nobles without a means of support, living in worse conditions than street beggars. It was common for their children to become prostitutes, beggars, thieves, or bandits.
Noticing their impatience, the girl in the white dress smiled politely and asked them to go ahead; she would follow soon. After hesitating for a moment, they agreed to wait not far ahead. They really had no interest in standing with such an obscure figure, as it would tarnish their noble bloodline and status.
Watching them leave, the girl’s calm gaze shifted back to the silent Comer. “Caucasus is a famous place, Baron Comer. You must cherish my father’s gift and not disappoint his expectations of you.”
Looking up calmly, Comer caught a fleeting hint of coldness in the girl’s clear, innocent eyes. He had long become numb to such heartfelt “blessings,” remaining calm as if he hadn’t understood the meaning of her words. “Thank you, Grand Duke and Princess, for your generosity. Comer will remember this forever.”
A hint of disdain sneaked into her bright smile, her rosy cheeks enhancing her delicate beauty. The girl in the white dress pretended to be indifferent and said, “That Lord Hoffman might propose to my father this time, and Lord Thomas has the same intention. It makes it difficult for my father to choose. I don’t want past events to affect my marriage, so I hope you and your friends will be careful too.”

“I see,” Komer said coldly in his heart. So that’s why—showing off and threatening. No wonder they summoned me at such an inappropriate time and place.
“I’m sorry, Princess Tracy. I don’t know what you’re talking about. As a lowly person like me, I surely can’t influence such an important matter as your marriage. Have you overestimated me?” Komer replied indifferently, without any emotion.
“I hope so, Baron Komer.” The girl in the white dress had fully regained her pure and innocent appearance. She waved at the few people who kept looking back at her, then stepped away with light steps. “Good luck to you!”
“Good luck to you too, Princess Tracy.” Watching her slender figure blend into the crowd, Komer felt an indescribable sense of depression. Is this the difference? Is this the gap? He had thought that three years of hardships had made him strong enough to face anything, but now he realized that although what had passed could no longer be retrieved, it was deeply etched in the depths of his soul. Perhaps he would never be able to face those memories with a normal mindset.