Annan already understood perfectly.

If the fall of the Aceran Empire is directly related to the loss of control of one or more great spells...... Then the shattering of the Great Enchantment and the subsequent collapse and fall of the imperial capital can also be said to be in the past.

But this also raises another question when it comes to explaining the principle of the sinking of the Empire......

"All along, it is our Winter Clan who guards the 'Three Sirens'?"

Annan asked Ivan.

It was not what he expected.

Ivan shook his head: "Our Winter Clan is indeed a family with an extremely long history. But we didn't exist from the very beginning...... At least at the end of the Tertiary Age, we began to be the caretakers of great things.

"Before us, the people who were in charge of guarding the great things were the 'Frost Whispers' who were closer to their grandmothers. You know the 'barber' of Razor Ridge, right? He is a member of the Frostwhisperers. ”

Late Tertiary?

Annan frowned and asked, "Is it the period when the elves stopped using spell energy?" ”

"It's after the end of the spell era. At least after the spell energy in the vicinity of Frostwhisper is completely over. ”

To this question, Ivan replied with great certainty: "Because the [Winter's Blood] has never been tainted by the curse, it has been since a thousand years ago until now.

"We have been the caretakers of the 'Three Sirens' since the time of the Empire...... In fact, at the time of the collapse of the imperial capital, the Three Sirens were still held in the hands of the Grand Duke of Winter as the scepter of the Grand Duke of Winter. ”

"So, besides me, are there any of the Winter Clans who have reversed the Heart of Winter?"

"Absolutely not."

Ivan shook his head and replied in detail: "You should understand it now. Winterheart's purpose is twofold, one is that Grandmother wants to create her own kind in this way, and the other is to use it—at least to guard the spell. Therefore, her old man will not let the heart of winter be easily interfered with by others.

"The only one who can interfere with the 'Heart of Winter' is a force of the same level. So it was only the two ladies who carved the inscription of reversal. But the grandmother was estranged from them, not hostile and not friendly.

"So the grandmother's face alone is not enough for them to help directly; And they don't deliberately destroy Grandma's Winter Heart in order to go against her grandmother - you're the only exception, but it's also because of the Book of Skywheels, not because you're the Frost Whisper.

"Taking a step back, it wasn't easy to find those two ladies. It was a realm of mystery and darkness. If they don't want to see someone themselves, they won't be able to reach the 'Land of Light' in their lifetime. ”

"So that means," Annan said in a deep voice, "the [tyrant] posture has never been used at all, has it?" ”

"That's right."

Ivan affirmed, "The history of 'Frost Whisper' is too long, and I don't know how the dragons guarded this great spell back then. But at least in the history of Winter, none of us have ever received the power of the Tyrant. Because the Heart of Winter seals this choice for us.

"—you are the first [tyrant]."

“…… Don't say that, it's a bit awkward. ”

Annan grinned.

For some reason, I always felt that Ivan's praise was a little awkward...... It's like swearing.

"That's ......"

He muttered under his breath.

From this point of view, the three "Farewell Gods" of [Crazy Blood] have not yet been activated. And Winterheart's power was not allowed to use the power of the Tyrant from the "beginning of its design......

Is this ...... Not a coincidence?

Because the Heart of Winter is really an ability given by the old grandmother - in the popular understanding, the lack of positive emotions is to restrain the frost beast.

But Annan now knows that this is a lie.

Because the "Heart of Winter" he holds has been reversed, but when he comes into contact with the wolf girl, he realizes that he can still tame the frost beast.

That said, the ability to tame the Frostbeast has nothing to do with his bloodline itself, not his emotional state.

And the old grandmother herself has a lot of preference for her offspring - one can even say partiality. Outstanding offspring will not even let them die. Or rather, let them accompany them after death.

- So doesn't the old grandmother know that after the heart of winter blocks positive emotions, it will greatly increase the probability of death?

The old grandmother must have known.

But even so, the old grandmother still chose this way......

That is to say, she is consciously able to let her descendants use the ability of the [Faint King].

But its ability as a "tyrant" has been passed down - at least Ivan still knows it. This can't be for Annan, who doesn't know how many years later, right?

That's impossible.

- Therefore, the ability of this [Tyrant] should be the last hole card of the Grand Duke of Winter.

The old grandmother probably meant that it was only allowed to turn the scepter upside down if it was impossible to cope with the current situation. But so far, this ability has not been used......

"What is the ability of [Faint King]?"

Annan asked, "Just tell me the ability, not to mention the curse." ”

Ivan said in a deep voice: "I was going to tell you too. Your offspring will not necessarily have a reversed Winter Heart, and may return to the trajectory of our destiny.

"Of the three abilities of [Faint King], the most useful are...... At least one of the holder's descendants will be better than the holder. This is the foundation of the Winter family's ability to be passed down for thousands of years.

"One of the other two abilities is the ability for the wielder to control all relatives within three generations...... Including parents, grandparents, nephews, children, great-grandchildren...... Also includes the Winter Hand.

"In fact, that's how we control the Winter Hand. The Winter's Hand's spell is obtained by injecting the diluted and harmless blood of Winter. Anyone who tries to steal the blood of winter will eventually be controlled by us. ”

Ivan's face was calm: "As long as an order is given while holding a scepter and is successfully received by the other party, the order must be executed." It's like receiving an equivalent edict spell - even if the other party is ordered to commit suicide, the other party must execute it immediately.

"This is also the power of [tradition]...... It is an authority that belongs to the 'head of the family', and there are also divine arts with similar effects in the traditional realm. So I suspected that the birth of this scepter might have something to do with my grandmother, but I don't have any proof. ”

"What about the third ability?"

"The third competency is the least meaningful...... Even more present is its cursed side. ”

Ivan was silent for a moment, then replied, "That's a curse called [Invincible Life]. In this life, whatever you want most is destined to be unavailable...... As compensation, things that are only in the category of 'interest' can always be completed beyond expectations. ”

“…… Hey? ”

Annan was stunned for a moment.

But Ivan is obviously a very outstanding Grand Duke, even the most outstanding Grand Duke of the Winter Dynasty.

Don't......

Annan couldn't help but ask, "Father, what do you want the most...... What is it? ”

“…… My grandfather died when I was very young, he was exhausted. ”

Ivan did not answer directly, but after being silent for a long time, he muttered in a low voice, "My aunt dedicated herself to the Tower of Storms. My uncle was removed from the family as a traitor.

"My father was a delicate and weak man, who was born in the year of plenty, so soon after the onset of the winter year, he became irritable and wept day by day.

"My brother, who I had the best relationship with, was kidnapped and eventually killed by rescuers. My eldest brother couldn't bear the pressure and fell out with my father, and when he was sixteen years old, he ran away from home and went underground, and I haven't seen him for almost thirty years.

"After my brother died and my brother ran away from home, my father also committed suicide because he was overwhelmed.

“…… So I don't want to be a grand duke at all. ”

The most illustrious and virtuous Grand Duke in history lamented in such a low voice.

"I just hope that my family can live safely and happily, that's all. I don't know why I'm the one who was raised as the next Grand Duke...... Until I took it. Until I take this authority and inherit this curse. ”

Grand Duke Ivan had a rare mocking smile on his face.

That's not mocking others, it's mocking yourself.

He was mocking his fate.

It wasn't until the night before my father's suicide, on the day I took the curse, that I finally understood everything. I was destined to kill my family...... This is my destiny.

"Anya, her talent as the Grand Duke is indeed much stronger than mine. Because I don't want to be this damn Winter Grand Duke at all...... It was after Anya was cursed by this curse that I wanted to inherit her will, and it was precisely the 'power' of this authority that was triggered. ”

I don't want that power.

I would rather my lover and my family live safely and healthily.

"So...... I'm sorry, Annan. ”

Ivan recounted, expressionless, like an ice sculpture: "I know that I should not have entrusted this burden to you. You're still very young...... Far younger than I was, I know the pressure you're under.

"But perhaps all the misfortunes you have encountered so far, and all the sufferings you will suffer in the future, are also the fate that I have brought upon you......

"This scepter is a terrible birthday present. So—

"I'm sorry."