#potential triggering content

Trigger Warning: Mention of Fratricide Attempt, Sexual Assault - Rape.

.

ーーーー

The Legitimacy of the “8th Prince of Rhodolite”

First of all, I would like to point out that Luke, the “8th Prince of Rhodolite” only became a legitimate prince in his True Love (Romantic) End after he attended the “Sword Ceremony” that was held especially for him.

“Sword Ceremony” is the ceremony where the crest of the royal family is placed on the sword that each person (prince) has. In Rhodolite, right from the moment they were born, each princes are given an individual crest. Apart from their individual crest (their animal crest on their profile), there's also a different crest, the rose crest which signifies the royal family. The moment the rose crest is engraved onto their sword is the moment when they are acknowledged as the legitimate child of the royal family.

Before the “Sword Ceremony” was held for Luke in Chapter 25 of his True Love (Romantic) End, Luke’s sword still doesn't have Rhodolite's royal family crest on it. Normally the “Sword Ceremony” is held before adulthood. However, because Luke still doesn’t have the Rhodolite’s royal family crest, the royal family are holding the ceremony for Luke to officially acknowledge him as the legitimate child of the royal family.

Initially, Luke didn’t want to be “a prince” (because he view the royal family as full of “good-for-nothings”, and if you check out this other post of mine (here) and the other “reveal” about Luke further down in this post, you’ll understand his animosity toward the royalties.....) and he had even committed very major crimes in his route. Those crimes being... acting as the intermediary for supplying the anti-royalty faction with Obsidian's weapons and turning the anti-royalty faction into an extremist faction. These things are actually very major crime to the point that it won't be strange for him to be given a death penalty. However, the “King” (Jin) had penalized Luke for his crime not with a death penalty but that penalty was to “contribute to the future of the country”.

ー

[Spoilers from “Sword Ceremony” Scene in Luke True Love (Romantic) End Chapter 25]

Luke: ーーWith this sword, I swear to give my life to the citizen, to the land, to the history, to the future, of this proud country of roses

Jin: As the king, I bless upon the new bearer of the country. May the country of roses prosper for eternity

And so, the sword that had only been wielded for the sake of *killing Jin, was given back to Luke by the “King's” hand

Engraved onto the blade of Luke's sword was the crest of the royal family that he loathed.

The rose crest would never disappear for all his life.

This is a path once chosen, there's no turning back.

*Note: Details on why Luke had only been wielding his sword of the sake of killing Jin can be found in this other post (here)

ー

And that scene above, was the moment that Luke Randolph became the legitimate “8th Prince of Rhodolite”.

Additionally, I’ve also mentioned this before in this post (here), but in Luke’s Passionate Love (Dramatic) End, Luke was exiled from Rhodolite. He also never went through the “Sword Ceremony” in that end either, thus he never became a “legitimate” prince of Rhodolite. He still has Rhodolite’s royalty blood running in his vein yes, but in this end, Luke was never acknowledged as the legitimate child of the royal family. Not like it mattered much because he can’t even live in Rhodolite anymore and became an exile...

ーーーー

Why Luke was only brought to the castle after the Previous King's death

.....Here’s where the other trigger warning comes into play.

Luke “wasn’t meant to be born”. His mother, a maid in the palace who happened to look similar to the Previous Belle, was raped by the Previous King.

Not everyone knew about how Luke’s birth came to be, but all those who knew, had been “acting as if it never happened” and kept the whole ordeal under the rug. Sariel was one of those people. He had been the Previous King’s aide ever since he was young and he knew Luke’s mother.

To Rhodolite, what was done to Luke’s mother is considered a crime. But because the one who committed said crime is the king, it ended up becoming “nothing had happened”.

ー

[Spoilers from Licht’s common route (Chapter 15)]

In Licht’s route, a flashback revealed his conversation with Sariel 15 years ago. Due to a “crime” Licht had committed, he was certain he was going to be executed, but he wasn’t. The King's order was that “nothing happened”

Sariel: The King's order is absolute. The King said “nothing happened” so nothing happened.

ー

In both Licht’s case and what happened to Luke’s mother, the same decree was made. “Nothing happened”. For this reason, as long as the King is alive, Luke can’t be at the palace. Because if Luke is at the palace while the king was still alive.... what the King had done would no longer be “nothing had happened”.

So long as the incident was kept under the rug and there is no words on involving parties... no incident had occurred.

Regarding Luke’s mother, she had developed PTSD from this and couldn’t accept what happened so she never revealed to Luke who his father was. It wasn’t for his sake, but rather for her own... she didn't want to acknowledge Luke’s existence because she sees him as the symbol of the hideous past.

Since I’m already revealing this much spoilers, I might as well translate the scene...

ー

[Spoilers from Luke’s common route (Chapter 14)]

Luke: Do you now what His Majesty the King's face look like?

MC: ........Now that you mentioned it, I might not really know

The father of the 8 princesーー the previous His Majesty the King is, a person who doesn't show his face much to the citizens.

It seems that wasn't the case in the past, but by the time I was born and understand what goes on around me, it had already been that way.

MC: (I feel like I saw his portrait before but, I can't remember where)

Luke: I too, only found out on the day Sariel brought me here.

MC: Eh...... Even though he's your father?

Luke: Well, up until I came here I didn't even know I'm a prince.

Luke: Thinking about it now, my mother had completely hidden it huh

Luke: ......Rather than for my sake, it's for her own sake

MC: Why.........

Luke: Why do you think?

Luke: My mother... everytime she sees my face, she becomes insane.

MC: Insane......?

Luke: Yeah. Even thoughIi haven't done anything, she's afraid of me. I've always felt that ever since as far back as I can remember

Luke: But one day.... mother and father got married and... it was around the time my little sister was born I think?

Luke: It's like she never “see” me again ever since

MC: .....By doesn't see....you mean?

Luke: Just as I said. She's no longer “aware of my existence”

Luke: Even though I'm right in front of her, no matter what I say to her, nothing reaches her at all

Luke: She's aware of my little sister, and father's existence, but it's just me...... She continue to act like I'm not there at all

Luke: mother prepared meals for 3, she does housework and laundry for 3, and even when we moved home, I don't have a bedroom there

Luke: Father probably... wasn't willing to have me around either.

Luke: Just like my mother, he act like I don't exist. It's only my little sister who acknowledged my existence

MC: only your, little sister...

Luke: Yep. If she's around, then Iーー

Luke: “Ah, I'm alive.” was what I always thought.

Luke: the only one who makes me who's like a ghost feel properly alive as human, is only her.

.

[A quick summary instead of translation]

And so the realization hits MC. The reason why Luke is good with cooking and housework, why he said when he was young, he eats honey whenever he's hungry, and why what he loves are only his little sister and honey. Those are the only two thing keeping him alive while he had to do everything himself to stay alive

.

Luke: Honestly, it was always mysterious to me. Why my mother is so frightened of me to the point that she cease to be aware of my existence

.

[Another quick summary instead of translation]

As the two stopped at the wall in the throne room where numerous portraits lined up on display like a gallery, MC asked Luke if these are portraits of the previous generation kings. Luke said yes and told her how once the coronation ceremony ends, their portraits were put on display here. When MC first came here, the curtain blocked the portraits so she didn't noticed. She wonder if the previous king's portrait is also displayed here and as she was wondering which one is him...

.

Luke: The one on the right most...... the moment I saw it, I knew it.

Luke: Ah, right. Seeing my face makes my mother displeased

MC: (Right most......)

MC: (.............)

MC: (..............This person is.......)

Expressed by the soft brush stroke shows his *red brown hair with calm but willful *red copper eyes.

*Note: Luke's hair color and Jin's eye color

With a lazy gentle smile on his face as ifーー

Luke: Amazing huh. I have this many brothers but........

Luke: The one who's the most like him is me....... Seriously sickening.

Luke: It seems sariel was the King's aide ever since he was young. He knew my mother too

Luke: That's why when I arrived here, I heard everything from him. .......Stuff about my mother I didn't know of, everything.

[Flashback to Sariel’s conversation with Luke]

Sariel: His Majesty the King had a woman he loved from his heart. It wasn't the queen, nor the women he got his hands on after her.....

Sariel: The King loved his first woman....... Prince Jin's mother, from the bottom of his heart.

Sariel: But Prince Jin's mother was in such a lower positioning than his that the people around them caused them to end up being separated.

Sariel: As if to forget the woman he loved, he tied himself up with several political marriages, continuing to have sex with woman as if it's work.....

Sariel: A few years later. When he got *news of how his beloved woman is from Prince Jin who was born out of the palace and came back

*Note: It was revealed in Jin’s route that she's dead. As soon as he met his father for the first time, his father asked him how his mother, and he told him she’s dead.

Sariel: The king with a wounded heart, had turned completely insane.

Sariel: He randomly laid his hand on women to satisfy his famished heart.

Sariel: And born from that was Prince Licht and Prince Nokto, and then Prince Luke.

Sariel: With the twin princes' mother, it was done with consent so that was still alright but.....

Sariel: .............

Sariel: Luke's mother was the palace's maid

Sariel: She was a person who would never be involved with His Majesty the King butーー

Sariel: At one point, she happened to pass by His Majesty the King in the hallway

Sariel: Prince Luke, your mother...... happened to look quite similar to Prince Jin's mother

Sariel: That night.... the king assaulted and raped your mother like a beast

[End of Flashback]

Luke: ーーAnd so, mother ran away from the palace and went back to her home but....

Luke: By then, she was already impregnated with me

Luke: I'm someone who shouldn't have been born

Luke: .......At the very least to mother, she didn't want to acknowledge my existence because I'm the symbol of the hideous past

Luke: To Rhodolite, what was done to my mother is a crime

Luke: But because he's the king, it ended up becoming "nothing had happened"

.

Luke: Hey, do you think the princes with that worthless man's blood in their veins are any decent people?

Luke: They're the sons of the guy who just because he lost his "most" beloved woman, hurt tons of people like a beast.

Luke: In this place are the sons of the king who violated women after women.

ー

However, once the Previous King passed away, even if the “crime” came into light, there’s no one you can charge for the crime because the perpetrator is dead.

Sariel, aware of Luke’s existence and everything that transpired, then went to find Luke to kidnap bring him to the palace as one of the person with rights to the throne after revealing to Luke that he’s a royalty. It was only after Luke arrived at the palace that Sariel immediately revealed the whole incident to Luke. (As translated above).

ー

.

. ————

Since I’ve already shared the basic info on him (without plot spoiler) in the previous ask...

From here on I’ll be sharing everything that was revealed related to Gilbert von Obsidian (a.k.a. Eyepatch Man) thus far. (Everything are from Luke’s route)

Parts which have direct references to Gilbert (something someone says about him / something about him / something he says) will be in italic.

Note: Now that we got a name reveal, I’ll be putting his name in bracket where applicable. (Example: ??? (Gilbert), Eyepatch man (Gilbert), etc..)

————

[Spoilers from Luke’s common route (Chapter 20)]

Back at the castle 3 princes gathered in the pure white office room

Clavis: ーー.......And that ends the report

Nokto: Oh... Both Luke and Jin got it hard huh. To be seeking revenge even though they're brothers

Chevalier: I don't remember telling you to report about that kind of stuff I don't give a damn about

Chevalier rested his chin on his hands on the one and only desk in the room as he coldly glare at Clavis

Chevalier: What I asked about was "information on what you've been snooping around"

Clavis: .......Seriously, what an unpleasant guy. I don't remember telling you about that

Chevalier: You think I don't know what you're doing?

Nokto: What information he's been snooping around?

Clavis: The other day I realized luke's family background was shrewdly forged

Clavis: Getting hold of fake information affects my honor as an older brother you see?

Clavis: That's why I thoroughly investigated him all over again

Nokto: Your "thoroughly" is just nasty isn't it....... well, so there was "something" that even king wants to know about?

Clavis: Yeah. It's an exceptionally delightful story

Clavis turned his back toward Chevalier as he continued to speak looking only at Nokto

Clavis: Luke was born at a territory that a certain margrave is managing

Clavis: So I went to check that territory's birth registration and death registration documents but.....

Clavis: It seems Luke had died once on the day of bloodstained roses

Nokto: You mentioned it earlier didn't you. That after Jin killed his little sister, Luke was crushed by the debris and died

Clavis: According to Jin's testimony that is

Clavis: Even if he survived that, he was so gravely wounded that death is pretty much guaranteed however......

Clavis: A year after that, Luke was employed as a mercenary in town

Clavis raised two fingers

Clavis: There's two problem here. Who saved Luke. And what happened during that 1 year gap

Clavis: For Luke to have a death registration means our military doctor wasn't the one who saved him

Clavis: But at that battlefield there was only two group at war. If Rhodolite didn't saved him......

Nokto: You don't mean......

*Note: Yes. Obsidian, specifically Gilbert, was the one who "saved" Luke. (This is revealed in both True Love and Passionate Love ends, with each end giving us more details on Gilbert, what went on, and what he’s up to.)

Clavis: I'm just speaking of possibilities

Chevalier: ............

Clavis: Cheva, since when did you realized all this?

Chevalier: When do you think?

Clavis: .........

Chevalier: There was the incident at the embassy wasn't there. I anticipated this ever since then

Clavis: .......So it's like that huh

Nokto: It's like what?

Chevalier: Think about it yourself

Chuckling, Chevalier stood up from his chair

Chevalier: If his connection to that country is clear, then there's no reason for us to remain silent about this

Chevalier: Immature as he is, it seems he had given us the answer to what his life is worth

Clavis: You......

Chevalier: I have no mercy for traitors to the country

As his white mantle fluttered, Chevalier heads toward the door

Reflected in his eyes was a cold gaze of the ruthless and cruel beast

Chevalier: It's time for a hunt

————

[Quotes from Luke’s passionate love end (Chapter 21 - His POV)]

??? (Gilbert): The reason for being born is all given afterwards

??? (Gilbert): What are you able to leave behind while alive? I think that’s the value of one’s life...

??? (Gilbert): Well then, I wonder what you’re able to leave behind?

It was at some point, his savior gave an eloquent smile.

Luke: (While I’m still alive, there’s only one thing I can leave behind.)

That is to kill the royalties he loathed that beheaded his little sister.

The value of his life was all condensed into that.

—

[Spoilers from Luke’s passionate love end (Chapter 21 - Normal POV)]

A summary of what went on now what we know from the common route that Jin killed Luke’s sister, Leila, and Luke was crushed by debris but had somehow survived that. It turned out that not only is Obsidian military development more advanced than Rhodolite... But also their medical technology.

Rhodolite's current medical tech: If someone is crushed by the debris of a building, they can no longer be saved.

Obsidian's current medical tech: Even if someone is crushed by debris, their bones broken, their internal organs injured, as long as they're still "alive", saving them is "not impossible".

Jin mercy killed Leila under the assumption of Rhodolite's medical tech but Luke who was even more heavily injured than Leila was saved thanks to Obsidian's more advanced medical technology.

Luke told Jin how he have seen Obsidian's medical tech first handed (thanks to Gilbert) and it's much much more advanced than Rhodolite's.

—

Luke: .....Of course it wasn’t something cheap that anyone can afford.

Luke: But I happened to catch the eye of “that guy” (Gilbert)

—

[A flashback scene to after Luke was retrieved from the debris of his house that had crushed his body]

??? (Gilbert): Rhodolite had abandoned you but Obsidian saved you

??? (Gilbert): Because you see, how could someone take away the life of such a young child

??? (Gilbert): But it's such a pity..... had your younger sister been alive, we might have had been able to save her too

??? (Gilbert): It's just that her life was taken away by someone with no medical knowledge

??? (Gilbert): Rhodolite's royalties really are so nasty aren't they?

—

Jin: ......You, don’t tell meーー

Jin: Were you saved by the “eyepatch bastard” (Gilbert)?

Luke: ......That’s right.

*Flashing through his mind was... Obsidian's generalissimo. The supreme commander, a young man with an eloquent smile. [This line is from Luke’s His POV story]

Luke: The one who saved me was the guy you called “eyepatch bastard”

Jin: Nh.. No, I’m glad you’re alive. But to think you could be saved because it was Obsidian...

Jin: If it’s with that bastard’s authority and military control, getting the highest level of medical care would certainly be possible.

Jin: But the price for that is...... dammit!

—

Jin: Realize it idiot! that guy isn't someone who would save you with a good intention

Jin: Everything is a trapped he laid for the sake of this! To fuel on your hatred and destroy the royal family from the inside out

Jin: ........No, not just that. But the soldiers who harassed you and your little sister might have done so on the order of that man too!

Luke: No.

Luke: Because those soldiers were all killed by that guy

Jin: ............

Luke: He said "I have no need for hideous soldiers who harasses children on the battlefield" and such too

*With an eloquent smile on his face, he ordered his own soldiers killed. It was a memory that gave him the shivers. [This line is from Luke’s His POV story]

Jin: .........Isn't that to buy your trust

Jin: Ah, shit. For real..... I can't stand the way he does things

Jin: In our country we have "a genius born every thousand years" (Chevalier) but... that eyepatch bastard (Gilbert) too is like that.........

Jin: That guyーー is a genius in brainwashing through grasping the minds and hearts of others

—

Additional information revealed in Luke’s passionate love end is that both Clavis and Sariel also knows Eyepatch Man (Gilbert von Obsidian) as well as how much of a threat he is.

————

[Spoilers from Luke’s true love end (Chapter 21)]

Luke: Let me just ask one thing first. ........is this for my crime of trying to kill a royalty?

Chevalier: Who cares about that. It's not unusual for brothers to kill each other if it's royalties we're talking about

Luke: .......

Luke: *(Well.... I see. If that kind of thing is a crime then Clavis would fave already been killed by now) [This line is from Luke’s His POV story]

Luke: Then is it because I stirred on the anti-royalty faction?

Chevalier: Who cares about that too. That's well too inadequate to be called a threat

Luke: Then what is it? I can't think of anything else

Chevalier: You have connections with Obsidian don't you

Luke: ...............

Chevalier: Oh, don't misunderstand. Just having connections with Obsidian doesn't matters too. There's someone else (Clavis, as confirmed in passionate love end) who's building a friendship with them even more than you are.

Luke: ..........What?

Luke: Then why are you pointing your sword at me??

Chevalier: You're acquainted with the "eyepatch man" (Gilbert) aren't you?

Luke: ................

Chevalier: .....As I thought

Luke: How did you........know?

Chevalier: 10 Years agoーーYou were gravely injured

—

Chevalier knew it's Gilbert because Obsidian aren't so compassionate that they would save a child. Much less a dying child of an enemy's country. For them to do so must mean someone on their side instructed the soldier to do so, and for them to specifically save Luke, means they know this boy can possibly kill Rhodolite's royal family. But on top of that, they must know that this boy has royal blood in his veins, and there's only one person in Obsidian who is in the position and has the authority to pull that off together with that knowledge in their handsーー and that person is Gilbert.

—

Chevalier: That man is a disaster. He's great at manipulating people.

Chevalier: As long as you're within his palm, your hatred and grudge will never disappear

—

[Spoilers from Luke’s true love end (Chapter 23)]

Luke reached into his jacket

What he pulled out wasn’t a sword, but it was a “jet black lump of iron” (a hand gun)

Jin: You.... That’s......

It was a firearm used in the war in recent years but a much smaller version.

The fruits of military technology which had “advanced by hundreds of years” was within Luke’s hand.

Jin: ......You’re kidding me right

Jin: The one backing you is the “eyepatch bastard” (Gilbert)?

Jin: Nh.... Luke!

Luke: ーーGood bye, Jin

—

[Spoilers from Luke’s true love end (Chapter 24)]

In the shadow of the forest, Chevalier, Leon, and Clavis were watching the scene unfolds.

Leon: Hey, more importantly... What do you think “that” is?

What was reflected in his eyes was the lump of iron that had dropped down on the grass

Clavis: Do you see it as something else other than a gun?

Leon: A gun that small that’s not only portable but also super accurate and can be fired continuously? I’ve never seen such a thing on the battlefield before.

Clavis: I’ll collect and analyze it later but, it’s probably not something that can be reproduced given our technological development.

Clavis: I shall presume that thing was “given to Luke to have him on to”

Leon: .....There’s only one person I can think of who would be able to create such an unimaginable weapon though?

Chevalier: It’s a declaration of war from “that man” (Gilbert)

Chevalier’s lips turned into a smirk

Chevalier: He’s intimidating us with the fact Obsidian’s military technology is beyond our knowledge

Chevalier: “Get ready to be trampled on” is what he wanted to say isn’t it? This uncouthness is just like him.

Clavis: .......

Leon: Seems like this is no situation for us to be splitting up

As Leon walked away following Chevalierーー

No one noticed Clavis whose smile has disappeared from his face as he was left behind.

————

[Spoilers from Extra Scene at the very end of Luke’s true love end Chapter 25 (End Chapter) after “Fin” already showed up.]

ーーAt same time, at a certain place, in a certain region

The "man wearing an eyepatch" gives an eloquent smile to the soldier clad in black kneeling before him

??? (Gilbert): Today is Luke's big day huh...... I wanted to go congratulate him directly

??? (Gilbert): Just kidding. Putting aside such a thing that's not even on my mindーー

??? (Gilbert): I too, thought of giving him a "gift"

??? (Gilbert): Having someone precious to him taken away for the second time, I wonder what kind of feelings that would give him?

————

[Spoilers from Luke’s true love end epilogue]

One day, MC was at the bookstore she was working at. Her work was already done for the day but she stayed to read the books there to study some more. Rio told her he'll head back first and warned her not to stay too late.

A while after Rio left, just as MC finished reading a book.... she heard the door opened.

MC: Rio.....?

......But it wasn’t Rio. Some men had entered the bookstore and judging from there expression, they obviously do not mean well. MC thought how she better escape as soon as possible but unfortunately, it was already too late.

Later in the forest...

Luke was dealing with some illegal immigrants from Obsidian ....They were the ones who took MC

—

Illegal immigrant: Luke? You, betrayed us!

Luke: Betray? Did your "master" (Gilbert) say that?

Illegal immigrant: ..........

Luke: To begin with, I'm not that guy's servant. Unlike you guys

Luke recalled a line he often heard eyepatch man (Gilbert) says

??? (Gilbert): Trampling over a weak country is boring

Luke points his sword at the face of eyepatch man's servants

Luke: It's that guy we're talking about. He knew about how I became a legitimate prince and this time has a "gift" for me doesn't he?

Luke: Then I better give him a proper thank

Luke: Let him know I'll give him the most deserving return gift that will make him regret if he ever lay his hand on MC!

Luke: ーーWell, that's if you get to meet your master again that is

—

Clavis has been watching the scene unfold from the side

Luke: What, you're here too?

Clavis: It's my job as an older brother to cheer on my cute little brother on the first time he's going solo

Luke: You're noisy so just go back already

Clavis: Hahahah, well, that asides

Clavis: ......With this, you really became that man (Gilbert)'s enemy

Clavis: It would be nice if you..... don't regret it alright?

Luke: ーー!

On reflex, Luke roughly grabbed Clavis by his shoulder and pulled him away from the carriage where mc was held in

Luke: I had this thought before but, you.....

Luke: "who" are you?

Luke sensed "something" and it put him on guard as he stared at Clavis

Clavis: Isn't this a bit too late for that. I'm your wonderful older brother, the 3rd prince who loves delights aren't I?

Luke: .........."That rumor" isn't true now is it

Clavis: Well, what if it is. What are you going to do?

Clavis: ーーNh, haha, if you grip me any harder your older brother's shoulder is going to break

Luke let go of Clavis

Clavis: If you want to protect MC then bare your fangs at everything like what you just did. Doubt everything

Clavis: But with the man that you had turned into an enemy of (Gilbert), even that much vigilance is still isn't enough

—

After they safely made it back to the castle MC apologized to Luke and thanked him for saving her. Luke told her it's not her fault because rather, she got "dragged into" his mess. MC was confused so Luke told her how he got info from Chevalier that there's been illegal immigrants entering the country recently and it turned out those illegal immigrant had came for the sole purpose of kidnapping MC

Note: It was Gilbert's order, his "gift" to Luke = to steal MC away

MC was confused as to why someone would want to kidnap her because she's not Belle anymore

Luke: You know I used to be on Obsidian's side right?

To protect mc as a prince of Rhodolite means going against Obsidian, and the one who used to back Luke (Gilbert) is offended by that. Luke told MC how he think he (Gilber) is thinking that if he's able to take the woman Luke is intimate with as hostage, he would once again, be able to get the upper hand on Luke.

Luke: Well, but the means he used was too sloppy. Rather than trying to kidnap you seriously, it's more like he's making a declaration of war.

Luke: It's as if to say..... If I turn against Obsidian, it's not me..... But it's you that they'll hurt.....

————