Genesis Code: The Genetic Awakening-Chapter 50: A Father’s Hope

Kingdom of Luntheria, The Crownlands.

The Crownlands stretched far and wide, home to five major cities, including the capital. Surrounding towns bordered both the sea and neighbouring kingdoms, making it a region of strategic importance.

At the heart of this vast territory lay Lunaris, the capital of Luntheria. It was a bustling hub where adventurers gathered in response to royal summons.

Due to its immense size, the city was divided into multiple districts, each teeming with people of all races. And wherever crowds gathered, trouble often followed.

Though security was tighter here because of the royal presence, it didn’t eliminate problems entirely.

A few kilometres from the main city, nestled atop a towering mountain, stood the Royal Castle. It was vast and imposing, a structure befitting the powerful beings who lived within.

If Caleb were here, he would have been stunned by the castle’s interior—far more modern than its grand exterior suggested.

Within its walls, the throne room served as the centre of power, where the king and his court met to discuss the details of the event they had called for.

King Alexander Julius Gray III,1 though forty, looked no older than thirty. His golden hair, piercing green eyes, and well-groomed beard gave him a commanding presence.

But it wasn’t just his appearance that made him stand out—he was also one of the strongest figures in the kingdom, if not the strongest.

Dressed in a simple royal red uniform, King Gray sat at the head of the table, ’listening’ intently as his court debated the matters at hand.

Despite the ongoing discussions, King Gray’s mind was elsewhere, preoccupied with something that had troubled him and his family for years.

Normally, it wouldn’t interfere with matters of the kingdom, but recent information had brought those thoughts rushing back.

’Is this really true?’ he wondered. ’I followed the advice given to me, even at the cost of irritating most of the nobles, yet I still have doubts.’

"Your Majesty?" A voice pulled him from his thoughts.

"Hm?" He turned toward the speaker. "What is it, Jefferson?"

Jefferson, a trusted member of his court, had noticed the king’s distraction for the past week, as had the others.

Though they could tell something was weighing on him, he had refused to share it, so they had let it be, hoping he would return to his usual self.

"All preparations have been completed. We just need your approval," Jefferson said, handing over a document. frёeωebɳovel.com

King Gray took it with one hand and skimmed through the contents. Finding nothing amiss, he nodded. "It looks good. Just make sure everything goes smoothly—we can’t afford any mistakes right now." He stood up, prompting the rest of the court to rise as well.

"Yes, Your Majesty," they responded in unison, bowing as he exited the room.

Once he was gone, murmurs filled the chamber.

"Do you think this has to do with his daughter?" someone asked.

"What else could it be? That, and the stress of the current situation, must be weighing on him."

Jefferson let out a weary sigh. "If only the goddess granted us more divinations... things would be much easier."

"Regardless, let’s see to this event and rid ourselves of the current predicament."

...

King Gray moved through the corridor with practised ease, flanked by two knights on either side as he made his way to his daughter’s room. When he arrived, he gestured for his guards to remain outside before stepping in.

The room was warm and inviting, decorated with everything a young woman might find comforting. With a silent signal from the king, the maids attending to his daughter quietly took their leave.

"Daddy, is that you?" Princess Celine Gray’s soft voice called out.

She lay on her bed with a serene expression. Like her father, she had golden hair and striking emerald eyes—a beauty at twenty-four.

But there was a problem.

Celine was blind. And that wasn’t the only complication.

Healers from across the kingdom and beyond had tried everything to cure her, but the most they could do was ease her symptoms.

Their diagnosis remained the same—her condition had been present since birth, and only the touch of the goddess could truly heal her.

And therein lay the issue. The goddess, once a guiding force, had grown distant over the years. Without her divine intervention, all they could do was manage Celine’s symptoms and hope for a miracle.

"Yes, sweetheart," King Gray answered, his voice warm but carrying a weight he tried to conceal. "How are you feeling today?"

He sat beside her on the bed, gently taking her hand in his and giving it a reassuring squeeze before pressing a soft kiss to her forehead.

"I’m doing great, Father." Her voice was bright, her smile unwavering despite everything. She always found comfort in his presence. "How was your day?"

"The usual—dull and uneventful," he chuckled, earning a shared laugh between them.

A moment later, his expression softened. "Just a little longer, baby girl," he murmured. "Things will get better."

It was the only promise he could give, holding onto the words of the goddess’s spokesperson.

Celine nodded firmly, her faith in him absolute. "Mm."

After a brief pause, she suddenly perked up. "Can you tell me a story? Preferably one where a dashing prince saves the day..."

"You mean your brother?" King Gray teased with a playful smirk.

"No...!" Celine huffed in mock outrage. "Anyone but him."

"Haha... of course, of course..." he chuckled, though a wistful thought lingered in his mind. ’If only someone like that truly existed...’

Pushing the thought aside, he began spinning a tale of a valiant prince who descended from the heavens, striking down demons and monsters with unmatched strength.

"And in the end..." he said as he reached the climax, "...he wielded the power to change the fate of all living beings."

"Hehehe..." Celine giggled. "That was amazing. I only wish someone like that were real."

King Gray smiled faintly, his voice barely above a whisper. "Me too, baby. Me too..."