Aurora’s heart tightened as his tone shifted. “What’s the downside?” she asked.
“Our fate will be altered.”
Aurora had heard countless myths about gods defying destiny, stories she once dismissed as nonsense.
“Altered?” she repeated.
“Do you know why even emperors relied on our family’s astrology? It’s because no matter what could or couldn’t be divined, the head of the family always knew the answers.
They could predict not just family fortunes but even the fate of a nation. The family head foresaw that if our lineage continued its natural course, we would soon face complete destruction.
Astrology is about balancing yin and yang. Emperors have both visible and hidden forces-women represent yin, and men, yang. Our family represented the hidden force, while another branch remained visible. The family head divined a catastrophic disaster for us, while the visible branch was destined for ten generations of wealth and glory.
Faced with this, the family head panicked. There were over a hundred members in the family at the time. If we fell, our name would vanish from history entirely.
After weighing the pros and cons, the family head not only uncovered the secrets of fate but manipulated them, swapping our family’s destiny with that of another.
It’s said that on the day the other family was wiped out-executed to the last person-snow fell in June. Our family head led everyone to escape to New York.
But something strange happened. From that generation onward, every family head’s lifespan shortened by ten years.
The family head explained that it was heaven’s punishment for the sins we committed. Others say it’s a debt of lives we owe, a debt that must eventually be repaid. Borrowed lives must one day be returned.
The family head who led the escape foresaw all of this. She spoke of karma, saying that debts must always be paid. At the time, we didn’t believe her. Who would’ve thought her words would come true? Whether it’s a curse or retribution, each family head’s life has grown shorter with every generation.
Although our R family is thriving now, especially in the financial world, our mastery of astrology has faded. Even your mother only knows the basics-she’s far from a master. And you? You probably don’t even understand the concept of yin and yang. Perhaps this, too, is heaven’s punishment.”
Bramwell Elderstone’s sigh carried a weight that left Aurora deeply moved. She hadn’t known her family had endured so much.
But what struck her most was his final comment. “So… Mom only has forty years to live?”
Aurora was stunned. She had always dismissed this as a baseless rumor, hoping the truth wouldn’t be so grim.
“By all accounts, yes. Her health began deteriorating half a year ago. I saw it happen to your grandmother as well…”
Bramwell Elderstone’s voice faltered when he mentioned Aurora’s grandmother. For a moment, he seemed at a loss for words.
After a pause, he composed himself and continued. “Your grandmother was healthy at first, but when she turned fifty, her condition suddenly worsened. Doctors couldn’t explain it. Not long after her fiftieth birthday, she…”
Aurora noticed tears glistening in Bramwell Elderstone’s eyes. These weren’t the tears of a mere servant. His feelings for her grandmother seemed far deeper.
Aurora had seen enough dramas and read enough novels to recognize bonds that transcended the usual master-servant relationship. Perhaps Mr. Elderstone had loved her grandmother.
“Grandpa Bramwell, do you have a picture of my grandmother? I’ve never seen her before.”
“I do. I’ve kept her pictures all these years. If you’d grown up in the R family, you’d have seen them too.” Bramwell Elderstone pulled out his phone and began scrolling through photos.
Some were of her grandmother at grand events, others captured her in everyday moments. Aurora could tell from the photos that her grandmother had been an elegant woman.
Then, Bramwell showed her older photos, with a distinct vintage quality. The images had clearly been preserved digitally.
One photo stood out-a picture of her grandmother holding a child.
“Is that my mom?” Aurora immediately recognized the cherubic little girl in the photo.
“Yes, that was taken on your mother’s fifth birthday.”
Aurora marveled at the strength of her family’s genes. She could see traces of her grandmother in her own face.
“We really do resemble each other,” she said. Aurora noticed she was about seventy percent like her mother, thirty percent like her father, Magnus, though at first glance, she looked more like Tina.
“Yes, especially your eyes,” Bramwell remarked, staring at Aurora’s face as if lost in thought.
“Grandpa Bramwell, why are all the photos only of my mom and grandmother? Where’s my grandfather?” Aurora asked, suddenly realizing the omission.
“Miss Aurora, that leads me to the next part of the story-about the traditions of the R family.”
Bramwell Elderstone’s face turned serious again. Aurora sensed the importance of what he was about to say and nodded eagerly. “Grandpa Bramwell, I’m listening.”
“I told you earlier about yin and yang in astrology. Everything in this world relies on balance. Our family represents yin because, for generations, the heads of the family have always been women.
Astrology has always been passed down to daughters, never sons. Do you remember the paintings you saw in the hallways and the main room?”
Aurora nodded. “I saw them. What about them?”
“Those paintings are all originals. Any one of them could sell for astronomical sums. They were gifts from emperors throughout history.
When we immigrated, our family’s wealth allowed us to quickly establish ourselves. The success of the R Corporation is a result of centuries of accumulated fortune.
But this wealth didn’t come from nowhere. It was built through the hard work of every family head, starting with the one who changed our fate.
Our family can sustain ten generations of prosperity, but that wealth wasn’t easily earned. Even in ancient times, serving an emperor was akin to walking a tightrope. Every penny came at a price.”
Aurora agreed. “That’s absolutely true. Being close to power is always dangerous.”
“I’m glad you understand. Because of this, every family head has warned their children against wasting the family’s resources.
Each generation of family heads undergoes rigorous training from a young age, ensuring they grow capable. The family head can be controlled, but outsiders cannot.
Imagine someone who didn’t grow up in the family. How could we know if they’d remain loyal to the family head? Even if some men seemed trustworthy at first, over time, they might harbor other intentions.
This has happened before. One family head fell deeply in love with a man. At first, their relationship was harmonious. But over time, the man grew resentful of the women’s dominant role in the family and became greedy for the treasures in our vault.
He betrayed her, attempting to kill her, steal the family’s wealth, and even take our secrets of astrology.
Fortunately, the family head discovered his betrayal in time and avoided disaster. After that, she decreed that no family head’s partner could live with her for more than five years.
Since then, most family heads have lived out their years alone.”