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Chapter 221: Drifting Thoughts
Built from precious metals, a hall gleamed with brilliant radiance against the backdrop of dazzling white snow.
Aside from the crackling firewood in the fireplace, the only notable object in the room was a steaming hot cup of fragrant tea on a wooden walnut table.
A girl with amber hair was sitting on a walnut chair, in an elegant posture befitting a lady.
As if she was right at home, she seemed utterly unperturbed by her attire — a white bathing towel which enveloped her curvaceous, pale and delicate body.
The glow radiating out of the fireplace illuminated the girl’s jade-like skin, as well as her long, amber-colored hair which resembled strands of golden satin.
A freshly made leather map laid beside the cup of tea on the walnut table. The girl was currently using her slender finger to slowly peruse and study the contents etched onto the waxy yellow cowhide scroll.
“Clack, clack, clack…” The sound of metal boots stepping on the floor resonated in a rhythmic sequence, before finally coming to a stop over ten meters away from the girl.
“Your Grace, it’s been several days since Lady Jinxuan left with the army to bring Nolan City under control. Given how much time has passed, they should be at their destination by now as planned.” The short-haired girl clad in robe armor spoke deferentially.
“Mhm. I got it, thanks for the hard work.” Mylar said with a smile, acknowledging her subordinate’s hard work.
“…” The short-haired girl did not leave. Her expression made it evident that she hadn’t resolved the numerous doubts swirling in her mind.
“You seem to have quite a few questions. Why not let them out? It can be a torture to keep them locked up inside, you know.” Mylar said, her cherry red lips gently parted.
“Your Grace, why did we invest so much effort into this thankless task of conquering a destitute city far away from the Scarlet Blood Domain? Forgive me for my frankness, but the potential gains seem disproportionate with our efforts.”
“Oh, so that’s the question on your mind.” Mylar impassively took a sip of her tea.
Being the eldest daughter of House Setis, she naturally took on the role of Duchess and became its leader after ‘that figure’ passed away, swiftly and fiercely eliminating any of her potential adversaries.
While this approach to managing affairs did hasten her efforts to solidify her power and position, the downsides were also quite evident — certain elders of the family had quietly become discontent with her.
“People who lack foresight often find themselves trapped in superficial details. A strategist should have the mindset of embracing a broader perspective and anticipating the future.” Mylar’s gaze met her deep and tranquil irises with ease.
The person before her had served under the late duke; In other words, she was a subordinate of her father. Despite her status as one of the top experts in the Setis Duchy, her brain was overly rigid.
“Is that so? Please forgive this subordinate for her slow comprehension, but I find it difficult to discern any meaningful value in this old and dilapidated city.” Although the short-haired girl spoke in a respectful tone, her words were tinged with a subtle hint of impertinence.
“No matter. Once the job is done, you can wait and see how it all turns out.” Mylar was unperturbed and completely disregarded the skepticism underlying the short-haired girl’s words.
From start to finish, her gaze had not strayed from the small plot at the bottom right corner of the leather map — the area representing the Human Alliance.
The Scarlet Blood Region encompassed one of the most fertile and vast lands on the continent. As one of the autonomous duchies under the Queen’s domain, it enjoyed a wide range of self governance.
Apart from the need to swear allegiance to the Queen and follow her orders, the duke had complete control over all affairs.
The ability to sign a trade agreement with a foreign power was naturally included in this arrangement; Unless they had received a specific order of prohibition from the Queen, such agreements were virtually guaranteed to pass.
For both parties, the prospect of cross-border trade was far too alluring for them to pass up.
Even though numerous people were well aware of the risks and enormous profits that came with this agreement, they were completely in the dark when it came to the plot this young female Duchess was hatching in her mind.
As she looked at the territory of the human alliance confined to the corner of the continent, Mylar’s cherry-like lips gradually curved and took on the shape of a crescent moon.
The shadowy outline of a beautiful girl lingered in her mind, refusing to fade away.
“Miss Ji Yue…”
‘How I wish I could properly ‘pamper’ you~~’
She could not help but be endlessly captivated by her enchanting figure.
As a vampire, she should originally have had no interest in human blood, since it belonged to an inferior species. However, she felt an intense attraction the first time she laid eyes on the black-haired girl – The pure red blood flowing in the girl’s body seemed to beckon and draw her in.
Despite feeling an intense feeling of restlessness every time she saw her, the former could only use logic to suppress the obsession in her heart.
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Several strands of golden light announcing the break of dawn quietly seeped through the silk curtains, casting their glow onto the spacious and gorgeous dimly lit room.
“Hmmn~” A soft and lethargic voice, akin to the puerile mewl of a kitten stretching its body, resounded. A quilt cocoon, enveloping a small figure, stirred gently on the bed. Her velvety lilac hair fanned out, resembling a pool of ink.
The tiny head of a girl poked out from inside the quilt, together with her tender, snow-white legs which were devoid of any flab.
Rubbing her sleepy eyes, she surveyed her surroundings and slowly emerged from her blanket like a wiggling caterpillar after letting out a prolonged yawn.
Her lilac hair, cascading down to her heels, was slightly tousled from her haphazard sleeping position. Still, the girl showed no inclination to fix it. Lazily getting off the bed on tiptoes, she walked towards the closet made from Lucian wood, where an assortment of long dresses awaited her.
With deft movements, she fastened the waistband of her skirt, adjusted her collar, put on her long socks before finally proceeding to draw back the curtains, welcoming sunlight into the dim room.
In the fairy tales spun by humanity, vampires were often depicted as beings who dreaded sunlight that could only seek sustenance after nightfall.
However, reality had proven that there was a discrepancy between those fabricated stories and the truth.
Bathed in the gentle sunlight, she slightly stretched her limbs, which had become limp from sleep, and let out a mew similar to a kitten.
Taking advantage of her position within the castle and the elevated view it afforded, she took in the whole scene below her.
The first ray of light in the morning signified the beginning of a new day, breathing life back into the street once more.
Nestled in the highlands of the Scarlet Blood Region, ‘Somoa City’ fell under the jurisdiction of the Leforno Family’s Duke, a title which was inherited across generations. The city-state was relatively modest in terms of prosperity and held an average status within the Scarlet Empire.
“Thud, thud, thud.” A series of orderly door knocks resounded. The sound seemed to be intentionally subdued, so as not to disrupt the inhabitant from their slumber, while still conveying the message that someone was knocking at their door.
“Enter.” Tina agreed to the request of the person outside with a lazy tone in her voice before embracing the rabbit doll on her bed, which she had used as a makeshift pillow earlier.
“Creak.” The door gently opened and a maid clad in a long dress entered the room.
“Good morning, Second Lady Tina. I hope I didn’t disturb your sleep?” The maid lifted the sides of her skirt and performed a slight curtsey.
“Mhn~ What’s the matter?”
“It’s nothing of immediate concern. Mr. Morren has sent over a few carts laden with gifts, and conveyed his wish to meet with you along the way. ” The maid reported in a submissive manner.
“…”
“Do you plan to turn him down again, Lady Tina?” Seeing the purple-haired girl looking out at the window in silence, the maid asked tentatively.
“Some things require an explanation for people to get it.” Tina heaved a sigh.
“Could you help me change my clothes and make sure my attire is in order?”
“Is my lady trying to say that you’re willing to meet with Mr. Morren?” The maid was slightly taken aback before immediately expressing her surprise.
“Mhm.”
“Alright, this servant will immediately help you change your clothes and get ready.”
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In the hall of the castle.
“Please wait a moment, Mr. Morren. My lady needs some time to prepare and freshen up her appearance.”
“Not a problem at all. Such is a lady’s prerogative. I’m already flattered that Lady Leforno was willing to grant me an audience.” Outside the palace hall, a handsome man in a fitting formal attire repeatedly examined his outfit to make sure it was impeccable.
After verifying that everything was in order, he let out a sigh of relief. His forced composure bore a striking resemblance to that of a young teenager yearning for love.
Morren walked into the hall. Like a magnet to metal, his gaze instantly landed on the purple-haired petite figure sitting upright on a Lucian wood bench.
“It’s been quite some time, Lady Tina. I hope you still remember me.” Morren spoke, working to steady his racing heart as he slowly sat down opposite the girl.
“What are you saying, Mr. Morren? You’re the eldest son of the esteemed Loren Clan. How can Tina ever forget about you?” The girl’s smile threw Morren slightly off-guard.
“Cough, cough… I’m thankful that Lady Tina could spare a moment out of her busy day to meet with me.” He said, masking his words with a light cough to mask his embarrassment. Despite his composed appearance, he was secretly nervous. His mind was abuzz with thoughts as he brainstormed conversation topics to make the most of this rare encounter with her.
“Forgive Tina for her bold assumption, but does Sir Morren have a soft spot for me?” Tina revealed a faint smile.
“I…” That single question shattered Morren’s mental defenses. He had never expected the girl before him to be so direct and blunt with her words. All the carefully chosen sentences he had readied for this moment were now trapped in his throat, leaving him overwhelmed and at a loss of words.
“I… I, um, I must confess that I have a fondness for you, Lady Tina.” Morren briefly gathered himself before slowly gathering his thoughts.
“I… I believe Lady Tina is aware that your father, the Honorable Duke Leforno, did not object to our relationship. So…” Like a young man caught in the throes of his first love, Morren stammered.
“That reminds me. It appears that Lady Tina has a great affection for items like rabbit dolls, am I right? During one of my trade expeditions, I happened to visit Kasda City and acquired a few dolls made from Nirand fabric. The one you’re currently holding doesn’t quite suit your stature, so if you don’t mind…”
Tina wore a subtle smile as she fixed her gaze on Morren.
It was clearly an amicable smile, yet it sent a shiver down his spine.
“Please forgive me, Mr. Morren.” Tina stood up and slightly bowed at him.
“What’s there to be sorry about, Lady Tina?”
“I cannot reciprocate your feelings.” Tina’s tone lacked any emotional weight, her courteous smile leaving him with the sensation of being banished miles away from her heart.
“Of course! I don’t expect Lady Tina to accept me immediately. Nevertheless, I will always be your most devoted admirer.” Morren responded promptly.
However, Tina shook her head. “Mr. Morren, my heart belongs to someone else…”
“I can wait…”
“Then, are you open to the idea of making a woman who has already lost her purity your main wife?”
“?? Lady Tina, a-are you trying to imply that…” Morren’s eyes instantly widened.
“I’ll take my leave now.” Tina raised the corners of her skirt and bid him goodbye.
Just these inquisitive words alone had the power to deter even the most ardent of suitors.
What everyone loved and welcomed was the current version of herself, the girl who was whole and perfect.
Only she was willing to embrace the girl who had been shunned and labeled as ‘the shame of the family’ by the Leforno Clan.
“Your Highness, the Princess…” Tina hugged the slightly worn white rabbit doll, resting her small head against its plush form as her mind wandered into the distance.