“Two notes? Bai… when did I write this one?”
She pulled it out from between the cracks in the bed.
The content on the note was exactly the same.
Bai could be certain that this messy, crooked handwriting could only be her own, and from the ink marks, it looked like it had dried some time ago.
But when did she write this extra one?
She clearly just arrived here two days ago.
If she wrote it herself, then it could only have been left here yesterday, but she was unconscious for most of yesterday—how could that be possible…
“Did Bai… forget something?”
A few scattered fragments flashed through her mind, but only for an instant.
A sharp headache swept over her, and she hurriedly shook her head to rid herself of the agitation.
“It must be my body starting to react. I just arrived two days ago—how could something like that have happened already?” she comforted herself, but for some reason, deep inside, she was inexplicably resisting, resisting the urge to dig deeper into her doubts, as if she was afraid of something.
“Maybe I really did just make a mistake.”
Arriving at the door of Yalbera’s Bedroom, Bai took a deep breath, knocked on the door, and softly probed, “Master, it’s Bai. Are you there? Bai has something to ask Master.”
There was still no movement inside.
Bai was already used to this, but after standing in front of the door for quite a while, the door still didn’t open on its own, as if there was no one inside at all.
Bai, still unconvinced, asked again: “Master? Are you there?”
Silence stretched on for another five minutes.
Could she have gone out?
Bai mustered her courage and tried to open the door, only to find that it was locked from the inside.
She really went out!
And right when I need her…
With a helpless sigh, it seemed magic lessons were off for today.
But what about the yard?
Should she put it off until tomorrow?
Thinking about it, since she couldn’t move the stone, she might as well go back and study other magic to see if there was anything else she could use.
***
On the way back to her room, Bai felt a strange sense of dread.
Even though back in the Castle of Yalbera Bella, she almost never saw anyone all day, and it was always deathly quiet.
But now, it felt like she was the only one left in the whole manor.
The silence in the house was unsettling, and since the Blood Clan’s Domain never had daytime, the dim environment made Bai feel even more uneasy.
Her eyes darted nervously around, and her pace quickened, eager to get back to her room. Just then—
“Dong dong dong”
Suddenly, a knocking sound came from the front door downstairs.
Bai, already on edge, was nearly scared out of her wits, goosebumps rising all over.
She stammered, “Could it be… a guest? Would anyone really come looking for that bad woman here?!”
She couldn’t imagine that someone as mischievous as Yalbera would actually have friends coming to visit!
Though she was reluctant, as a Blood Servant, it was her duty to receive guests when Master was away.
She went downstairs, and the door to the main hall was knocked on again, “dong dong”, echoing loudly.
“C-coming!” Bai swallowed hard and opened the door.
Outside stood a Vampire with snow-white hair and blood-red eyes, leaning casually against the doorframe.
Her short hair was messy but still lively, a few strands falling carelessly over her forehead, making those red eyes look even more bewitching.
She wore a tight black leather bustier and shorts, revealing a slender waist, with several silver ornaments dangling from her belt, chiming softly with her movements.
She also had a bright red cape draped over her shoulders, just like the classic Vampire image Bai had seen in stories.
Her long, slender fingers, tipped with sharp nails, tapped rhythmically on the doorframe, making a crisp “da da” sound, her expression a bit impatient.
As the door slowly opened, her expression shifted from indifferent, even a little impatient, to one of surprise and confusion.
The corners of her mouth lifted, her cold look replaced by a playful smile.
She tilted her head, her short hair swaying with the motion, a few strands mischievously brushing against her cheek.
A sly glint appeared in her red eyes, as if she’d discovered something amusing, and her whole demeanor suddenly became more vivid.
“Rare, huh. I didn’t even expect anyone to open this door. I was just about to fly up there myself.”
She gave a lazy, teasing hum.
“Hello, guest from afar. My name is Bai, and I am Lady Yalbera’s new Blood Servant.”
“Blood Servant?”
Her eyes flashed with shock, as if she couldn’t believe what Bai had just said.
“I thought that woman wouldn’t take in any more Blood Servants.”
Her fingers kept tapping on the doorframe, though the rhythm slowed.
She openly sized Bai up from head to toe, as if evaluating a new and curious toy.
She muttered almost to herself.
“Gray hair, gray eyes… Tsk, how can she look so much alike.”
“Eh?”
Bai tilted her head in confusion, not understanding what she was mumbling about.
“Hehe, it’s nothing, it’s nothing. Anyway, it wouldn’t be proper for a Blood Servant to keep a guest who’s traveled so far standing outside, little one.”
“Please, come inside…”
Bai opened her mouth, unsure how to address her.
“Oh, look at me, I forgot to introduce myself. I’m Selena Lilith. Just call me Lilith.”
“Then, please come in, Lady Lilith.”
***
Leading this lively Vampire named Lilith toward the guest room, Bai could feel Lilith’s gaze constantly sweeping up and down her, clicking her tongue and repeating things like “so alike, really alike” under her breath, making Bai’s skin crawl.
Is there something wrong with this Vampire?!
Should I really have let her in so rashly?!
Suddenly, Lilith sped up and blocked Bai’s path.
“L-Lady Lilith, is there something you need?”
Lilith grinned slyly and pointed at herself.
“Hey, little one, give me a smile.”
?
See! I knew something was off!
She must be an idiot!
Bai quietly took a step back, her gaze even turning a bit sympathetic.
“Forgive me, Lady Lilith, but that’s not part of Bai’s duties.”
She thought the weirdo in front of her would give up, but unexpectedly, Lilith kept pestering her.
“Come on, just one smile, it’s nothing. Serving guests with a smile is a Blood Servant’s duty, you know.”
Serving guests with a smile is a Blood Servant’s duty… Isn’t that from the Treatise on the Self-Cultivation of Blood Servants?!
How does she know about that?!
“Bai understands.”
Bai sighed inwardly, then reluctantly forced out an awkward smile.
“L-like this, Lady Lilith?”
Lilith suddenly leaned in close, rubbing her chin as she squinted at Bai, then waved her hand in disappointment.
“No, not at all. Guess I was overthinking it. That child’s smile was much prettier than this.”
Bai: …..💢
Bai had the sudden urge to punch her in the face.
“If there’s nothing else, Bai will continue on.”
“Just take me straight to Yalbera. I have urgent business and can’t stay long,” Lilith suddenly said.
“Master may have gone out. You might have to wait a while before seeing her,” Bai replied.
“Gone out? Pfft, hahaha!”
Lilith burst out laughing, clutching her stomach as if she’d just heard the world’s funniest joke.
“I don’t know about other Vampires, but I know Yalbera all too well. That shut-in hasn’t really left the manor in a thousand years. At most, she wanders around other True Ancestor’s Domains. I’d sooner believe she died in her room than believe she went outside.”
After all, ever since Lian died, she hadn’t gone out into the world for a long time…
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