No wonder the Montbatten Family is one of the most renowned families in the town; over the years, they have truly risen to prominence.
Although that Baron is not an extraordinary being, the two sons he sired are quite accomplished, having both joined a famous knight order in distant Mossstone City. As for when they might ascend to the Knight Sequence, that remains uncertain for now, but it is only a matter of time.
After all, to become an extraordinary being of the Knight Sequence, one does not require devout faith, nor an exceedingly rare magical talent. As long as one is not missing an arm or a leg, nor plagued by debilitating illness, it’s possible.
By training the body and honing martial skills, even a country farmer can become a knight through diligence.
What a pity…
Unlike the mainstream sequences of this world, the Knight Sequence’s limits are clear at a glance—it can be cultivated up to Sequence Ⅲ at most. Should anyone take a step further, they would be considered a founder-level figure, and would undoubtedly be venerated by future generations.
Of course, that’s all beside the point for now. There was still a little while before arriving at the center of town by carriage, so Hill sat steadily inside, beginning to peruse the manuscript given by Instructor Inks.
Her Pro max Light Spell research had reached a bottleneck—she hadn’t even managed to construct the most basic Magic Circle. She knew she had been aiming too high, so she studied the manuscript with even greater earnestness.
But this matter was not especially urgent. Her life at present was still rather comfortable, with no real danger.
After nearly an hour, the carriage finally arrived outside the Montbatten residence. It looked like a small manor, complete with stables and a garden. After careful observation, Hill even spotted a small vineyard, likely a personal interest of the owner.
The carriage stopped at the gate. The servants, already instructed, opened the heavy iron gate, and Hill, carrying her small bag, followed a well-dressed maid slowly into the grand mansion.
Truthfully, this place was even more lavish than Hill’s previous home. From the outside, it appeared to be a three-story villa, and upon entering, a breath of classical elegance washed over her.
Marble floors, geometric patterns in colorful inlays, famous paintings in gilded frames hung on either side of the dining hall, and above, a ceiling fresco unmistakably crafted by a master artist.
Going in further was the main parlor, with hand-crafted wallpaper on every wall, each thread of gold showing off the Montbatten Family’s deep heritage and luxurious lifestyle.
Hill looked up to admire the crystal chandelier hanging from the ceiling, made of dozens of finely carved crystals. In the center was a magic stone, now glowing brilliantly, its light refracting through the crystals to illuminate the entire hall.
A table of precious wood stood in the center, tea sets arranged upon it, with maids standing nearby, heads lowered, awaiting orders.
As for the host who had invited Hill—Madam Anna. A mature and alluring noble lady, she sat on the spacious sofa, dressed elegantly, though more relaxed than when out in public.
The most striking detail: Madam Anna wore no stockings, only a pair of slipper-like shoes of soft leather and goose down. They had no heel, so her delicate, lovely ankles and her perfectly smooth, soft heels were clearly visible.
One could imagine how the rest of her feet, hidden inside the slippers, might inspire pity and affection.
“Welcome, dear Miss Hamill,” Madam Anna, truly the mistress of this house, immediately rose with a smile to greet her guest.
This was a task that should have been handled by servants, yet the lady herself did it.
Her gloved hands, clad in white lace, accepted Hill’s bag, then led her to the sofa.
Hill sank into the cushions, feeling as if she might melt right in, and couldn’t help but let out a small sound of pleasure from her throat. Who could blame her—pardon this young lady who usually slept on a cold, hard wooden plank bed.
At Madam Anna’s gesture, a maid poured a cup of steaming, fragrant tea for the guest. Hill drank as she listened to Madam Anna speak:
“In name, you’re the tutor I hired for Odysseus, but in truth, you are already a distinguished guest of the Montbatten Family. After your long journey, have some black tea in the parlor first. When you’ve rested, you can go to the study upstairs—my lovely daughter is waiting for you there.”
Madam Anna’s tone was gentle, with a trace of intimacy. She sat beside Hill, maintaining a certain distance but not so much as to seem aloof.
Hill found no interest in the tasteless black tea, drinking it as if it were plain water. They say a mature woman is like a fine, aromatic wine; in comparison, Hill was far more interested in the beautiful lady beside her.
From the corner of her eye, Hill could see the lady’s neck, pale and tinged with a hint of rose beneath the collar. Spoiled by a life of luxury, even without baring her fangs, Hill could sense the tenderness and softness of that skin just by looking.
Mmm…
She really wanted to try the lady’s blood.
O Goddess above, if you would grant me the chance, I would pray to you through the night, singing your praises!
Hill swallowed, then pretended to savor the fine black tea in her hand.
Madam Anna noticed nothing unusual about the seemingly demure girl beside her, maintaining her elegant smile. “Is the tea to your liking?”
Even to the unique senses of a vampire, tea was no different from water. Hill nonetheless smiled, “Thank you for your hospitality, Madam. It’s been a long time since I’ve tasted such fine black tea.”
“If you like it, drink as much as you wish.”
“I’m afraid that wouldn’t be proper.” Hill shook her head, as if considering her friend’s feelings. “Odysseus is still waiting for me in the study upstairs. She’s such a diligent and studious girl—how could I keep her waiting?”
A gratified smile appeared on Madam Anna’s face as well. “Odysseus has found a true friend like you at the academy. As her mother, I am truly happy for her.”
Hill replied, “I am happy for Odysseus as well, because she has such a dignified yet gentle mother. I’ve met many noblewomen in this town—those gentler than you lack your elegance; those more elegant than you lack your warmth.”
“How strange.” Hill deliberately looked around with exaggerated surprise. “This isn’t the Holy Light Chapel, yet before me sits a lady as beautiful and gentle as a goddess. Could you be the goddess’s agent in the mortal world? Those priests are truly blind, letting their own saint fall to earth here.”
Madam Anna was slightly taken aback. She’d heard more extravagant praise before—almost comparing her to the sun itself—but it mostly came from frivolous young noblemen. Hearing it from a girl about the same age as her daughter was quite novel.
Her composure soon returned, and she covered her mouth, chuckling lightly. “Sometimes I think you were born in the wrong body. More than a girl, you seem like a silver-tongued young lord. Even those bardic travelers from the Elven Empire cannot match your words or sincerity.”
Sincerity?
Hill was sincere, indeed. Everything she’d said, even with some embellishment, had come from the heart.
She truly craved the blood of this lady…
Let me have just a sip, just one!
Suppressing her bloodthirsty urges, Hill finished her tea, then rose with an apologetic smile. “As much as I wish to spend more time with you, Madam, I haven’t forgotten my task here—to instruct your daughter, who is also my dear friend Odysseus, in her magic lessons. So…”
“It’s fine, I’ll have a maid show you up.” Perhaps influenced by Hill’s manner, Madam Anna’s smile grew all the more genuine.
After Hill climbed the stairs, Madam Anna sat absentmindedly on the sofa and poured herself another cup of tea, which she left untouched before her, lost in thought.
Today was a somewhat special day for her.
That girl was indeed different—clever, quick-witted, and eloquent.
Most importantly, she possessed a magical talent that even the academy’s teachers highly regarded.
“What a pity she had to encounter such things. Why, as one of the Five True Gods, does the Goddess of the Night shelter such filthy creatures as vampires? To let a good child like this suffer such disaster… Is there really no such thing as justice in the world?” Madam Anna sighed. Lowering her head to drink, she only then noticed—
The tea had gone cold.
Meanwhile, in the study, Hill suddenly sneezed.
Who’s cursing me now?
When did Otis suddenly become Odysseus?? 😭