Chapter 32: Unease

The maid was startled when Lia suddenly grabbed her. She quickly clutched the laundry basket in her hands to prevent it from falling.

She lowered her head and replied tremblingly:

“My Lady, Lin Shu, she… she likes… likes sweet things, like honey and floral syrups. I-I often saw her with them…”

“And… reading! I often saw her running around with a large pile of scrolls, and her room was filled with books and scrolls…”

Lia’s brows furrowed tightly. Lin Shu often carried sweets because Lia herself liked them. She frequently checked scrolls likely to look up information for Lia, making preparations.

No, that wasn’t right. Those were Lia’s favorite things, not Lin Shu’s!

It turned out that all along, Lin Shu had poured her heart and soul into Lia. Even the things Lia thought she liked were not her actual hobbies.

Endless regret surrounded Lia, making her desire to win Lin Shu back even stronger.

There had to be another way!

She released the maid’s collar and commanded:

“Go tell the butler immediately to help me inquire about the situation on the human side. Find out what they generally like and what the most precious things are to them!”

“Y-Yes!” The maid hurried away clutching her basket.

Lin Shu was human, so among the things humans liked, there must be something she truly loved!

She would be good to Lin Shu, absolutely…

Lia clenched her fists.

***

After Lin Shu walked out of the room, the atmosphere in the space became heavy as Saian and Sefina stared at each other.

“I have already given you the greatest tolerance, Sefina!”

Saian was the first to speak:

“You said you wanted her to stay in the Drago family, and I allowed it. You wanted her to be your personal maid, and I agreed.”

“I made concessions. What about you?”

“Why can’t you just do as I say?!”

Sefina was exceptionally calm: “I can look for potential partners according to Aunt’s list.”

“But regarding Lin Shu, I will not accept what you said.”

“Lin Shu not only helped our team escape a crisis in the underground jungle, but she also devised plans to restore our shop’s operations.”

“She is sincerely contributing to our family.”

“But if you only treat her as a bargaining chip, as a tool, is that how the Drago family should act?”

The smile no longer appeared on Sefina’s face. Her state was telling Saian that she was serious.

“The members the Drago family accommodates are the Vampire Race!”

“Although I let her stay, do not forget that she is human! She is just a familiar.”

“Whether she is a familiar or a personal maid, she is supposed to serve you.”

“Heh.” Sefina gave a cold laugh.

“What about humans? Sometimes I truly feel that no matter how noble the vampire bloodline is, it is colder and uglier than humans…”

“Thud!!”

Saian slapped the table heavily, the loud noise interrupting Sefina’s words.

“Watch your words, Sefina!!”

“I originally thought you just wanted something fresh, that you wanted to play around, which is why you snatched her regardless of the family’s safety.”

Saian warned her sternly: “All of your actions have placed her above the family, do you know that?! Your feelings for a contracted familiar have already exceeded the normal range!”

“Enough.”

Sefina stopped the conversation.

The room suddenly fell silent. Saian’s face was dark, her lips pulled into a tight line.

“Rustle—”

At that moment, the sound of a bat’s wings flapping suddenly came from outside the window.

Sefina turned her head to look. Outside the glass window, a Blood Shadow Bat was hovering.

It was a lead from the informant in the Holy Race’s nation! There was progress in the investigation regarding Lin Shu’s key.

She stood up hurriedly, walked to the window, and a red light flashed in her eyes as she raised her hand.

the bat landed on her hand and instantly turned into a pale yellow note with brief text written on it:

[Miss, the pattern is related to the Holy Race’s Holy Church. It seems to symbolize something very important to them.]

[Do you require further investigation?]

The Holy Church?

Sefina’s heart instantly lept into her throat.

That was the organization with the highest power in the Holy Race, governing all the Holy Race members and humans in their nation.

Lin Shu’s key actually had a connection to the Holy Church…

So, was the high-priced bounty also a message released by the Holy Church?

Was the Holy Church looking for the key, or were they looking for Lin Shu?

“What news is it?” Saian asked, seeing her staring at the note for a long time without speaking.

Sefina suddenly crumpled the note into a ball, clutching it in her palm.

She couldn’t let her aunt see it. If Saian knew Lin Shu was connected to the Holy Race’s Holy Church, she would definitely do something disadvantageous to Lin Shu.

“Just some business news.” Sefina brushed her off while walking to the table, pulling out a pen and paper to write a reply:

[Yes.]

She rolled up the paper, placed it in her palm, and blew toward the window.

The paper immediately turned into another Blood Shadow Bat and flew into the distance.

Sefina turned around: “Aunt, my meaning is very clear. There is no point in continuing this argument.”

“I can recruit troops for the family, help the family, I can do anything according to your wishes…”

As she spoke, she walked to the door and placed her hand on the handle: “Except for Lin Shu.”

“Click.”

She closed the door gently behind her.

Just after leaving the room, Sefina saw Lin Shu further down the hallway.

She was leaning against the wall, her fingers fidgeting uneasily, her gaze fixed on the wall opposite the corridor as if she were thinking about something.

Seeing Sefina approach, she immediately stood up straight, her clear eyes meeting Sefina’s gaze:

“Master, you and the Head of House… finished talking?”

“Yes, though the conversation wasn’t exactly pleasant.” Sefina smiled helplessly.

Seeing Lin Shu’s worried expression, she reassured her: “But, little cutie, don’t worry.”

“I won’t let you become a tool or a bargaining chip.”

“Although my aunt and I have different philosophies, she didn’t threaten me with anything…”

As she spoke, Sefina suddenly remembered that she was still clutching the note from the informant.

She didn’t want Lin Shu to see the contents yet.

It wasn’t clear yet what the purpose of the Holy Church’s high bounty was. Was it for this key, or for Lin Shu herself?

She didn’t want Lin Shu to be worried or afraid.

It would be fine if what the other party wanted was the key; if it was Lin Shu, she would do everything in her power to stop them.

She had to keep Lin Shu.

Sefina surreptitiously moved her hand slightly back, hiding it behind her.

But as she made this movement, her facial expression showed a flicker of distraction that she herself didn’t notice.

And this detail was captured by Lin Shu.

Lin Shu was slightly stunned.

Wavering had flashed in Sefina’s eyes. Was she just putting up a brave front?

She lowered her head and pinched her skirt, suppressing the unease in her heart.

Perhaps she shouldn’t overthink things.

Sefina had already taken on a lot of pressure for her; she shouldn’t make things difficult for Sefina anymore.

“Alright, Master. If there is anything you need me to do, please tell me at any time.” Lin Shu said softly.

“I hope to share Master’s burden.”