Chapter 52: Come Home, Child, Come Home…

Leah had snuck out.

After the incident at the ball, her father had kept her by his side to prevent her from doing anything foolish again, watching over her under the guise of handling family affairs together.

However, after Leah learned about the Drago family’s situation from the butler, she no longer had any desire to stay at home. She looked for an opportunity and slipped away to see Lin Shu.

Fortunately, she ran into Lin Shu on the road leading to the outskirts of the Drago estate.

Seeing that Lin Shu was willing to listen to her, and that a flicker of hesitation had crossed her eyes, Leah felt she had a chance. She hurriedly said, “I’ve checked everything, Lin Shu.”

“I had my family conduct a deep investigation into the Drago family’s past. I found an old maid who used to work there, and she told my butler herself. The Drago family once had a human maid—one with black hair who looked just like you.”

“You’re investigating us?” Lin Shu tightened her grip on the reins, pulling her horse back a short distance.

“Because I couldn’t stop worrying about you,” Leah blurted out. “Ever since Sefina took you away, I’ve been looking into it.”

“You think Sefina is good to you, don’t you? You must have chosen her time and time again because she seems to value you so much.”

“But you aren’t unique to her!” Leah shouted, her voice sharp. “Her kindness toward you is nothing more than the shadow of an obsession she had for someone else, projected onto you.”

“When she looks at you, she’s actually thinking of another person. Did you know that?”

Leah took a few steps forward, her crimson eyes locked onto Lin Shu. “Does that really count as being good to you?”

Lin Shu’s heart skipped a beat, and her fingers subconsciously squeezed the horse’s reins.

Lin Shu understood one thing: Leah had been dissatisfied with Sefina ever since she began following her. From the pressure Leah put on the Drago family to the direct confrontation at the ball, it was clear that Leah was constantly targeting Sefina and her household.

To get her to return, Leah might have simply fabricated lies to frame Sefina.

Lin Shu said slowly, “Those are just your words. I have my own judgment.”

But Leah did not give up, nor did she get angry. She simply composed her expression. “You can doubt me. You can choose not to believe me. But have you thought about Sefina’s recent strange behavior?”

“After she became the head of the house, she’s been going out frequently, and she never takes you with her, right?”

Lin Shu froze.

Leah actually knew about Sefina’s movements?

Aside from monitoring their social outings, had she even been tracking Sefina’s recent travels? Just how long had Leah been sending people to watch them…

Leah continued, “Don’t you even wonder why?”

“Could it be that, over time, she gradually discovered the differences between you and the previous human maid? After all, you aren’t the person in her memories.”

“That’s why she feels you’ve lost your value—the value of staying by her side!”

‘No, that’s not it.’

Lin Shu subconsciously shook her head slightly.

However, fragments of memory flashed through her mind: Sefina’s forceful actions two nights ago, and the way she had hidden things and traveled alone because she didn’t trust her.

‘Was it because Sefina wanted me to be as obedient as the previous human maid that she used Charm to make me sleep for an entire day?’

‘Is that how it is? …’

Lin Shu didn’t want to admit it, but she had no tangible evidence to refute Leah.

Leah walked up to Lin Shu’s horse and grabbed the reins. “Are you going to stay with someone who treats you like a mere replacement?”

“Come back with me, Lin Shu.” Leah reached out her hand toward her. “Whatever Sefina can give you, I can give you twice as much.”

“Let’s start over, okay?”

Lin Shu looked at Leah. Because she was on horseback, Lin Shu was a head taller than her.

This position forced Lin Shu to look down to meet Leah’s eyes.

The once-proud young lady was now willing to look up at a human.

Just then, the sound of rapid hoofbeats echoed from above.

The two of them looked up at the same time. A familiar carriage was heading toward the Drago estate.

‘Sefina is back,’ Lin Shu thought with a surge of joy. She no longer needed to chase her to the capital.

“Thank you for telling me all this, Lady Leah,” Lin Shu said softly. “But I will find the answers for myself.”

Leah’s hand, suspended in mid-air, trembled before slowly dropping to her side.

Lin Shu had rejected her again. Once more.

The muscles in Leah’s face tightened. It was clear she was clenching her teeth, seemingly doing her best to suppress her emotions.

“Fine. I won’t force you. I won’t make you do anything.”

Leah’s crimson eyes stared directly at Lin Shu without any concealment, swirling with frustration and obsession.

“Just remember, you will always be the only one for me. You are my only familiar, and you are…”

Leah paused, the tips of her ears turning slightly red. She looked away and whispered, “The only person I care about.”

Lin Shu did not answer. She pulled the reins tight and turned her horse around.

She took one last look back at Leah.

Leah’s blonde hair was loose, bathed in the moonlight. She stood alone in the middle of the road, gazing at Lin Shu.

“Yah!” Lin Shu spurred the horse back.

“Lin Shu!” Leah’s voice carried from behind, reaching Lin Shu’s ears through the wind. “I’ll wait for you until you find your answer!”

***

Lin Shu returned to the estate and rushed into the castle hall.

She saw Sefina surrounded by servants, and her heart suddenly tightened.

Sefina’s dress was stained with a large amount of blood, a jarring sight. There was a very deep wound on her arm.

“Master, what happened to you?”

The pile of questions Lin Shu had intended to ask instantly stuck in her throat. All she could see now were Sefina’s injuries.

“Little one.” Seeing Lin Shu, Sefina managed a smile. “I heard you ran out of the estate to find me?”

“Don’t do that next time. Wait for me to come home like a good girl.”

Lin Shu couldn’t listen to any of that. She hurried forward and asked, “Who hurt you like this?”

She felt both heartache and distress.

If she had been with Sefina, she might have been able to help if a sudden battle occurred. But now, she could only watch her master’s injuries, feeling utterly helpless.

“It’s a minor wound. Just a small conflict with vampires from another family,” Sefina replied nonchalantly, even giving a playful wink. “Alright, don’t worry. Give me a smile. My little one looks like she’s about to cry.”

She tried to lift her hand to smooth the hair on top of Lin Shu’s head, but she paused as the movement tugged at her wound.

“I’m going upstairs to change my clothes,” Sefina said, turning to walk up the stairs.

Lin Shu stood in place, silently watching Sefina’s back.

Seeing Sefina injured, Lin Shu had no desire to ask any of those questions.

‘Sefina is lying to me. She’s still hiding something. That wound wasn’t caused by an ordinary vampire, otherwise it wouldn’t be healing so slowly.’

“I’ll go get bandages and medicine. The Master’s wound needs to be dressed properly,” Lin Shu said, turning to the nearest maid.