Chapter 134: Don’t Forget About Me
Near White Castle, Jasmine gently set Adele down and carefully adjusted her dress.
Adele had changed into a deep red gown before leaving the manor. The skirt was voluminous, with six layers of fabric that flowed like clouds, but the waistline was cinched, creating an A-line silhouette. The wide, flowing sleeves added to her regal presence.
Jasmine retrieved a matching hat from the suitcase and placed it on Adele’s head, completing the ensemble. Adele, in this outfit, exuded an aura of power, her presence commanding attention. The skirt is so big and long, it’s like a Roomba, Jasmine thought to herself.
But it was undeniably beautiful.
Adele took a deep breath, then, with Jasmine, in her maid uniform, by her side, she approached White Castle. Two servants stood guard at the gate. Seeing Adele approaching gracefully, they were unsure what to do.
Should they open the gate and let her in? But nobles never walked in. They were always escorted in carriages. But should they refuse her entry? Her attire and aura clearly indicated that she was a high-ranking noble, someone they couldn’t afford to offend.
As Adele drew closer, they had no choice. They didn’t want to risk offending her and being punished, so they opened the gate, bowing respectfully as she entered.
Jasmine, sensing the concentration of vampires within the castle, led Adele towards the meeting room.
Naturally, some servants tried to stop them. After all, not all servants were as clueless as the two at the gate. But with Jasmine’s protection, Adele didn’t even have to lift a finger. Jasmine swiftly subdued them with her threads, tossing them aside before they could even approach.
They soon reached the meeting room. It was silent within. Adele knew they had heard her footsteps and smelled her scent. Jasmine stepped forward, preparing to open the door. They exchanged glances. Adele, her chin held high, nodded, and Jasmine pushed the door open.
In the dimly lit room, countless pairs of crimson eyes glowed, their gazes fixed on Adele, creating an invisible pressure. Jasmine quickly assessed the situation. There were far more vampires than just the heads of the Thirteen Clans. High-ranking nobles and lords from across vampire society were present.
Adele, undeterred, entered the room, her head held high, her hand gently lifting the hem of her skirt. The room was more of an auditorium than a meeting room. Vampires always favored grand, imposing structures with a touch of religious grandeur. At the front of the auditorium was a raised platform, with long tables on either side. The head of the White family stood behind the platform, flanked by the other twelve clan heads, six on each side.
Rows of seats filled the auditorium, every seat occupied. And along the walls stood vampires in various attire, some heirs to the families, some trusted advisors. They stood silently, their presence adding to the solemn atmosphere.
The sound of Adele’s heels clicking against the marble floor echoed through the silent room. All eyes were on her. The White patriarch, after glancing at Adele and then at Jasmine, finally spoke. “Miss Adele Blake, what brings you here?”
“A gathering of nobles? I couldn’t possibly miss it. I am, after all, a lord recognized by the Council of Elders.”
Her words sparked murmurs among the nobles. Although she was stating a fact, everyone knew that the Council of Elders had already issued a decree, dispatching an army to suppress her. Whether she would remain a lord was uncertain.
But then again, the Council of Elders was currently missing, their fate unknown, and Adele’s title hadn’t been officially revoked. So, she did have the right to attend this meeting.
The White patriarch frowned, then he looked at the Blake patriarch, who was sitting at the edge of the table. They exchanged glances, and the White patriarch sighed. “Then Miss Adele Blake, please have a seat.”
He seemed to have conceded, but the auditorium was full. There was no seat for Adele. But Adele didn’t mind. She walked towards the platform, approaching the Blake patriarch’s seat. She ascended the steps, her presence commanding attention.
Adele, the daughter, stood tall, while the Blake patriarch, her father, remained seated. He looked at her, then at Jasmine standing behind her, his face a mixture of anger and fear. Then he heard his daughter say, “My dear father, do you remember what I said before?”
What had she said? The Blake patriarch remembered it all too well. Those words even haunted his dreams. Only this once. Next time we meet, I won’t spare you.
He swallowed hard, feeling a cold sweat trickling down his back. Without hesitation, he stood up, but to save face, he mumbled an excuse. “I… I have some urgent business to attend to. I’ll have to excuse myself.”
Without waiting for a response, he fled, his pace quickening as if he were being chased by a ghost. After he left, Adele gracefully adjusted her skirt and sat down in his seat.
His advisors, seeing their master depart, also left. Jasmine naturally took her place, standing beside Adele. Coincidentally, she was now standing next to Miss Golden.
The Blake patriarch’s departure sparked whispers among the nobles. Miss Golden, seizing the opportunity, leaned towards Jasmine and whispered, “I underestimated you, Dawn Lady.” Jasmine glanced at her, but didn’t reply.
The White patriarch called for silence. After the murmurs subsided, he continued, “The Council of Elders is currently missing, their fate unknown. We should…” He was interrupted by Adele. “The Elders are dead.”
Her words stunned the room. They stared at her, their expressions a mixture of disbelief, fear, and greed. The White patriarch looked at her, his brow furrowed.
Did he not know that the Elders were dead? He probably did. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have overstepped his authority, summoning all the high-ranking nobles to his castle for this meeting. But he couldn’t acknowledge it publicly. The Council of Elders still held immense power and influence. Announcing their deaths would create chaos.
He had intended to keep this a secret, but Adele had just exposed it. He tried to maintain control. “Miss Adele Blake, there are some things you shouldn’t joke about.”
“I’m not joking. The Elders of the Council of Elders are dead. Killed by my maid, Jasmine.”
Hearing this, Jasmine stepped forward, leaving the ranks of the other attendants. Meeting the gazes of all the vampires, she curtsied gracefully. To their credit, they didn’t seem surprised, as if they had already known that this seemingly weak human was capable of such a feat.
But their eyes were now filled with fear.
Adele stood up and approached the platform where the White patriarch stood. He was taller than her, but his aura was weaker. After all, he was wary of Jasmine, who was standing behind Adele.
Jasmine returned to her position, her gaze fixed on the White patriarch, as if daring him to disrespect Adele.
“Mr. White, your information seems to be outdated. I’m now questioning your qualifications to lead this meeting. I’m much more informed about the current situation. Perhaps I should take over.”
What could the White patriarch do? Just like the Blake patriarch, he had no choice. He stepped aside, his lips pressed together. After he left the platform, Adele ascended the steps, her dark red skirt covering the floor mat. She placed her hands on the railing, her crimson eyes scanning the room.
“Then let me be blunt. The Elders are dead. The Council of Elders no longer exists. We are free from their tyranny.” Her words were tempting. The Council of Elders’ recent actions had caused widespread discontent among the nobles. Their demise was seen as a blessing.
But they wouldn’t accept Adele’s leadership. The reason was simple: she had achieved this not through her own abilities, but through her alliance with the Human Resistance Army, relying on the power of their infamous leader, Dawn Lady.
Her actions were considered treason. No vampire would follow her. But Adele didn’t care. She wasn’t interested in ruling over vampires. Why would she need their loyalty? She smiled, her confidence radiating. “I know many of you despise me, even wish me dead. And some of you are still loyal to the Council of Elders. But I have no intention of creating another tyrannical regime.”
“Since the Council of Elders’ rule has ended, there should be no successor. From now on, you will earn your wealth and your blood through your own efforts.”
For the first time, Adele revealed her true ambition to the vampires: to dismantle the existing order of vampire society. Only then could humans and other vulnerable beings survive and thrive, achieving true equality.
Even if she would be vilified in the future, she would gladly accept it.
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