Category: The Vampire Eldest Miss Thinks I Like Her

Chapter 87: One More Time

To be honest, Jasmine wasn’t entirely familiar with the intricacies of vampire family dynamics. After all, she had only been at Blake Castle for thirteen years. In a vampire’s long life, thirteen years were but a fleeting moment. But for her and Adele, it was a significant portion of their lives.

Her main concern now was that if Adele had truly injured the Blake Lady and run away, the Lady would definitely send people to bring her back. If vampire families were as cold and ruthless as those in the stories Jasmine had read, they might even try to kill Adele.

After all, the Blake family had a second daughter. If the eldest daughter was deemed unfit, replacing her with the younger one was a perfectly acceptable solution. Perhaps Jasmine had been influenced by the countless novels and dramas she had consumed in her previous life, but when it came to power and influence, she had a cynical view: blood ties meant nothing.

The biggest problem wasn’t Adele injuring the Blake Lady, but her willingness to do so rather than get engaged. This meant that the Blake family couldn’t use Adele as a bargaining chip for a beneficial marriage alliance. That was the real issue.

Most importantly, Jasmine was worried about Adele. As the Blake heiress, Adele had been pampered her entire life, never experiencing hardship. And she refused to drink anything but artificial blood. For a young lady like that to run away alone… it wasn’t romantic at all.

Moreover, although vampires were powerful, they also had their weaknesses. Daylight, for example.

There were still many hours until dawn, but to avoid being captured, Adele had to stay away from vampire settlements and find a safe hiding place. This would be incredibly difficult for someone with no experience surviving in the wilderness.

Jasmine had to find her and protect her.

She knew that once she took action, she could no longer hide her true strength from Adele. Even so, she couldn’t just stand by and watch Adele suffer, perhaps even die. After leaving Blake Castle, she resumed her normal speed, black threads swirling around her. But she didn’t extend her hair or don her veil. She was prepared to reveal her true self. There was no need for disguises anymore.

However, she still needed to cover her clothes. The vegetation in this world was dense, and her clothes would inevitably get snagged and torn as she moved through the forest. Including the clothes in her suitcase, she only had three outfits, and this maid uniform was her only one. She didn’t want to ruin her clothes before even starting her search.

After changing, Jasmine stood on a tree branch, suitcase in hand. The wind carried the scent of vampires from afar. There weren’t many vampires in the forest. She could tell that it wasn’t Adele’s scent, but it must be the Blake family’s vampire servants, sent to capture Adele.

Following them would increase her chances of finding Adele.

Vampires were skilled in magic. Perhaps they had some special tracking spell that Jasmine wasn’t aware of. She followed the servants from a distance, suppressing her own scent. Observing their movements, she realized that they must have some kind of tracking method. They were moving with purpose, not even taking detours, heading straight towards their destination.

After about half an hour, Jasmine caught a faint whiff of Adele’s scent. She no longer needed to follow the servants. She donned her mask, extended her hair, and swiftly caught up to them, knocking them all unconscious before they even realized what was happening.

Her speed was astonishing. They only saw a blur before they were struck down. Jasmine’s attacks were precise and non-lethal. She even calculated that they would wake up in about three hours, giving them enough time to return to the castle before dawn.

But just in case, she still took precautions. If any of them had caught a glimpse of her, she didn’t want them to connect her to the weak, innocent, and pitiful maid Jasmine at the castle.

She bent down and picked up a white orb from the ground. A single drop of crimson liquid floated in its center. The lead vampire had been holding it when Jasmine attacked.

As he collapsed, the orb had fallen to the ground. Jasmine guessed that this was the tracking device. She didn’t hesitate. She crushed the orb in her hand, the crimson liquid dripping onto her palm. She sniffed it. It was Adele’s blood.

So, vampires can track each other through blood. As expected of vampires, their methods are truly unique.

Jasmine didn’t consider using the orb to track Adele herself. After all, she had tested her own abilities and confirmed that she had no magical talent whatsoever. She was a complete magicless muggle. Even with a magical artifact, she couldn’t do anything with it. It was better to destroy it.

After destroying the orb, Jasmine kindly dragged the unconscious vampires under a tree and arranged them neatly. She had considered killing them. After all, in her mind, all vampires except Adele were scum. She had killed hundreds of vampires. A few more wouldn’t matter.

But if Adele’s situation wasn’t as dire as she imagined, wouldn’t killing these vampires make things worse for Adele? For Adele’s sake, she decided to spare them.

Arranging the vampires had wasted some time, but Adele’s scent was still there. As long as she followed it, she should be able to find her. Jasmine thought this was a good plan, but when she followed the scent, she found only a bloodstained rag tied to a tree branch.

The rag, flapping in the wind, carried Adele’s scent far and wide. Jasmine was certain that Adele had smeared her own blood on it. Combining this with the orb she had found earlier, Jasmine concluded that the orb tracked Adele’s blood, not her physical presence.

And by hanging the rag on a tree branch, the wind could carry the scent far away, making the pursuing vampires believe that Adele was heading in that direction.

They would be furious when they reached this spot and realized they had been tricked. As expected of the girl I raised. She’s clever. But it also created a slight problem for Jasmine.

But it wasn’t a major problem. After all, she had trained Adele, and she had cheat abilities. The scent in the wind indicated that Adele’s scent was strongest in this area. And when they had played hide-and-seek when they were younger, Jasmine had told Adele, “The most dangerous place is the safest place.”

That time, Jasmine had hidden under Adele’s bed. Adele had searched everywhere, almost crying in frustration, before Jasmine had finally emerged.

Adele remembered everything Jasmine said. She would surely apply this principle to her escape. So, Jasmine deduced that Adele must be nearby. She searched carefully and finally found Adele hiding in a hollowed-out tree trunk, concealed by a makeshift barrier of wooden planks and straw.

Jasmine didn’t try to hide her presence this time. She called out, her voice startling Adele, who immediately went on alert. The atmosphere became tense.

“Miss Adele, are you in there?”

Jasmine couldn’t see Adele’s expression, but she guessed that Adele must be surprised. Jasmine shouldn’t be here, not now, not in this place. In Adele’s mind, Jasmine should be at the castle, either eating or working. Hearing about Adele’s situation, she would be shocked and heartbroken.

Adele had imagined a thousand different reactions from Jasmine, but none of them involved Jasmine appearing before her. But she couldn’t mistake Jasmine’s voice. She wondered if it was some otherworldly being mimicking human speech, or a master of illusions.

But what if it really was Jasmine… What if she had been forced by the vampires to come here, used as a bargaining chip to make Adele surrender? It was so dark and dangerous out here. How much had Jasmine suffered on her way here? With these thoughts swirling in her mind, Adele scrambled out of the tree hollow.

And she saw… Lady Dawn, carrying a suitcase.

Adele looked quite pathetic right now. As Jasmine had predicted, even a skilled individual like Adele would inevitably get her clothes snagged by branches while moving through the forest. Clothes in this era weren’t very durable, mostly made of delicate fabrics. And Adele’s clothes were even more expensive and delicate, easily snagged and torn. She had even ripped off a piece of fabric to use as a marker, making her clothes even more tattered.

Her hair, which Jasmine had carefully styled, was now a mess from crawling through the tree hollow, leaves tangled in the strands.

Jasmine had seen Adele looking disheveled many times, especially this past year.

She saw the strange look in Adele’s eyes. Jasmine knew it was because she was still in her Lady Dawn attire, with her long hair and veil. Adele was probably thinking: Is Lady Dawn so powerful that she can even mimic voices?

—Ah, that is one of my skills. Although I can’t perfectly imitate other voices, I can disguise my own.

Jasmine retracted her threads, the black strands disappearing into her sleeves. Her hair shortened, the veil vanished, and her clothes transformed back into her maid uniform. Witnessing this magical transformation, Adele’s suspicious gaze turned to shock.

She had never connected Jasmine to Lady Dawn, even with Jasmine’s suspicious disappearances.

Then she heard Jasmine ask, “Miss, one more time. Will you elope with me?”

Chapter 86: I Need a Leave of Absence

As night fell, a knock came at Adele’s door. The Blake Lady’s maid waited for a while, and the door opened from the inside. The human maid who had entered the previous night stood aside as Adele stepped out, properly dressed.

It seemed Adele had anticipated the Blake Lady’s summons, but instead of heading towards her mother’s room, she walked in a different direction, without the human maid following. The Blake Lady’s maid was surprised. She glanced at the human maid, then hurried after Adele.

“Miss Adele,” she called out, “you’re not heading towards the Lady’s room.”

Adele didn’t stop or even turn her head. She simply continued walking, saying, “Do I need a maid to tell me where to go?” Her words stunned the maid. Of course, she had no right to order Adele around, but these were the Lady’s instructions.

So, she persisted, “But the Lady requested that you visit her room as soon as you woke up…”

“Hmph.” Adele snorted, ignoring the maid completely. The maid, feeling pressured, exchanged glances with another maid who had caught up to them. They decided to enforce the Blake Lady’s orders. They reached out towards Adele, their nails extending into sharp claws.

The Blake Lady’s maids included both low-ranking vampires and those with far superior abilities. As the wife of the Blake patriarch, she even had a personal maid who was a minor noble. Many of them were as strong as the school doctor.

These two maids were no exception. Adele hadn’t even been able to defeat the school doctor last year, let alone two opponents of equal strength. However, Adele felt incredibly strong right now, confident that she could easily overpower them. And she did.

Adele looked at her hands, surprised by her own strength. She knew that Jasmine’s blood was potent. The first time she had tasted it last year, the energy it had infused into her body had kept her full for over a fortnight, and she had only had a small amount then. Last night, she had drunk so much. She was at the peak of her strength now.

A vampire’s power was largely derived from the blood they consumed. That was why high-quality blood fetched a high price in the vampire market. Jasmine’s blood was not only fragrant and delicious, but its effects were also exceptional. If others knew how potent it was, they might capture Jasmine and use her as a blood bag.

Looking at the maids lying on the ground, easily defeated, Adele clenched her fists, her resolve to protect Jasmine strengthening. She was about to do something risky, but it was worth a try.

She took a deep breath and continued walking. She reached her father’s study and announced in a clear, confident voice, “Father, Adele Blake requests an audience.” The door opened from the inside, and her father’s servant bowed, inviting her in.

She waited in the drawing-room outside the study for a while, then the servant invited her into the study.

The Blake patriarch was busy writing at his desk when Adele entered. As the head of the Blake family, he had many responsibilities. Seeing Adele, he gestured towards the sofa in the sitting area, “Have a seat.”

Adele obediently sat down. The servant brought her black tea with her special artificial blood sugar cubes, then bowed and left the study.

Her posture was perfect, her back straight, the epitome of noble grace, as taught by the Blake Lady. She sat there for a long time, while the Blake patriarch continued working, his quill scratching across the paper, filling the room with a soft rustling sound.

The sound continued for a long time. After finishing a stack of documents, the Blake patriarch finally put down his quill, stood up, and walked over to Adele.

He sat down opposite her, looked at her for a moment, and then asked, “So, you came to see me as soon as you left your room. What is it? You’re not here to complain about your mother, are you?”

If that was the reason, he would have sent Adele back to her room, telling her to face her mother directly instead of seeking refuge with him. But Adele shook her head.

That wasn’t why she had come. She said, “I want to make a deal with you, Father.”

The Blake patriarch was intrigued. “A deal with me? What kind of deal?”

Adele looked at him, her posture relaxing slightly, and then she laid out her plan.

Meanwhile, the Blake Lady had learned that Adele had knocked down her maids and gone to the Blake patriarch’s study. She was furious. She had thought Adele, having lost their battle of wills, would come to her obediently. But instead, she had done something so audacious. Adele had attacked her maids, not only defying her but also humiliating her. Everyone knew that the maids had been acting on her orders. The Blake Lady couldn’t sit still any longer. She stormed out of her room, heading towards the patriarch’s study.

Of course, she didn’t need to announce her arrival. She barged through the two doors, and before even opening the second door, she heard Adele talking to the Blake patriarch. Her usually stern husband sounded cheerful, which made her even more upset.

She threw open the door. The father and daughter both looked at her. Suppressing her anger, she called out Adele’s name, “Adele, don’t you think you owe me an explanation?”

Adele looked at her father, who chose to betray her. “I only promised not to take your mother’s side. It doesn’t mean I’ll take yours. If you can’t even handle such a small matter, how can I trust you to fulfill our deal?”

You old fox!—

Adele cursed silently. She knew it wouldn’t be that easy.

The Blake patriarch gestured, indicating that he wished his wife and daughter to leave. Adele knew that staying any longer would be pointless and embarrassing. She stood up and followed her mother to her room.

The Lady walked briskly, her pace almost aggressive, a far cry from her usual graceful demeanor. Upon reaching her room, she sat down heavily on the sofa, her movements forceful and unrefined, unlike the ladylike grace she had always instilled in Adele.

She didn’t offer Adele a seat, but Adele, unfazed, sat down opposite her. Seeing that the Lady had no intention of speaking, Adele took the initiative. “Mother, to be honest, I don’t want to get married. At least, not now.”

—When I’m powerful enough to silence everyone, and more importantly, if Jasmine is willing, then perhaps I can marry her.

Her words enraged the Blake Lady. “I thought you would have learned your lesson after being confined for so long! What do you gain by defying your parents? If you don’t want to be locked up again, then obey your father and me!”

Unlike the Blake patriarch, the Blake Lady wasn’t easily swayed. She was a stubborn woman. Adele could negotiate with her father, but she couldn’t use the same tactics with her mother.

Their conversation devolved into a heated argument.

By the time the news reached Jasmine, it had become: “Have you heard?! Miss Adele attacked the Lady and ran away!”

After Adele left her room, the maids guarding the door had also withdrawn. Jasmine sat there for a long time. Adele had eaten her fill last night, but Jasmine hadn’t eaten anything. Although she wouldn’t starve to death so easily, as a foodie, she felt it was time for a meal. She left Adele’s room, making sure to wear a scarf to cover the bite marks on her neck.

It wasn’t early when she arrived at the dining hall. Most of the maids had already finished eating. As she left the hall, she noticed something strange about the atmosphere in the castle. Then she overheard the words that made her head spin… What? Adele attacked the Lady and ran away? But she had seemed so confident when she left the room earlier.

Jasmine froze, then she saw the vampire maids turning to look at her, their gazes fixed on her neck. Clearly, the scent of blood hadn’t completely dissipated. She hadn’t noticed Adele leaving the castle. The castle was where Adele had spent most of her life, and her room, where she had stayed for over a fortnight, was now where Adele’s scent was strongest.

If a stranger entered the castle, Jasmine could easily detect their presence. But it wasn’t so easy to notice the absence of a regular resident. Whenever she moved around the castle, she relied on both her hearing and her sense of smell to avoid vampires. But Adele’s whereabouts were unknown. How could she possibly track her down?

Jasmine felt a surge of anger. Adele had just drunk her blood last night, and now she had run away without a word. It felt like a classic “one-night stand and then ghosting” scenario.

Ignoring the vampire maids’ stares, Jasmine walked up to them and said, “Tell the head maid that I need a leave of absence.” Then she turned and left, ignoring their calls.

She returned to Adele’s room, packed a suitcase with clothes, then went to her own room and added two sets of casual clothes. After finishing, she grabbed the suitcase and left, determined to track down the “heartless” Adele.

Chapter 85: A Moment of Tenderness

Hearing the word “Lady,” Adele’s face darkened. The moment Jasmine had stepped into her room, the moment she had drunk Jasmine’s blood, Adele had already yielded to her mother. She could no longer stubbornly refuse, “No means no.”

The Lady had used the simplest method to tell Adele: Stop resisting. You’re no different from any other vampire.

Adele pondered this for a moment, then changed the subject again. “I… I need to wash up.” Jasmine nodded, watching as Adele grabbed a clean nightgown and entered the bathroom.

Adele undressed, turned on the water, and stepped into the shower. The first thing she did was lift her arm and sniff herself, checking for any unpleasant odors. She hadn’t showered in a long time. As a vampire, being blood-starved was a terrible experience. Her mind had been foggy, her consciousness slipping away. She didn’t even remember how she had survived the past few days.

When she had still been rational and somewhat conscious, she had showered and taken care of herself. Although she couldn’t properly dry her hair, she could wrap it up and sit by the fireplace, letting it air dry. But later, she had become too agitated to even light the fireplace or shower. She had simply curled up in her bed, sleeping fitfully day after day.

Now, with her mind clear, she was worried about smelling bad. Especially since she had slept in the same bed as Jasmine for an entire night. Thinking about Jasmine, weakened from blood loss, lying beside her, perhaps even smelling her… Adele’s face burned with shame.

Then she remembered what she had seen when she woke up. Jasmine had been lying beside her, her soft black hair covering most of her face. The moment Adele opened her eyes, she had come face to face with Jasmine, making her think she was still dreaming.

Just like the dream where Jasmine had come to her, and Adele had held her hand against her cheek, rambling on and on, even confessing her feelings. Adele thought this was another dream. But as she became more alert, she realized that everything felt real. Even Jasmine’s scent was filling her senses.

And there was a faint taste of blood on her fangs. She licked them, savoring the lingering taste. She also noticed that Jasmine’s scent wasn’t just her usual fragrance, but also the metallic tang of blood. Adele realized that she had drunk Jasmine’s blood, and she wasn’t dreaming. This was real.

The realization shocked her. She sat up abruptly, a scream escaping her lips. It was a scream of disbelief, so sharp and shrill that even Adele was startled. Then she saw Jasmine stir and sit up, her soft black hair falling away, revealing the bite marks that Adele hadn’t seen before.

Two small, dark punctures, perfectly matching the size of her fangs. The punctures were dark, surrounded by a faint red halo. The bleeding had stopped. Seeing them, Adele’s heart skipped a beat. She had wanted to drink Jasmine’s blood, but not like this.

If Jasmine had agreed to let her drink, Adele would have prepared a delicious meal first. After Jasmine had eaten her fill, Adele would have invited her to her room, waited for her to sit down on the sofa, obtained her consent, and then gently lifted her hand, kissing her knuckles softly as she sank her fangs into her skin.

She would have been restrained, only taking a little bit, just enough to satisfy her thirst without harming Jasmine. And she had heard that being bitten wasn’t a pleasant experience, so she would have prepared candies to soothe Jasmine’s discomfort.

Finally, after feeding, Adele would have taken out the first-aid kit she had prepared and carefully disinfected the wound, bandaging it neatly.

That was how Adele envisioned each feeding. But both times she had drunk Jasmine’s blood, she had been unconscious. The first time, she had been in a coma, not even remembering how or where she had bitten Jasmine. The second time was even worse. She had brutally pinned Jasmine to the ground, drinking recklessly, causing her so much pain.

Thinking about this made Adele feel defeated.

Jasmine must have had a terrible experience both times. She had been reluctant to let Adele drink her blood in the first place. After these two incidents, would she be even more averse to it? Adele sighed, unable to shake off these worries. Next time, if I ever get the chance to drink her blood again, I must do it properly!

But as her thoughts about Jasmine subsided, Adele had to face a more pressing issue: how to deal with her mother. She had stubbornly defied the Blake Lady, refusing to drink blood. But with Jasmine entering her room, Adele had ultimately succumbed to her vampiric instincts.

Adele didn’t blame Jasmine. Jasmine had come to help her, her love for Adele compelling her to act. Adele was rational. She knew that her inability to resist the temptation of blood was her own fault. How could she possibly blame Jasmine? That would be ungrateful.

She had lost, and now she had to find another solution. As warm water cascaded over her body, various ideas for dealing with her mother surfaced in her mind. But ultimately, she could only take things as they came.

For now, the best course of action was to appease her mother and keep her feelings for Jasmine hidden. Otherwise, her mother would surely use Jasmine as leverage to force Adele to submit. As Adele finished showering, a plan formed in her mind. It was worth a try. She turned off the water, dried herself, changed into her new nightgown, and left the bathroom.

She saw Jasmine still lying on her bed, resting. She wasn’t asleep, just resting her eyes. Adele felt a pang of guilt. It must have been a terrible experience for Jasmine, being drained of blood for the first time. She must be exhausted, even after a night’s sleep.

Adele’s emergence from the bathroom woke Jasmine, whose eyelashes fluttered open. She yawned, grabbed the towel she had prepared from the bedside table, knelt on the bed, and patted her thigh. “Miss, I’ll dry your hair for you.”

Adele had initially responded calmly, sitting down on the bed, the mattress dipping slightly under her weight. But as she looked at Jasmine, she suddenly realized something, her face flushing crimson. Just moments ago, Jasmine had asked if Adele liked her. Adele’s silence had been deafening. Jasmine wasn’t stupid. She could tell from Adele’s reaction that Adele did like her.

Although Adele had rejected Jasmine’s elopement proposal, she couldn’t deny her feelings anymore. Adele had imagined that if Jasmine knew about her feelings, she would be overjoyed, her cheeks blushing like red roses. But in reality, Jasmine’s reaction had been calm, even indifferent.

Even when she had proposed “elopement,” her tone had been steady.

That was Jasmine. She was always like this, her emotions rarely fluctuating. Adele had rarely seen Jasmine express her feelings openly. Even her love for Adele had been revealed through subtle gestures.

Such a Jasmine, even knowing that her feelings were reciprocated, hadn’t reacted differently. Even when Adele had rejected her, she hadn’t asked why, her tone unchanging. Adele felt a bit defeated. Compared to Jasmine, she, who blushed easily, seemed like a foolish child.

But even so, Adele couldn’t help but feel flustered around Jasmine, her usually slow heartbeat quickening in her presence. Now, looking at Jasmine patting her thigh, knowing that her feelings were no longer a secret, Adele couldn’t bring herself to approach as casually as before.

Jasmine, however, was oblivious. She even reached out and tugged at Adele’s arm. Lost in her embarrassment, Adele was caught off guard and pulled down by Jasmine. Her damp head landed on Jasmine’s thigh. Thankfully, Jasmine had placed a towel on her lap beforehand; otherwise, her maid uniform would have gotten wet.

Adele still had the presence of mind to think about this.

But then, all other thoughts vanished. Lying on Jasmine’s lap, she felt the softness beneath her head, and looking up, she saw Jasmine diligently drying her hair. It was quite embarrassing, actually.

Jasmine’s expression was serious, her brow slightly furrowed in concentration. Adele could even see the two small bite marks on Jasmine’s neck. Seeing them made Adele even more flustered, especially when Jasmine’s eyes accidentally met hers. Adele quickly closed her eyes.

She lay there, her face burning, her eyelashes fluttering, her hands clasped tightly against her chest. Every inch of her, from her ears to her toes, radiated shyness.

Jasmine didn’t believe for a second that Adele didn’t like her. Adele’s every reaction screamed that she did, very much so.

Perhaps because she was aware of this, Jasmine remained calm, unfazed even by the rejection of her elopement proposal. Seeing Adele like this, Jasmine couldn’t resist teasing her. She said softly, “You’re so cute, Miss.”

Adele’s face burned even brighter, her lips pressing together, her hands clenching tighter, her fingertips turning white.

Jasmine, why are you like this?! Adele was probably thinking.

Chapter 84: Let’s Elope

Adele’s eyes finally landed on Jasmine’s neck, specifically, on the two bite marks. She seemed to realize something and touched her own fangs, her eyes widening in horror. After a moment, she let out another scream, “I… I drank your blood last night?!”

Her face turned pale, a mixture of horror and shame. She probably knew that she had lost control, driven by instinct, transformed into a monster. Jasmine couldn’t tell if Adele was more afraid of the potential consequences of drinking her blood or of the fact that she had scared Jasmine with her beastly behavior.

Facing Adele’s question, Jasmine nodded. “Yes, Miss.” She even described Adele’s actions, “You pinned me to the ground, sank your fangs into my neck, and drank my blood. I tried to resist, but you wouldn’t stop. I had no choice but to defend myself and knock you unconscious.”

Adele’s face flushed even redder with shame. She seemed most embarrassed by the fact that she had been so out of control. Jasmine thought she would ask how Jasmine had managed to knock her unconscious, but Adele didn’t. Jasmine guessed that Adele, with her overactive imagination, had already filled in the blanks.

And she was right. In Adele’s mind, the events of last night played out quite differently from reality. She imagined Jasmine entering the room, terrified, then being tackled to the ground by a crazed Adele, trembling in fear, calling out Adele’s name. Adele remembered Jasmine calling her name. For a brief moment, she had almost regained her senses, but instinct had quickly taken over again.

That part had actually happened, but not after Adele had tackled Jasmine. It was when she was clinging to the ceiling, about to pounce.

Back to the present, Adele could sense Jasmine’s call, but she had quickly lost control, acting purely on instinct. She had tackled Jasmine, pinning her down, and, despite Jasmine’s terror, had sunk her fangs into her neck, drinking her blood.

Jasmine must have been helpless and terrified. Adele had felt Jasmine tugging at her hair, a slight sting on her scalp. It must have been because Adele had hurt her so much. Jasmine had tried to resist, but not knowing how to make Adele release her, she had resorted to drastic measures.

Adele wouldn’t blame Jasmine. Jasmine was weak. She had only done it out of desperation. Adele didn’t remember what had happened after that. She only remembered a pain in her neck and head, then she had blacked out. Now that she thought about it, Jasmine must have hit her on the head with a vase or something to escape.

It must have been incredibly difficult for Jasmine to knock her unconscious while being pinned down and drained of blood. And after knocking her out, Jasmine must have felt guilty and scared. Adele had heard that humans felt numb and weak after being bitten by a vampire. Even in that state, Jasmine had managed to carry her to the bed… and even change her clothes…

Wait! She had changed her clothes!

The realization made Adele’s face burn even hotter. After all, to change her clothes, Jasmine would have had to… undress her first! And Adele felt clean and refreshed, so it couldn’t have been just undressing. She looked at Jasmine, her expression complex. Even before she had acknowledged her feelings, Adele had been shy about exposing her body to Jasmine. Now that she knew how she felt, she was even more embarrassed.

And she hadn’t showered or changed clothes in days. What if she had smelled bad?

A thousand thoughts raced through Adele’s mind. She asked hesitantly, “Jasmine… did you… while you were changing my clothes, did you also…” Before she could finish, Jasmine answered directly, “Yes, Miss. I also wiped your body.”

Seeing Adele’s flustered expression, Jasmine knew that waiting for Adele to confess was futile. With Adele’s stubborn personality, if Jasmine didn’t take the initiative, Adele might keep her feelings bottled up forever. So, while Adele was still flustered, Jasmine decided to strike. “Miss, I have a question for you.”

Adele, still lost in thought, asked absentmindedly, “What is it?”

“Why are you so against getting engaged?”

Adele’s mind went blank. She turned to look at Jasmine, her throat dry, unsure how to answer. She instinctively wanted to avoid the question. This wasn’t something she should discuss with Jasmine. She wanted to handle everything herself, to be with Jasmine only after she was strong enough to defy everyone.

But to Adele’s surprise, Jasmine asked, “Is it because you like me?”

Normally, Adele would have retorted with a “What are you thinking? Don’t be ridiculous! Just focus on your duties!” But at this moment, when she was desperately trying to avoid being forced into an engagement, she couldn’t bring herself to say those words.

Sometimes, silence was the best answer.

Jasmine’s usually hard heart softened. Her proud, beautiful miss, being so honest at this moment… Jasmine voiced the plan that had been forming in her mind. For someone with her combat abilities, it was a simple, impulsive plan.

She said, “Let’s elope.”

Adele’s eyes widened. They had returned to their usual crimson hue, no longer dark and menacing, but beautiful, like red flowers. Her wide-eyed expression made her look a bit silly, but to Jasmine, it was adorable.

Adele seemed to be taken aback, as if she had never considered this possibility. The moment the suggestion entered her mind, it was incredibly tempting. For a brief moment, Adele truly wanted to abandon everything and run away with Jasmine.

The idea filled her with excitement. But after the initial rush subsided, she had to consider the practicalities. If it were just her, she wouldn’t mind leaving the Blake family and living a life of hardship. She could give up her luxurious lifestyle, her expensive artificial blood, and even force herself to drink chicken or duck blood if necessary.

When it came to survival, pride was a luxury she couldn’t afford.

With her abilities, finding a quiet place in the countryside to live wouldn’t be a problem. But taking Jasmine with her was a different matter. Jasmine was human, a young woman who had lived in the castle since she was six, never experiencing life outside its walls. Adele could handle otherworldly beings on her own, but with Jasmine, she would be hampered, unable to fight effectively.

Her encounters with the school doctor and the otherworldly beings on the airship had taught her that she wasn’t yet strong enough to protect someone completely. Moreover, if they eloped, they would surely be pursued by the Blake family, making their already difficult journey even more perilous.

And she was the Blake heiress. The family had raised her for so many years. She couldn’t simply abandon them without a word. It went against her principles.

Jasmine’s suggestion was tempting, but after careful consideration, Adele shook her head and declined.

“I… I can’t do that.”

She couldn’t even look at Jasmine as she said this, afraid of seeing disappointment in her eyes. Jasmine had surely summoned all her courage to make this suggestion. And Adele had rejected it. She felt terrible.

As Adele was berating herself, she heard Jasmine say “Oh.” Jasmine hadn’t expected Adele to agree immediately. After all, it was a very bold proposal.

But the silence that followed was awkward. Jasmine didn’t speak, and Adele didn’t know what to say. After a while, driven by guilt, Adele finally spoke, “Jasmine, how did you get into my room?” She remembered how Jasmine had managed to knock her unconscious while being completely helpless.

Jasmine knew that Adele was deliberately changing the subject, but her attempt was a bit too obvious. But it didn’t matter. If Adele wanted to change the subject, so be it. Her previous proposal had been rejected, so it wasn’t important anymore.

Adele’s expression became serious. “You can’t do that. It’s too dangerous. You haven’t experienced it, so you don’t know. If vampires don’t get enough blood, they become bloodthirsty monsters. They lose all reason.”

—No, I have seen it.

Jasmine had seen such vampires, those captured by the Human Resistance Army for experimentation. They had been starved for so long that their eyes were bloodshot, their minds completely gone. They looked even more beastly than Adele had yesterday. They had forgotten how to use weapons, how to use magic. Jasmine had even witnessed their gruesome deaths from extreme blood deprivation.

But Adele seemed genuinely worried, so Jasmine reassured her, “If it weren’t you, I wouldn’t have come in.” Her words made Adele blush, then she asked, “Jasmine, how did you get in?”

Confined to her room for so long, Adele had lost track of day and night, but she instinctively felt that Jasmine had come during the night. Her mother’s maids were guarding the door. How could a weak human like Jasmine bypass their surveillance?

Facing Adele’s question, Jasmine answered, “I pleaded with the Lady. I told her I could convince you, so she let me in.”

Chapter 83: It Doesn’t Feel Good

The gentle caress was fleeting. Jasmine’s hand moved to the back of Adele’s neck, and in the instant that Adele’s crimson eyes widened in surprise, Jasmine pulled her down. She didn’t use much force, but it was enough for Adele. The sudden movement made her stumble.

In that instant, Adele’s fangs grazed Jasmine’s neck.

They were less than a centimeter away from the delicate skin, Adele’s cold breath brushing against Jasmine’s warm neck. It tickled, like someone blowing air on her skin. With their positions reversed, Jasmine’s hand moved from Adele’s neck to the back of her head.

Jasmine looked up at the ceiling. The room was pitch black, the curtains drawn, even the moonlight shut out. But her eyes could see as clearly as in daylight. Blake Castle was ancient. Despite meticulous renovations and cleaning, traces of its history remained.

Even without cracks, the repairs were evident to Jasmine’s sharp eyes. She stared at the ceiling for a while, noticing that Adele was still frozen, seemingly dazed. She sighed, “Adele, drink. But this is the last time.” Jasmine thought, No matter what Adele says, even if she begs, I won’t let her drink my blood again.

Both this time and the last time, she had only allowed it because Adele was on the verge of death. Knowing Adele’s personality, she might actually starve herself to death rather than drink blood.

Jasmine’s voice was gentle and calm. She was offering this willingly. Of course, no vampire could force her to offer her blood if she didn’t want to. Jasmine found vampires’ preferences strange. Why were they so fixated on biting necks? The neck was a vulnerable spot, with major arteries. One wrong move, and a human could die. Drinking from the arm, leg, or finger seemed much safer.

Perhaps sucking blood from the neck, like a predator biting its prey’s jugular, gave vampires a sense of power and control.

Jasmine’s mind wandered as she felt Adele hesitate beneath her hand. Her blood-addled brain seemed to be struggling to process Jasmine’s words. After a moment, like a puppy, she nuzzled Jasmine’s neck, inhaling her scent.

She rubbed her head against Jasmine’s neck, then finally pressed her fangs against the skin.

The sensation of her fangs was strange, like… a sharp icicle suddenly pressed against her neck on a winter day. It was an odd comparison, but that was what came to Jasmine’s mind. But an icicle wouldn’t pierce her skin. Adele’s fangs gently, so gently, sank into her flesh, creating two tiny puncture wounds.

Honestly, being bitten wasn’t a pleasant experience. It was different from having her finger sucked. This time, being bitten on the neck, Jasmine finally understood what the maid had described when she had asked about being bitten by a vampire.

She remembered the maid’s grimace as she recalled the experience. “How to explain it… It’s a very unpleasant feeling. I heard that vampire saliva has numbing and hallucinatory effects. It hurts at first, then it becomes intensely itchy. Your whole body goes numb and weak, like you’re losing control. You see flashes of light… It’s a very uncomfortable feeling, like your body isn’t your own.”

Jasmine had felt the same way when Adele first started drinking. But her body was too strong. The sensation was quickly suppressed by her enhanced physiology. In the end, all she felt was a slight tingling and itching at the bite site.

Jasmine’s hand, holding Adele’s head, gently stroked her hair. Adele’s hair hadn’t been properly cared for in half a month. She probably hadn’t showered either. It was now tangled and rough, not as soft as before. The proud young lady she had raised, reduced to such a state…

Jasmine closed her eyes, feeling her blood flowing through Adele’s fangs, revitalizing her weakened body. But… Adele was greedy. All vampires were like this. Once consumed by the thirst for blood, they couldn’t help but crave more.

Especially Adele, whose body was parched. She had barely tasted blood in her life, only the small amount Jasmine had given her last year. Now, finally able to indulge, she was like a mindless beast, wanting to drain Jasmine dry.

That was the nature of beasts. They didn’t understand the concept of moderation.

Jasmine endured it for a while, then she tugged at Adele’s hair, “Adele, stop.” For a moment, Adele seemed to consider stopping. But she was too hungry. Even though the tug on her hair caused a slight pain, she didn’t stop.

Jasmine frowned. Her hand moved from Adele’s head to her neck. Then she raised her hand and, without hesitation, knocked Adele unconscious. Her movements were swift and decisive. In an instant, Adele went limp in her arms. Jasmine controlled the muscles in her neck, stopping the bleeding from the two puncture wounds.

She picked up Adele and carried her back to her room. Adele’s bedroom had changed drastically since Jasmine’s last visit two days ago. It had been tidy then, but now, with Adele losing her sanity, it was a mess, papers scattered everywhere.

Jasmine nudged the papers aside with her foot and laid Adele on the bed. She picked up a sheet from the floor, sat down on the edge of the bed, and looked at it. It was both expected and a bit embarrassing. The paper was filled with her name, written over and over again.

Jasmine imagined Adele struggling against the urge to feed, writing her name as if it were an anchor, a way to hold onto her sanity. Adele was unconscious now. Jasmine summoned threads from her wrist, letting them gather the scattered papers and hand them to her one by one.

As expected, every sheet was covered with her name.

—This is a bit embarrassing…

Jasmine placed the papers on a nearby table. After a moment’s thought, she changed Adele’s clothes, wiped her body clean, and combed her hair. She was used to doing these things. After all, she had been taking care of Adele for years. Even though she had acknowledged her feelings for Adele, it didn’t evoke any inappropriate thoughts.

As she cleaned Adele’s body and changed her nightgown, her mind was completely clear.

After taking care of Adele, Jasmine tidied up the room. It took her almost two hours. Then she went into the bathroom and looked at her neck in the mirror. Her hair was short, unable to cover the two bite marks.

The wounds weren’t large. Adele’s fangs weren’t that big. They were just small punctures that could be covered with a band-aid. But Adele didn’t have any band-aids in her room, and Jasmine couldn’t go back to her own room to get them. The moment she left, she would be apprehended by the Lady’s maids and taken to the Lady.

Jasmine didn’t want that. She didn’t want to face the Lady again. She had her own plans.

Of course, she could simply heal the wounds, but she didn’t know Adele’s thoughts yet. It wouldn’t be wise to do that now. Jasmine touched the wounds with her fingers. They stung a bit. After all, they were open wounds. And they itched. Vampire fangs weren’t simple things.

Jasmine frowned, then took a clean towel, undressed, showered, and changed back into her maid uniform. After finishing, she left the bathroom and saw Adele sleeping soundly on the bed. According to the rules and etiquette, Jasmine should report back to the Lady now, or at least wait in the drawing-room, lying on the sofa like a proper maid.

But Jasmine was human. She didn’t want to do either. She simply lay down beside Adele, fully clothed. She had slept a lot during the day and wasn’t sleepy now. Her enhanced physiology made her less susceptible to fatigue. So, she simply gazed at Adele, lost in thought.

After drinking her blood, Adele was no longer the beast she had been. Her condition was even better than when Jasmine had snuck in during the day. Her cheeks, which had been slightly sunken, were now full, her face glowing as if she had consumed some kind of tonic.

Jasmine couldn’t help but pinch Adele’s cheek. Hmm, smooth and elastic.

Adele, in her sleep, wrinkled her nose, looking adorable. Worried about waking her, Jasmine released her cheek. Adele slept soundly beside her. Jasmine couldn’t help but yawn. It seemed that sleepiness was contagious.

She drifted off to sleep, curled up beside Adele.

Before falling asleep, she thought hazily, These are the most injuries I’ve ever sustained in my life. She had sliced her own hand, even wrapping it with a bandage to stop the bleeding, and now her neck had two bite marks. She had done all this for Adele. Adele should be grateful.

Jasmine didn’t know if Adele was grateful or not, but she was awakened by a sharp gasp. She opened her eyes blearily and saw Adele sitting up in bed, her face flushed, her expression a mixture of shock and confusion. Jasmine gauged the time. It had probably been one night. It must be broad daylight outside now.

She yawned, sat up, and looked at Adele, “Miss, what’s wrong?”

“Y-you… I… I…” Adele was speechless, her flustered appearance resembling a young lady who had woken up after a drunken one-night stand, unsure of what had transpired.

Chapter 82: The Foolish Miss

Jasmine’s blood smelled incredibly enticing. Even the fully conscious and well-fed Blake Lady had to struggle to suppress her urge to drink. What about Adele, who had been starved for almost half a month and was on the verge of losing her sanity?

The wound on Jasmine’s hand wouldn’t heal quickly. It might not even stop bleeding completely in such a short time. The sweet scent of her blood lingered in the air, and the starving beast wanted nothing more than to devour her. The moment Jasmine entered Adele’s room, she might be pinned to the ground, her throat torn open by fangs, her blood drained to the last drop.

The Blake Lady didn’t care whether Jasmine lived or died. She only regretted that she might never smell such delicious blood again. And she worried that if Adele tasted this exquisite blood, she might either lose control and indulge in a blood frenzy, or become unable to stomach any other blood.

The former was manageable, but the latter would be troublesome. Adele was already a picky eater, refusing to drink anything but artificial blood. Where would she find another source of such delicious blood if Adele developed a taste for it?

However, the Blake Lady believed that the former was far more likely. They were vampires, creatures driven by their thirst for blood. If they could resist the allure of such a delectable scent so easily, they would have become vegetarians long ago.

Vampires couldn’t resist the temptation of blood.

With this in mind, the Blake Lady closed her fan with a snap. She looked at Jasmine, who remained resolute even after being warned of the potential danger. She chuckled and said, “Since you’re pleading so earnestly, I’m not heartless. Fine, you may go.”

Hearing her agreement, Jasmine even dared to make another request, “I hope you will withdraw all the maids after I enter.”

The Blake Lady narrowed her eyes dangerously. Before she could speak, Jasmine added, “You know Miss Adele so well. Surely you understand that those monitoring her are an insult to her. Now that she’s lost her reason, after tasting blood, she might go on a rampage and eliminate those who have offended her.”

The Blake Lady’s gaze locked onto Jasmine, who met her eyes without fear or hesitation. The Blake Lady didn’t care whether those vampire maids lived or died, but as a leader, with other servants present, she couldn’t appear to disregard her subordinates’ lives over such a trivial matter.

Even if it were true, she couldn’t say it outright.

So, she chuckled and agreed.

With the Blake Lady’s permission, Jasmine’s path was clear. The Lady’s personal maid escorted her to Adele’s room. The vampire maids guarding the door looked at her with a mixture of pity and awe, as if she were Jing Ke*, embarking on a suicide mission.

Jasmine, however, was in a good mood. Her expression wasn’t even as gloomy as usual.

The vampire maid opened the door, and Jasmine stepped inside. She sensed the other maids withdrawing at the same time.

Adele usually kept the lights on because Jasmine disliked darkness. Although her night vision was excellent, on par with, if not better than, vampires, as a human, she still preferred well-lit environments. Because of Jasmine, Adele had become accustomed to living with lights on.

But now, her room was pitch black. Even the balcony windows were closed. Adele knew that opening them would reveal the two vampire maids standing guard outside, like pillars. But now, they were gone.

The moment Jasmine entered the room, she felt Adele’s presence: her voice, her scent, her breath.

Adele’s condition had worsened since Jasmine’s last visit. As the Lady had said, she was losing her sanity. The thirst for blood consumed her, tormenting her with insatiable hunger.

Perhaps sensing Jasmine’s scent, Adele emerged from her bedroom and entered the drawing-room. But her movements were unnatural. She didn’t walk through the door. Instead, she crawled across the ceiling, like a spider.

This meant Adele was in hunting mode.

Jasmine stared straight ahead, pretending not to notice Adele. She called out softly, “Miss Adele.” Adele, clinging to the ceiling above Jasmine’s head, froze. Her bloodshot eyes closed, then opened again.

Jasmine didn’t look up. Adele’s appearance must be quite frightening right now. Her mouth was probably agape, drool dripping down her chin… Her silver hair, like a spiderweb, hung down around her.

Come to think of it, Adele probably hadn’t showered in days. But there was no foul odor. Jasmine’s nose was sensitive. If there had been any stench, it would have driven her out of the room. But Adele’s room smelled clean, at least there were no unpleasant odors.

However, Adele seemed to have lost her reason, transformed into a bloodthirsty beast. She had looked so innocent and harmless while sleeping. Who would have thought she would become like this when she woke up? Jasmine sighed. She could sense the beast preparing to attack, its sharp claws twitching.

So, before Adele could pounce, Jasmine spoke, “Adele.” Her voice was soft, gentle, even dropping the honorific “Miss.” Her words carried no magic, no hypnotic power like a vampire’s.

But her voice still reached Adele, making her pause. However, the pause was brief. A moment later, as if provoked, the beast leaped from the ceiling, tackling Jasmine to the ground. Jasmine fell backwards, her head hitting the soft wool rug… or rather, she had deliberately chosen this spot, ensuring a cushioned landing.

But even without the rug, Jasmine wouldn’t have been injured. Her cheat abilities were that good. It was just that as a “normal human” maid, she would have gotten a concussion without the rug. She lay on the rug, Adele on top of her.

Adele’s usually well-groomed silver hair was now a tangled mess, covering her head like a rag. Her bloodshot eyes, gleaming with predatory hunger, stared intently at Jasmine through the tangled strands. Her clothes were also disheveled, her lace off-shoulder nightgown wrinkled and twisted.

Adele didn’t look like a young lady. She looked like a beggar.

Jasmine couldn’t help but chuckle. If Adele saw herself like this, pinning Jasmine to the ground with her clothes disheveled, would she be so mortified that she wanted to dig a hole and bury herself? Adele was so concerned about appearances, and yet here she was, looking so pathetic.

Her crimson eyes, piercing through her tangled hair, and her faintly visible fangs, revealed the beast’s bloodthirsty nature. Any other human would have been terrified. If any other vampire had shown Jasmine this side of themselves, she would have sent them straight to hell.

But… Adele was different. She wasn’t just a different kind of vampire. She was special to Jasmine.

Thinking about Adele’s potential reaction, Jasmine felt a pang of pain, not sharp or sudden, but a dull, persistent ache, like a drizzle. The rain wasn’t heavy, but it soaked through your clothes. That was how Jasmine felt.

This pain was called heartache.

Adele was conflicted. Her mind was consumed by the urge to feed, her thoughts dominated by a single desire: “I need blood.” But even though she had pinned Jasmine down, she hesitated.

Just like Jasmine’s voice had reached the depths of her soul, Adele seemed to be thinking, “I can’t hurt her.” Jasmine saw the struggle in Adele’s crimson eyes.

She sighed softly and raised her hands. As the beast froze, her fingers brushed past the tangled hair, touching Adele’s cold cheek. Perhaps because she hadn’t felt human warmth in so long, Adele flinched slightly, then leaned into Jasmine’s touch, craving her warmth.

Sensing Adele’s yearning, understanding her inner struggle, Jasmine couldn’t help but murmur, “How did you end up like this…”

She wasn’t asking a question. It was a lament. Did Jasmine really not know why Adele was like this? She had a hunch. Adele didn’t want to get engaged. And why didn’t she want to get engaged? Was it because the other party was just an eight-year-old boy? No, that wasn’t the reason…

If she thought about it carefully, the answer would become clear.

Because Adele had someone she liked.

And who was that person? Did Jasmine need to think about it? No. She had observed Adele’s every move. Jasmine might be a chuunibyou, but she wasn’t stupid or blind. Adele’s feelings were too obvious. And Jasmine was far more mature than Adele. How could she not know?

She had simply been unable to understand her own feelings, so she had also ignored Adele’s actions. Now that her own heart was clear, how could she pretend to be oblivious to Adele’s true feelings?

“You’re a foolish miss.”

Jasmine’s fingers brushed against Adele’s fangs. They were white, pearly white, perhaps because she had barely drunk any blood. They looked healthy. These fangs, which had never been used, might finally serve their purpose today.

 

---

 

T/N: Jing Ke was a Chinese assassin . He is famous for his failed attempt to assassinate Qin Shi Huang, the first emperor of China.

Jing Ke’s story has been retold and romanticized in many Chinese novels, plays, and films, and he is often portrayed as a heroic figure who was willing to risk his life to protect his country and people.

Chapter 81: Let Me Go To Her

Adele stubbornly opened her eyes, her crimson gaze fixed on Jasmine. “No…”

Jasmine didn’t understand what Adele was resisting. Adele looked at her with watery, vulnerable eyes and whispered, “If I close my eyes and sleep, you’ll disappear. Dreams are short, fragmented. Maybe in the next moment, I’ll be dreaming about something else.”

“I even dreamed about the young Green boy…” She chuckled softly. “His green hair is so strange. No wonder Golden doesn’t like it. What if they get married and their children have some weird mix of gold and green hair?”

She rambled on for a while longer, then, unable to resist any longer, she gazed at Jasmine longingly before finally falling asleep. But her state now was much better than when Jasmine had first entered. Jasmine sighed, patted Adele gently, and carefully extracted her hand from Adele’s grasp.

Even in her sleep, Adele sensed Jasmine’s departure, her grip tightening slightly. But she didn’t use much force, so Jasmine managed to free her hand.

Jasmine took one last look at Adele before leaving the room.

Over the next two days, Adele’s condition worsened. Jasmine could have snuck in during the day and given her some artificial blood, but Adele wouldn’t accept it. With Adele’s personality, even if the Blake Lady offered her artificial blood, she would still refuse to eat as long as she didn’t agree to the engagement.

The key to Adele’s hunger strike wasn’t the Blake Lady anymore.

Jasmine knew where the problem lay. She had to confront Adele when she was conscious, at least during the night. Sneaking in undetected was easy, but Adele would surely question how she had entered, potentially exposing Jasmine’s secret.

So, there was only one solution.

Without hesitation, Jasmine went to see the Blake Lady. The maid guarding the door was surprised by her request. Jasmine was Adele’s favorite maid. Even with Adele confined to her room, the head maid wouldn’t mistreat Jasmine. On the contrary, she would treat her with some leniency.

After all, Adele wouldn’t be confined forever. If she saw that her favorite maid had been mistreated, she might just fire the head maid, just like she had done with the previous one. So, Jasmine’s request to see the Blake Lady couldn’t be about some personal grievance.

There was only one possible reason: she was here for her mistress, Adele.

The maid, deducing Jasmine’s motive, looked at her with newfound respect. Although a lowly human, her loyalty was commendable. She told Jasmine to wait at the door and went in to inform the Blake Lady.

The Blake Lady, however, decided to play a little game, making Jasmine wait. The maid returned and told Jasmine, “The Lady is busy right now. You’ll have to wait.”

The Lady’s “wait a while” turned into three hours. Jasmine had to stand at the door, perfectly still, unable to even move a muscle. Otherwise, the maid, following the Lady’s instructions, might accuse her of disrespecting the Lady and send her back to her room.

Normally, Jasmine would have gladly taken this opportunity to slack off in her room. But now, she needed to see Adele. So, she stood there, motionless, like a statue. But this wasn’t difficult for her. An ordinary human would have their legs trembling after standing for so long. But Jasmine could even perform more impressive feats for the Lady.

Like standing on the Lady’s head for three hours without moving.

Fortunately, the Lady was merely trying to make things difficult for her. After three hours, a maid emerged and said, “The Lady is free now. You may enter.” Jasmine lowered her head and followed the maid into the Lady’s room.

It was the same drawing-room as before. The Lady sat on the sofa, draped in a black fur shawl, looking regal and beautiful. Perhaps Adele would dress like this when she reached her age.

Jasmine banished these random thoughts as the Blake Lady, condescendingly, spoke, “I believe your name is Jasmine, right? What brings you here?”

“You remember correctly. My name is Jasmine.” She answered the first question before looking up at the Blake Lady. This was considered disrespectful, and the maids behind the Lady bristled. The Lady raised her hand slightly, and the maids restrained themselves.

Jasmine continued, “I know you must be troubled by Miss Adele’s situation. I’ve served her for so long. I dare say that in this entire castle, besides the three masters, I know her best.”

Drawing on the countless novels and dramas she had consumed in her previous life, Jasmine said, “Miss Adele is refusing to eat or drink. You must be worried. She’s your most beloved daughter. Her pain is your pain. I humbly request that you allow me to see her, to try and persuade her. She’s just being stubborn, unable to see reason. Let me go to her. I’m sure I can convince her.”

Those novels and dramas hadn’t been for nothing. However, her speech didn’t quite fit her usual persona as a stoic, aloof beauty. She rarely broke character, but she had no choice now. She was asking for a favor. If she maintained her usual cold demeanor, the maids behind the Lady might just slap her.

She could endure humiliation, but not physical assault. She had allowed herself to be pinned to the ground before, but a slap was unacceptable. If the maids tried to hit her, she would fight back, exposing her secret.

So, she had carefully prepared this speech and thought she had done a good job.

Her efforts seemed to have paid off. The Blake Lady was surprised that a lowly human understood her good intentions. She even sighed, “Why can’t Adele see this as clearly as you do?” She muttered to herself, “Everything I’m doing is for her own good.”

—Not exactly.

Jasmine countered silently. If she truly had Adele’s best interests at heart, would she be so forceful? Treating her daughter’s marriage as a bargaining chip and claiming it was for her own good… And their love for Adele stemmed largely from her being a worthy heir with exceptional talent.

If it weren’t for that, they wouldn’t dote on her so much. Perhaps they would indulge her whims, even spoil her, like they did with the second miss. But that kind of love was no different from the love one might have for a pet. No expectations, just amusement. Oh, and of course, fulfilling their duty as a marriage tool.

Jasmine had seen countless examples of this in her previous life.

The Blake Lady wasn’t easily persuaded. As Jasmine watched, the Lady’s expression turned cold, her crimson eyes filled with indifference. “You’re just a human. Why do you think you can convince Adele?”

“Adele is my daughter. She won’t be swayed by a few words from you. You know her? Don’t be so arrogant. You’re just a human.”

As expected… the Blake Lady looked down on Jasmine and didn’t believe she could influence Adele. Jasmine wanted to sigh. The Human Resistance Army had already reached the White family’s fifth stronghold, and these vampires were still so arrogant.

I wonder how she would react if she knew that the Human Resistance Army was planning to attack the Blake family’s third stronghold and the Golden family’s sixth stronghold, Jasmine thought mischievously.

She decided to be more direct with the Blake Lady. “Lady, I can convince Adele.”

She didn’t even add “Miss,” which made the Blake Lady frown. “You’re just a human. What makes you think you can say that?”

Jasmine raised her hand, revealing a small razor blade between her fingers, the kind used by male servants for shaving. The Blake Lady frowned even deeper. She didn’t believe such a small blade could harm her.

Then she saw Jasmine slice open her own hand. The cut wasn’t deep, only a few centimeters long, but blood still flowed from it. The maids in the room, their eyes turning red, their breathing becoming heavy.

Even the Blake Lady felt a surge of desire. She instinctively raised her fan, covering half her face, and swallowed hard. She blinked, surprised by the intoxicating scent of Jasmine’s blood.

It was so alluring, like blooming roses, like the finest black tea. The sweet aroma filled her senses, even though she had just eaten and only drank the highest quality blood. She felt an overwhelming urge to drink, to taste it.

But vampires weren’t beasts. She suppressed her desire. No wonder even Adele, with her picky palate, was willing to drink Jasmine’s blood.

Her fangs itched. She licked them, trying to regain her composure. Looking at Jasmine again, she saw a flicker of mockery in her eyes. But it was so fleeting that she thought she had imagined it.

She heard the human before her say boldly, “I can convince Miss Adele, with my blood. I believe you know that the school doctor coveted my blood during the first semester. I don’t know how delicious it is, but it’s certainly not something you find everywhere.”

Not something you find everywhere? The Blake Lady had never encountered such an alluring scent.

However…

“Are you sure you want to go in there? You might die.”

A vampire starved for so many days was like a bloodthirsty beast.

T/N: When I use “Molly”, it’s because her name was literally written in English, not in Chinese characters (茉莉-mòlì), meaning “Jasmine”.

***

Chapter 80: Nearing Her Limit

Sometimes, when dawn broke and the vampire servants left, leaving only two well-wrapped vampires guarding the corridor outside Adele’s room, Jasmine would sneak in. She would land lightly on the balcony, use threads to unlock the door through the gap, and then slip into Adele’s room.

Adele had already retired to her bedroom. The drawing-room was silent. Jasmine closed the door behind her, drew the curtains, and made sure Adele was asleep before exploring the suite.

Although the Blake Lady had denied Adele artificial blood, she still had servants clean the room and collect laundry. So, Adele’s drawing-room remained tidy. However, the servants assigned to this task were now low-ranking vampires.

The Blake Lady wouldn’t allow Jasmine near Adele. She knew that Jasmine and the other human maids might sympathize with Adele and secretly provide her with artificial blood. Moreover, a starving vampire would become irrational, desperate for blood. It was too risky to allow anyone near Adele.

Although the Lady didn’t consider humans to be important, she wanted Adele to accept blood willingly, not in a state of frenzy. After all, losing control and feeding could be excused as a moment of weakness, but consciously accepting blood was a different matter altogether.

As a vampire noble, the Blake Lady knew how to break someone’s spirit.

Jasmine entered Adele’s study. Apart from the bedroom, this was where Adele’s scent was strongest. She saw the messy desk, covered with papers. She picked up a sheet and saw that it was filled with Adele’s meticulous notes on reforming the human farm system.

—Adele is truly dedicated.

Jasmine thought, then she noticed a single sheet of paper at the bottom of the pile, different from the others. Curious, she pulled it out and saw that it was filled with her name.

Molly*…

Row after row, written neatly, all the same word.

Honestly, her first reaction was surprise, even a bit of unease. It was like looking at a stalker’s obsession. But as she looked closer, she noticed that the handwriting became increasingly erratic. The first word was perfectly formed, but towards the end, the “lly” was written in a single stroke, the tail of the “y” trembling as it curled upwards.

Realizing this, Jasmine felt a pang of heartache. She understood. Adele had been writing her name, over and over, to stay awake.

If it were Jasmine, she would have chosen to sleep, for two or three months, hoping that the Blake Lady’s anger would have subsided by the time she woke up. If not, she would sleep for another month.

She would use this simple, passive method to weather the storm.

But Adele was proud. She wouldn’t do that. Her mother wanted to break her will, to force her to do something she hated. Adele would defy her, even if it meant starving to death.

Her proud, beautiful little vampire wouldn’t give in.

This single sheet of paper revealed Adele’s stubbornness. But it also made Jasmine’s heart ache. She sighed, left the study, and decided to do something risky: enter Adele’s bedroom.

She gently pushed open the door. Vampires were incredibly sensitive. No matter how reckless Jasmine had been in the past, she would never enter a vampire’s private room while they were alone. So, her actions today were truly bold.

Adele was fast asleep, and because Jasmine was so careful, she didn’t hear the slightest sound of the door opening. Moving as silently as a cat, Jasmine approached Adele’s bedside.

Adele was sleeping, but not peacefully. Her brow was furrowed, her breathing heavy. This wasn’t normal for a vampire. They were light sleepers, easily awakened by the slightest noise. And even in deep sleep, they barely made a sound.

Unlike humans, their hearts beat slowly, barely audible even when they were awake. It was the same when they slept. But Adele’s breathing was heavy. This meant something was wrong.

She didn’t even need to listen. Just looking at Adele’s face told her that she wasn’t well. Adele was a relatively plump girl, her face full of youthful collagen. Her cheeks should have been full, pale but with a healthy flush, not as white as a sheet of paper.

But now, Adele’s cheeks were sunken, her face deathly pale, even paler than usual.

This wasn’t normal.

An ordinary human would have died long ago after starving for so long. The fact that Adele could still move around, even getting up at night to write in her study, showed how resilient vampires were. But even Adele was reaching her limit…

No, perhaps it was precisely because she was Adele that she was reaching her limit.

Other vampires, as long as they had some blood in their system, could probably endure this. But Adele had never consumed much blood in her life. The only time she had drunk blood, Jasmine’s blood, was last year.

All of this contributed to Adele’s current weakness.

Seeing Adele like this made Jasmine’s heart ache. This was the girl she had raised. How could she not feel心疼? She wanted to reach out, to touch Adele, to offer her some comfort. But Jasmine knew that if she did, Adele would wake up and discover her secret.

Jasmine had planned to leave after observing Adele for a while. But Adele’s eyelashes fluttered, and she opened her eyes. Jasmine was startled. She should have left the moment Adele stirred, at least hidden under the bed.

But she had hesitated, and now she was staring into Adele’s eyes. It was too late to run. And Jasmine didn’t know how to react. Her mind went blank.

To be precise, she was still consumed by her concern for Adele.

Adele’s eyes focused on Jasmine, and for a moment, she seemed confused. Jasmine instinctively wanted to leave, but her movements were slow, her subconscious telling her to act like a normal human.

She couldn’t escape. Adele reached out and grabbed her wrist. Adele’s grip wasn’t strong. She seemed fragile, like a candle flame in the wind, easily extinguished. And she always subconsciously softened her touch when she touched Jasmine.

Adele whispered, “Jasmine… is that you? Am I… dreaming?”

Her voice was so soft that only Jasmine could hear her.

Jasmine opened her mouth, unsure what to say. After a moment, she turned to look at Adele and sat down gently beside her on the bed. Adele’s bed was soft, sinking slightly under Jasmine’s weight.

Jasmine didn’t speak, but she squeezed Adele’s hand. Adele, her mind clouded by hunger, pulled Jasmine’s hand closer to her face. Jasmine thought she would sink her fangs into her skin, but Adele simply pressed Jasmine’s hand against her cheek, rubbing it gently.

—She’s acting like a cat.

Adele’s hand and cheek were cold, like ice. Jasmine’s fingers curled involuntarily before relaxing, her palm resting against Adele’s cheek.

“Jasmine, I must have missed you so much for you to appear in my dreams.” She mumbled, her words slurred. Hearing her voice, Jasmine felt like her heart was breaking. She had thought she would never experience such emotions in this life. But a wave of sorrow, heartache, anger, and grief washed over her.

Adele, believing she was dreaming, was more honest than usual, her words filled with sincerity.

Jasmine would never see this side of her normally. Adele was proud and stubborn, a classic tsundere. It was difficult to get a soft, sincere word out of her.

Adele’s voice was so faint that Jasmine could barely hear her.

Even in her dream, Adele was shy. She whispered, “Jasmine, I’ve always said that you liked me, but it’s only now that I realize… I like you too.”

As Adele spoke, Jasmine felt like the world around her faded away, leaving only Adele. Adele held her hand gently, bringing her fingers to her lips. She didn’t try to bite her. She simply touched Jasmine’s fingertips with her lips.

Adele’s lips were soft, but they were pale and lifeless. Jasmine’s fingertips sank slightly into them. Her lips felt like clouds, like cotton candy.

“I really, really like you… I don’t want to marry anyone else.”

“Mother wants me to submit… I won’t. I’m not like her. I have someone I love.”

“For you, I can do it.”

“But… but I can’t tell Mother that I like you. I have to keep it a secret, until I’m strong enough to protect you…”

“Sometimes I wonder… should we… should we run away together? But you wouldn’t want that. And you’re so weak. How would you survive out there?”

Despite her weakness, Adele rambled on. She seemed exhausted, her eyelids drooping.

Jasmine sighed and said, “Adele, go to sleep.”

 

Chapter 79: Locked Up

“What do you mean by that?!”

The Blake Lady didn’t look well. Adele didn’t know which of her words had struck a nerve. She was a proud person herself, bowing to her parents only because they were her blood relatives.

And the Blake Lady should know that Adele had been raised by her own hand, instilled with a pride that surpassed all others. So, Adele abandoned any pretense of filial piety, her tone becoming increasingly confrontational. “Mother, I don’t want an eight-year-old boy, who hasn’t even reached adulthood, as my husband. To be frank, I have no intention of getting married right now, let alone to someone I don’t love.”

“With all due respect, Mother, you seem more concerned about the Blake family’s future than my own happiness. But I don’t like him, and I’m not ready for an engagement. So, Mother, why don’t we put this matter aside for now? When the time is right, the right person will appear.”

Her words enraged the Blake Lady, who lost all composure, shouting, “You don’t like him?! What does that matter?! Do you think you can live in this world based on your own likes and dislikes?! No matter how unwilling you are, you will eventually have to marry and have children with a suitable partner. Even if he’s an eight-year-old boy! Adele! Get a grip!”

Adele pressed her lips together, refusing to argue further. As a consequence, she was confined to her room, ordered to reflect on her behavior and not to leave until further notice.

Her mother’s maids, those known for their physical prowess, not low-ranking vampires, were stationed at every exit. As Adele returned to her room, she sighed with relief. Jasmine wasn’t there, meaning she wouldn’t be confined with Adele. At least she was still free.

Then a tinge of regret surfaced. If Jasmine hadn’t left earlier, wouldn’t that mean they would be locked up together? For Adele, who had just acknowledged her feelings, she wanted to be with Jasmine every moment. Being confined together wouldn’t be so bad.

But she didn’t have that opportunity.

Actually, Jasmine had been in Adele’s room until moments before her arrival. Sensing the hostile presence of multiple approaching individuals, she had quickly slipped out through the balcony. Hiding in a dark corner, she watched as the Blake Lady’s personal maid directed the other servants, surrounding Adele’s room. She knew that Adele must have had a fight with her mother.

But they only confined Adele, taking no further action. So, Jasmine returned to her own room.

The next evening, at the dining hall, she overheard the vampire maids whispering, “I heard Miss Adele had a huge fight with the Lady last night.”

“What did they fight about?”

“Who knows? But it seems to be related to the ball. Miss Adele apparently dislikes the young Green boy, so they had a big argument.”

Jasmine finally understood what had happened after Adele had returned to the ball. Both of them were proud, and Adele was no longer a child. A fledgling with growing wings would eventually clash with its parents.

Jasmine ate her food, unconcerned. After all, the Blake Lady hadn’t harmed Adele. She was completely unharmed. Even ordinary human mothers and daughters had their disagreements. Jasmine remembered that in her previous life, her mother would make her “bamboo shoot stir-fry” (a dish using bamboo shoots to symbolize a beating) when she misbehaved.

Sometimes, she would even use a belt.

Being confined to her room was nothing compared to that.

Initially, that was Jasmine’s thought. She even snuck out to check on Adele, avoiding everyone else. Adele seemed fine. Although confined, she was being treated well. She even had the leisure to continue working on her plans for Spark Farm.

She had even organized a detailed proposal for the three-shift work system, outlining its advantages and disadvantages, and had one of the maids at the door deliver it to her father.

A few days later, a letter arrived from the academy, informing them that Adele had achieved first place again last semester. It was an excellent result. But by then, Jasmine had noticed something amiss: the Blake Lady wasn’t providing Adele with any artificial blood.

Everyone in the castle knew that Adele only consumed artificial blood. The maids wouldn’t forget to provide it, and the Blake Lady was well aware of it. This meant that it wasn’t an oversight but a deliberate act.

Jasmine had a hunch what the Lady was up to. She hadn’t been idle these past few days, eavesdropping whenever possible. She finally overheard the Lady talking to the patriarch, revealing the details of their argument with Adele. The Blake Lady, now calm, recounted their conversation emotionlessly.

After finishing, she explained to the patriarch, “The child is growing up. We can’t control her anymore. But we have to assert our authority, let her know that she can’t defy us. First, we need to correct her aversion to blood. She can’t be so willful anymore. If others find out that the Blake heiress doesn’t drink blood and relies on artificial blood, it will damage our family’s reputation.”

The Blake patriarch hadn’t intended to do this. If he had truly wanted to force Adele to drink blood, he would have done it when she was younger. But after so many years, he had never forced her. However, his wife had a point. Adele had never defied them before, but now she dared to disobey his wife, even refusing to consider an engagement. This was crossing a line.

“Do as you see fit.”

In the end, the patriarch’s words sealed Adele’s fate.

After the Blake Lady left, Jasmine emerged from her hiding place. As she returned to her room, she couldn’t stop thinking about the Lady’s words: “You don’t like him? What does that matter? Do you think you can live in this world based on your own likes and dislikes?” Because she was repeating her own words, the Blake Lady’s tone had been eerily calm, as if she had never uttered those words herself.

But her choice of words betrayed her true emotions. Jasmine could imagine how agitated she had been when she said those words. Jasmine realized that the Blake Lady’s anger stemmed from Adele’s defiance, from doing something she herself had never done.

Jasmine might look like an ordinary young human woman, but she had lived many years in her previous life. Although considered to have died young, combining both her lives, she was middle-aged. She understood the Blake Lady’s mindset and why she was so upset.

Because—she hadn’t been able to rebel.

That was how vampire society worked. The Thirteen Clans seemed to be at the top, enjoying freedom, but in reality, they were puppets, their marriages dictated by others. Both men and women had to accept the partners chosen for them, to ensure the continuation of their race. Their own desires were insignificant.

That was why many vampires, even after marriage, were likely to have affairs. It wasn’t just a few isolated cases; it was the norm. Not only would one partner cheat, but both partners having affairs was common.

Influenced by Jasmine, Adele didn’t want such a marriage. She believed in monogamy. But this concept was foreign to vampires. They couldn’t even rebel because… that was how it had always been.

The Blake Lady might be old, but she had never truly grown up. Even if she were ten or twenty times Jasmine’s age, she wasn’t necessarily more mature. Jasmine might be a chuunibyou, but she wasn’t childish. She understood the world clearly.

Jasmine felt that the Blake Lady was like the mother in the “Butterfly Lovers” movie she had watched in her previous life. They loved their daughters, but they knew that rebellion was futile in this world. And a small, malicious thought lurked in their hearts: We had to endure this. Why should you have a different path?

They had become part of the system, suppressing those who dared to rebel.

From the beginning, Jasmine had found vampire society fascinating. They might be a different species from humans, but once a class system was established, their way of thinking, their customs and habits, were no different from humans in certain historical periods.

Feudal, ignorant, backward, and oppressive.

Jasmine was certain that even if she were reborn as a vampire in this world, she would still be an outsider. Adele, who had grown up under her influence, had also become a solitary soul among vampires.

This time, Adele had truly angered the Blake Lady, who seemed determined to break her of her aversion to blood. She refused to provide Adele with any artificial blood, instead sending her plates of blood-soaked dishes. Jasmine had seen bloody steaks, goblets filled with high-quality human blood, and even blood sugar cubes.

She wanted to force Adele back into her obedient mold, but Adele’s pride was something they had cultivated themselves. How could she possibly submit to such tactics?

Adele refused to eat or drink. The food the Lady had meticulously prepared remained untouched outside her door.

Jasmine knew that Adele would weaken in this situation. How long could a vampire go without food? Jasmine hadn’t calculated it. After all, they could sleep for a year, minimizing their need for sustenance. They could probably go without food for a month or two.

But the problem was, Adele wasn’t sleeping. She was awake every night. When Jasmine snuck into her room during the day, she saw documents scattered on Adele’s desk.

Chapter 78: I Don’t Want It

The waltz continued, their skirts swirling gracefully. After a while, Jasmine finally said, “Miss, let’s stop here.”

“…Okay.” Adele snapped out of her trance, her left hand, still holding Jasmine’s, tightening involuntarily. But she quickly loosened her grip, afraid of hurting Jasmine.

As they released each other’s hands, Jasmine stepped back slightly, curtsied, holding the sides of her maid skirt. Adele was flustered. She felt she should bow like a gentleman, but years of habit made her curtsy instinctively.

Moonlight bathed the two beautiful women, a timeless and constant presence.

The mutual curtsy looked a bit odd, but Adele didn’t have time to dwell on it. She smelled her mother’s maid approaching. Clearly, the Blake Lady was displeased with Adele’s early departure from the ball and had sent a maid to retrieve her.

Adele glanced at Jasmine and said, “I have to go. I’ll be back soon. If you get tired of waiting, you can go back to your room.”

“Yes, Miss.”

Adele hurried away, intercepting the maid before she reached the room and returning to the ball with her. As they walked, Adele couldn’t help but think about Jasmine, how beautiful she had looked while dancing.

The silver moonlight had painted her black hair with a silvery sheen, making it look almost like Adele’s own. And her dark eyes, like the night sky, had reflected Adele’s image, drawing her in.

Most importantly, for a brief moment, Adele had thought she saw Jasmine smiling, a gentle, tender smile directed at her. Her eyes were focused on me. She was smiling at me!

This thought brought a smile to Adele’s lips. It confirmed that Jasmine truly loved her. And Jasmine was so intelligent, learning the dance so quickly. When Adele had offered to teach her, she had been prepared to be stepped on at least ten times.

But Jasmine hadn’t stepped on her once! Although she had been clumsy at first, simply mimicking Adele’s steps, even missing a few beats, she hadn’t stepped on Adele’s feet and had quickly corrected her mistakes.

By the end, Jasmine had been able to keep up with Adele’s pace, swaying gracefully beside her, no longer needing to stare at Adele’s feet but looking at her instead.

Jasmine was truly amazing.

Remembering their dance made the frustration Adele had felt at the ball dissipate. But as she was about to put on her business smile and face those annoying nobles, her expression froze. She saw her mother standing with the young Green boy, smiling at her.

Adele felt a surge of annoyance towards Miss Golden. She had always known that Miss Golden was inferior to her, both academically and practically, but she hadn’t expected her to fail to capture the young boy’s attention even with Adele deliberately leaving them alone.

How had her mother managed to get the young Green boy to stay with her?

Adele reluctantly approached them. Before the Blake Lady could speak, the young Green boy asked, “I heard from Lady Blake that Miss Adele was able to fight adult vampires on her own when she first started school. Is that true?”

—Oh, so that’s how she did it.

Adele glanced at her mother. Even though she knew it was wrong, she couldn’t help but think: Mother, you cunning old fox.

Tricking a child will come back to bite you!

It wasn’t exactly a lie, but her methods were certainly underhanded. Facing the young Green boy’s question, Adele could only answer vaguely, “I think something like that happened.” Miss Golden, who had disappeared earlier, was dragged back by her father and brought before them.

Did Miss Golden truly not want this young Green boy as her fiancé? Adele doubted it. Her mother had excellent judgment. The young Green boy was probably the best choice after the White family’s second son. Although a substitute, he was still the best option among the remaining candidates.

If the Blake Lady thought so, there was no reason for the Golden family to think otherwise. But then Adele noticed Miss Golden’s gaze. She was staring at the young Green boy’s hair… Adele looked too. Hmm, it was indeed green, befitting his family name.

But Miss Golden’s expression was unreadable. Did she dislike green hair?

Adele pondered this for a while. Perhaps because both she and Miss Golden seemed disinterested, the young Green boy, tired of being ignored, huffed and walked away. It was understandable. He was only eight years old, his patience was limited, and he had been pampered since childhood.

Honestly, Adele didn’t like children either, let alone having to entertain them.

Vampire children could be quite terrifying. They were spoiled and pampered. Her own younger sister was a very annoying child. She would throw tantrums and cry at the slightest provocation. Adele hated dealing with children.

Even though they were both weaklings, Jasmine was much quieter and more resilient. She was a good child.

The ball eventually came to an end. The nobles departed in their carriages, heading to the port to board the airship at dusk. Adele had a wicked thought: If those otherworldly beings who had infiltrated the airship before were to attack this one, they could wipe out several important members of the Thirteen Clans and other powerful families.

But that was too cruel, so she quickly dismissed the thought.

After the guests had left, the Blake Lady’s polite smile vanished. She was a proud and controlling woman, and she couldn’t tolerate Adele’s behavior at the ball, especially her leaving in the middle of it.

She summoned Adele to her room and sat facing her across a coffee table. As they sat down, Adele even had the leisure to wonder: Has Jasmine returned to her room yet?

The Blake Lady seemed to sense Adele’s distraction. Having endured a night of frustration, she rapped her knuckles on the coffee table impatiently, “Adele, I’m talking to you!” It wasn’t that the Blake Lady lacked manners, or that her action was considered rude. As a daughter of the Golden family and the mistress of the Blake family, she had been pampered for centuries.

Countless humans and vampires had served her, making her arrogant and domineering. But tonight, for the sake of her daughter’s marriage, she had been forced to put on a friendly face and flatter the Green Lady. And the Green Lady, sensing her desperation, hadn’t been polite at all.

She had lowered herself for Adele, only for Adele to walk away in the middle of the ball, humiliating her.

Therefore, her tone was inevitably laced with resentment, her usual grace temporarily forgotten. If Jasmine had been present, she would have surely made a snide remark. The Blake Lady usually carried herself with elegance, but to Jasmine, she seemed more like a stereotypical European noblewoman than someone with centuries of experience and cunning.

It was understandable. She had lived this way for centuries. She didn’t need to grow up, to mature. She simply had to play her role, day after day, year after year. Without growth, even a long life was merely an accumulation of experience.

“I’m listening, Mother.” Adele sat opposite the Blake Lady, still wearing her extravagant gown and cloak. The Blake Lady was taken aback. Adele’s tone wasn’t exactly respectful.

It was even… a bit rude.

Perhaps it was her attire that made Adele seem more imposing, less easily manipulated than usual. At that moment, the Blake Lady was forced to truly look at her daughter. She realized that Adele had grown as tall as her, her eyes even more intensely red than her own.

“Adele…”

The Blake Lady uttered her daughter’s name. Adele said, “Mother, have I grown into the perfect heir you and Father envisioned?” A few days ago, the Blake patriarch and the Blake Lady had discussed Adele. He had praised her lavishly, saying that she was a worthy heir and that the Blake family would become even stronger under her leadership.

He had also commended the Blake Lady, saying that Adele’s growth was due to her excellent guidance.

Facing Adele’s sudden question, the Blake Lady didn’t know how to answer. After a moment, under Adele’s intense gaze, she had to admit, “Yes…” Then, realizing that she couldn’t let Adele gain the upper hand, she quickly added, “But your behavior tonight was not befitting of a perfect heir. You embarrassed the Blake family.”

Adele remained calm. She picked up her teacup and took a sip before replying, “Mother, I don’t think fawning over an eight-year-old boy and smiling obsequiously to gain his favor is something that would bring honor to the Blake family.”

Her words angered the Blake Lady even more, “What do you mean? Are you blaming your mother for embarrassing the Blake family?! I even humbled myself before the Green Lady for you, and this is how you repay me?!”

Adele wanted to be more direct, but her mother was too emotional. She could only choose her words carefully. Even so, she still managed to provoke her mother’s anger.

“But Mother, I don’t want a little boy as my fiancé.”