Category: The Vampire Eldest Miss Thinks I Like Her

Chapter 77: Dance Under the Moon

To reiterate, vampires couldn’t taste anything unless blood was added to their food. Long ago, shortly after arriving at the castle, Jasmine had asked Adele what food tasted like without blood.

Young Adele, with her innocent face, had been stunned by the question. “Taste… without blood, what taste could there be…”

“There must be some kind of sensation, even if it’s just bland. Even tree bark has a terrible taste.”

Adele had thought for a long time before answering, “If I had to describe it, it’s like licking a window.”

—Jasmine didn’t dwell on why Adele had licked a window. Children did strange things. Even a Blake heiress licking a window wasn’t that shocking.

But now, at Adele’s age, to calmly drink tea that tasted like licking a window… it surprised Jasmine.

She didn’t know what licking a window tasted like, but it couldn’t be pleasant enough for Adele to drink tea with such composure. She wanted to stop Adele, but she was afraid of embarrassing her and provoking her anger. So, she could only stare at Adele’s teacup.

After several sips, Adele finally placed the cup on the coaster. Jasmine breathed a sigh of relief, thinking that Adele had finally realized there was no sugar. But then she heard Adele’s nervous voice.

“Do you want… me to teach you?” She continued without waiting for Jasmine’s answer, “Of course, I’m not saying I want to dance with you or anything. It’s just… as my maid, you should know at least a little about dancing. I can be merciful and teach you some basic steps.”

Even if Adele hadn’t said that, Jasmine wouldn’t have misunderstood. She looked at Adele, who was rambling nervously, and simply said, “Okay.”

Adele stopped abruptly, even swallowing hard, seemingly surprised by Jasmine’s immediate agreement. In Adele’s mind, Jasmine was someone who avoided trouble. Her biggest interests were delicious food and maximizing her rest time. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have proposed the “nine-to-five, five-day workweek” idea.

So, Adele had assumed Jasmine would refuse.

“What…”

“I mean, please teach me how to dance, Miss.”

Adele’s face flushed red. She didn’t understand why Jasmine had agreed. But Jasmine knew exactly why: Adele’s dance had been mesmerizing. In the center of the dance floor, bathed in colorful lights, she had danced alone, her grace captivating Jasmine’s gaze.

Adele had been so elegant, so beautiful, and so lonely. Dancing a waltz alone was a solitary act.

Jasmine wondered if Adele felt lonely. Was that why she had offered to teach her? Jasmine didn’t want Adele to feel lonely. She was willing to dance with her.

While Adele was still stunned, Jasmine stood up and walked towards the balcony outside the living room. Adele’s room had a large balcony, open to the sky. The moon hung high, illuminating the entire space.

Seeing Jasmine heading towards the balcony, Adele hurried after her.

Bathed in moonlight, Jasmine, in her maid uniform, looked at Adele and extended her hand, “Come on, Miss.” Adele hesitated for a moment before placing her hand in Jasmine’s.

Jasmine’s hand was warm, warmer than any vampire’s. It was only natural. She was human, after all. Adele didn’t know if all humans had hands as soft and warm as Jasmine’s, but in her heart, Jasmine’s hands were definitely the warmest.

And… definitely the softest.

Humans were truly fascinating. They were so weak, their hands so delicate and boneless. Jasmine couldn’t possibly extend her fingers and sharpen her nails like Adele, easily piercing the skin of other beings, drawing blood with a single scratch.

Her hands were so smooth and soft. If Adele accidentally poked her with her nails, she would surely draw blood. But Adele wouldn’t do that. Not only would she not do that, but she would also protect Jasmine from harm.

Adele hadn’t forgotten her excuse. She was going to teach Jasmine how to dance, specifically, a ballroom dance. She assumed the proper posture, her hand holding Jasmine’s transforming into a guiding hand. She raised her other hand, her face flushing slightly, “I’m going to teach you how to dance, so I’ll take the male lead. I need to put my hand on your waist.”

Jasmine didn’t object. She simply said, “Okay.”

Adele swallowed hard, “I’m going to put it there now.”

Jasmine’s response was still, “Okay.”

Adele extended her right hand. In a waltz, the man’s hand wasn’t actually placed on the woman’s waist but slightly below her left shoulder blade. Adele instructed Jasmine to place her left hand on Adele’s right shoulder, and Jasmine followed suit.

This posture brought them incredibly close. Only then did Adele realize how slender Jasmine was, and that she was slightly taller than Adele. To be precise, she was taller without shoes. Adele was wearing high heels for the ball, making her slightly taller than Jasmine, who was wearing flat shoes. But the difference was so small that Adele realized Jasmine was actually taller than her.

Not by much, maybe two or three centimeters.

Although slightly taller, Jasmine was much more slender. When Adele’s hand had brushed against Jasmine’s shoulder blade, she had felt how prominent it was, a sign of her thinness.

There wasn’t much flesh on her back either. It wasn’t broad or thick. At that moment, Adele felt how fragile Jasmine was, confirming that she truly needed protection.

Adele snapped out of her thoughts and began teaching Jasmine the most basic steps. “Dancing isn’t difficult. The most important thing is footwork. Jasmine, your feet must be parallel, toes pointing straight ahead. If they’re angled, it will look awkward. And then there’s moving forward and backward. When moving forward, you land on your heel first, then your toes and the ball of your foot. When moving backward, you do the opposite, landing on your toes first…”

She explained at length, her tone serious. But no amount of explanation could replace actually moving. And it was strange to be standing there, embraced, just talking. So, Adele said, “Let’s… let’s try a few steps.”

Adele had learned the female steps, of course. Even though she was now in the male lead’s position, her steps were still the female steps. She told Jasmine to look at her own feet and then, slowly, using her years of experience, guided Jasmine through the movements.

Actually, Jasmine already knew all this. She had watched Adele learn to dance when they were younger, and her excellent memory had retained most of it. She simply hadn’t been interested in dancing. Otherwise, with some practice, she could have at least learned the basics.

Now, with Adele teaching her so earnestly, Jasmine followed her lead, taking a few simple steps. Adele was very patient, saying, “Yes, follow my steps,” as she moved slowly.

Moonlight bathed the two figures on the balcony. The elegantly dressed young lady embraced her maid in a black and white uniform, waltzing under the moon. If anyone saw them, they would surely scream and scold Jasmine for her disrespect. But everyone was busy socializing at the ball, their polite words masking their calculations and schemes.

Only these two, oblivious to the world, were lost in their dance.

Adele’s movements were truly graceful. Jasmine followed her lead. Although she had never learned to dance, she had watched Adele often enough, and with her cheat-enhanced coordination, learning a few simple steps wasn’t difficult. Soon, she was keeping up with Adele’s deliberately slow pace.

She no longer focused on Adele’s feet. She raised her head and looked at Adele. Adele’s silver hair was styled in an updo, with only two strands framing her face. The wind, and their movements, made those strands dance gently.

Adele’s silver hair shimmered in the moonlight, and Jasmine couldn’t tell which was more dazzling. Being so close, Jasmine could see Adele’s white eyelashes and crimson eyes. She had always found vampires’ red eyes frightening, like those of beasts.

But Adele was different. Her eyes, at this moment, seemed warm.

Jasmine thought, Adele is different. She’s different from all other vampires. She’s a treasure I’ve carefully polished. Adele’s thoughts were closer to hers than any vampire’s, even closer than those of the humans in this world.

Jasmine also realized that she was probably afraid of loneliness. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have panicked when Adele had discovered her in the village.

Jasmine was a solitary soul, adrift in this world. But Adele had brought solace to her loneliness. Adele was truly a lovable girl, rushing out of the ball, worried about Jasmine hearing about her potential fiancé, hastily sending Miss Golden away.

But Jasmine knew that one day, Adele would fulfill her duty and become engaged to another vampire.

Jasmine didn’t like that.

When she had learned about the death of the most promising candidate, she had been secretly pleased. It would at least delay Adele’s engagement. And at the ball, seeing Adele choose to dance alone rather than with any of the suitors, then hurriedly return and invite Jasmine to dance… Jasmine had been overjoyed.

That uncontrollable joy made her realize something.

That clever, spoiled, and lovable girl had been right about one thing.

Jasmine probably… liked her.

Chapter 76: Can You Dance?

Adele was beautiful and elegant. Even dancing a waltz alone, she didn’t appear awkward. Her hands weren’t left dangling awkwardly. Instead, she held one hand gracefully aloft, like a queen, while the other still held her cloak.

A waltz typically lasted at least ten minutes, but Adele finished her solo performance after two minutes. She lowered her right hand, curtsied casually, and then raised her head.

The Blake Lady’s face had darkened considerably while Adele was dancing, as dark as the bottom of a cast iron pot. But she had to maintain her composure in public, so she forced a smile.

What could the other vampires do? They couldn’t very well refuse to applaud Adele. So, they clapped politely. Among the crowd, Miss Golden, Adele’s usual rival, seemed genuinely pleased with Adele’s performance, clapping enthusiastically.

Even Jasmine, outside, could hear her vigorous applause.

Hanging upside down for so long was uncomfortable. Even though Jasmine wouldn’t die from a brain hemorrhage, she decided to change positions. Using several threads, she created a small swing. It was a bit tight on her backside, but tolerable. She settled onto the swing and, as everyone else applauded, she clapped too.

But just like when she had been eavesdropping at school, she couldn’t make any noise.

Sometimes she wondered, if this were a different world, a world where humans and vampires were equal, could she stand among the crowd, like Miss Golden, and clap her hands loudly, letting everyone hear her applause?

After Adele finished dancing, the Blake Lady gave her a reproachful look. But she didn’t scold her in public. Instead, she led Adele around, mingling with the other nobles. Some nobles joined the dance floor with their companions, while others, with clear intentions, waited for the Blake Lady and her daughter to approach.

There were many eligible vampire bachelors, but not many met the Blake Lady’s standards. Jasmine watched as the Blake Lady led Adele to several noble ladies with their sons, or gentlemen who had married into other families, engaging them in conversation.

Judging by the Blake Lady’s expression, Jasmine knew that none of these were her preferred candidates. As the letter had revealed, the Blake Lady had favored the White family’s second son. Now that he was dead, Jasmine wondered who her second choice was.

She soon got her answer. The change in the Blake Lady’s expression was too obvious. Her genuine smile was completely different from her previous polite smiles. It was the look of a mother-in-law gazing upon her future son-in-law. Jasmine followed her gaze and, at first, thought she had seen wrong. She looked again, and then she felt like the world had gone mad.

Because the young man the Blake Lady was looking at was just a boy, barely reaching Adele’s shoulder. He looked like a child. Jasmine even wondered if he was closer in age to the second miss. If the second miss hadn’t been present at the ball, Jasmine would have thought they were looking for a husband for her.

Their conversation drifted to Jasmine’s ears.

“This must be the youngest son of the Green family, right?”

The Blake Lady initiated the conversation. Adele stood beside her, her face expressionless. She looked like those women in the videos Jasmine had watched in her previous life, forced to go on blind dates. They clearly didn’t want to be there, but they had to, and they could only sit there with a sour expression, hoping the other party would get the hint.

The young boy didn’t even understand the concept of romantic love. He simply admired cool adults, and in his eyes, Adele, who had just danced alone, was very cool. So, he tugged at his mother’s skirt, his eyes filled with curiosity, “Is this Miss Blake?”

The Blake Lady was taken aback, then she laughed, “Yes, she is. What do you think? Isn’t Adele a wonderful young lady?”

Vampires were very protective and fond of children, so the Blake Lady’s attitude was friendly. The Green Lady, on the other hand, was more reserved, using her feather fan to partially cover her face. After all, besides Adele, there was also Miss Golden, who was also seeking a fiancé.

Originally, the second son of the White family had been the main attraction of the ball. But now that he was dead, her son was the most sought-after bachelor. She had to be cautious, playing hard to get, using her son to secure the best possible deal for the Green family.

Adele stood there for a while, never smiling. She even made an excuse and slipped away. Jasmine, however, was still watching the two ladies’ conversation with amusement, listening to them discuss their children’s marriage prospects. The Blake Lady was very proactive, while the Green Lady was evasive.

Seeing the Blake Lady being frustrated, Jasmine felt a surge of satisfaction.

Ah, seeing the Lady frustrated is a rare sight. It would be a shame to miss it. But after watching for a while, Jasmine suddenly realized: Could Adele be looking for me? The moment this thought crossed her mind, she knew she should return to her room.

It was a pity she couldn’t continue watching the Lady’s frustration.

Jasmine retracted her threads and landed on the castle roof like a butterfly. She bypassed the vampire guards and returned to her room. She was very fast, and Adele wouldn’t be able to leave the ballroom easily. She would be surrounded by vampires.

So, as expected, her room was empty when she returned.

She brewed a pot of tea and sat in the drawing-room for a while. Then she sensed Adele’s return. But Adele wasn’t alone. Someone with a familiar scent was with her. Jasmine was surprised. A familiar scent? Who could it be? It couldn’t be the Lady. But who else among the vampires had a scent that was familiar to her?

Before they even entered, Jasmine realized who it was.

It was Miss Golden. As they walked, Adele was saying, “Why are you following me to my room?”

“I have no choice. If I stay in the lounge your mother prepared, I’ll be hounded by other nobles. Only in your room will those annoying guys leave me alone.”

“Mr. Golden might be upset if he hears you talking about those gentlemen like that.”

“You’re one to talk! Didn’t you run away too?”

“Nonsense! How is that running away?!” They were bickering as they reached the door. Jasmine stood up and opened it. They had already noticed her. Adele had fallen silent when Jasmine approached, but Miss Golden, unfazed, continued chattering.

“It’s hilarious! Your mother and my father are both determined to make that little Green boy our fiancé. But how old is he this year? Oh my god, only eight! Only two years older than your sister!” Her incessant chatter gave Adele a headache. She didn’t want Jasmine to know about the fiancé situation.

So, she decided to use reverse psychology, “You’ve been talking about him nonstop. Don’t tell me you fell for him at first sight?”

This sparked another argument between them, and Miss Golden, with a huff, vanished. Adele didn’t know that Jasmine had heard everything clearly. She already knew about the Blake Lady’s intentions from her eavesdropping at the ball.

It was a strange feeling. If the little Green boy had been a teenager, Adele’s age, Jasmine might have felt… a pang of something. But he was just a child. It was almost comical.

After Miss Golden left, Adele opened the door. Jasmine stood there respectfully, bowing slightly as Adele entered, “Miss.” She didn’t ask why Adele had returned so early. She simply stood there, waiting.

“Hmm.” Adele replied softly and walked into the room.

She removed her cloak and draped it over the back of the sofa, then sat down. She instinctively reached up to touch her hair, but then she remembered that her hair was styled in an updo tonight.

Jasmine placed a cup of tea and the sugar bowl on the coffee table. Adele picked up the cup and took a sip.

She gestured for Jasmine to sit down. After Jasmine sat down, Adele asked nervously, “Jasmine, did you hear our conversation outside?”

“No, Miss.” Jasmine lied without hesitation. Adele breathed a sigh of relief. She saw the moonlight streaming through the window, falling on Jasmine’s feet. A thought suddenly occurred to her.

But it was difficult to voice. It was as if her mouth was sealed shut. She bit her lip, hesitated for a long time, and then asked softly, “Jasmine, can you dance?”

“…” Jasmine chose to be honest, “I can’t, Miss.”

It made sense. As a maid, dancing wasn’t part of Jasmine’s training. She had been taught to serve vampires, and that certainly didn’t include dancing. If she counted her previous life, she could probably manage some basic moves. But those dances would be considered scandalous or bizarre by the vampires in this world.

She had no idea how to dance the waltzes and other ballroom dances popular in this world.

Hearing the expected answer, Adele didn’t react much. She just looked a bit nervous, even taking another sip of her tea… She had been nervous for a while now. Although she tried to hide it while drinking her tea, it was obvious to Jasmine.

Because Jasmine had only brewed the tea, without adding any sugar. She had even placed the sugar bowl in front of Adele. But Adele hadn’t noticed, calmly sipping her unsweetened tea.

Chapter 75: The Secret Letter

The news reached the Blake Lady a little later, but not by much. After all, she was the mistress of the Blake family. She, too, learned of the death of the White family’s second son. The Blake Lady was heartbroken, not for the young man himself, but because her precious daughter had lost a potential suitor.

She was also upset because the ball had to be postponed due to the death. Even though the thirteen clans weren’t exactly friendly with each other, they had to maintain a facade of decorum. The Blake Lady spent two days at the Golden estate, discussing the matter with her sister before returning.

After a fortnight of meticulous preparations, the ball finally commenced. Adele sat in her room, being carefully dressed by her mother’s maids. She was dressed extravagantly tonight. She wore a complex gown with a fitted bodice and a high-waisted, flowing skirt that pooled on the floor, over which she would wear a cloak.

Although Jasmine wasn’t well-versed in history, she happened to know the name of this type of cloak: a mantle, a wide cloak worn over formal attire during the Gothic era. The contrasting colors of the inner and outer layers created a striking effect when the wearer walked with their head held high, adding to their grandeur.

Adele’s mantle tonight was three-quarter circular, black on the outside and dark red on the inside, a classic vampire color combination. Jasmine was certain that Adele would be stunning tonight, captivating everyone’s attention.

After Adele was dressed, the Blake Lady entered her room, followed by maids carrying a black wooden box. The Blake Lady smiled, opened the box, and took out a brooch, fastening it to Adele’s cloak.

Adele’s cloak was so wide that she had to hold it up slightly to prevent it from dragging on the floor. The Gothic style suited her perfectly. The dark, mysterious, and luxurious aesthetic highlighted her otherworldly beauty, making her even more alluring.

The dark red gemstone brooch on her chest echoed the crimson of her eyes. She would undoubtedly be the most dazzling presence at the ball tonight.

After fastening the brooch, the Blake Lady nodded in satisfaction, patting Adele’s shoulder as if brushing off nonexistent dust. Her voice was gentle but firm, “Adele, my precious daughter, you are the most beautiful rose tonight. But remember, you are the heir to the Blake family, the future head of the Thirteen Clans. Beauty is important, but so is dignity. Never do anything that would compromise the Blake family’s honor.”

“I understand, Mother.”

Seeing that Adele understood, the Blake Lady smiled and nodded. Turning around, she noticed Jasmine standing quietly beside them. Yes, even though she wasn’t needed, Adele had still summoned Jasmine to her room. While the Lady’s maids were dressing Adele, Jasmine had stood there obediently, like a shadow.

The Blake Lady didn’t pay much attention to Jasmine. She simply glanced at her and said to Adele, “Let’s go.”

Adele looked at Jasmine, smiled, and mouthed silently, “Wait for me.” She didn’t make a sound, but she knew Jasmine could read her lips.

Their departure was also quite telling. Adele held up a portion of her cloak with one hand to prevent it from dragging on the floor, while her other hand hung loosely by her side. The Lady walked beside her, her hand resting on Adele’s arm, as if she were escorting a gentleman, not her own daughter.

But it was understandable. After all, Adele was the future head of the family, the one in a position of power. If she were to hold onto her mother’s arm, it would diminish her authority.

It had to be said that many gestures in Western etiquette seemed to portray women as dependents, emphasizing their supposed weakness.

Jasmine pushed aside these random thoughts and simply lowered her head, appearing to be respectfully seeing off her masters.

She had expected the Blake Lady to remind her to stay in her room and not wander around. But upon reflection, it was beneath the Lady’s dignity to personally give such instructions. Earlier that evening, the head maid had gathered all the maids and specifically warned them to stay in their rooms and not cause any trouble for the vampire guests.

But Adele had whisked Jasmine away right after the head maid’s announcement, leaving the head maid speechless. The Blake Lady’s glance at Jasmine had been a silent threat: Don’t think you can do whatever you want just because Adele favors you. If you disturb the guests, there will be consequences.

But was Jasmine easily intimidated? Hmph, I’m not that obedient.

The more they restricted her, the more she wanted to explore. But she couldn’t be seen by the guests or the other servants. Otherwise, she would definitely be kicked out.

When the ball had been postponed, Jasmine had been curious about the reason and had snuck into the Blake patriarch’s study to look for letters. This time, the Blake patriarch had chosen an interesting hiding spot for his correspondence. He had used the “hiding in plain sight” tactic, placing the letter on his desk and covering it with a book.

Jasmine had searched everywhere but couldn’t find it. In the end, she resorted to cheating – she sniffed it out. Only the desk had the scents of both the Blake patriarch and Adele. Sensing that something was amiss, Jasmine focused her search on the desk and finally found the hidden letter.

Hmph, you think you can fool me with such a simple trick? Impossible!

After reading the letter, Jasmine learned about the death of the White family’s second son. It was no wonder the Lady had postponed the ball. Since she was already there, Jasmine decided to snoop around a bit more, finding some interesting information in various corners of the study. Among them were reports about the human powerhouse and the traitor within the vampire ranks.

The Thirteen Clans suspected that the human powerhouse was the infamous Lady Dawn. The Human Resistance Army’s attacks on vampire strongholds hadn’t always been successful. If they could contact Jasmine, it was fine. But if they couldn’t reach her in time, they had to proceed with their plans, sometimes resulting in failure. When vampires captured human rebels alive, they would try to extract information from them using hypnosis.

But the Human Resistance Army members were strong-willed, determined to sacrifice their lives for the cause of human liberation. Even when captured, they refused to yield, rendering the vampires’ hypnosis ineffective. However, not everyone possessed such unwavering resolve. Some, with weaker wills, were successfully hypnotized.

From these individuals, the vampires learned about the existence of Lady Dawn, a figure revered as a symbol of hope by the Human Resistance Army.

Based on their descriptions and the mysterious woman Adele had encountered on the airship, they suspected that the mysterious powerhouse was Lady Dawn, the woman who had led the Human Resistance Army to conquer Nevernight.

Jasmine wondered how the news had spread so quickly. She found the answer in one of the letters she had retrieved. The White family had sent two letters to the Blake patriarch. One had Adele’s scent on it, while the other didn’t.

The letter without Adele’s scent read: The moment the bond pearl in my study shattered, I knew something had happened to the Orb of Eternal Night. I immediately sent people to investigate. Sadly, my second son’s death has been confirmed. I had mentioned a potential marriage alliance with your daughter. It seems that’s no longer possible.

This was the first time Jasmine learned that the second son of the White family had been considered as a potential fiancé for Adele. She was surprised, almost crushing the letter in her hand. In her mind, Adele was still a child. She was only nineteen, not old enough to get married.

But thinking about it, vampires did seem to arrange engagements at a very young age.

Jasmine knew that Adele would eventually have a fiancé. As the heir, her marriage wasn’t her own to decide. It was a bargaining chip, weighed on the scales of power and influence. But she hadn’t expected it to happen so soon.

She put down the letter, feeling a surge of anger as she returned to her room. That second son was a bad person, not only frequenting a place like Nevernight but also associating with low-ranking vampires. Jasmine could guess what had happened. He had probably bragged to the low-ranking vampire about the power of his family’s Orb, taken her to the tower room, and, fueled by her flattery, ended up sleeping with her.

Even if they had to find a fiancé for Adele, they couldn’t choose someone like that!

The more Jasmine thought about it, the angrier she became. She was now convinced that she had done the right thing, and she shouldn’t have let that vampire die so easily. He should have suffered ten times more! She doubted the patriarch and the master’s judgment when it came to men. No, she had to keep an eye on things.

Under the cover of night, she changed into her Lady Dawn attire and, avoiding the vampire guards, made her way to the grand ballroom where the ball was being held. Using a thread, she lowered herself from the ceiling, hanging upside down outside the rose window, like a spider. She suppressed her presence, ensuring that the vampires couldn’t detect her.

She was grateful for the intricate design of the Gothic rose window. Hidden in its shadows, she was invisible, even to vampire eyes.

Peering through the window, she saw the brightly lit ballroom. The Blake Lady, in her elegant attire, was escorting Adele. After greeting all the guests, she let Adele choose her first dance partner.

But Adele seemed rebellious. She didn’t choose anyone. Instead, she walked down the stairs alone and stood in the center of the dance floor. She gracefully curtsied to the guests, then raised her hand, signaling the orchestra to begin.

As the music flowed, Adele stood alone, dancing a waltz meant for two.

Chapter 74: A Worthy Heir

Jasmine’s words sounded like a confession. Adele could barely contain herself, wanting to respond in kind: Me too. I want to be with you too. I want to tell you I love you.

But Adele couldn’t do that now. She had to deal with her own situation first, at least convince her parents to abandon the idea of finding her a fiancé. Only then could she address her feelings for Jasmine. Otherwise, it wouldn’t be a love confession, it would be a death sentence for Jasmine.

Still, hearing that Jasmine preferred to stay with her filled Adele with joy. See, she really does love me. Why else would she prefer staying with me over being with her own family?

Snapping out of her thoughts, Adele said with feigned indifference, “Y-you don’t have to like me that much!” But the joy bubbling inside her betrayed her true feelings. She was ecstatic that Jasmine would choose to stay with her, that even finding her family wouldn’t change that, that Jasmine wouldn’t go anywhere else but by her side.

After saying this, Adele took Jasmine back to the castle. As soon as they arrived, Adele was summoned by a servant sent by her father. It seemed urgent. Adele told Jasmine to go back to her room and rest.

When she reached her father’s study, she found him sitting behind his desk, his face grim.

She rarely saw her father with such a serious expression. He was usually stern and serious, but this level of severity was rare. Seeing Adele, the Blake patriarch gestured with his chin for her to sit opposite him.

Adele gracefully took her seat.

After she sat down, the Blake patriarch pulled open a drawer, took out a letter from the top drawer, and slid it across the table towards Adele. “Take a look.” As Adele picked up the letter, he said in a deep voice, “This was sent by the White family to all the clan heads, using magic for expedited delivery. They wouldn’t have done this unless it was something serious.”

Adele took the letter from the already-opened envelope and unfolded it. She read quickly, and the letter wasn’t very long. By the time her father finished speaking, she had already finished reading it.

It stated that the White family’s biggest money-making operation, their fifth stronghold, Nevernight, had been overrun by the Human Resistance Army that morning. Their second son had been killed in action, and a team of nobles had been dispatched to investigate.

After Adele finished reading the letter and placed it back on the table, the Blake patriarch asked, “Adele, what do you think about this?”

What did she think? Honestly, hearing about the death of the White family’s second son brought Adele a sense of relief. He was one of the candidates her mother favored for her marriage, and his death was good news for Adele.

Moreover, the fact that he had died in Nevernight meant that he frequented their family’s establishments. In Adele’s eyes, he was a thoroughly rotten person. Even though she had never been there, she knew what kind of place Nevernight was, based on the confidential reports her father had shown her.

Simply put, it was a city built on oppression and filled with sin.

Adele was pleased by its downfall and even wanted to applaud the Human Resistance Army. She was a thinking adult, and under Jasmine’s influence, she had developed a nuanced perspective, even within the vampire system. She knew that what vampires were doing was wrong, and she was trying to change things within her own capabilities.

She wanted to implement the new work and welfare system she had discussed with Jasmine, and she even had a plan to persuade her mother. She admired the Human Resistance Army, those who dared to fight against the powerful despite their own weakness.

But Adele wasn’t stupid. She knew she couldn’t voice these thoughts in front of her father. He would think she was crazy and lock her up.

She carefully considered her words before speaking.

“Father, if I were to speak from the perspective of a fellow member of the Thirteen Clans, I would say this is infuriating and heartbreaking news. Those human rebels need to be dealt with. Over the years, our family has lost many strongholds due to their attacks, our businesses have suffered, and we’ve become the weakest clan in the eyes of many. Therefore, we should condemn the Human Resistance Army with heavy hearts and offer our condolences and support to the White family.”

The Blake patriarch didn’t miss the phrase “if I were to speak from the perspective of a fellow member of the Thirteen Clans.” He sensed that Adele had more to say. Intrigued, he asked, “And what if you weren’t speaking from that perspective?”

Adele looked at her father and gave him the answer he was hoping for, “If I were to speak from the perspective of the Blake family, Father, you should be pleased. Although the Human Resistance Army has caused some damage to our family businesses, they have never attacked any of our major strongholds. This time is different. The White family’s fifth stronghold has been overrun. This is a huge blow to them, especially considering their status as the unofficial leader of the Thirteen Clans.”

“Moreover, with the death of the White family’s second son, their desire to retaliate against the Human Resistance Army will be stronger than ever. It’s in our best interest to let them fight each other while we remain neutral, perhaps even taking advantage of the situation to expand our own businesses.”

Adele’s face remained expressionless as she spoke. She was like a well-oiled machine, reciting a pre-written script. She knew what her father wanted to hear and had prepared the perfect answer.

Hearing her words, a smile appeared on the Blake patriarch’s stern face. He praised Adele, “Well done. You’re truly my daughter. You’re right. As a member of the Thirteen Clans, I must express my anger, sympathy, and sorrow. But as the head of the Blake family, this incident is an opportunity for us. We must seize every chance to strengthen our family.”

He visibly relaxed, his fingers tapping lightly on the armrest of his chair. He looked at Adele with pride, thinking: My daughter has grown into a worthy heir. After she graduates, I can safely entrust some of our businesses to her and gradually hand over the reins.

And he could finally relax for a hundred or two hundred years before taking over his father’s position in the Council of Elders.

Although the Thirteen Clans were a unified entity, each individual had their own family interests at heart. Ultimately, everyone was only concerned about their own benefits. Their own interests trumped everything else, and a stronger family meant a better life. All vampires understood this.

Moreover, even within this unified entity, there were constant conflicts. Even the Blake and Golden families, whose heads were related by marriage, would clash when their interests conflicted. Was the Golden patriarch targeting the Blake patriarch simply because he had married his sister? Not necessarily. If he truly wanted his sister to have a good life, he should have been supportive, not antagonistic.

And was he truly willing to prioritize Adele over his own daughter by letting Miss Golden participate in the Blake Lady’s ball? She was the eldest daughter of the Golden family, the future head of their clan. Under normal circumstances, a marriage alliance with Miss Golden would be more beneficial.

The Blake Lady was probably aware of her sister’s schemes, but she also needed Miss Golden’s presence to attract more noble vampires. After all, Adele alone wasn’t as enticing as two young ladies choosing their fiancés.

Even if one didn’t choose them, the other might. It all boiled down to self-interest.

Adele was intelligent. She understood the inner workings of vampire society. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have been able to give her father such a satisfactory answer. After questioning Adele about the incident, the Blake patriarch inquired about her internship at Spark Farm. He was intrigued by the “three-shift system” she had implemented and the resulting increase in productivity.

But compared to the sudden opportunity presented by the White family’s misfortune, this small gain was insignificant. He praised Adele a few more times and then dismissed her.

After leaving her father’s study and returning to her room, Adele finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Her clear understanding of the situation allowed her to see the darkness in their hearts. Adele didn’t like her father. She respected him because he was her father, but her dislike was clear. He was a selfish individual, no different from Oakham, both exploiting the weak to further their own ambitions.

Adele couldn’t bring herself to confront her father. He was the one who had raised her. She could only adopt a gentler approach, replacing him as the head of the Blake family and shaping it according to her own ideals.

She felt a tinge of disdain for her own compromising methods. Ultimately, she was only doing this because she was too weak to fight back directly. But it didn’t matter. She would become stronger, just like Jasmine had said. She would become strong enough to surpass her parents, strong enough to protect Jasmine under her wings.

Adele looked up at the moon outside her window. The rose window, a classic feature of Gothic architecture, fragmented the moonlight, casting colorful patterns on her. She ran her hand over the rough texture of the window, gazing at the cold moon hanging in the night sky:

Heaven be my witness, I will become strong, strong enough to never bow to anyone, strong enough to achieve my ideals.

Chapter 73: You Are Right

Adele knew that Jasmine was inside the room. She had come yesterday evening and found the cabin silent and devoid of Jasmine’s scent. Concerned, she had entered, her keen sense of smell confirming that Jasmine hadn’t been there for days. Doubt crept into her mind. Had Jasmine truly been resting in this cabin during her previous illnesses?

Despite her growing suspicions, Adele hadn’t made a fuss upon returning to the castle. Instead, she chose to visit the cabin again today. This time, it was different. Adele could smell Jasmine’s scent and hear sounds coming from inside. She knew Jasmine was there.

They remained silent for a long time, separated by a thin door. Finally, Adele knocked. Lost in thought, she hadn’t noticed how Jasmine had sensed her presence and moved towards the door. A vampire’s footsteps were silent; a human couldn’t possibly hear her through the door.

Jasmine opened the door quickly and looked at Adele with a calm expression, “Miss Adele, what brings you here?”

Adele didn’t answer. Instead, she made a move to enter, and Jasmine stepped aside, letting her in. Unlike yesterday, the cabin, which had been devoid of Jasmine’s scent, was now filled with it.

The familiar scent calmed Adele’s anxieties. She sat down on the only chair in the room and gestured for Jasmine to sit as well. With nowhere else to sit, Jasmine sat on the bed. Adele disliked beating around the bush, so she asked directly, “Jasmine, where did you go these past few days?”

As Jasmine had predicted, this wasn’t Adele’s first visit to the cabin. She hesitated, unsure how to answer. Making up a lie now would only lead to more questions. So, she remained silent, lowering her head.

She thought, If I break things off with Adele now, I’ll have to go to the Human Resistance Army base. She didn’t want to break things off with Adele. The thought that had surfaced earlier now dominated her mind: Leaving Adele would break her heart.

She had spent nineteen years in this world, thirteen of them with Adele, practically inseparable every day. Before she turned six, Jasmine hadn’t had any goals, simply trying to survive. Although her powerful cheat abilities ensured her safety in this world, what was the point of staying in such a cruel place?

It was a cliché, but having seen the light, she could no longer bear the darkness.

That was Jasmine’s situation.

Of course, her previous world had its flaws. Inequality, hatred, and war still existed. But undeniably, that world, at least the environment she had lived in, was far superior to this one.

At least, she had been free.

Not just the freedom to enjoy entertainment, food, and technology, but basic human freedom, something this world couldn’t offer. She had had human dignity. She couldn’t bring herself to bow down to vampires and endure their oppressive rule. But on the other hand, Jasmine, who had lived a relatively comfortable life in her previous world, couldn’t bear to truly suffer, to live a life of hardship and deprivation.

Meeting Adele had given her a path she could accept. After all, Adele had been just a child when they first met. Although Jasmine didn’t like children, she could tolerate serving and caring for a child who had never made any mistakes, in exchange for food and shelter.

And Adele was different. The more time Jasmine spent with her, the more certain she became of this. Adele was unlike any other filthy, despicable vampire in this world. She was a lotus flower that had bloomed untainted from the mud, nurtured by Jasmine’s own hands.

Jasmine couldn’t deny that she had feelings for Adele that were different from anyone else in this world. Her only solace in this world was by Adele’s side.

But now, she had a new purpose, and because of this purpose, she would eventually become Adele’s enemy. Perhaps today was the day they had to say goodbye. Jasmine swallowed her sorrow, her voice tinged with sadness as she decided to tell Adele the truth.

It was better to confess than to tell a lie and then struggle to cover it up. It would be less embarrassing in the long run.

Jasmine opened her mouth, “Adele…” She didn’t add “Miss,” but before she could continue, Adele interrupted, “Jasmine, did you pretend to be sick and leave to find your family?”

“Huh?”

Jasmine hadn’t expected Adele to bring this up. But then she realized that she would rather stay by Adele’s side than leave after a blunt confession. Driven by the selfish desire she couldn’t voice, Jasmine hesitated and then agreed with Adele.

“Yes… You saw through me…”

Adele’s crimson eyes gleamed in the darkness. She nodded, a hint of pride in her voice, “Did you think you could fool me? Jasmine, I realized it last Blessing Day. You must miss your family very much, right? That’s why you used this method to search for them.”

“Was that why you took sick leave before as well?”

Jasmine remained silent for a moment, then answered honestly, “No.” At least, initially, she had simply wanted to slack off. And she hadn’t gone out to search for her so-called family. She didn’t have strong feelings towards her mother in this world. She only had one mother, and she would likely never see her again.

Adele seemed to have come to her own conclusions, nodding as if she understood.

—No, what exactly did you understand?

Before Jasmine could ask, Adele continued, “Did you find your family?”

The answer was obviously no. Jasmine shook her head silently. Adele sighed, “It must be very difficult…” Looking at her expression, Jasmine realized that Adele probably thought she hadn’t found her family. After all, nineteen years had passed. Her birth mother was likely dead, making it impossible to find her.

Adele seemed genuinely sad, as if she couldn’t bear to tell Jasmine that her mother was probably dead. She even forced a smile and offered words of encouragement, “Don’t worry, I won’t tell anyone. And if you need help, I can help you!”

In Adele’s mind, as an ordinary human who couldn’t use transportation, how far could Jasmine travel in five days? She had probably only reached a nearby town, asking passing human servants for information.

All those years of searching, all in vain. It must be very painful for Jasmine. Adele felt sympathy for her. She was a vampire with a strong capacity for empathy. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have remembered a small incident from Blessing Day six months ago.

Adele couldn’t forget Jasmine’s expression that day. Jasmine, who was always stoic and indifferent, had looked at a floating lantern with such tenderness. Perhaps because Adele had finally acknowledged her own feelings, remembering Jasmine’s expression now filled her with a strange envy.

She envied the lantern, for receiving Jasmine’s gentle gaze, and she envied Jasmine’s family, for being so cherished by her. Combining this with Jasmine’s secret excursions, Adele concluded that she must have been searching for clues about her family. Deep down, Jasmine was a kind person. It was only natural for her to long for her family and never give up on finding them.

However, a sense of panic welled up in Adele’s heart. She realized that her control over Jasmine wasn’t as strong as she had thought. Jasmine had been secretly sneaking out for years, pretending to be sick. What if, during one of these excursions, she never came back?

What if she found her family and decided to stay with them?

Unspoken fear gripped Adele’s heart, fueling her anxieties. That was why she had offered to help. But she couldn’t be forceful with Jasmine, so her offer became “if you need help.”

Hearing Adele’s offer, Jasmine declined. How could she possibly ask Adele for help? After all, she was attacking vampire strongholds. No matter how different Adele was from other vampires, she was still a high-ranking noble of the Thirteen Clans. Even if she had sympathy for humans, she wouldn’t sacrifice her own interests to help them.

Jasmine’s rejection made Adele panic. The fleeting fear in her eyes didn’t escape Jasmine’s sharp observation. As she wondered what was wrong with Adele, she saw Adele’s hands, resting on her lap, clench tightly. Then a forced smile appeared on her face.

She asked cautiously, her true feelings slipping out unintentionally, “Jasmine, if you found your family, would you want to stay with them?”

Jasmine didn’t even hesitate. “No.” She hadn’t even considered searching for her family in this world, and her family from her previous life was gone forever. So, her answer was immediate and firm.

Jasmine didn’t expect her offhand answer to make Adele smile, a genuine, happy smile. Adele was stunned for a moment, then she said incredulously, “What?” She looked at Jasmine, realizing that she was serious, and a wide smile spread across her face.

“As expected, you still prefer to stay with me.”

Jasmine thought for a moment and then admitted, “You are right.”

Chapter 72: The Unfortunate Soul

The new recruits in the Human Resistance Army were stunned. How long had Lady Dawn been gone? An hour at most? And in that short time, she had destroyed the Orb of Eternal Night?!

The veterans, however, were ecstatic. Lady Dawn’s unwavering strength meant that all their problems would be solved, and that one day, they would overthrow the vampires. Under the Commander’s orders, everyone charged towards Nevernight.

Jasmine was indeed incredibly fast. Upon arriving in Nevernight, she immediately entered the city through a secret tunnel maintained by the Hunter’s Association. The Hunter’s Association, true to their reputation as “rats of the sewers” in the vampires’ eyes, had tunnels everywhere. As Jasmine entered the city, she was spotted by a vampire. Unfortunately for him, he had to meet his maker first.

But perhaps he wasn’t so unfortunate after all. Most of the vampires who died later were likely burned to death by the sun, a fate far more agonizing than being swiftly dispatched by Jasmine. So, maybe this vampire was actually lucky.

Jasmine moved like a shadow, swiftly reaching the location of the Orb of Eternal Night. She had intended to destroy it immediately but was surprised to find a male vampire engaged in a tryst with a low-ranking vampire. Jasmine was already irritated. The stench of blood in Nevernight was far stronger than in Oakham’s manor.

Moreover, to avoid detection, Jasmine had to rely on her sense of smell to navigate the city, unable to shut it off. This made her even more uncomfortable. The overwhelming stench of blood made her nose burn, and she finally understood why Adele had been so irritable that day and had lashed out. The smell of blood could truly make one dizzy and agitated.

She wanted to leave this city as soon as possible but hadn’t expected such an important location to be so poorly guarded. There was just one vampire indulging in carnal pleasures. He froze when he saw Jasmine, then seemed to recognize her, pointing and shouting, “You’re Lady Dawn of the Human Resistance Army?!”

So, she was quite famous among vampires. Jasmine had seen her name and a brief description of her attire in the correspondence between the Blake patriarch and other vampires. They knew that she was the one Adele had encountered on the airship. With access to the memories of some vampires, it was easy to obtain her image.

However, her identity should still be a secret to most vampires. The Council of Elders’ policy was to suppress this information. They didn’t want vampires to know that humans possessed such powerful individuals.

This meant that the vampire before her must hold a high position.

Jasmine didn’t care about his status. She just felt like she was about to get an eye infection. And with him shouting like that, the other vampires must have heard him. After all, vampires had excellent hearing. Not all the vampires in the castle were indulging in pleasure. There were guards and maids on duty. They would soon arrive, alerted by his screams.

This thought made Jasmine even more irritable. She covered her ears and said, “Shut up!” before sending the amorous couple to meet their maker. But the male vampire was surprisingly resilient. Even with her thread-like sword piercing his chest, he managed to struggle free as Jasmine approached the Orb of Eternal Night. He used fire magic to burn the threads and crawled towards the exit.

Clever. He had figured out that her thread sword was vulnerable to fire.

Jasmine grabbed the Orb but didn’t let the vampire escape. Threads shot out from under her robe, wrapping around his ankle, attempting to drag him back. But Jasmine was too agitated, her control faltering. Instead of pulling him back, she accidentally severed his foot.

The male vampire screamed in agony. The nearest vampires, alerted by the commotion, burst through the door. They saw him writhing on the ground, screaming, and they saw the human holding the Orb of Eternal Night, her eyes cold and piercing, staring at them coldly.

Some vampires cautiously approached Jasmine, demanding, “Who are you?!”

Others, seeing the Orb in her hand, felt their hearts skip a beat, yelling, “Put down the Orb of Eternal Night!”

And some were more concerned about the injured vampire on the ground, “Ah! Second Young Master!”

Jasmine, in her agitated state, chose to eliminate them all, along with the Orb in her hand. In just ten seconds, everything, including the Orb, was reduced to ashes. The annoying noises ceased, the black barrier outside dissipated, and warm sunlight bathed the city. Jasmine stepped onto the balcony, raising her hand as if to embrace the sun.

She shut off her sense of smell, blocking out the overwhelming stench of blood. Her agitation subsided, replaced by a sense of calm.

Only then did she realize: she had heard a vampire maid call the naked vampire… Second Young Master? Since they were in the White family’s stronghold, he must have been the White family’s second son.

Jasmine pondered this absentmindedly as she basked in the sunlight on the tower. Then she took a step forward, falling from the top of the tower like a feather, landing gracefully on the ground. Panicked vampires scrambled for cover inside buildings, but even there, it was difficult to escape the sunlight.

Most buildings in Nevernight, this city of extravagance, were adorned with large windows. The curtains were thin and gauzy, meant for privacy, not for blocking light. The vampires reveled in the moonlight, never bothering to draw the curtains.

This meant that the sunlight could also reach them, “intimately.”

Still, hiding inside offered some protection, preventing them from being instantly incinerated. Those who were unlucky, caught outside, were bathed in the warm sunlight, their agonizing screams drowned out as they turned to ash.

Jasmine strolled leisurely through the streets. With her sense of smell shut off, she couldn’t smell the overwhelming stench of blood. She simply watched as vampires turned to ash before her eyes. The sight pleased her. She even hummed a tune.

She deliberately slowed her pace, savoring the spectacle.

Of course, there were other beings in Nevernight besides vampires. Some were allies of the vampires, some were thrill-seekers, and some were lurking in the sewers, plotting against the vampires. With the city in chaos, many of these beings seized the opportunity to loot vampire property and escape to a better life.

Some even attacked humans. Jasmine, seeing these opportunistic scoundrels, didn’t stand idly by. Attacking humans in her presence was suicide. She mercifully granted them a swift death, sending them to hell alongside the White family’s second son.

She led the humans she had rescued, walking slowly towards the city gates. As they opened the gates, they saw the Human Resistance Army charging in. The Commander, spotting Jasmine, rushed over and greeted, “Lady Dawn.” The logistics unit followed behind him, and Jasmine’s sharp eyes spotted Freckles Anna among them.

She looked different from her school days. She was dirtier, but her eyes were filled with determination. Recognizing the Lady Dawn who had rescued her from the academy, Anna’s face lit up with joy. She wanted to talk to Jasmine, but she first focused on her duties, helping the other medics tend to the wounded.

The Commander expressed his gratitude to Jasmine. She nodded, confirming that the Orb of Eternal Night had been destroyed. She then pulled a shard of the Orb from her pocket and handed it to him, “Take this back to the base and have everyone study it. See if there’s anything we can learn from it. And don’t forget to collect the magic stones from the castle tower.”

Seeing the Commander’s solemn nod, Jasmine was satisfied. She then went to see Anna. Watching her skillfully treat the wounded, Jasmine couldn’t help but marvel at how much Anna had grown.

After treating a patient, Anna realized that Lady Dawn was standing behind her. She was overjoyed and thanked Lady Dawn for rescuing her from the academy. Then she asked cautiously, “Lady Dawn, is Jasmine… the one who told you about us… is she doing okay?”

She’s doing great. She’s right here, having just destroyed a vampire stronghold.

Jasmine couldn’t reveal the truth, so she simply nodded.

Anna visibly relaxed, a look of relief on her face that Jasmine couldn’t quite understand, “Really… That’s wonderful.”

To prevent any unforeseen circumstances, Jasmine stayed in Nevernight for two more days. Only after the Human Resistance Army had completely withdrawn, leaving behind a desolate city, did she bid farewell to the Commander and head back to Blake Castle at top speed.

She arrived just in time, still within her sick leave period. Jasmine took a shower and was about to take a nap when she sensed Adele’s presence. Her heart skipped a beat. Adele is here? Why is she here? What is she doing here? And… has she been here before?

The last question was the most important. She worried that if Adele had visited in the past two days, her secret would be exposed. If that happened, she might not be able to stay at the castle anymore.

The thought filled her with a strange sadness. She was sad about losing access to delicious food, a decent salary, and… being separated from Adele.

Jasmine suppressed the last thought, rubbing her damp hair and sighing. She walked towards the door. As she was lost in thought, Adele had already arrived outside her room. They were now separated by a single door. Jasmine waited for Adele to knock.

Chapter 71: The Orb of Eternal Night

“Achoo…” Jasmine, the subject of Adele’s thoughts, sneezed involuntarily. She rubbed her nose, puzzled. Could it be that pretending to be sick so often has actually made me susceptible to illness?

“Lady Dawn, are you alright?”

Jasmine shook her head at her companion’s concerned question, “I’m fine. Let’s continue.”

As a cheater with superhuman physical enhancements, it was impossible for Jasmine to get sick. She was stronger than an ox. From birth, she had never been sick, not even a minor injury, let alone headaches, colds, or fevers.

The only time she felt physically uncomfortable was during her period. Other than that, she was always full of energy. Despite this, Jasmine still reported being sick two or three times a year, using it as an excuse to visit the village at the foot of the mountain.

Initially, she had simply wanted to rest and slack off. With no days off, she needed to find opportunities to recharge, both physically and mentally. Even though her body wouldn’t tire, prolonged work could be mentally exhausting.

During her first two years at the castle, she hadn’t even considered feigning illness. It wasn’t until she saw another maid reporting sick and being disdainfully sent to the village by the former head maid that she realized: So that’s an option!

There were no real doctors in this era, only people with rudimentary medical knowledge. Their remedies were mediocre at best. Looking at the medicine she received, Jasmine lamented the primitive state of healthcare. Only the school doctor at the vampire academy seemed to possess genuine medical expertise.

Therefore, unlike Jasmine, the other servants who were sent to the village to recover were genuinely miserable. They would tearfully promise to get better quickly and return to the castle to continue their servitude. Except for Jasmine, who was faking it, they were truly ill, sent away to prevent contagion, forced to care for themselves, and worried about being replaced while they were gone.

Many never returned, their spirits broken by worry and despair.

So, no one at the castle wanted to get sick, nor would they use illness as an excuse to rest. The castle servants were all workaholics, eager to burn themselves out for the vampires, terrified of being sent to the farms or blood banks.

Under such circumstances, no one would bother checking on the sick in the isolation ward. Only if someone didn’t return at the appointed time would someone be sent to check if they were dead. If they were, their bodies would be disposed of, taken far away, cremated, and buried.

Over time, Jasmine stopped worrying about being caught faking her illness. She knew no one would come to check on her while she was supposedly “recovering” in her room.

From initially using her “illness” as an excuse to rest, Jasmine had graduated to taking long trips. And after she began helping the Human Resistance Army, her sick leave became a necessary tool for responding to their calls for help.

Two days ago, Jasmine had learned from the Human Resistance Army outpost in the village below Blake Castle that they were looking for her. Since they didn’t know where she would be, they spread the message through their network at every outpost.

Upon learning this, Jasmine seized the opportunity, feigning illness and securing five days of freedom.

With the current state of transportation, even sneaking onto an airship wouldn’t allow her to make a round trip within five days. But Jasmine was different. She could rely on her own two legs. Her speed was astonishing. She could receive a message in the morning, report her “illness” to the head maid in the evening, and arrive at the Human Resistance Army base before dawn the next day.

Even Jasmine was amazed by her own speed. She sometimes couldn’t grasp the extent of her abilities, but these feats were a testament to her extraordinary power.

If she had to make a comparison, she felt her strength was similar to a certain anime protagonist she had watched in her previous life: a weaker version of the bald, caped hero. She probably couldn’t split the moon in half with a punch, but with some effort, she could create a crater in the ground. She had actually tried it. In short, she was very strong.

Upon arriving at the Human Resistance Army base, Jasmine learned that they had encountered a problem while attacking the White family’s fifth stronghold. They had planned to attack during the day. Although it might seem cowardly to attack vampires during their weakest hours, when their survival was at stake, did it really matter?

But they had run into a problem. The White family’s fifth stronghold was their most profitable asset: a massive entertainment complex and the largest red-light district in the vampire world. It housed casinos, dance halls, and various other entertainment venues, generating a significant amount of wealth for the White family. It was also one of the most notorious places for human exploitation.

Humans there were forced into various jobs, including sex work.

Jasmine was disgusted by this. Vampires had a very liberal view of sexuality and didn’t mind engaging in sexual activities with other species, even while feeding. In the White family’s fifth stronghold, the city known as “Nevernight,” humans often died in vampire beds.

Drained of their blood.

Naked and lifeless, their bodies were unceremoniously wrapped in rags and dumped in mass graves outside the city. It was no wonder the Human Resistance Army was determined to liberate this city of sin.

It was a paradise for vampires, but a living hell for humans.

But the name “Nevernight” wasn’t just a fancy title. While it typically described a bustling city, illuminated by lights like daytime, for vampires, it was ironic and mocking. Nevernight never saw the light of day. It was more like “Eternal Night.”

The reason was a magical artifact placed atop the central castle tower: the Orb of Eternal Night.

Legend had it that the Moon Goddess had bestowed this treasure upon vampires. As long as it was powered by magic, it could maintain eternal darkness within a certain radius, blocking out sunlight. After generations of research by human scientists working for the vampires, its effective range had expanded to encompass an entire city.

But by the standards of this era, it wasn’t a very large city. It was more like a medium-sized town in Jasmine’s previous life.

Despite its relatively small size, maintaining eternal darkness required a tremendous amount of magical energy. It probably cost billions of dollars each year to operate. Money was valuable in this era. Jasmine’s monthly salary wouldn’t even cover a day’s worth of the Orb’s operating costs.

This little artifact was a major obstacle for the Human Resistance Army. As long as the Orb of Eternal Night existed, vampires would always have the upper hand.

But the commander of the Human Resistance Army, codenamed “Commander,” was determined to destroy it. That was why the outposts had been searching for Jasmine. Everyone knew that Lady Dawn’s strength was unfathomable. They couldn’t destroy the Orb, but Lady Dawn might be able to.

Facing the Commander, Jasmine accepted the mission and discussed the situation at Spark Farm.

After their discussion, she left the base alone, heading towards Nevernight at incredible speed. She arrived at the village outside Nevernight during the day and contacted the local outpost. She learned that the Human Resistance Army was hiding in a nearby valley, ready to attack.

“Wow, what a big black bowl,” Jasmine said, standing on a mountain peak, looking at the city several kilometers away. Although it was daytime, the sun shone brightly, dispelling the winter chill. But Nevernight was shrouded in darkness.

The black barrier created by the Orb of Eternal Night was hemispherical, just like Jasmine had described, like a giant black bowl covering the city. The barrier was semi-transparent. Even from this distance, Jasmine could clearly see a room atop the castle tower emitting black mist.

That must be where the Orb was located.

Jasmine knew so much about the Orb of Eternal Night because the vampires had ruled for so long. The White family had proudly boasted about the Orb’s power to all vampires, inviting them to visit Nevernight. It was like some modern cities spending fortunes on technological marvels, not only not hiding them but actively promoting them.

Combined with some confidential information obtained by the Blake patriarch, Jasmine had a good understanding of the situation.

She signaled to the Human Resistance Army soldiers hidden in the valley and headed towards Nevernight alone. It was at that moment, standing on the mountain peak, that she sneezed, making her companion worry about the mighty Lady Dawn’s health.

The Human Resistance Army soldiers had heard of Lady Dawn’s strength, but they didn’t know the extent of it. Jasmine had been less active in recent years, and many new recruits had joined the army. So, they had only heard stories of her power without witnessing it firsthand.

Someone even whispered to their comrade, “Can Lady Dawn… really destroy the Orb of Eternal Night?”

They had tried many methods before, including posting bounties with the Hunter’s Association and sending covert teams to infiltrate the city and sabotage the Orb. Nothing had worked. Hearing that the base had sent the mysterious and powerful Lady Dawn, they were filled with hope. But when she arrived, they found that she looked no different from an ordinary human.

Even the few human mages among them confirmed: they couldn’t sense any magical energy from Lady Dawn… So, what made her so powerful?

Some started to doubt her abilities. The image of the mighty Lady Dawn began to crumble in their minds. But at that moment, the lookout shouted excitedly, “The barrier is gone!”

Chapter 70: Adele’s True Feelings

As this thought took root in her mind, all other voices faded into a distant blur, leaving only this one thought spinning relentlessly. It was like a whirlpool, dragging Adele down, down, suffocating her, squeezing her heart tightly.

The voice in her head was right. Jasmine was hers, always had been. Sending Jasmine to the village to marry and have children with a human man was unacceptable. Adele had uttered those noble-sounding words so many times that she had almost convinced herself.

But the truth was, she could only accept one outcome: Jasmine staying by her side. Adele had to admit, the moment she realized Jasmine’s feelings, a part of her had rejoiced. See, she belongs to me, body and soul.

This possessive thought lingered in her mind, but the responsibility instilled in her by her parents since childhood prevented her from even considering a future with Jasmine. Yet, when her mother finally pushed the issue of marriage, Adele realized that her feelings for Jasmine were far from innocent.

She could only be with Jasmine, just like the past thirteen years, almost inseparable every day, and it would remain so in the future. Adele affirmed this possessive desire. No matter what, she would keep Jasmine by her side.

But… what about her fiancé?

This question surfaced again. If Adele were a truly cruel vampire, she could keep her engagement a secret from Jasmine, buying herself at least five years. After five years, she could make Jasmine her blood slave, granting her better treatment and explaining that her relationship with her fiancé was purely a political marriage, devoid of love.

Such arrangements were common among vampires. Having lovers outside of marriage was considered normal.

But Adele couldn’t do it. She was a righteous vampire.

She was a righteous child, raised by Jasmine. She couldn’t deceive Jasmine, and if her lie were exposed, she wouldn’t be able to handle Jasmine’s tearful accusation: “I never thought you were this kind of person, Miss!”

The only solution Adele could think of was to go through with the ball, and after it was over, tell her mother that she didn’t want a fiancé. She could shoulder the responsibility of the Blake family, but marriage and childbirth should be left to her younger sister – if her sister was willing, of course.

If that didn’t work… her parents could have another child.

Come on, the White family had three daughters, and the eldest was even a year older than her. It wasn’t unreasonable for her parents to have another child. As long as they had enough children, there would be one willing to marry, have children, and inherit the family.

As for confronting her mother before the ball and calling it off, that was impossible. Even if Adele had no intention of getting married, there was still Miss Golden. She needed to find a husband. Adele couldn’t ruin Miss Golden’s chances just because of her own desires.

Although she and Miss Golden didn’t get along, she wouldn’t sabotage her chances.

Having made up her mind, Adele felt less distressed. She ran her fingers through her hair and sat on the edge of the bed, one leg dangling to the floor, her hands supporting her weight. Now she had to figure out something else: her true feelings for Jasmine.

Those overwhelming, possessive emotions that had filled her mind earlier were definitely not something one would feel for a mere maid. Even her most complicated fantasies included making Jasmine her lover. The idea of a relationship disguised as a blood bond, secretly being with Jasmine behind her non-existent fiancé’s back, was incredibly alluring.

Adele had to admit, she had those feelings for Jasmine. The desire to be with her forever, just the two of them, inseparable, had always been there. Thinking about this made her feel shy. She raised her hand and touched her hair.

She wanted to find Jasmine and confess her feelings.

But her mind was too chaotic today. There was no rush. Besides, how to confess was another problem. In Adele’s ideal scenario, Jasmine would confess first: “Miss, I’ve always loved you.” Then Adele would gracefully accept, and they would live happily ever after.

Imagining Jasmine’s passionate confession made Adele blush. But then her face turned pale as she realized: she had repeatedly told Jasmine, “There’s no possibility between us,” “Don’t get your hopes up,” “I know your feelings, but it’s ultimately futile.”

“Ah…” Adele realized she had made a grave mistake. Jasmine must have been hurt hearing those words. Perhaps she had even cried herself to sleep. After being repeatedly rejected, Jasmine would have buried her feelings deep down, too afraid to confess.

Poor Jasmine. She must be suffering.

Perhaps because of Adele’s harsh words, Jasmine wouldn’t dare to confess her burning love face-to-face. Adele regretted being so blunt. Now Jasmine would never confess.

But for Adele to confess… she couldn’t do it. Her face burned even hotter as she imagined confessing to Jasmine. Should she follow the script from those romance novels, cornering Jasmine in a secluded spot, pinning her against the wall, and declaring, “Human, I love you”?

That was too embarrassing!

Adele’s face was so hot it could boil water! She waved her hands frantically, trying to dispel those thoughts. She would never do something so humiliating! As a noble vampire, how could she do something so shameful? It was better for Jasmine to confess first. That would be more proper.

Adele had it all planned out. She wanted to talk to Jasmine about it. But two days later, when she went to find Jasmine, she discovered that Jasmine wasn’t in the castle. Adele was stunned. She found the head maid and asked where Jasmine was.

The head maid replied respectfully, “Miss Adele, Jasmine fell ill two days ago. She went to the village at the foot of the mountain to recuperate. She should be back the day before the ball.”

“She’s sick?”

Adele was surprised, then she remembered. Unlike vampires, who rarely fell ill, Jasmine was just an ordinary human. It was normal for her to get sick. When they were younger, Jasmine would occasionally fall ill, maybe two or three times a year. But in the past year, Jasmine hadn’t been sick at all, making Adele forget about it.

The castle’s policy for sick maids was simple: send them to the village at the foot of the mountain, give them some medicine, and leave them to fend for themselves. If they recovered, they could return to work. If they died, that was it. So, Adele always worried when Jasmine got sick.

But ever since they were young, Adele’s family wouldn’t let her visit Jasmine when she was sick. Firstly, Jasmine was in the village, not the castle, and the vampire maids didn’t want Adele wandering off alone. Secondly, although humans and vampires didn’t share any diseases, and vampires had strong immunity, it was still better to be safe than sorry. No one wanted Adele to get infected.

As Adele grew older, she had wanted to visit Jasmine when she was sick, but Jasmine’s illnesses became less frequent. And Jasmine herself didn’t want Adele to see her when she was sick. Her usually indifferent eyes would dim, and she would whisper, “I don’t want Miss to see me when I’m sick.”

Adele knew that humans looked haggard and unattractive when they were sick. That was probably why Jasmine didn’t want her to see her. And based on past experiences, Jasmine’s illnesses weren’t serious, usually just colds or fevers. She would always recover after a few days.

Over time, Adele had learned to let go of her worries and simply waited for Jasmine’s return. But now, she desperately wanted to see Jasmine. She wanted to see her right away, to confess her feelings. However, her mother’s maids summoned her. The ball was approaching, and her mother needed her help with many things.

Trying on dresses, memorizing the guest list, and even studying the profiles of eligible bachelors her age. Although Adele had decided to tell her mother after the ball that she was a firm believer in non-marriage, she still had to play the part for now. So, she obediently reviewed the lists and documents.

Yes, she wasn’t going to tell her mother about her desire to be with Jasmine. It sounded too ridiculous. Although Adele was a righteous vampire who didn’t like to lie, it didn’t mean she was inflexible. She would still use white lies when necessary.

Like telling her mother that she didn’t believe in marriage instead of revealing her feelings for Jasmine. After all, she was still young, a growing vampire. She couldn’t handle her parents, who were old and cunning. Most importantly, Adele wasn’t confident that she could protect Jasmine from them.

They wouldn’t harm her directly. At most, they would confine her and lecture her. But if they knew about her relationship with Jasmine, they would definitely take action against Jasmine, and she wouldn’t live to see the next sunrise.

Adele didn’t want Jasmine to die because of her own recklessness. So… she would lie. White lies were forgivable.

But Jasmine was still recovering in the village. Adele couldn’t help but sigh. She wondered how Jasmine was doing. After realizing her true feelings, Adele couldn’t stop thinking about Jasmine.

Chapter 69: Possession

Adele knew that one day she would marry a man and have children. It was inevitable, a responsibility she couldn’t shirk as a member of the Blake family. Marriage and childbirth were unavoidable topics for vampires due to their low fertility rate, a constant worry for the Council of Elders.

At the current rate, perhaps in ten thousand years, the thirteen clans might become endangered species.

That was why her parents had always told her, from a young age, that she would definitely marry and have children. Adele had never resisted this; she acknowledged it as her duty. But for her mother to actually push the matter forward, telling her that they would choose her fiancé and that she would marry him after graduation… Perhaps it was too sudden. Adele couldn’t process it all at once.

Jasmine’s image flashed in her mind. That girl had always loved her, harboring pure and innocent feelings, following her faithfully, swallowing her own sorrows. If she knew about Adele’s fiancé, she would be heartbroken, wouldn’t she? Could Adele still keep Jasmine by her side then?

No, that would be too cruel.

To make Jasmine watch her being affectionate with her fiancé… Jasmine would be devastated. Adele couldn’t bear to trample on someone’s feelings like that.

At that moment, she wanted to tell her mother that there was no rush. She was only nineteen, after all. Could she wait a hundred or two hundred years, until Jasmine died naturally… and then choose a fiancé? At least, at least don’t let Jasmine witness her being with someone else.

But when Adele looked up, she saw the unwavering determination in her mother’s eyes.

Adele wanted to say something, but no words came out. She lowered her head. The Blake Lady knew that her beloved daughter would be obedient. She was a responsible vampire. The Blake family had nurtured her for so many years, and now it was time for her to fulfill her duty. She wouldn’t shy away from her responsibilities.

The Blake Lady was in a good mood. She even started discussing some of the potential fiancés she had in mind.

“Adele, do you know the youngest son of the Green family?” The Greens were also one of the thirteen clans, ranking somewhere in the middle. They were a decent match for the Blake family. Adele had heard of the person her mother was talking about. She swallowed hard, “I know, but isn’t he… a bit too young?”

The youngest son of the Green family was very young, only eight years old this year, just two years older than Adele’s younger sister. He was completely out of the question for Adele. After all… he was too young. To be engaged to a child… she wasn’t a pervert.

“Young?” The Lady repeated the question, confused. Honestly, she didn’t think the Green child was young at all. He was only eleven years younger than Adele, which was considered the same age group for vampires. But it seemed that Adele didn’t like the idea of a younger fiancé, so the Lady suggested another candidate, “Then what about the second son of the White family?”

Adele only knew Miss White, who was a year above her at school. She was the third daughter of the White family. The second son must be her elder brother. Adele shook her head and said honestly, “I don’t know him well. He’s a complete stranger to me.”

The Lady smiled, “That’s not a problem. I can introduce you. The second son of the White family is fifty-six this year. He’s a very handsome young man.” Perhaps due to spending too much time with humans recently, Adele’s concept of age was a bit skewed. Hearing fifty-six, she imagined an old man.

Fifty-six for a human… that was too old.

But the Lady was very satisfied with both potential candidates, especially the second son of the White family. The Whites were the most powerful clan among the thirteen in the past thousand years. Countless families wanted to be related to them. Even their third daughter had caught everyone’s attention. During social gatherings, several noble ladies had expressed their desire to have their sons marry her.

If only she had a son… The Lady might have had some ulterior motives. But she had a daughter, which was just as good. She could propose a marriage between Adele and the second son of the White family. Besides, fifty-six was still young for a vampire. He was practically a child. In vampire society, an age difference of a hundred years was considered normal.

Adele seemed picky, but the Lady didn’t mind. Adele had always been a picky vampire. She was even ridiculously picky about blood, let alone her future husband. Even if she didn’t end up marrying the White boy, it didn’t matter. Adele was talented and beautiful. As long as she appeared at the ball, countless noblemen would be vying for her attention.

The Blake Lady knew she couldn’t push Adele too hard, so she said, “Adele, I’m not asking you to decide now. I just want you to know that they will all be at the castle next week. You can observe them up close and choose the one you like best. Remember, you’re the future head of the Blake family. You deserve the best, whoever he may be.”

Adele lowered her head, indicating that she understood.

She left her mother’s room and returned to her own, collapsing onto the bed in a daze. She didn’t want to get engaged, to have a fiancé, let alone get married.

Because that meant… she would have to send Jasmine away. She didn’t want to be a cruel vampire, to trample on Jasmine’s feelings. The best solution was to sever their ties and let Jasmine have peace.

Adele buried her face in a pillow for a long time, then sat up on the bed, hugging the pillow tightly. Moonlight streamed through the window, bathing her in its soft glow.

If she had to send Jasmine away, she would send her to the village near the castle. That way, she could still visit her when she missed her, secretly, hidden from view, just for a glimpse. She could give Jasmine a happy life, watch her move on, find a more suitable partner, a human man who was more compatible with her.

They would get married, have children, and Jasmine would grow old gracefully, leaving this world peacefully when her time came. And she, Adele, would forever protect Jasmine and her descendants, ensuring their safety under the Blake family’s care.

With her thousand-year lifespan, Adele could do it.

But would Jasmine be hurt? She loved Adele so much. What if she never forgot, what if she lived with regrets?

Jasmine had repeatedly asked her why she thought she liked her. Wasn’t it obvious?

Jasmine thought she was hiding it well, but only Adele knew how obvious her feelings were. She sat there, hugging the pillow, her expression unreadable, her face flushed, lost in thought.

Jasmine’s feelings were truly obvious. Firstly, her personality was too straightforward. She was cold to everyone, like a block of ice, seemingly indifferent to others. Even with the second miss or the Lady, she treated them the same way. But with Adele, she was different. She would show different expressions, even smiling at Adele many times.

Secondly, Jasmine would show weakness in front of her. Adele had always known that Jasmine was a strong person, weak but resilient, always offering words of wisdom. Someone as strong as her wouldn’t willingly show weakness in front of others. But with Adele, it was different. She would show her vulnerability, letting Adele know that she needed protection.

Finally, Jasmine had willingly served Adele for so many years. Adele believed that with Jasmine’s abilities, she could have worked in the village if she wanted to. Many servants who worked for vampires didn’t consider working in the village to be a good thing. Working for vampires, especially for high-ranking nobles, was much easier.

But Jasmine didn’t like vampires. Adele’s senses were sharp. She could easily pick up on Jasmine’s thoughts and knew that she truly disliked vampires. Jasmine suppressed her aversion and stayed at Blake Castle, treating Adele differently from everyone else. Didn’t this prove that Adele was special in her eyes?

In other words – Jasmine was deeply in love with her!

Adele was certain of this, and it troubled her. How could she reject Jasmine without hurting her? Adele pondered for a long time, but in the end, she realized she didn’t know how to even begin. She didn’t want Jasmine to leave her side. She didn’t even want to tell her about the ball.

If Jasmine knew that the purpose of the ball was to find a fiancé for Adele, how heartbroken would she be? Would she… would she leave? This thought suddenly popped into Adele’s mind. Logic told her that it would be a good thing if Jasmine left. It meant she wouldn’t have to do anything cruel. But her emotions screamed: No! How could she let Jasmine leave her side?!

Once this thought took root in her mind, it drowned out all other voices. The pillow slipped from her grasp and fell to the floor. Adele’s expression was pained. Sending Jasmine to the village, letting her marry a human man and have children, keeping her distance but occasionally stealing glances…

All those seemingly noble thoughts couldn’t compete with the words that kept echoing in her mind: Why?! Why should Jasmine leave? She’s mine! From the moment we met, she’s been mine. I absolutely, absolutely cannot let her leave my side.

Chapter 68: The Ball

After several days of flight, the airship finally arrived at the port of the Blake territory. They transferred to a carriage and reached Blake Castle just before dawn. Adele was surrounded by her mother’s maids, whisked away to wash up and sleep. Jasmine, after waiting for them to leave, finally returned to her small room.

She kicked off her shoes and lay down. The bed, unused for a long time, had a musty smell, but there was no time to air it out during the day. It had been overcast for days, making it impossible to sun the bedding. Jasmine could only lie down for a while before getting up again to change the sheets. After that, she took a hot shower, dried her hair, and lay back down on the bed.

One thing was for sure: at least she no longer had to share a bathroom with Adele or borrow her shower. She could bathe comfortably, for as long as she wanted, without worrying about Adele hearing her.

Jasmine had enjoyed the past few days. The food and sleep on the airship had been excellent, making her reluctant to return to Blake Castle. She slept soundly, waking up at six in the evening. It was already dark outside, as the days were short in winter. The sounds of servants working echoed through the castle.

She yawned, got out of bed, and changed her clothes. She thought to herself: Vampires should prefer winter, since the nights were longer. But in reality, they hated winter the most because it was too cold.

After changing, Jasmine went to the dining hall for a meal. Because she had woken up late, there weren’t many servants left, and the food was cold. She sighed. It was her fault for sleeping in. She couldn’t blame anyone else. She ate her meal quietly. The food at Blake Castle was always decent, far surpassing anything she had eaten at Spark Farm before.

However, after Spark Farm had hired the new chef, its food had surpassed Blake Castle’s and was almost on par with the airship’s. It couldn’t be helped. The new chef knew how to make desserts, and her desserts were simply divine, Jasmine’s absolute favorite. Plus, at least the food at Spark Farm was served hot. Her first meal back at the castle was cold… Despite this, Jasmine still ate most of it, only leaving the last few bites that she couldn’t stomach.

Leaving the dining hall, Jasmine noticed that the entire castle was bustling with activity. She was surprised. A passing maid saw her and said, “Jasmine, you’re back? The head maid said to find her if you woke up. She’s in the main hall, directing the decorations.”

Jasmine nodded, thanked the maid, and went straight to the main hall.

The new head maid was busy directing the decorations, but Jasmine couldn’t understand why they were redecorating the castle. Vampires only had one holiday: Blessing Day. They didn’t celebrate birthdays. After all, they lived for hundreds or even thousands of years. Celebrating every birthday would be too much trouble. So, there were no birthday balls.

Even balls in general were rare. Many vampires, especially the older ones, would often fall into deep slumber, only waking up for Blessing Day. It would be difficult to gather enough people for a ball under such circumstances. But why were they making such a grand effort now?

Seeing Jasmine, the head maid paused her work and approached her. She first expressed her appreciation for Jasmine’s hard work during her time away. Although her expression was serious, the relaxed corners of her mouth betrayed a hint of friendliness. At least the current head maid was better at public relations than her predecessor.

Jasmine lowered her head, “It was nothing. Anything for Miss Adele.”

She spoke with practiced formality, and the head maid nodded approvingly. Then she assigned Jasmine a new task. Jasmine knew that there would be no rest for her upon returning to the castle.

The head maid tasked Jasmine with cleaning and decorating a certain section of the castle corridor. This was much easier than the tasks the previous head maid had given her. Jasmine readily agreed but couldn’t help but ask, “Ma’am, if I may be so bold, what are these decorations for?”

The head maid didn’t find her question inappropriate and explained, “We’re preparing for a ball. The Lady is inviting many noble ladies and gentlemen. It will be held after Miss Adele returns. Next week.”

Jasmine nodded in understanding and excused herself. She went to the storage room to collect cleaning supplies and then headed to the corridor she was assigned to.

So, they were really holding a ball. Jasmine hadn’t expected that. As she had mentioned before, it was difficult to gather enough people for a ball. It would be embarrassing if they held a ball and no one came. And the Lady had chosen to hold it in the middle of winter. Jasmine doubted many people would attend.

Unless she had absolute confidence that she could attract the nobles.

Jasmine frowned, wondering what the Lady was using to entice the nobles. Had the Blake patriarch made some groundbreaking discovery? She gripped her broom, sweeping the floor clean, and then thought: It couldn’t be that they had discovered she was the leader of the Human Resistance Army and were using the ball as a cover to capture her, right?

—Impossible.

But if that day ever came, Jasmine might just say in her most dramatic voice, “Hahaha! You never saw it coming, did you? That’s right, it was me all along, hiding in plain sight as a harmless maid. Now that you’ve discovered me, I won’t pretend anymore. But can you truly defeat me?” She thought it would be pretty cool.

As she swept the floor, Jasmine imagined the scene in her mind.

Unbeknownst to her, the Lady did have absolute confidence that the nobles would attend the ball. But it wasn’t because of some “secret leader of the Human Resistance Army.” It was because of her beloved daughter, Adele. She had visited the Golden territory before the start of the last semester to discuss potential suitors with her sister.

Miss Golden was also of marriageable age, and the Golden patriarch, who wasn’t good at handling such matters, was at his wit’s end. Normally, this would be the responsibility of the Lady’s brother-in-law, but as a man, he found it difficult to think from a woman’s perspective. So, he had entrusted the task to the Blake Lady.

The Lady had emphasized that she would prioritize her own daughter, and her niece would only be considered if no suitable match was found for Adele. The Golden patriarch had agreed. After all, the Blake Lady’s second choice was still better than his own husband’s choice. The news of the two families searching for husbands for their daughters had spread like wildfire in noble circles. No noble could resist such a tempting opportunity.

Even those who weren’t members of the Thirteen Clans wanted to see if they had a chance. After all, there weren’t many eligible bachelors among the Thirteen Clans, especially those who were also heirs to their families. The pool of potential candidates was very small. Perhaps… they really had a chance.

Even if they couldn’t become official fiancés, developing other relationships wouldn’t be bad either.

Being a lover wasn’t unacceptable.

Vampires had long lifespans, and it was rare for them to be bound to one person for their entire lives. Even the seemingly devoted Blake couple had had lovers during the time before Adele and the second miss were born.

But lovers were just lovers. The most important thing was the continuation of the family line. They would never have illegitimate children. It was already difficult for vampires to conceive, and doing so would create many problems. So, they were very careful about contraception. After Adele was born, they had become a loving couple again, jointly managing their small family.

After Adele woke up and was dressed by her mother’s maids, she went to her mother’s room. In the drawing-room, one of her mother’s maids had prepared black tea for her. Adele glanced around and asked, “Mother, where’s my sister?”

“She shouldn’t be present for this conversation.”

The Lady took a sip of tea and, after some small talk, asked about Adele’s life at the farm. Adele, adopting a tone as if reporting to a teacher, detailed her progress and praised the three-shift work system, emphasizing how rest led to better productivity.

The Lady was intrigued by the “three-shift work system” but her current focus was on finding a suitable husband for Adele. She smiled, her voice filled with nostalgia, “I can’t believe you’ve grown up so much. You’re nineteen this year. It feels like just yesterday that you were born.”

It did feel like yesterday. The Lady was several hundred years old. Twenty years were but a blink of an eye in her long life. And with vampires’ exceptional memory, she must have remembered every detail of the past nineteen years vividly. But Adele was still a young girl, and her mother’s nostalgic tone brought back memories of her childhood.

She remembered her mother holding her and singing lullabies, and she also remembered growing up with Jasmine. Yes, she was nineteen now. She had spent thirteen years with Jasmine.

Adele’s voice also carried a hint of nostalgia, “Yes, the time I spent nestled in your lap feels like yesterday.”

The Lady chatted with Adele for a while longer about her childhood. Then, deeming the time right, she changed the subject, “Adele, you’re all grown up now. I think it’s time for us to find you a husband. After you graduate, you can marry him and spend your life together.”

Adele was stunned. She understood every word her mother said, but when strung together, they made no sense to her. A confused expression appeared on her face, “Mother, what are you talking about?”

Worried that Adele hadn’t understood, the Lady, with a smile on her face, repeated herself, “I’m planning to hold a ball next week to find suitable husbands for you and Miss Golden.”

This time, Adele understood. And she was speechless.