#Episode 35
Then, recalling her interview, she sighed.
“I’m really glad it was you. I knew I wouldn’t make it anyway. Sir Albert’s reaction wasn’t great. But thanks to the interview, Vasha, I got to borrow a beautiful necklace from you, so it wasn’t all bad.”
Though it would be a lie to say she wasn’t hopeful, Lenny shook her head, saying she had been at ease. Then she added a comment that was hard to tell if it was a joke or encouragement.
“If Sir Albert suggests a contract marriage, make sure to add a condition that you won’t fall in love. Got it?”
“Is that also in the play?”
“This one is based on a novel.”
Lenny winked with one eye. As if she had made a pact, Vasha and Lenny looked at each other and burst into laughter simultaneously.
When their laughter finally subsided, Lenny grabbed the doorknob to her room.
“We’ve been talking in the hallway for too long at this hour. Sonya’s going to scold us later. You should go rest more.”
“Lenny!”
Vasha called out to Lenny, who was about to enter her room.
“Yes?”
Lenny turned around, looking puzzled, as Vasha took an apple from the paper bag Lenny had given her and tossed it to her.
After juggling the apple a few times like a circus performer, Lenny finally caught it safely.
Vasha grinned and said,
“It’s a celebration gift.”
Lenny alternated between looking at the apple in her hand and Vasha’s smiling face peeking out from under her hood, then let out a hearty laugh.
“Celebrating with the apple I gave you? That’s so stingy!”
“Haha, get some rest!”
Vasha waved and quickly went into her room. Through the closed door, the sound of Lenny’s laughter and the door across the hall closing could be heard.
Inside the room, Todd was sharpening his dagger when Vasha tossed an apple from the bag to him.
“Eat.”
“Such a surprising reward.”
Todd, with his exceptional physical abilities, had heard the entire conversation in the hallway and casually caught the apple. He then polished it with his sleeve until it was shiny and took a big bite.
Vasha also sat across from Todd, took out an apple, and bit into it. As Vasha’s canines sank into the fruit, the juice moistened her lips.
Though Vasha, being a vampire, couldn’t taste the apple, she could enjoy its fragrance. The sweet apple scent tickled Vasha’s nose.
She was glad she had talked to Lenny.
Feeling refreshed, Vasha hummed a tune and swung her legs.
Chapter 4: Portrait of a Vampire
The next day, as soon as the sun rose, the carriage sent by Albert arrived in front of the inn.
“They must be in quite a hurry,”
Vasha clicked her tongue.
To avoid the morning sun, Vasha wrapped herself up in several layers of hoods before finally stepping out of the inn. Fortunately, she only needed to be outside while getting in and out of the carriage.
The coachman looked suspiciously at Vasha, who was dressed strangely.
“Are you Miss Vasha?”
“Yes, sir Albert sent you, right?”
“If you’re lying, there will be trouble.”
The coachman, unable to believe that the person in front of him was the beautiful companion for the Count, showed his unease and threatened Vasha.
Vasha shrugged and answered calmly,
“It will be clear when I meet sir Albert, so why would I lie?”
Then she opened the carriage door and jumped in, leaving the coachman with no other choice.
Thus, Vasha and Todd headed to Count Renfield’s villa.
Count Renfield’s villa was located in the most beautiful suburb, away from the center of Noctiluca.
The villa, while not grand, had a rustic and neat charm that blended with the lush greenery.
Upon hearing of Vasha’s arrival, Albert came to the villa’s lobby to greet her.
The villa’s employees, curious about the beauty Albert had selected after several interviews, gathered in the lobby.
The carriage arrived. The curtains covering the carriage window concealed the inside completely.
As Albert stepped forward to escort, the door opened and a small figure, Todd, jumped out first.
Todd looked up at Albert with a disapproving eyebrow and then turned to Vasha inside, extending his hand as if to escort her. Given his small size, his hand was raised almost upwards rather than forward.
Seeing Todd’s golden eyes urging her to take his hand, Vasha couldn’t help but smile.
While it didn’t matter who got out first, Todd insisted on maintaining etiquette to avoid being disrespected, so Vasha decided to play along.
In the dim carriage, a hand in brown leather gloves and the tip of black leather shoes appeared as the curtain lifted.
People were surprised by the unfeminine attire, expecting lace gloves and shoes.
However, they focused on how beautiful she was supposed to be, swallowing their saliva in anticipation.
Their expectations were dashed.
The visitor, who emerged completely from the carriage, was wrapped from head to toe in fabric, with not even a glimpse of her face visible.
Albert, pushed aside by Todd, failed to escort Vasha, and both he and the waiting staff had puzzled expressions.
Albert, unable to hide his displeasure, asked,
“Vasha…?”
“The sunlight is too harsh. My skin is quite sensitive.”
Albert felt relieved after hearing Vasha’s familiar voice. At least it wasn’t a different person.
Albert quickly composed himself, flashed his usual sweet smile, and stood to Vasha’s right.
He naturally took Vasha’s right hand and escorted her while speaking.
“Let’s go inside the mansion quickly. I’ll show you the room where you’ll be staying for a while.”
Vasha’s left hand, which was resting on Todd’s hand, slipped away naturally as Albert escorted her.
Todd’s eyebrows raised in dissatisfaction, but by then, Vasha and Albert had already moved away.
“Tsk…!”
Todd clicked his tongue in irritation and followed them. For now, that was his only option.
***
While personally guiding Vasha to her room, Albert boasted about the mansion as if it were his own.
“There is also a lake on the property where you can row a boat. Would you like to go there together later?”
“A lake?”
“It’s probably just a pond that’s calling a lake.”
Vasha, surprised, reacted with excitement, while Todd muttered quietly, sounding unimpressed. Albert didn’t hear it, but Vasha, with her keen hearing and standing next to Todd, understood him immediately.
Vasha discreetly poked Todd’s side with her finger, signaling him to stop.
‘Enough!’
‘He’s annoying me.’
Vasha and Todd exchanged glances.
Vasha, too, wanted to get to the room quickly, but she found Albert’s leisurely stroll through the corridor frustrating. However, it wouldn’t do any good to have a fallout with Albert on the first day, so she needed to be careful.
Vasha raised an eyebrow, and Todd scowled in annoyance. Fortunately, he didn’t make any more snide remarks.
Unaware of the silent communication and thoughts between Vasha and Todd, Albert showed a hint of disappointment when they reached the guest room.
“I’ve placed the clothes you’ll wear when you meet my great-uncle in the room. I was thinking of taking you to see him once you’re ready. Is that okay?”
Vasha was taken aback. She didn’t know what clothes Albert had prepared, but it seemed important enough to prepare them in advance.
Unable to move without a hood in broad daylight, Vasha expressed her discomfort and declined Albert’s suggestion.
“I’m quite tired. The sun is too harsh today. Can I rest for a while and meet him after dinner?”
Albert’s face hardened.
