#Episode 36
“We can’t make Great Uncle wait until then. He’s never been that enthusiastic about having someone to talk to in the first place…”
Albert looked at Vasha with moist eyes, his eyebrows furrowed in sympathy. It was as if he was using his good looks to persuade Vasha, just as Lenny had confidently claimed that he was a famously handsome man.
But since the opposite was a vampire known for their allure and appreciation of beauty, it was meaningless. Vasha smiled cheerfully, standing her ground.
“Having a conversation is fine, but what if I say something wrong because I’m too tired? Or… how about I visit later and read him a book before he sleeps?”
Vasha brazenly stepped forward as if everything was going well. She had only learned the written language of this world by looking over Hudel’s shoulder and could barely read signposts. However, Albert didn’t know that, so it didn’t matter.
A look of annoyance briefly flashed across Albert’s face, but since Vasha played a crucial role in his plans, he didn’t want to upset her. Sighing, he reluctantly compromised.
“Then I’ll come and fetch you after dinner. Will you join us at the dining hall?”
“No, I don’t have much of an appetite. Just prepare a meal in the room for the child.”
“Understood. Please rest well, then.”
Once the persistent Albert had left, only Todd and Vasha remained in the room.
The guest room Albert provided was luxurious beyond comparison to the inn they had previously stayed at, but it was also quite demanding. Todd immediately ran to the window and pulled the curtains shut to ensure no light entered the room.
The inn had small windows in areas that didn’t get much sunlight, making it comfortable. However, the room Albert gave them had too much natural light.
Once the room became significantly darker, Vasha finally felt comfortable enough to take off the heavy hood that had been tightly wrapped around her. She tossed the hood aside carelessly and slumped onto a sofa large enough to seat four people, voicing her complaints about Albert’s persistence.
“Why is he acting like this? He’s about to inherit the count’s estate soon. He looks extremely anxious.”
“It’s probably because of gambling. He was likely hanging around the gambling den today too,”
Todd responded while meticulously ensuring the curtains didn’t let any light seep through.
As a Van Drake, Todd felt a bit insulted that he had to worry about such trivial things for a vampire, but since it involved something as dangerous as direct exposure to sunlight, it was better for a human like Todd to handle it.
Sitting on the sofa with her knees drawn up, Vasha rested her chin on her knees and watched Todd with an affectionate and proud gaze.
“Gambling? Why do you think that?”
“From his smell.”
Todd, having finished adjusting the curtains, stood up and pointed to his nose.
“His clothes reek of tobacco and cannabis. The stench is overwhelming.”
The smells of makeup, perfume, and alcohol were common in other entertainment districts, but the thick scent of tobacco clinging to clothes and hair only came from gambling dens.
There were many other observations Todd had made. He had carefully watched Albert during their carriage ride and shared his conclusions.
“Also, he kept fidgeting with his index and thumb, a habit likely from constantly handling playing cards.”
“I just thought it was because he was a bit distracted.”
“Well, he’s still easily swayed by excitement and impulse, so you’re not wrong.”
Todd shrugged his shoulders. Every time she heard him speak, it was hard to believe that such eloquence and reasoning skills came from a mere thirteen-year-old.
“And do you remember the carriage we rode in today? It was the same one that almost hit us on the first day.”
“Really? Now that you mention it…”
Vasha recalled it. The carriage had been made of a vivid reddish-brown mahogany. Todd, who had a better memory for details, confirmed it with certainty.
“The family crest was the same. And at that time and place, the only people heading in that direction were gamblers.”
Todd clicked his tongue in disapproval. Wasting one’s time and energy on something as pointless as gambling—he thought it might be better to die early than to squander one’s life like that.
Todd himself didn’t have the luxury of wasting time on useless chatter.
After checking the time on the clock hanging on the wall, Todd straightened his clothes once more and said,
“I’m going out for a bit.”
“What? Why?”
Vaaha asked in surprise. They had just arrived at the villa, didn’t know anyone, and were unfamiliar with the mansion’s layout. Todd suddenly leaving made Vasha worried.
“Before you meet Count Renfield, we need to check if there are any demon-repelling devices installed in this mansion.”
Todd clicked his tongue. As expected, Vasha, being a lower-ranking vampire, didn’t seem to care much about such issues.
‘Good thing I came along,’ Todd thought.
Vasha widened her eyes and asked,
“You can check for things like that?”
“Well, I am…”
“A Van Drake, right?”
Vasha interrupted, finishing Todd’s sentence for him. Todd let out a small laugh.
“Yeah.”
But Vasha still looked bewildered.
‘What’s with that ‘Yeah’?! You’re only thirteen years old!’
From the way Todd was speaking, it didn’t sound like he was just checking for demon-repelling devices. He probably knew how to deal with them as well.
“You’re only thirteen! How much have you learned?”
“Everything except actual combat. I can’t handle any of the really difficult ancient spells.”
“Even adults can’t usually handle those…”
It was common for a Van Drake to know more about vampires than most people. After all, children often know the names of dinosaurs and can categorize them better than adults.
But for this young boy to be able to skillfully identify and resolve demon-repelling devices was not just early education; it was closer to evidence of child abuse.
Todd had probably never had the chance to play like a normal kid his age. No wonder he always fidgeted whenever he had free time and constantly ran out to gather information.
‘Someday I’ll have to teach him how to have fun.’
Vampires were unmatched in the art of passing time idly. Since they didn’t sleep and couldn’t go out during the day, they naturally became experts at finding ways to entertain themselves alone.
While Vasha was pondering things that Todd would probably find unimportant, Todd, about to leave the room, suddenly remembered something and turned back to Vasha.
“By the way, wait here. Don’t go anywhere.”
Vasha nodded without thinking.
Todd smiled, satisfied, and left the room. In that moment, his small back appeared remarkably large.
When Todd had known how to break the sacred artifact earlier, it was clear: Todd Van Drake was more reliable than anyone else when it came to surviving as a vampire in this world.
Any complaints Vasha had before about choosing a young boy as her familiar were now completely dismissed.
‘My familiar is the best!’
Vasha threw herself onto the sofa, raising her hands toward the ceiling in a gesture of victory.
***
As dinner time approached, Melina, a maid from the Renfield household, pushed a trolley with food toward the guest room.
With her light brown hair pinned up under a mauve cap, Melina grumbled under her breath at the weight of the heavy trolley.
‘They could’ve just eaten in the dining room, but instead, they asked for food to be brought to their room… They really are acting like important guests.’
If one considered the role of a conversation partner, they were more of an employee than a guest. However, since Albert had insisted on treating them like guests, the servants of the villa had no choice but to treat them as such.
‘The kid who came with the guest is already wandering around the mansion like it’s his own home… What kind of person has Master Albert brought in?’
