IWTRAE Chapter 64

 

 

#Episode 64

 

 

Watching Todd with concern, there’s no meaning in just keeping an eye on him. Todd seems fully engrossed in his training—whether it’s swordsmanship or assassination skills, who knows? But clearly, it’s all for revenge, isn’t it?

 

In the end, revenge.

 

If his grudge remains unresolved, Todd will relentlessly push forward like an unstoppable locomotive.

 

Of course, Vasha intended to help Todd with his revenge to some extent.

 

But that was something for later. A future that would only unfold after Vasha completed Rasa’s mission and became stronger.

 

However, Todd was growing stronger at an unexpectedly fast rate.

 

To the point where it became hard for Vasha to keep up.

 

If she wanted to prevent that impatient Todd from waking the Vampire Lord, Vasha also needed to grow stronger alongside him.

 

But as a vampire, becoming stronger wasn’t something Vasha could achieve through simple training.

 

‘It’s not like I can just devour anyone to get stronger!’

 

She had to find a way to slow down Todd’s rapid progress.

 

‘I feel like I’m holding back someone who’s trying their best… but if all that effort results in suicide, then I have to keep holding him back, right?’

 

However, there was a challenge to that.

 

Despite his young age, Todd had a personality like bamboo—he might bend, but he wouldn’t break. If Vasha tried to stop him directly, Todd would surely rebel.

 

But even bamboo can be bent if you know the right way… whether it’s soaked in water or scorched by fire…

 

Eventually, Todd’s prickly hedgehog-like temperament would soften a bit, and his habit of charging forward without looking back would gradually improve.

 

‘Let’s at least match the pace I saw in my dream… Slower would be even better.’

 

Persuading Todd couldn’t be rushed. Vasha decided to take her time, determined to be patient. Raising her wine glass, she drained the last drop, then stood up.

 

***

 

Todd finished his training and wiped the sweat from his brow with a towel Oliver handed him. The cool night breeze brushing through his hair felt refreshing.

 

Handing the towel back to Oliver, Todd informed him,

 

“Tomorrow, same time.”

 

Oliver nodded silently. With his purpose at the training ground fulfilled, Todd turned away without hesitation.

 

As Todd turned to leave, Oliver’s voice stopped him with a question.

 

“Aren’t you taking a rose with you today?”

 

“What?!”

 

Todd jumped, startled.

 

He quickly scanned the second-floor study, where Vasha had been watching his training from the window not long ago. But now, Vasha’s presence was nowhere to be felt.

 

Relieved, Todd let out a sigh and glared at Oliver.

 

Oliver shrugged as if it was the most natural thing.

 

“I asked after confirming Lady Vasha wasn’t around. Lady Vasha doesn’t like to see you going hungry; she was even ready to make a vow for it. I couldn’t possibly let that intention go to waste, could I?”

 

“Damn… You gave me a fright. Next time, give me a heads-up before pulling something like this!”

 

Todd grumbled in annoyance.

 

Oliver, however, remained unphased. Not only was he naturally stoic, but he also had learned to understand Todd quite well.

 

The new successor, Todd, was indeed a stubborn and peculiar brat, but to be fair, he was far better than trash like Albert.

 

In fact, there was no comparison.

 

Todd was merely strict with others, and even stricter with himself. With lofty ideals and the willingness to push himself relentlessly, he had no time for leniency toward those around him.

 

Unlike Albert, who held no one dear but himself, Todd did, in his own way, have people he cared about.

 

Oliver recalled seeing Todd in the garden a few days ago, instructing the gardener to bring him the freshest roses.

 

Todd had high standards—every rose petal had to be flawless, without any sign of insect damage, and still glistening with morning dew.

 

These specific demands left the gardener utterly baffled.

 

“So, aren’t you taking a rose with you today? Since the garden is nearby, you might as well stop by.”

 

“I already took one earlier.”

 

Todd muttered irritably.

 

Oliver paused, slightly surprised. He had intended to poke at the young tyrant who acted as if he knew everything in the world, only to be caught off guard by Todd’s unexpected response.

 

After a brief silence, Oliver carefully asked,

 

“Why don’t you show how much you care for Lady Vasha if you’re that concerned?”

 

“Care? That’s nonsense.”

 

Todd scoffed.

 

“Maybe it’s because I’ve picked a few roses, but it’s only because I haven’t gone hunting yet. It’s not that I care about her or anything.”

 

“So, you’re saying that’s not caring?”

 

“I’m just making sure my contract partner has food to survive. It’s the same with Vasha looking out for me. This is merely a duty, nothing more.”

 

Todd’s expression showed he truly believed he was simply doing what was necessary, without a trace of personal feeling.

 

Whether he was lying out of embarrassment or genuinely unaware of his own feelings, Oliver stared at Todd in silence.

 

Todd, oblivious to Oliver’s thoughts, continued muttering.

 

“It’s my role, like it or not, to look out for her.”

 

“…If Lady Vasha knew you cared for her, she’d be happy.”

 

“Hmph! She’s just get full of herself.”

 

Todd scoffed, refuting Oliver’s suggestion.

 

If Vasha found out that Todd took care of such small details, she would surely become overly pleased with herself.

 

“But Lady Vasha seems more like someone who’d be grateful rather than cocky…”

 

“That’s even worse!”

 

Todd shuddered. Just the thought of it made his fingers and toes tingle as if ants were crawling on them, and his heart pounded uncontrollably.

 

“…Are you perhaps embarrassed?”

 

“Embarrassed? Sure. If she found out and was happy about it, as you say, wouldn’t that make it look like I, Van Drake, was sucking up to a vampire to make her happy? How humiliating would that be?”

 

Todd shook his head in disgust.

 

In the past, he might have tolerated sucking up to a vampire for the sake of revenge.

 

<Use whatever means necessary to kill your enemy. Even if that means using your most detested foe as a tool.>

 

This was one of Van Drake’s principles.

 

At that time, he might have flaunted his actions, showing he was doing all this so that the vampire would assist him in his revenge.

 

But now, things had changed.

 

How could he ask for revenge help from that coward who panicked at the sight of a little blood on his hands? Even if Vasha became a high-ranking vampire, she didn’t seem particularly useful for vengeance.

 

Revenge was something Todd would handle on his own.

 

That was his conclusion, and there was no reason to treat Vasha kindly anymore.

 

‘I just need her to become a high-ranking vampire quickly so she doesn’t hold me back.’

 

Whether or not he helped with revenge, Basha still needed to become a high-ranking vampire, and for that, food was essential.

 

“I’m only making sure she eats. I’m absolutely not doing it to make her happy. She also cares about my meals only because she wants to raise me as a familiar. In the end, it’s all the same.”

 

Of course, no matter how many roses Vasha consumed, it wouldn’t actually strengthen her, but Todd stubbornly refused to admit that.

 

‘Eating apples doesn’t make you stronger either, yet she always made sure I had them. It’s the same thing, really.’

 

Oliver’s face grew more doubtful as he quietly listened to Todd’s reasoning.

 

The more he listened, the more he realized that Todd’s argument, though seemingly reasonable on the surface, was actually filled with contradictions.

 

‘This isn’t about shame… maybe he’s just shy…’

 

But seeing Todd’s expression, Oliver couldn’t bring himself to voice his thoughts.

 

Instead, he chose a different approach.

 

“But isn’t it unfair that Lady Vasha probably thinks someone else took care of the roses for her?”

 

“………”

 

Todd’s face twisted, as if the thought hadn’t occurred to him before. The mere idea of Vasha expressing gratitude to Laurus or Melina, thinking they provided the roses, made his insides churn.

 

But Todd quickly shook his head as if cutting off the discomfort. And he made sure to emphasize one final point.

 

“Forget it. Just keep it a secret from her, no matter what. Got it?”