Volume 5, Chapter 2 – A Carriage Full of Gunpowder

There were two reasons why I chose to remain a member of the Blood Clan and continue using a body based on Edith’s. The first was to make it easier to move about in their society. Vampires have excellent night vision, and most of the Blood Clan are exclusionary towards other races. Without a Blood Clan identity, my daily movements would attract unwanted attention.

The second reason was the champagne-flavored blood. Different vampires perceive the taste of the same blood differently. It would be unacceptable if, after changing bodies, all my previous efforts in tasting blood went to waste. Therefore, replicating Edith’s body was the best choice.

As for the drawback of my wings being too conspicuous in the human world, they would disappear on their own whenever I used [Second Form Awakening]. In other words, with my new body, I actually had three different states.

Edith’s words brought a smile to Camilla’s face—a smile that Yisi found sent a chill down her spine.

“Speaking of which, Edith, you haven’t heard the screams of a slave in half a month. You must be holding back quite a bit, right? If you really can’t stand it anymore, you should hurry back to the Pescia Territory. I’m sure Father would be delighted to have you home.”

“Hoh—” sensing the hidden barbs in her words, Edith accepted the challenge with interest. She crossed one leg and waved her hand dismissively.

“That sort of hobby no longer interests me. Besides, I am here to introduce my future wife to the nobles of the royal capital. Unlike some people, who shamelessly tag along without any reason at all. Since you’re willing to be the second young lady of the Pescia family, you should stay obediently at home and find a low-ranking noble to marry off to soon. It would even lessen the burden on the family.”

“Hey, isn’t our official business to discuss annihilating the rebels with the Queen?!” The air began to reek of gunpowder, and Yisi quickly tried to stop them. “And what do you mean, ‘wife’?!”

Edith opened her previously closed left eye.

“Isn’t it obvious? You should have some self-awareness by now. You accepted my marriage proposal back then, are you going back on your word now? I’ve already told Father about this, and he did not object to the marriage.”

“Huh? Didn’t I refuse you?”

A series of question marks popped up over Yisi’s head. Edith had indeed announced in public that she would take Yisi as her wife, but Yisi had clearly rejected it and had even explained the situation to Count Pescia.

Edith said unhurriedly, “I’m referring to what was said in the soul space.”

She was talking about the time when she had said, “I offer you the heart of Loiswell.”

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But that could hardly be considered a marriage proposal.

An idea popped into her head, and Yisi crossed her arms.

“That wasn’t a proposal at all. And with that kind of phrasing, it sounds more like Pepe is the one who would be the wife, not me. It’s more like you’re the one marrying into the family. When it comes down to it, maybe Pepe added some extra details in her own head, which is why she thinks it was a proposal. Can you repeat the exact same words again, Pepe?”

Edith usually appeared composed and in control, but she could become surprisingly shy about certain things that could only be felt and not said. Yisi had recently grasped this weakness of hers.

“Re-repeat it?” Edith’s expression stiffened. “What nonsense are you talking about? Do you want me to lose face in public?”

“Ahh, so much time has passed, and it was such an urgent situation back then, I can’t remember it clearly. Could it be that my memory differs from Pepe’s? If you don’t say it properly, I won’t understand at all, you know?”

A cunning smile appeared on Camilla’s face as she chimed in.

“Exactly. If you don’t say it clearly, how can we verify that what you’re saying is the same as what Onee-sama remembers?”

“Miss Camilla…”

As if trying to mediate, Mary timidly tugged on Camilla’s sleeve, but Camilla simply pulled her onto her lap with a brilliant smile, causing Mary to freeze up completely.

Sensing the danger as well, Tiffany also made a move—she scooted away from Edith to avoid getting caught in the crossfire like Mary.

Forced into a corner, Edith’s expression flickered uncertainly for a few seconds before she let out a light breath, biting her lip, refusing to admit defeat.

“Hmph. If that’s how it’s going to be, then I don’t need to be coy. My exact words back then were—’Right now, I have nothing I can give you, so—'”

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You’ve got to be kidding me.

She’s actually going to say it.

If Edith said the original words out loud, there was no way Yisi could pretend not to understand or refuse her.

What was supposed to be a checkmating move against her opponent had now turned into a situation where Yisi had gotten caught in her own trap.

She had to find a way to stop Edith from using her ultimate move. At the very least, she couldn’t just hand her future over to Edith for free. Being someone’s wife… she wanted to be spared from that for now.

Although a crimson blush appeared on Edith’s cheeks and her gaze was lowered slightly, looking thoroughly ashamed, she was still trying her best to overcome it.

“I offer… my… the heart… of… of Loiswell…”

This is bad. I can’t just change the subject; that would be too abrupt.

Yisi frantically worked her brain, trying to find a viable solution.

I’ve got it.

I’ll blow up the carriage. ¹ …uh

A sudden change in the environment would naturally bring the conversation to an end.

Acting as soon as the thought came, Yisi placed her hand on the wooden panel of the carriage behind her. Halfway there, she suddenly touched something warm. After giving it a little squeeze, Yisi felt Camilla, who was sitting beside her, jolt slightly.

Hmm…

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It’s Camilla’s hand.

Camilla had thought of the same thing.

Although their motives were different, their coordination was exceptionally in sync.

I’m sorry, Edith, but I have to blow up the carriage.

My sincerest apologies.

However—

“Master, should we take the noble’s passage or the commoner’s passage? The commoner’s passage will have a bit of a wait.”

Refina, sitting in the driver’s seat, poked her head in. This trip was not for leisure but for official business. So, even if just for appearances, Edith, as the eldest daughter of a Count and the next heir to the Pescia Territory, had to have a maidservant in attendance. Refina had taken on this role.

Having almost been witnessed saying such embarrassing words by Refina, Edith’s entire body went rigid. She then forcibly made the blush on her face fade, puffing out her chest as if nothing had happened—though Yisi caught a glimpse of relief in her eyes.

For Edith, she probably didn’t want to say those shy words in public either.

An imposing air of dignity immediately enveloped Edith.

“Take the commoner’s passage. The guards at the noble’s passage will check for family crests. We cannot reveal our identity as representatives of the Pescia Territory before we meet the Queen.”

“Yes, I understand. However…”

Refina averted her gaze slightly, looking somewhat troubled.

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Edith pressed, “What is it?”

“Due to the rebel army, the inspections in the royal capital are very strict. Everyone in the carriage must get out. Master…”

She was probably worried that Edith wouldn’t be willing to step out of the carriage to be inspected by commoners. And indeed, Edith did frown with impatience.

As thanks for Refina saving her from a checkmating move, Yisi spoke up before Edith could.

“Oh, perfect! I wanted to see the capital up close anyway. Camilla, let’s get down first.”

“Yes, Onee-sama.”

“M-Miss Camilla, can you let me down now…”

Only now did Yisi notice that Mary was still on Camilla’s lap. For Mary, being treated with such enthusiasm by Camilla was more of a torment—though Camilla wasn’t holding her out of enthusiasm at all.

“I’ll go too.”

Tiffany stood up to follow.

Left alone, Edith could only purse her lips.

“Tch.”

Then, she stepped out of the carriage.