Dragon Nest

Inside the governor's residence.

A trace of weariness showed on Andreas's pale face. He closed his eyes and skillfully sharpened the blunt quills on the desk. Taking the chance to rest for a moment, he opened his eyes again and resumed writing furiously.

Ever since they had moved into Alexandria, the administrative staff under Lothar had seen their paperwork increase at a geometric rate. As Kools's deputy, Andreas naturally had to shoulder a considerable portion of it.

One vassal had barely accepted orders to lead his troops out and reclaim the fief granted by the newly crowned King of the Eastern Franks, Lord of Egypt, and Grand Marshal of the Crusaders, before coming with a writ personally approved by Your Majesty to demand supplies.

Then another vassal was preparing to depart, intending to mortgage half his spoils in exchange for provisions and equipment.

If all public security matters had not been handed over to the Chief Winged Hussar, Lord Ulm, who had just been elevated to baron, then even as a vampire capable of processing documents without rest, Andreas would likely have worked himself to death in this chair.

"Ah, if I'd known, I would have listened to Lord Kools and managed Shadow of Darkness with Lady Julia."

"Lord Andreas!"

A knock sounded at the door.

"Come in."

"Ah, were you resting?"

The visitor was a scribe recently assigned to work under him. He had once been a monk traveling with the army, and had learned elegant Latin script and excellent arithmetic in the monastery—enough to serve as Andreas's deputy.

"No. I merely forgot to light the lamps."

Andreas casually covered for himself. He had been working so long that he had not noticed night had fallen. With normal human eyesight, one could not see anything at this hour without