Moonlight shone over the open grounds of Weed Manor. Everyone stared blankly at the two children lying on the ground, and for a moment, the place fell completely silent.
Tales lay sprawled on the ground, panting heavily. His bare upper body was covered only by bandages over his wounds, and all he could feel was cold and pain.
The silver-haired little girl in his arms, meanwhile, expressionless, pressed down on his shoulder and propped herself up. When she saw the bandages on his chest—the burn wound beneath them, roughly the size of a silver coin—she sniffed at the scent of blood and revealed an expression of anticipation and intoxication.
The look frightened Tales into hurriedly sitting up. Before this dangerous Blood Race girl—whom Tales had long since imagined as a boss monster capable of turning into a blood-drained mummy at any moment—could bare her fangs, he pushed her away from him.
Yordel and Chris instantly appeared before the two children.
"I'm fine, Yordel. Don't worry." Tales saw the wound on the secret guard's chest and offered him a weary smile. The latter removed the cloak he wore over his close-fitting clothes and draped it over Tales.
Tales nodded. "There was an urgent matter that had to be dealt with first."
He turned toward another direction. There was a large pit there, and a man with no legs lay within it, barely clinging to life.
Rolf the Wind Ghost, Midira Rolf, the struggling man who had broken free of his shackles.
A survivor who refused to die and thereby escape his suffering.
"Mr. Gilbert, please make absolutely sure that man survives." Tales' eyes dimmed, but he spoke firmly to Gilbert in the distance. "If not for him, I probably wouldn't have held out until you arrived."
Besides, Tales said inwardly, he's the first person I've truly saved in this damned world.
Gilbert nodded and directed the Terminus Swordsmen beside him to treat Rolf.
"Your Highness!" Chris's usually lifeless face was now filled with excitement. He knelt on one knee before the silver-haired little girl. A blanket had already appeared in his hands, and he tremblingly draped it over her.
Tales' shirt was too small and badly torn in several places. It barely covered the little girl's knees, leaving both of her snow-white lower legs exposed. The thought made Chris glare viciously at Tales.
Although Her Highness, with her noble status, naturally cared nothing for the gazes of mere ants, Chris had served as the Corleone Family's loyal steward for over six hundred years. Of course he had to consider everything for his mistress.
"Your Highness, you've finally awakened!"
The adorable red-eyed little girl nodded expressionlessly. As usual, she accepted Chris's offered hand and said, in the distinctive tone of a superior, each word carefully enunciated, "Chris, you have done well."
The little girl puffed out her baby-fat cheeks and, in her childish and adorable voice, spoke indistinctly, babbling,
"Loyalty will be rewarded."
It took Tales two seconds to understand what she meant.
Loyalty will be rewarded.
Then he burst out laughing.
Such a solemn statement, spoken by a little girl with a lisp because she was missing teeth, sounded utterly ridiculous.
Chris, who had been nodding gratefully beside him, glared at him furiously.
"Are you... Your Highness?" Rolana and Istrone flashed before the little girl, their expressions full of uncertainty. The former looked at her short, childlike body and asked cautiously, "How did your appearance... become like this?"
The little girl raised her crimson eyes and looked at Tales with a complicated expression before saying nonchalantly,
"As long as I get enough healing, I'll become my original self again."
After saying this, the little girl watched Tales struggle to suppress his laughter, apparently unaware of her pronunciation problem.
Then, with an icy expression and a hint of puzzlement, she asked again,
"What's so funny?"
Tales could no longer hold it in and burst into loud laughter.
This time, all three members of the Blood Race looked at him with displeasure. Istrone's gaze held an additional layer of wariness and awe.
"No, haha—cough, cough." Tales hurriedly covered it up with an unconvincing cough. "It's not funny—haha—cough, cough—sorry."
Gilbert, having finished tending to the Terminus Swordsman, walked over with Jinnie. He leaned on his cane, respectfully removed his hat, and bowed. "Esteemed Mr. Tales, and this adorable Blood Race lady, perhaps you would not mind explaining the current situation to us?"
Tales suppressed his laughter and gave Gilbert a grateful look.
"Mr. Gilbert, thank you for your rescue and sacrifice."
But he suddenly felt that the alluring woman in her forties behind Gilbert was looking at him with a complicated expression. The meaning in her eyes was deep and difficult to read.
So this is that boy.
The son of... that person.
Jinnie's gaze immediately darkened.
Tales did not think too much of it. He turned his head and continued, "Let's put introductions aside for now. Enough blood has been shed tonight. For that reason, this lady and I..." He glanced at the little girl, who was clearly childish and adorable but insisted on keeping a stern expression, and paused.
"Miss Serena Corleone—er, ma'am!" Seeing the red-eyed little girl's displeased expression, he hurriedly corrected himself.
"After friendly and pleasant negotiations..."
The little girl, Serena, suddenly felt an itch in her neck and secretly pursed her lips.
"We decided to put our grudges aside, end our hostility, and establish a covenant. I will regularly provide my blood to Her Highness Serena, while Her Highness Serena and her subordinates will serve me until..."
Tales had not finished speaking when he felt Yordel's grip on his hand tighten sharply. Then two people interrupted him anxiously at the same time.
"Why should we serve you? We can exchange for other benefits. At worst, we can simply leave..." That was the red-haired and displeased-looking member of the Blood Race, Rolana.
"Mr. Tales! Your blood? That's too dangerous. How could you..." That was Gilbert, who was fiercely protective of his lord.
But Tales merely raised his right hand and clenched it into a fist.
It was a gesture he had often used in discussion classes with university students in his previous life to calm increasingly heated and unfocused debates.
Both of them fell silent at once.
The boy took a deep breath.
Tales released Yordel's support and, ignoring Gilbert's objections, slowly walked toward the members of the Blood Race. He said softly, "You will serve me in exchange for my protection."
"And I will provide protection in the Starfall Kingdom for you—a group of political refugees with no home, who can only wave the Corleone banner and freeload under the Iris Flower's emblem. My protection will be better than that of this manor's master."
Chris, Istrone, and Rolana's expressions all changed. They looked toward Serena.
But the silver-haired, red-eyed little girl merely snorted coldly. "I didn't tell him anything. He figured it out himself."
Figured it out?
Their conflict with the Blood Bottle Gang, their lack of unity with the manor's master, Istrone's words—"given our current situation"—and the coffin on the third floor that looked like a swimming pool but was actually a large convalescent ward.
Wasn't it obvious once all these factors and signs were put together?
He knew the members of the Blood Race opposite him were extremely wary of him, but it did not matter. At least the matter at hand had been resolved.
Tales turned around and looked sincerely at Gilbert and Yordel.
"Gilbert, Yordel, please believe me. I'll provide blood to aid Her Highness Serena's healing without harming my health—cough, cough—recovery."
"I exchanged this promise for my safety just now, and for Her Highness Serena's friendship."
Gilbert stared at Tales for a long while.
But Jinnie stepped forward from behind him with a complicated expression and spoke softly. "Gilbert, this is the promise he made—and the promise his family made."
Just like he did back then.
She silently added this in her heart.
Gilbert let out a deep sigh and nodded at Tales. "Of course we believe you—but I'll report this to... him."
Tales smiled faintly.
He turned around, guiding the members of the Blood Race into the others' line of sight, and said softly,
"Then allow me to formally introduce..."
But before he could finish, Chris solemnly stepped forward and spoke seriously.
"No need to trouble yourself."
"The person standing before you..." He gently supported the little girl beside him as she unsteadily stepped forward.
"Is Her Highness Serena L. A. van Corleone, the true heir of the Corleone Family, the foremost of the seven great families of the Night Kingdom on the Eastern Continent, and the lawful and rightful ruler of the Hill of Suffering, the Archduchess."
Chris looked haughtily at the humans. Behind him, Rolana and Istrone both wore proud expressions.
Serena lowered her round face in her five- or six-year-old appearance, pinched at an imaginary skirt, and curtsied. She then raised her head expressionlessly.
Tales pursed his lips inwardly. She sure sounds impressive.
Gilbert and Jinnie exchanged a glance, shock visible in each other's eyes.
More than six hundred years ago, after the Heaven-Shattering Earth-Rending Ending War, the Blood Race, like many other ancient races, split into eastern and western branches on opposite sides of the Ending Sea. The thirteen most noble clans went their separate ways toward different continents.
The five clans of the Western Continent formed a family alliance and the Night Council, occupying Feast Territory—or, more precisely, occupying a stretch of land and naming it Feast Territory. The eight great clans of the Eastern Continent established a kingdom-like regime, taking root on the eastern shore of the Ending Sea under the name "Night Kingdom."
Over the past six hundred years, compared with their kin in the Western Continent's Feast Territory, who were scattered like loose sand and had even been forced to sign the Human Nations and Long-Lived Races Convention, the Blood Race of the Night Kingdom had become more united and powerful under the forceful rule of Lanly Corleone, the notorious Nightwing Monarch. They had even participated extensively in continental affairs. During the Second and Third Continental Wars, they sent elite Blood Race warriors to fight as the Holy Blood Legion. In the latter war, the Nightwing Monarch had even personally led an army that advanced all the way to the gates of Dragoncloud City, the capital of the Ekster Kingdom, the "Blade of the West Continent."
But two hundred years ago, the Night Kingdom underwent a political upheaval. Lanly Corleone, the Nightwing Monarch, mysteriously disappeared, and the eight great families suffered devastating losses. The Holier Family even defected as a whole, crossing the sea to join the Night Council in Feast Territory.
From then on, the Night Kingdom was left with only seven ruling clans. It also lost the only expert with hopes of breaking through to the True Realm. Under the attacks of the Radiant Sun Church, it gradually declined.
As one side waned, the other waxed. In the Western Continent's Feast Territory, the Night Council's six great clans devoted themselves to reform, overhauling their corrupt and antiquated systems and extensively conducting diplomacy. They even became one of the signatories of the Fortress Concord and called themselves the "Upper Six Branches of the Blood Race."
Yet this little girl before them claimed to be the mistress of the Hill of Suffering in the Night Kingdom—the nest of the Corleone clan, from which the Nightwing Monarch had originated.
Gilbert raised his head and respectfully spoke.
"Pardon my presumption, but to my knowledge, the current head of the Corleone Family and de facto ruler of the Hill of Suffering should be the Nightveil Queen, as well as the current co-ruler of the Night Kingdom..."
"'The Crier,' Her Majesty Kotrina L. A. van Corleone."
Gilbert deliberately emphasized the titles "Nightveil Queen" and "Her Majesty," highlighting their difference from Serena's "Her Highness."
Tales yawned, causing Chris, who was already displeased, to glare at him again.
Serena's crimson eyes narrowed slightly. She pouted and stepped forward. "My crybaby sister, Kotrina, illegally seized the rights inherited by me from my royal father, His Majesty Nightwing, and usurped the Bloodsea Throne. But one day, I will ascend the throne again."
Her baby-fat cheek tilted slightly. She clenched her tiny hand against her chest, closed her eyes, and recited the Corleone Family's motto:
"Bloodline eternal."
Istrone and Rolana immediately grew solemn. They humbly lowered their chests, clenched their fists over their hearts, and retreated one step together with Chris before bowing their heads and chanting,
"Bloodline eternal."
W-wait— Black lines seemed to appear across Tales' face.
Why not shout, "I will rule the martial world," while you're at it?
"Your help and support will surely be rewarded." Serena opened her eyes and stared fixedly at Tales, unconsciously licking her lips.
Like biting open my neck?
Tales rolled his eyes and avoided the little girl's eager gaze. He answered perfunctorily, "Wow, then I truly couldn't ask for more. It's an honor."
Serena puffed out her little cheeks, seemingly dissatisfied with Tales' attitude.
Seeing Tales' strange attitude, Istrone remembered that he had probably used the same attitude to order him around. For some inexplicable reason, this left him feeling stifled.
Looking at Her Highness's expression, he revealed a cold smile and said to Tales,
"Little one, I'm afraid you don't understand the Night Kingdom across the sea."
"Let me put it this way."
"Even if your enemy were the Supreme King of Starfall, with the support and protection of our Holy Blood Legion, he would never dare make things difficult for you."
As soon as he finished speaking, Rolana, standing beside Istrone, felt that something was off.
The expressions of the people opposite them were strange—especially that oddly expressioned middle-aged nobleman and the black-haired woman who looked thoroughly displeased.
Chris frowned, but he did not have time to stop the blond member of the Blood Race from speaking.
After all, he had fought the other side before and knew that the masked person was an expert at the peak of the Extreme Realm.
Tales' face twitched.
Showing off is an illness. It needs treatment!
"Then it's my turn to introduce myself," Tales said, scratching his head and addressing the little girl. "Well, I'm Tales. I'm about seven years old. As for before..."
At that moment, Jinnie, who looked thoroughly displeased, walked forward rudely.
But just as she was about to speak, Gilbert stopped her.
The gray-haired noble sighed. "I expect our alliance won't be a short one, and Her Highness Serena also needs time to prepare for her restoration. So perhaps we should be frank with one another."
Gilbert Casso, Earl of Caso, raised his head. His gaze sharpened as he briefly stated several facts:
"This is Tales."
"The Starfall Kingdom."
"The next Supreme King."
For a long while.
For a very long while.
Just as Tales felt as though even the air had been petrified, a breeze finally swept past.
"Er, hehe..."
He gave an awkward, foolish laugh and waved at the four petrified members of the Blood Race opposite him.
"Thank you for... um, the support and protection of your Holy Blood Legion."
Behind him, Jinnie burst out laughing.