How much Origin Blood Murphy still had was a question only he himself could answer.
He actually had no idea what else the stuff could do besides break bloodline contracts and strengthen vampires. But there was no doubt it was good stuff! And since it was good stuff, he had to stockpile as much as he could.
Now, faced with Triss's question, Murphy blinked in the darkness and replied,
"Take a guess."
"You annoying little brat. Your Grand Duchess is asking you a serious question."
Triss was momentarily taken aback.
But the relationship between them, which had only just begun to change, seemed to return to its former intimate, relaxed state after Murphy's joke. Triss let out a breath of relief in her heart. Even she didn't know what she had been nervous about.
The Grand Duchess gave a snort and crooked her finger at Murphy.
The two of them returned to the secret treasury, where they would be shielded from prying eyes and eavesdroppers. Only after Murphy had closed the door did Triss sit down and explain,
"I'm not coveting the Origin Blood you have, Murphy. The power it bestows and its ability to break contracts can only take effect once in any vampire's long life. You and I have both drunk it, so its only remaining use to us is to heal us instantly in a critical moment.
"I asked whether you had any Origin Blood because it's related to the research I'm currently conducting
"Research related to your otherworldly heroes."
"Hm?"
Murphy looked at Triss in surprise.
The Grand Duchess took off her crown and toyed with it in her hands. Then she stretched, returning to her languid "useless invalid" state, and explained in a drawn-out tone,
"Actually, I started researching them as soon as I met