The Red Blood Sword with Inlaid Gems

The next morning, Liszt, with faint, barely visible dark circles under his eyes, had already packed his luggage.

He enjoyed a breakfast served in his room—bread, fried eggs, shortbread, jam, milk, honey, and coffee.

Once Levis and Lvera had finished packing as well, the three siblings prepared to bid the Count farewell. The Count had risen early and was sitting in his wheelchair, writing something.

"Did you sleep well?" The Count stopped writing, looked up, and regarded the three tall siblings. "I heard you all had a very pleasant time at the ball last night."

Levis replied with a smile, "It was a very comfortable evening, Grandfather. The ball hosted by our cousin was most enjoyable; we met many noble ladies, and there were some beautiful women who truly stirred my heart."

"That is good. While you are young, if your heart is stirred, then take action."

After a brief chat, the three siblings offered their farewells. The Count did not press them to stay, but he said to Liszt, "I did not witness your coming-of-age ceremony. To make up for that regret, I have a gift for you. Meiopal, bring the prepared gift over and present it to Liszt."

Meiopal soon walked in, carrying a long box.

Seeing the box, Liszt understood immediately that his guess was correct. The gift the Count chose was indeed what elders most liked to give to the younger generation—a weapon.

What kind of magic weapon could it be? He could hardly wait.

Meiopal handed the box over. "Liszt, Grandfather presents this Red Blood Sword to you. He hopes you will use it to hack through thorns and brambles, and let it bloom with the dazzling radiance of a knight."

"Red Blood Sword?"

Liszt opened the box. Instantly, a snow-white, bright knightly longsword came into view.

With its slender blade, slender crossguard, and slender hilt, the entire piece looked like a German longsword. At the junction of the crossguard and the hilt, a fiery red gemstone was embedded. Just by looking at it, one could feel the magic emanating from the red gem, circulating endlessly throughout the entire sword.

One could even see faint, blood-like red traces emerging along the blade.

No wonder it was called the Red Blood Sword despite its snow-white appearance.

Most importantly, this was not just a magic weapon, but something even better—a gemstone weapon!

"A ruby?" Lvera was shocked the moment she saw the red gem at the hilt, her eyes filled with intense envy and jealousy.

An ordinary magic weapon was worth about a hundred gold coins.

But a gemstone weapon was worth thousands of gold coins—ten times the value of a magic weapon.

This single Red Blood Sword was likely worth several years of tax revenue from a wealthy town. Her Falcon Town was roughly that size; even if she scrimped and saved for years, she could barely afford a gemstone weapon—but she could never give up her luxurious lifestyle, so in all likelihood, she would never be able to afford one.

Jealousy burned in her heart, and with her straightforward nature, she blurted it out: "Grandfather, you are too biased toward Liszt. For my coming-of-age gift, you only gave me a dress."

"For your coming-of-age ceremony, didn't that boy from Coral Island give you a Little Elf and name you a Baroness? Yet Liszt did not enjoy such a thing. You allow the boy from Coral Island to be biased, but you won't allow me to be?" The Count spoke with an air of self-justification, while also revealing his dissatisfaction with the Count of Coral Island.

Liszt took the advantage and immediately played the part of the grateful grandson: "Thank you for the gift, Grandfather. I will treat the Red Blood Sword well and never let its radiance be tarnished."

A gemstone weapon could be sold for one or two thousand gold coins instantly—how delightful. Of course, he wouldn't sell it; the ruby embedded in the Red Blood Sword clearly possessed fire-attribute properties that could assist his cultivation, which was far more effective than using magical ingredients.

Anything produced by a dragon was bound to be a masterpiece.

Carrying the Red Blood Sword, Liszt prepared to depart under the watchful eyes of Meiopal and a large group of servants.

His two-day visit to Long-Yam Castle had come to an end.

He didn't feel much reluctance; after all, there were a mountain of matters waiting for him in Flower Town. No matter how golden or silver a nest might be, it was never as good as one's own doghouse. Just as he was about to board the carriage, someone called out to him: "Liszt, wait."

He turned back to see Athena.

"Miss Athena, good morning."

"Good morning." Athena was slightly out of breath, having likely run over from the castle. "Are you leaving already?"

"Yes."

Levis, who had stepped out of the carriage, suddenly interjected, "If a beautiful young lady were waiting for me, I would rather not leave."

Liszt glanced back and glared at him. "Brother, please get in the carriage."

Levis shrugged. "Miss Athena, you two talk."

"Thank you, Sir Levis."

With the space left for Liszt and Athena, Athena gripped the hem of her dress. "Can't you stay a few more days?"

"There are many things in the town waiting for me to handle."

"Then will you come to visit White City?" Her eyes were full of anticipation.

Liszt smiled and refused. "I am sorry, I have no reason to visit your home. I do not know your father, and we have no social connection."

Socializing among nobles always required a pretext; one could not simply show up without cause.

"You could come to see me." After Athena finished speaking, she lowered her head. The implication could not have been clearer—a man unmarried and a woman unwed, visiting in private, could only mean one kind of relationship.

Liszt sighed inwardly.

He felt that what he was about to say might hurt this lovely young lady's heart, but he had to say it. "Miss Athena, thank you for your kindness toward me, but I have not considered the possibility of a relationship between us. Please do not dwell on me; you are so beautiful, there must be many people far better than me pursuing you."

Athena's eyes dimmed rapidly, but soon, she put on a smile again. "Thank you for your honesty, Sir Liszt. I wish you a safe journey."

"Thank you, take care." Liszt finished, turned, and entered the carriage.

The coachman cracked his whip, and the horses pulled the carriage, galloping rapidly down the mountain. On the gravel-paved road, there was no dust, only the clattering sound of the wheels rolling over the stones.

"Liszt, you just rejected the affections of a noble lady like that. What a cruel heart." Lvera wore an expression that was hard to define, perhaps expressing doubt that her weak-willed younger brother could actually reject someone.

"If there's no feeling, why force yourself? It only harms yourself and others."

He turned his head and, through the carriage window, saw Athena still standing at the castle gate in the distance, the clothes hugging her petite and exquisite figure swaying gently in the wind.

She had great courage, but he could not bring himself to accept it.

He felt like sighing over this for a good ten minutes.

But Lvera's cold snort shattered the atmosphere: "What need is there for affection in a noble union?"

"Is there no need? Then why don't you just pick someone with good conditions and marry them?"

"Because I don't want to become a vassal. Even if I marry, the man must come to Falcon Town! Or, they must have enough charm to make me abandon Falcon Town and move into their castle. If I truly met such a person, what would be wrong with giving them my heart and soul?" Lvera declared haughtily.

Liszt offered no comment on this.

A moment later, Lvera reached out her hand: "Let me see the Red Blood Sword."

Caressing the exquisitely crafted Red Blood Sword and the ruby pulsating with magic, Lvera made no effort to hide her envious expression: "Why is Grandfather so good to you? A jeweled sword like this—I might not even be able to afford one in my entire life! Liszt, it's a waste for you to use it. Give it to me, and I can give you one hundred Narda!"

"Not a chance."