After the torrential rain, the night seemed washed clean. A full moon hung high overhead, its clear light falling like a veil of gauze.
In the castle hall, Xie De leaned by the window and lit a cigarette. A tiny ember flickered in the dimness. He had changed his clothes, but his hair was only half dry.
"Ahem, my lord, perhaps you would care for a glass of red wine?" The butler brought a bottle of fine red wine and a stemmed glass up from the cellar and gently set them on the long table in the hall.
Xie De glanced over and exhaled a mouthful of smoke, his voice low and husky. "I don't need you to wait on me here. Go get some rest."
The butler looked at him with concern. "My lord, please do not worry too much about affairs in your territory. Things have not deteriorated that far yet."
"Mm." The Viscount clearly hadn't taken his words to heart. He seemed utterly distracted.
The butler smiled helplessly. Catching sight of the moon high outside the window, he said, "According to legend, demons appear on nights when the moon is full. If you do not wish to be mistaken for one, my lord, you should retire early."
The butler bowed and withdrew with gentlemanly grace.
"Heh."
Demons?
Xie De scoffed. Holding the cigarette between his teeth, he sneaked out his phone. His miniature earpiece had stopped working entirely. He didn't know whether the magnetic field was to blame, but these electronic devices were giving him no end of trouble.
"455, come in."
455 came online almost immediately. "(҂‾ ▵‾), damn it! Um... Host, that demon's projection is pretty terrifying. It actually forced me offline. Oh, demons are all afraid of holy water. When can we make a