Norton finally looked away from Elizabeth, who was kneeling on the ground and trembling under his gaze.
But Norton paid no heed to his offering, instead exclaiming, " Abraham!"
"Your Majesty, I am here!" That scoundrel Abraham suddenly appeared, standing cautiously at the doorway, offering his obsequious greetings.
It's time to eat.
Norton's reddish-brown eyes were fixed intently on Abraham, putting immense pressure on him.
This is a common tactic used by Norton: superiors can exert pressure on subordinates by using eye contact or other forms of gaze, gradually causing them to develop a conditioned reflex of obedience.
Even after spending so many years with Norton, Abraham still felt an overwhelming sense of nervousness when Norton's reddish-brown eyes were fixed on him.
"Yes, Your Majesty!" Under such terrifying gazes, Abraham dared not hesitate for a moment and hurriedly went out to prepare.
Silence fell once more in the castle room. Ignored, Elizabeth knelt on the ground, not daring to make the slightest movement, but her face had turned pale and her heart was trembling with fear.
Why is it that even though I've come to serve him willingly, His Majesty the Ancestor still doesn't even glance at me?
Tears welled up in Elizabeth's eyes with fear, her eyes red and swollen, but she still dared not utter a sound.
It was impossible to guess what was going on in the mind of this inhuman, pale monster. All Elizabeth could do was to be careful not to annoy the progenitor.
But would they rather drink someone else's blood than their own? And they haven't even paid any attention to me until now.
Elizabeth grew increasingly terrified and aggrieved. How was she any less worthy than those foods? To the point that even the progenitor wouldn't bother to look at her!
Just as Elizabeth was lost in thought, a light footstep sounded.
Then, a dozen or so beautiful, nervous young women, under Abraham's direction, stepped into the room.
Everyone saw Elizabeth kneeling before the throne, and the sounds and strange looks coming from behind her brought tears to Elizabeth eyes.
"Your Majesty, the food has been brought. Please make your selection." Abraham stood respectfully at the door, hands clasped and back bowed.
A dozen or so pretty girls huddled together like trembling quails, heads bowed, trying to suppress their fear and the urge to cry.
"No need to choose, I want them all!" The pale monster sitting on the throne grinned, his expression one of utter savagery and terror.
Unlike Elizabeth, these girls chosen as Norton's food were all promised that they could become Blood Clan in ten years, so feeding Norton was not only unattractive to them, but a nightmare they would rather avoid.
So, with Norton's words and his ferocious, terrifying expression, several girls began to sob quietly.
Norton, that heartless bastard, paid no heed to their fears.
However, at this moment, the stark contrast in attitudes can actually intensify Elizabeth's sense of loss and panic as First-Generation Blood Clan chosen by Norton.
So, Norton forced a look of kindness onto his wrinkled face and tried to comfort the girls below who were beginning to panic.
"Fear not, for to become Norton food is the greatest honor of your lives! In your entire lives, only at this moment will you have the privilege of being close to me."
Upon hearing this, Abraham's face nearly scrunched up.
I've never seen such a shameless person! They can even boast about themselves with such blatant audacity.
But he forgot that he once called himself the Blood Clan Progenitor, and considered himself noble and holy.
But Abraham quickly echoed Norton's words, adding another round of flattery, "Hurry up and kneel down to thank the First Ancestor for his kindness! The First Ancestor is of inestimable worth; it is the greatest honor of your lives for him to speak these comforting words to you!"
A dozen or so beautiful young women from Mann Town immediately knelt down, expressing their gratitude to Norton for feeding them.
Norton finally began to eat, but he did so with far greater gentleness than he had with Elizabeth.
Even while cutting open the skin of these young girls, they would occasionally whisper words of comfort, saying things like "Don't be afraid," "It will hurt a little," and "Be careful."
Listening to the comforting words that the Progenitor Norton had never spoken while drinking her blood, feeling the girls one after another being fed to him, and sensing the harmonious atmosphere between them, Elizabeth felt so wronged that tears streamed down her face.
But she could only remain kneeling and kowtowing, pleading, not daring to make a sound.
Why? Why wasn't the progenitor so gentle when he drank my blood? Why did he not even glance at me, even though I came to him willingly?
What did I do wrong? Am I no longer even worthy of being food?
Elizabeth was already somewhat innocent and pure, felt utterly helpless. She was wronged and afraid, nervous and lost. She lowered her head, and tears silently welled up in the corners of her eyes, falling to the ground and shattering into pieces.
After a long while, His Majesty Norton finally finished eating.
Ah! The blood of a young girl is fragrant and alluring, like a sip of sweet spring water when one is thirsty and desperate, refreshing and invigorating!
Alright, you may all leave now. Take good care of yourselves and await my next summons!
Norton was thoroughly enjoying himself; the taste of this blood was far superior to that stinking rat—they were on completely different levels.
He drank until his eyes narrowed and a look of pleasure appeared on his face.
A dozen or so girls, clutching the cuts on their arms, hurriedly left the room.
Just as Norton was savoring the exquisite taste of the blood, a soft, gentle female voice sounded from the side.
"Your Majesty... Your Majesty, my blood tastes very good too, you... you can enjoy it to your heart's content..." Elizabeth, still prostrate on the ground, spoke softly again, her voice filled with fear yet also a barely perceptible hint of anticipation.
For some reason, what was once a dreaded disaster for her to have her blood drained by this lord was now beginning to feel a sliver of anticipation, a desire for the lord to respond to her words.
However, Norton remained unmoved by her words. The pleased expression on his face slowly faded, and his narrowed reddish-brown eyes opened, regaining their coldness.
Abraham.
"Your Majesty, I am here!" Abraham, who was standing at the door offering constant flattery, immediately responded.
"I'm tired, it's time to rest." Norton rose from his throne, his tall frame barely glancing at Elizabeth, whose expectation had turned to disappointment, as he strode past her.
"Your Majesty, the bedding has been completely replaced, and you may rest at any time!" Abraham hurriedly followed, and two terrifying and eerie figures left the room where the throne was placed.
Silence returned to the room, leaving only a beautiful girl in a pure white dress, her skin clean and fair, kneeling on the ground, still not raising her head.
After an unknown amount of time, a suppressed sob finally came from beneath the throne.