166 – Scene 166# Appetite
*
a few days later
I received an unexpected telegram from the emperor.
In other words, it was to postpone the game promised every week for a while.
The reason was that he was busy preparing to recapture the North.
That was a pretty good sign.
I thought she was frantic to kill me, but she also chose the future of the empire rather than personal grudge.
Of course, that would be a temporary truce. The emperor’s hatred for the Ruelberta family must be deeper than you think.
In the not-too-distant future, that blade of hatred will undoubtedly come after me. Until then, carelessness is prohibited.
No matter how much you prepare, it’s not enough.
In order to put those words into practice, I have been busy for the past few days.
I talked a lot, especially with Arthur, who is in charge of the Ruelberta family’s business and finances.
We are already investing a lot of military money in Aslan, but as the time to recapture the north is approaching, we will need more military funds in the future.
Although they are the richest Luelberta family in the country, they must spend their money carefully and efficiently when preparing for a major event such as war.
After a few days of hard talking with Arthur, I came up with a rough idea of where to spend the family’s money going forward.
“Then I won’t go away.”
Arthur said as he climbed into the carriage.
“Tristan, don’t worry, I’ve taken care of everything you said.”
“Yes.”
“And since the construction of the place I mentioned earlier has been completed, I will be able to use it and check it out myself even today.”
“I’m glad you’re not late.”
“By the way, you also had a very strange idea. At first, I didn’t quite understand what a place like that was worth… .”
“Just go in. Didn’t you say you had an appointment later?”
“Oh oh… . yes. Time has already been like this. Don’t go first.”
I saw Arthur off.
I was watching the wagon moving away, but Helga, who was next to me, opened her mouth.
“Count. You know today is the last day, right?”
“… Well.”
Is it already time for that?
Time passed quickly because I was working.
“I honestly think I did my best.”
“yes. You’ll find out when you check it out.”
Returning to the mansion, I headed straight to the restaurant. A needlessly fancy and large dining room in the Ruelberta Mansion. There were already passengers there.
“Five… did you come Count… .”
Ryan greeted me with a very nervous face.
She was wearing a neat dress, not the loose clothes like before. So, at first glance, she looked like a lady from an aristocratic family.
It was an achievement in about ten days.
A half-vampire who has learned the taste of blood, Lian is like a ticking time bomb. In the unlikely event that Rian runs out of control, Helga is the only one who can subdue her.
For that reason, I appointed Helga to be in charge of Lian’s education, but it seems that Helga’s ‘education’ was more effective than I thought.
But Helga shook her head disapprovingly.
“It’s not like that. rian. What did I say?”
“oh… . The great leader, eternal light, and at the same time the only hope, the Count, has you come?”
For a moment, my head was pounding.
Involuntarily, I put a finger between my brows.
“… Hello.”
“yes.”
“Can I listen to the education you taught Lian?”
“Sure. First of all, I taught you about the greatness of the most important count.”
“… largeness?”
“Yes. If you learn Count Ryan’s greatness, wouldn’t you automatically realize the joy of serving the Count?”
When I told them to educate me, it seems that they gave me idolization education.
I don’t know if it went well, but what Lian looked at me from earlier was not respect, but fear.
I let out a small sigh.
“… Get rid of all unnecessary formulas.”
“oh… . Then what should I subtract… . What words can I use to describe the great, eternal and at the same time unique Count… .”
“no. Don’t express it.”
“ah… . Ahh! indeed!”
Helga clapped her hands as if she had just realized it.
“I know! You’re saying that only human language doesn’t dare to describe you! I don’t even know that deep meaning… .”
“yes… . It’s fine, so take out all the modifiers.”
“Yes! Did you hear? Lian.”
“Ah yes… !”
Lian nodded her head violently. It was completely different from the way she had lost her temper and used an infantile tone not too long ago.
Perhaps this figure is ‘her’ with the complete self before going crazy with blood.
The reason why she maintains her self like this is because she is of mixed human and vampire blood, so her blood is light, and because of Helga’s education.
However, Helga is not yet in favor of accepting Lian.
As Aslan’s vice-captain, she has dealt with numerous monsters in the border area, so she must have a strong resistance to demons.
So I proposed to Helga.
After 10 days of training, depending on the results, decide whether to accept Lian or not.
“Then Count… . Would you like to try it?”
“yes.”
As I sat down at the table, Lian hesitated as well. Since we had some time before the meal was served, we decided to ask Ryan a few questions.
“Do you remember before you were imprisoned?”
“Yes. I remember being starved, but after that, my memory is hazy… .”
Probably right after drinking my blood, when I woke up to my instincts.
Instinct certainly ruled her then.
The sight of him laughing and slaughtering and eating prisoners was a monster itself.
“You ate a lot of people while you lost your memory. They were all death row inmates with no way to save them. How was it?”
“Ah, that… … .”
Lian hesitated at my question.
“You can be honest.”
“I don’t know… .”
“I don’t know?”
“I can’t do that… . I know it doesn’t work… . I don’t remember very well, but I do remember that I felt joy. Killing and eating people isn’t disgusting… . It felt like I was no longer me.”
“Well.”
Looking at the confused Lian, I thought it was fortunate.
Because I still had a guilty conscience.
“i get it. Can you resist your appetite now?”
“ah… . Yes. I guess I was just patient… .”
“I will prepare the meal for you.”
Steak came out again.
With the bloody steak in front of him, Lian swallowed.
“Hey, can I eat it?”
“yes. Eat as much as you like.”
“thank you… !”
Ryan grabbed a fork and knife and started slicing the steak.
It wasn’t skillful, but it was much more human than the previous hurriedly eating it with my hands.
Poor girl, she didn’t grow up in an environment where she could learn table manners, so education up to this point was possible.
I picked up the knife lying in front of me.
Seeing this, Helga shook her head.
“Count. Do it with my blood.”
“Okay.”
In effect, a test to see if Rian can overcome her vampiric instincts.
I lightly cut the tip of my finger with a knife.
Make sure to read from noble mtl com
Drops of blood were pooling there.
Until that moment, my eyes were staring at Rihanna eating her steak. Because of this, the moment I bleed, I could see her eyes quiver.
But it was only a fleeting moment.
Ryan calmly chewed the cut steak.
“… Good job.”
“gulp… . Go, thank you.”
Lian, who swallowed what was in his mouth, put on a slightly bright expression.
It overcomes instinct. Helga, who was watching, also nodded in satisfaction. As if this is enough to pass.
But I had no intention of passing it just like this.
“There is still the final gateway left.”
“Yes?”
“Count?”
The two looked at me curiously.
I called her in a ‘arrogant’ manner.
“Rian. Come this way.”
“Ah yes… .”
Rian, who wiped her mouth with a napkin, approached me with a nervous face.
“Once you know the taste of blood, you will have to fight your instincts until you die. And if you make good use of your vampire instincts, it could be of great help to you.”
I held out my still bleeding finger in front of her eyes.
“Drink.”
“… !”
“Count! That’s no way!”
Again, Helga stopped me.
“Don’t worry.”
“It’s too dangerous! The current Lian can’t stand it!”
“Maybe I can bear it.”
“Count… !”
“Then, Lian, I will give you a chance to choose.”
“Me, are you talking about me?”
“yes.”
I said looking down at Lian, who was kneeling in front of me.
“If you can drink my blood and endure it, I will accept you as a member of my family right away.”
Ryan’s eyes widened.
Being able to work under the great noble Ruelberta family.
As a poor shoplifter, she must have understood that it was an enormous privilege.
But it was never easy to get.
“But if you can’t bear to drink my blood, if you turn into a monster, I’ll kill you right here and now.”
“… !!”
“At least I will let you die as a human.”
“That, like that… .”
“Of course, you have the option of not drinking my blood. At least I will make you go back to your normal life.”
Lian hesitates at my suggestion.
Helga, who was looking at him anxiously, opened his mouth.
“Are you really going to feed me, Count? ? If you make a mistake, the Count… .”
“Even if I can’t stand it, it’s okay because you’re by my side, Helga. you will protect me.”
“… Words like that are too cowardly.”
Like Helga, Rihanna seems to have made up her mind.
“I know… . I will drink.”
“yes.”
Ryan carefully opened his mouth.
Sharp fangs came into his eyes.
She gently bit my finger with her lips.
“… Wow!”
The moment Lian’s tongue touched the tip of her finger, she flinched.
Ryan closed his eyes.
I was afraid she would bite my finger, but she just quickly swallowed my blood.
little bit… .
In Ryan’s mouth, his tongue was licking my fingers.
To taste even a drop more.
He was moving his tongue greedily.
Her red eyes trembled violently.
“… … .”
I looked down at Lian without saying anything.
Appetite must be self-regulated.
I’m just waiting until he’s restrained… .
We didn’t avert our eyes from each other.
How many seconds had passed like that?
Finally, Rihanna managed to get her mouth off my fingers.
“hahahaha… . Sigh… .”
Ryan’s breathing was rough.
She said, barely clearing her mind.
“Sigh… . Count’s blood… . very very… . It was irritating blood. Sigh… . It’s too thick… . I wanted to keep tasting it… .”
“Enough of the explanation. Lian.”
“Ah yes… .”
Helga wiped my finger from Lian’s saliva with a handkerchief. However, her expression looked grim, but was it because of her mood?
I said to Ryan, who was out of breath.
“It held up well.”
“Go, thank you.”
“How are you feeling?”
“Something… . My heart beats fast… . It feels like a surge of energy.”
“It’s because you drank blood. I didn’t drink much, so it should subside quickly.”
“Yes… !”
“Remember. You can make any number of pills to suppress your appetite. However, it is important that you yourself endure your appetite. If there is no medicine, you will become a monster again… .”
“I will keep in mind… !”
Ryan seems a little thrilled.
Make sure to read from noble mtl com
Do you feel a sense of accomplishment that you have succeeded in suppressing your desires on your own?
“there. Count… .”
“What.”
“A mage like me… . Thanks for picking up… .”
“no. you are human.”
“Count… .”
I instructed Helga.
“Hello. Tell Wily to send Lian to Aslan. Starting today, she, like you, will work for me and the family.”
“Yes. Did you hear Rihanna? Good luck in the future.”
“Yes! Thank you very much… ! Thank you Count!”
Lian lowered her head.
I left the restaurant and left her. Helga followed closely behind him.
“Count.”
“What.”
“Before that, I… Count’s finger… . Can’t we just taste a little… ?”
“… … .”
“Because Lian ate so deliciously… . I guess I’ll have to check… . Ahahahaha… .”
“… … .”
“Ah, then it’s not your fingers, but your toes… . That, or whatever else… .”
“… … .”
“… … Sorry. Forget it.”
I didn’t answer, but Helga, who saw my expression, quickly became sullen and lowered her head.
I looked at her like that and opened my mouth.
“Hello.”
“Yes?”
“What is my schedule after this?”
“ah… . You digested all the schedules in advance, so there is no special until tomorrow, right?”
“is it. Then you have a place to go with me from now on.”
“Where are you going?”
Helga tilted her head.
“Suddenly… ? Aww?! A vacation just the two of us at a hotel with a nice atmosphere?! Otherwise, let the naive me taste the Count’s every corner… … I can’t do it. sorry. It was so bad today.”
“no. You are right. I’m going to the hotel now, so get ready.”
“… … Yes?”