Is Your Father Plotting a Rebellion

After exchanging pleasantries, Luo Wei voiced his suspicions about the church delegation.

"Hmm... That's right. Whether it's that priestess, the divine magic she wielded, or even their motives for coming here—everything seems questionable."

"You're quite sharp," Tilis said, casting an approving glance at Luo Wei.

"Just a coincidence," Luo Wei replied with a smile. Who knew why that priestess had been so persistent with him? If he had secrets to hide, he’d have pretended to be mute.

But then again, considering she was a fanatic from the church, it made sense—those people had rather peculiar ways of thinking.

Tilis nodded, then her expression turned serious. "Ophelia and I are growing increasingly suspicious that the Northgul delegation visiting Saint Callen is just a front."

"After some discreet investigation, we discovered that the church sent another secret envoy north, only for them to mysteriously vanish."

She mused, "Now it seems they secretly made their way to Thornflower Castle. Their target is Duke Victor—the Abraham family."

"So that's how it is," Luo Wei's expression hardened as well.

No wonder that priestess's divine magic was so formidable—it was the orthodox church’s refined version. And when she claimed she could recommend him to the eastern Holy Light Church, she wasn’t just making empty promises.

"What does the church want with your father?" Luo Wei turned to Evelyn with a strange glint in his eyes, a thought forming in his mind.

"I can’t even imagine what they’d discuss in secret..." Evelyn’s expression was complicated. "The church nearly brought ruin to our Vampire Clan, yet now they’re going to such lengths to secretly reach out to my father..."

"Is your father planning a rebellion?" Luo Wei asked.

"Shh—!" Evelyn hastily glanced out the window, where many guests were touring the castle’s central gardens.

Tilis gave a slight nod. "In any case, we can’t rule out that possibility. If the church is going to such trouble, it means they’ve been in contact before—this likely isn’t the first time."

She then cautioned Luo Wei, "If that’s truly the case, then you’re in quite some danger. Just call for me if you need help—I’ll protect you."

Luo Wei suddenly grinned. Where was this inexplicable sense of security coming from?

It seemed only the witch could give him this kind of reassurance...

After Tilis’s image faded, the three of them sat on the large bed, sinking into a long silence.

"No, I have to ask my father!" Evelyn abruptly stood up. "Is he really planning to betray the Empire? Could he be joining that so-called ‘Anti-Weyland Alliance’?"

It wasn’t that she cared much for the Empire—that was Ophelia’s business—but she knew the horrors of war. She knew she and Luo Wei would inevitably be dragged into it, right into the eye of the storm.

"If you go now, the first thing the Duke will do is silence his own daughter," Luo Wei sighed, pulling her back.

Evelyn let out a deep sigh. "Then what should we do?"

Luo Wei smiled. "First, let’s eat."

Evelyn’s eyes flickered slightly. "You mean... we should pretend we know nothing, bide our time, and secretly—"

Luo Wei shook his head. "I’m just hungry."

Evelyn deflated like a punctured balloon, her cheeks drooping in disappointment.

"Don’t rush, teacher," Luo Wei said helplessly. "Eating is a serious matter. You need energy to deal with all these schemes, don’t you?"

As he spoke, he glanced at Helena beside him, who nodded vigorously.

"Fine... We’ll take it one step at a time," Evelyn sighed, standing up.

"I’ll take you to the dining hall first. They’ve hired several renowned chefs from Saint Callen for the human guests. Though it’s quite a walk—I’ll show you around my home along the way."

"Sounds good," Luo Wei said, taking Helena’s hand. "Let’s go eat."

On the way to the dining hall, Evelyn eagerly pulled Luo Wei along, enthusiastically introducing the long history of Thornflower Castle.

Though she hadn’t returned home in fifty years, everything remained largely unchanged from when she’d left.

As Luo Wei examined the oil paintings lining the dimly lit corridor, he kept an ear out for the system’s notifications.

[Chapter 4: Vampire Banquet]

[Survive until the end of the banquet. Further tasks pending updates...]

[Save Point: Thornflower Castle, Reception Hall]

[Remaining Loads: 5/5]

Well, as expected, trouble was brewing.

Judging by the mission description, the most dangerous part would likely be the banquet itself—though the exact nature of the crisis remained unclear.

Seeing her brother silently staring at the paintings, Helena assumed he shared her thoughts and hesitantly asked Evelyn, "The people in these paintings... they all look so eerie and bloody..."

"Yeah..." Evelyn smiled wryly. "They depict legends from our ancestors’ era. They are quite grim. I didn’t like them much as a child either. But keep looking—the later ones are more interesting."

Luo Wei studied the paintings. The first depicted the legend of Cain, the progenitor of the Vampire Clan. As the son of the God of Light, Cain had killed his brother out of jealousy, becoming the world’s first murderer. Cursed by the gods, he was transformed into the first vampire.

The second painting showed Cain, lonely in his immortality, creating his descendants—the origins of the seven great Vampire Clans.

The third depicted the second and third generations of vampires, their lineage flourishing and thriving.

Further paintings showcased the golden age of the City of Cain, followed by its downfall during the church’s purge—the vampires’ darkest hour.

The earlier works were undeniably eerie, the ancestors’ hollow gazes seeming to pierce through the canvas, sending an inexplicable chill down the spine. In contrast, the later paintings chronicling the Abraham family’s rise were far more uplifting.

These depicted General Abraham fighting alongside Emperor Antius, the scenes grand and solemn. Luo Wei could almost envision himself on the battlefield, watching the Black Dragon, Sword and Shield, and Thornflower Quartet standing firm amidst the chaos, leading fearless soldiers to victory.

By the time they reached the end of the corridor, the entire history of the Vampire Clan had been etched into his mind, leaving him in awe of the ancient family’s legacy.

It also made him understand why every vampire took such pride in their heritage—after all, they had played a role in nearly every pivotal moment in the continent’s history.

As the three admired the paintings, a sudden series of rapid footsteps echoed from the other end of the corridor, accompanied by a sweet, childish voice.

"Evelyn! You’re finally home!!"

Running toward them was an adorable little girl, looking no older than eight or nine—though her actual age might have been eighty or ninety. She dashed toward Evelyn with uncontainable excitement.

"It's Emily..."

Evelyn smiled as the little girl named Emily rushed up to her.

"Annie the housekeeper said you'd be coming home, but I thought she was lying! I can't believe you're really back, Evelyn! It's been fifty years since I last saw you!"

Evelyn gently patted her head, and Emily's curious gaze shifted to the two unfamiliar guests beside her, finally settling on Luo Wei's face.

"Evelyn, is this your boyfriend? Finally, you've found one!"

Evelyn's expression darkened, and she shot Emily a reproachful glare. "Who said I couldn't find a boyfriend? If you keep talking nonsense, I'll have your mother lock you up!"

Emily giggled mischievously.

"So, this is the heir of the reclusive family that Annie mentioned?"

Another voice suddenly chimed in. A strikingly beautiful woman fixed her sharp, inquisitive eyes on Luo Wei, her gaze brimming with curiosity.

"Putting everything else aside, his looks are truly exceptional. I'm quite pleased~"

The woman covered her mouth lightly with a delicate hand, her laughter carrying a flirtatious charm as she shamelessly appraised Luo Wei from head to toe, her satisfaction growing with each passing second.

Evelyn frowned slightly at her behavior.

Luo Wei offered a polite smile. "Duchess."