Chapter 106: Countess Mially of the Blood Moon

After a pleasant daydream, Verin had not yet reached the castle gates when a young man dressed in black stood there, smiling warmly at him.

“May I ask who you are?” Verin handed his crimson mare to Kyle and stepped forward to ask.

“I am Drigos, the eldest son of the Blood Moon Count.”

“So, cousin, you’ve been waiting here specifically for me?”

“Hahaha, more or less. My mother received news from our cousin Angus half a month ago that you were coming to the Blood Moon domain, though I didn’t expect you to arrive only now.” Drigos looked at his great-nephew with a cheerful smile.

“Well, the Blood Moon people along the way were incredibly hospitable, which delayed me a bit.”

Drigos waved to a knight and instructed, “Take my nephew’s attendants and settle them properly. Do not neglect our guest.”

“Yes, Lord Drigos.”

“Come, follow me.”

Verin followed Drigos into the Blood Moon Castle.

Stepping inside, Verin was deeply impressed.

In the center of the castle courtyard stood a massive fountain, surrounded by lush herbs and plants, with numerous small creatures fluttering among the flowers.

“Who is that?” Verin looked around, hearing a voice but seeing no one.

“Here, here.” He looked down to see a tiny humanoid creature no larger than a palm appearing before him.

Drigos smiled and explained, “Sister Verit, this is my nephew Verin, here to visit my mother.”

“Ah! A descendant of little Mialy! You smell so lovely.” Verit circled Verin a few times, then perched on his shoulder. “Did you bring anything with you?”

Verin was taken aback, then reached into his pocket and pulled out a vial of ice-blue magic potion.

The moment he produced the potion, Verit waved her tiny hands and used an invisible mage’s hand to bring the vial before her.

“An unexpected creation, produced under unconventional conditions—truly marvelous.”

Then, Verit conjured a fruit that shimmered enticingly, nearly the size of her own body.

“Little Verin, may I trade this for your potion?”

“Lady Verit, if you want it, it’s yours.”

“You’re so kind; I can feel your sincerity.” Verit circled Verin again, then produced another fruit happily. “One sweet fruit is for trade, and the other is a reward for you.”

The two fruits floated before Verin and landed gently in his arms.

Verit then vanished with the ice-blue potion before their eyes.

“Cousin, what is going on?” Verin, holding the two sweet fruits, looked at Drigos in confusion.

Drigos smiled and explained, “Verin, Sister Verit belongs to the mysterious fairy clan. She just returned to her secret garden. Over a hundred years ago, she made an equal pact with my mother and now lives with our family.”

“Oh.” Verin nodded, pocketed the two fruits, and continued following Drigos.

Passing through the inner walls, they arrived at a training ground.

In the center, a man and a woman dressed in training attire were sparring with swords so swiftly that Verin could only see fleeting shadows of their blades.

Suddenly, the middle-aged man was thrown out of the arena, falling in front of Verin.

“Vitris, you’re cheating!”

Seeing this, Drigos stepped forward to help the man up.

“All right, my dear Mialy, this is our 3,927th duel, and you’ve won. Look, I’m hurt.” The man handed his sword to Drigos and clutched his chest, feigning pain.

“You’re still the same. I’ve decided to banish you to the border for a few months.” Mialy glared at Vitris calmly.

“No, no, no, my most revered lady, I just returned.”

Vitris sprang up energetically, knelt on one knee, and earnestly held Mialy’s hands.

“Father, Mother, please stop.” Watching his lovey-dovey parents, Drigos covered his face helplessly.

“Get up. Tonight, I’ll be watching your performance.”

“Yes, yes, I will behave well.” Vitris quickly rose and took the knight’s sword from Mialy, placing it on the nearby weapon rack.

Only then did Mialy turn her gaze toward Verin, smiling and beckoning him over.

Seeing this, Verin could only approach the Blood Moon Countess.

“Verin pays respects to his great-aunt.”

“You look somewhat like Angus, but more like your mother, Eliza,” Mialy said kindly after appraising him.

Vitris joined her side and agreed, “My lady is right; this boy indeed resembles Eliza more.”

“Greetings, great-uncle.”

“Good lad. In a few days, your great-granduncle will take you to some fun places.” Vitris clapped Verin on the shoulder and whispered.

“Vitris, don’t think I can’t hear you,” Mialy said with a smile, tugging on Vitris’s ear. “If I catch you going to such places again, I’ll break your legs.”

“I promise I won’t let you find out,” Vitris muttered quietly.

“What did you say?”

Feeling the increasing pressure on his ear, Vitris immediately gave in. “N-nothing, I said nothing. My lady, you must have misheard.”

“You’d better hope so. If you corrupt Verin, I’ll have your mother deal with you.”

“No, no, my lady, please don’t tell my mother. You wouldn’t want your dear husband bedridden for three months, would you?” Vitris begged at the thought of his own mother.

Verin stood aside, thoroughly fed with a mouthful of affection.

Judging by the strength of his great-aunt and great-uncle, both mid-level soul-willed, with lifespans of eight hundred years, and considering they were under two hundred years old, their lives were just beginning.

“Verin, remember to keep your distance from this old scoundrel,” Mialy said kindly as she looked toward Vitris.

Sensing the atmosphere growing awkward, Drigos stepped forward helplessly. “Enough, Mother. I trust Father wouldn’t do such things.”

“Very well, Drigos, my son. Keep a close eye on your father.”

When her eldest son spoke, Mialy shot Vitris a fierce glare that made him smile sheepishly again.

“Don’t worry, Mother. I’ve already notified all the entertainment venues in the city. The moment Father visits, they promise to cease operations.”

“No, no, Drigos, how can you? You mustn’t treat your father this way.”

Verin noticed that his great-uncle seemed genuinely hurt this time, not just pretending.

But Mialy and Drigos paid no attention to Vitris, who was now kneeling on the ground and wailing, and led Verin off to properly tour the castle.