ATAPOW Chapter 20
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Chapter 20: The Scarlet Blood Region
The Scarlet Blood Region was known as the resting place for the first great demonic clan of vampires. Despite being situated in a place where a human city used to exist, its architecture style left zero traces of mankind. The human ruins that should’ve been here had all been used up for materials or just basically thrown away. Even though only 30 years had passed, the transformation of the former human cities was so complete, that it was as if several centuries had already passed since then.
The concise and symmetrical western-style buildings with giant pillars that seemed to rise out from the ground. Its color palette was a contrasting mix of light and darkness. The characteristics created a natural sense of elegance, grandeur, and rich romanticism in the sight of the viewer.
A clear hue of scarlet replaced the normal pale blue of the skies. When observed from afar, it would resemble a floating, bloody-colored fortress, seemingly inharmonious with the blue skies surrounding it.
Humanoid-shaped beings moved about in the city’s streets and alleys. If it weren’t for the absurdly fair skin of the pedestrians or their unconventional fashion sense, one would perhaps be unable to perceive any difference compared to the human cities.
At this moment, in a castle situated in the capital of the Scarlet Blood Region where the imperial court laid.
The external walls of the palace castle were painted and interweaved with blood-red and greyish-black colors, it would emulate the feeling of despair. While around it, a series of black and thorny fences were surrounding the imperial courtyard and its interior, almost like a group of vigilant soldiers. The massive size of the castle paired with its ice-cold material and color palette emanated a seemingly bleak atmosphere as a trace of terror could be felt to the point that one would start to revere it.
However, the lanterns that were within its colored glasses radiated a warm and gentle radiance. They landed on the fluffy carpets that were on the cold stone bricks and the cherry-colored wallpaper decorated around the castle walls, it would wipe out the gloomy and cold atmosphere that permeated the castle. What took its place would be the somewhat along the lines of the proverbial ‘innocent and adorable atmosphere of a maiden yearning for love’.
The outcome of this was a huge disparity within the internal and exterior of the city as they gave out a strong sense of dissonance. Those who weren’t in the loop may even think that they were in a game, that the computer had retrieved the wrong level’s settings.
Within the great halls of the castle, there was a blood-red and greyish-black throne made of precious stones that were shaped in a sharp claw. A silver-haired, petite girl was elegantly sitting on it in a graceful manner while graciously carrying a porcelain teacup adorned with gold stripes. Her composed complexion, slightly narrowed eyes, and exquisite body would resemble a cute hamster that was in the middle of deep sleep.
However, only the people who truly knew who she was would deem that she was only harmless on the surface.
“If someone were to ask me now whether there would be a secret art that could shove the soul of an extremely wicked demon king into the body of a loli, I would definitely say that it exists.” This was Ji Bai’s appraisal of her.
This appraisal was something he gave during his break time after going through lessons such as the ‘Nobility’s Etiquette’, ‘Raising a lady’, ‘Ethnic customs’, and ‘Vampire’s Friendship Characteristics’ every day; He would bury his head into his blanket as he would sobbingly mutter them out, making doubly sure that his voice was soft.
However, that was the new normal for him. Cursing before he slept was originally in Ji Bai’s to-do list every day. He would feel unwell all over if he was to skip this routine for one day. If he was to make a necklace from the obscene words he had used on Lilias, it would be enough to revolve the equator 3 times.
Nevertheless, horses can stumble just as humans can make mistakes. There are times where Ji Bai, the unparalleled actor, would be found with a loose lip. He had cursed while he was happy in his own world, sadly, Lilias heard it.
“Spitting out vulgar and disgusting words from your mouth now? Bai Ji1? So... You have treated the teachings we administered every day as hot air and just brushed it off? No worries~ Your mother is a very patient woman~ In order to eradicate your barbaric character and flaws, I will be giving you more lessons henceforth~” Lilias’s face had an innocent, childlike smile while her puerile, loli voice had a therapeutic effect to it.
“Wa- Wait. Hold on a moment! The only free time I currently have left is my mealtime and sleep time. How are you going to add these lessons in?”
“Shouldn’t it be obvious? By reducing your sleep time, of course~ Sleeping a few hours less wouldn’t harm a vampire’s health anyways~”
“Are you a demon?!”
“Oh my~ You’re actually using such a nasty word like ‘demon’ to slander your own mother. It seems like the number of lessons you have scheduled still aren’t enough~ How about we remove your sleep time then? That way you wouldn’t have the time to shout these obscene words that you love so much even if you want to~”
“You!... Uwa!~” Ding ding ding, K.O.
The interaction above roughly summarized the everyday life of Ji Bai and Lilias. From that day on, he definitely had one more person other than his parents that he feared on this Earth. However, he would definitely refute this claim.
“You appear to have some doubts~” Lilias, who was on her throne, indifferently took a sip of her red tea. The corners of her mouth formed an indescribable smile as she spoke to the maid who was attending to her.
“In response to her Majesty’s words, this lowly servant wouldn’t dare…” The quiet servant who was silently attending to Lilias, had heard Lilias talking to her and was immediately startled like a frightened bunny.
Who wouldn’t understand the rationale that ‘being with a king was just like being with a tiger’? What’s more, the person in front of her was a temperamental and evil dragon. The maid didn’t dare to show the slightest degree of neglect.
“Well, there’s no harm in saying it. I’m not a demon anyways, what are you so afraid of?” Lilias drew out a smile as she placed her teacup to the side.
“When you answered the castle earlier, your eyes were drifting non-stop around the interior decorations~ Do you have any questions?”
“This lowly servant knows her mistake now! This lowly servant ought not to look around, I deserve death…”
“Haah~” Lilias slowly heaved a sigh as she looked at the maid who was repeatedly lowering her head and apologizing. One could clearly see that she was so frightened that she was about to kneel down and cry.
“You’re not as interesting as Bai Ji. As I thought, my daughter is the best~”
“Eh? ...Bai Ji? Do you mean your royal highness, Bai Ji?” The maid was in a daze as she subconsciously asked.
“Yes~ These human-type decorations were what she suggested that I should put up.” She revealed a faint smile as she seemingly thought of something.
“...But, your lowly servant here seemed to overhear that the Royal Highness, Bai Ji, had apparently moved out recently. Are you not worried about her? The chancellors are apparently very worried about this…” Under the spurring of her own budding curiosity, the maid opened her mouth and asked.
“Hey~ I can almost see the bottom of the cup.”
“Oh!” The maid immediately replenished the red tea inside Lilias’s cup.
“Oh well~ It’s just a small child’s tantrum. There’s nothing to be concerned about. However, speaking of which, I am indeed a bit unaccustomed to sleeping without that pillow anymore~ However…” Lilias narrowed her eyes. “She seems to be a bit too naive to believe that she can escape from my palm this easily. Huhu, I have to choose a good time to crush her delusions to pieces, it should finally make her understand her place and identity.”
“She’s quite a special existence. After turning into a vampire, she can still remain in her former human body. This is something that even I had not anticipated~” Lilias gave a meaningful smile.
‘The reason why she could barely keep her human form was probably because of the knight’s creed she held on to, alongside with her sense of belonging as a human.’
‘So what if your conviction is firm? There will definitely be a day…’
Lilias gazed beyond the window as she slightly raised the corner of her lips.