Father Kexier sighed. “The young woman beside you is named Mahi…”
“I only found out from the diary in Mary’s room. It recounts her memories with Mahina. I believe the person Mary most wanted to see before she died was this human girl next to you.”
Everyone attending the funeral were acquaintances of Father Kexier, and few were strangers to him. Mahina’s earlier reaction had undoubtedly confirmed for the priest that she was indeed Mahina.
“Mahina, you decide for yourself.”
Since it involved the past between the two of them, Lorevil was willing to leave the choice to Mahina.
Accepting a castle was too sudden, but thinking of Mary, Mahina couldn’t help wavering.
Kexier spoke up. “After I leave, Mary’s castle will soon be taken by that woman in her mother’s name. She’ll resell it at a higher price, and every trace of the room Mary left behind will be erased.”
Mahina, still hesitating, was swayed by the priest’s words.
After Mary’s death, what was most precious was the keepsakes in her room—proof that she had once lived.
If the castle was sold, Mary would disappear completely.
Unable to help herself, Mahina looked up at Lorevil, hoping to find support from her.
Lorevil remained still. The moment Kexier spoke those final words, she already knew what the young girl would choose.
Death wasn’t scary. What was scary was being forgotten.
Mahina hesitated no longer. “I accept,” she said firmly.
Kexier pulled out a string of antique copper keys from inside his chest pocket. Attached to the keychain was a small cross pendant, with the blurred letter “M” engraved on its edge.
“This is the master key to the old castle. It opens all rooms and gates.”
He handed the keys to Mahina.
“Mary carried this with her until she died. Now, it’s time to give it to you.”
Mahina reached out and took the cold copper keys.
“If a kind girl like Mahina moves into my adoptive daughter’s room, I can leave Holy Blood City with peace of mind,” Kexier said, his tone light with relief.
Lorevil keenly sensed the change in Kexier’s mood—excitement, liberation. It was the first time the priest, who had remained utterly expressionless throughout, showed a living human emotion.
Why? Lorevil suppressed her suspicion. Mahina’s choice was already a done deal, and she couldn’t tear up the agreement between them just because of her intuition—even if she had the power to do so.
“Then, when will Mahina come to sign…”
“I’m sorry, but I’ll be leaving tomorrow. My adoptive son Smith will contact Miss Mahina then. He’ll help you with all the inheritance procedures and ensure the old castle truly belongs to you.” Kexier interrupted her, his tone carrying a trace of hasty regret.
Mahina tightened her grip on the keys and silently shrank behind Lorevil.
She wasn’t good at dealing with half-bloods like the priest. Her pure white dress was completely hidden as she tucked herself entirely into Lorevil’s shadow.
“Very well.” Lorevil nodded and immediately left with Mahina.
Just as the two stepped out of the priest’s residence—
“Damn thing… I’ve fed it so much, but it’s still not full. This is the last one—finally, I can be free!”
Inside that old castle, every floor had something that terrified him… a creature of fear!
Father Kexier’s suppressed low laughter was filled with joy on his pale face.
Ever since buying the castle, he had realized that thing existed!
Even borrowing sacred objects from the church couldn’t suppress it!
Over the years, he had tried to obtain the mysterious power at the top of the castle, feeding Mary’s children to the castle itself.
Don’t blame me, Mary.
After a moment of silence, Kexier thought about running away, but every so often he’d return to the castle.
He couldn’t get rid of the keys either.
But now, the castle keys had been transferred to that girl named Mahina!
“I’m doing this to survive,” he muttered, then trailed off.
After leaving the priest’s residence, Mahina got into the carriage.
She looked at Lorevil’s beautiful profile, still in a daze.
Lorevil returned to Mahina’s shabby apartment.
“Lorevil, can you stay with me for a while?” Mahina’s mind was in turmoil; she needed Lorevil’s comfort.
Lorevil agreed. Today Mahina had taken time off, and her wife was training at home, so she had nothing pressing. She could accompany the confused Mahina.
Once inside, Mahina poured a glass of water. Lorevil had nowhere to sit, so she sat on the edge of Mahina’s bed.
“Sorry, Lorevil, my room is too small. I rarely have guests, so I don’t have a chair for visitors.”
Mahina walked over to Lorevil, sat down on her lap, and pressed herself tightly against Lorevil’s body.
An inexplicable chill surged from Mahina’s arm into Lorevil’s whole body.
A series of brutal beatings…
“Mahina, I’m in so much pain.”
“My parents locked me up. I’m a bad girl. Don’t come near me.”
“I feel like I’m dying.”
They were girls covered in welts, their hollow eyes and bloodstained hands leaving handprints on the cold walls.
“Mahina, you survived, just like me.”
Mary’s voice? But she… she’s dead!
A flood of sealed memories surged from Mahina’s mind.
Mary, dead.
Father, dead. Mother, dead.
Everyone who came looking for her—it hurts!
They all died!
Why didn’t she die?
Mahina’s pure white dress slowly crawled with bloody handprints. Black mist dripped from the bloodstains, dyeing the white dress pitch black. Her clear black-and-white eyes fixed on Lorevil.
Lorevil’s scalp went numb.
Rustle, rustle.
The black-dressed girl stood up from in front of Lorevil. Her jet-black hair spread loose behind her, and her pale arms wrapped around Lorevil’s neck.
The black-dressed girl’s hoarse voice whispered softly. “Lo… revil?”
Lorevil’s voice trembled. “I’m here.”
Was Mahina entering her second stage of corruption, and Lorevil was on the execution line?
Hearing the familiar voice, Mahina’s suppressed emotions exploded!
Mahina pounced on Lorevil, slamming her against the wall, and kissed Lorevil fiercely, devouring her.
Lorevil clenched her teeth. From her perspective, Mahina had suddenly attacked, and her strength was greater than that of a third-rank vampire. Lorevil couldn’t resist at all.
She looked up, trying to struggle.
What the hell was Mahina doing!
Lorevil felt as if her lips were being chewed off, the pain making her grimace.
Locking eyes with Mahina’s tearful gaze, just for a moment, a torrent of emotion poured through that brutal kiss into Lorevil’s mind.
Lorevil was forcibly connected to a somber memory.
Locked in a dark storage room, watching others reunite with their families with envy; after making a mistake, villagers’ fingers jabbed at young Mahina’s forehead; relatives shaking off her helping hands; a starving Mahina picking up a rice ball thrown away by another child, only to have it kicked away…
The scenes flashed rapidly through her mind without any connected plot, making Lorevil feel as if she had personally experienced Mahina’s painful past.
“Don’t touch her—she’s bad luck!”
“No one will like you. You’re just excess.”
“I told you already, stay away from everyone. Don’t bring your bad luck here.”
One insult after another made Lorevil burn with rage. Tears slid down Mahina’s face and onto Lorevil’s lips.
A surge of unprecedented impulse overcame Lorevil. Gradually, under Mahina’s cathartic assault, she abandoned her defenses.
She lost herself in the black-haired girl’s fervent, craving emotions.
Creak, creak.
When she woke again, it was the next morning.
Lorevil sat up, her fingers touching her slightly swollen lips. The contact still brought a sting.
Beside her lay a naked Mahina, her smooth black hair like silk covering her fair body. Lorevil gently stroked her hair, feeling Mahina’s steady breathing.
She hadn’t expected Mahina to be so wild when she took the initiative.
And even when Lorevil came to her senses, she was still controlled by the black aura Mahina had unleashed, continuing the fight.
Looking at the miserable state of the room, it was clear just how difficult it had been to release the emotions Mahina had bottled up for over a decade, now completely shattered last night.
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