Eight-thirty in the morning.
Today was Mary’s funeral, as Mahina had mentioned. After parting ways with Elini, her wife who was going for her training, Lorevil boarded a carriage and instructed the coachman to head to the rundown apartment.
Mahina had already taken leave from Madame Audrey. Dressed in a simple, elegant white dress that complemented the beauty mark on her fair, delicate face, she truly had the aura of a melancholic beauty.
Seeing Lorevil arrive, a hint of joy appeared on Mahina’s pretty face, and she waved.
Lorevil stopped the carriage, pushed the door open, and pulled Mahina inside to sit beside her.
Once inside, Mahina was very quiet. Lorevil held her hand, but she showed little reaction. Only after a while could one hear Mahina’s faint cough.
“You don’t look well. Did you not rest properly?”
“I actually… I didn’t sleep at all last night.”
Lorevil frowned. With such a mental state, could she really control her emotions and not break down at a solemn and heavy occasion like a funeral?
“It’s okay, don’t force yourself. Your own health is most important. If you’re too tired, lean on my shoulder and sleep for a while.”
Mahina pursed her slightly pale lips and obediently leaned on Lorevil’s shoulder, her lovely eyebrows relaxing.
Lorevil knew that beneath this soft body in her arms lay a dark and deeply painful past.
After losing her family and fleeing her village, Mahina had been tricked into a blood slave workshop—a remnant of the Vampires’ old era that exploited blood slaves. She had escaped with Mary, a friend who had gone through life and death with her.
And then, the next news she received was of Mary’s funeral. Mahina worked at the cafe during the day, but at night, alone, thoughts of Mary would bring back memories of those workshop days.
That’s why she couldn’t sleep.
Lorevil hadn’t come unprepared. She had asked the Jingji members to investigate Mary’s background and found it wasn’t simple either.
Mary was Human. The one who adopted her was an old priest, and Mary had been abandoned.
Her father was a scumbag. After marrying Mary’s mother, he had an affair and had a son with the other woman. After being discovered, he quickly divorced. Mary’s mother dumped Mary at an orphanage and then went abroad with her boyfriend.
She wasn’t sure if the priest would accept them if she brought Mahina to the funeral.
Just as Lorevil was lost in thought, Mahina, who was tightly clinging to her arm, woke up, some color returning to her face.
“Awake?”
“Mhm.”
Mahina belatedly felt shy, her ears burning.
She had been unbearably tired in the apartment, tossing and turning with insomnia.
Yet, just by lightly leaning on Lorevil’s shoulder, her nose filled with the other’s calming scent, her taut nerves suddenly relaxed, and she fell asleep in no time.
Lorevil glanced at the Corruption Value above her head—one-third, stable. But she couldn’t be sure what would happen next; she needed to keep observing.
Mary’s funeral was being held at a residence just outside the fourth ring of the noble district. The coachman had been driving for an hour, with about ten minutes left.
“Mahina, have you thought about your future life?”
Lorevil casually started a topic to help Mahina relax.
Future life?
Mahina was taken aback. She felt this life was already good enough—being able to meet Lorevil, working at the cafe. Looking further ahead…
She would marry Lorevil after graduation.
As soon as the thought emerged, Mahina’s cheeks flared up.
M-marriage.
Was Lorevil asking when they would get married?
Mahina looked up, unexpectedly meeting Lorevil’s gaze. She flinched as if scalded and stammered, “Things like marriage… Lorevil can decide.”
“If Lorevil can’t wait…”
Lorevil interrupted, “No other plans? Like which city you’d like to go to, or changing to a job you like more?”
Cold sweat broke out on Lorevil’s forehead. If she let Mahina continue thinking like this, how could she ever bring up breaking up?
Mahina’s face turned even redder. That bit of boldness from a moment ago shriveled back under Lorevil’s deflection.
Mahina twisted the hem of her dress. “I… I haven’t thought that far ahead.”
Actually, it wasn’t that she hadn’t thought about it. It was that in all the futures she envisioned, they were all filled with Lorevil’s name.
Mahina stole a glance at Lorevil. “As long as… as long as I can be with Lorevil…”
The unspoken meaning was clear.
Mahina’s direct hit left Lorevil silent.
She had a wife, Noxia. To survive, she wanted to distance herself from Mahina, to break up with her…
Yet now, she was gradually becoming part of Mahina’s life, becoming someone important to her.
The carriage wheels rumbling over the cobblestones left Lorevil’s thoughts in a jumble.
—
Ten minutes later, when Lorevil brought Mahina to the residence, there were actually quite a few Vampires inside and outside.
Mary’s funeral shouldn’t attract many Vampires. The only possibility was the priest, Kexier, who had adopted Mary. His influence was widespread in both Vampire and Human circles.
But Jingji’s assessment of the priest’s life was: unremarkable.
Priest Kexier was of mixed blood. He became a priest to seek redemption for himself. He hadn’t just adopted Mary but other Humans as well. However, strangely, after reaching adulthood, those children all disappeared from Holy Blood City.
Mary and Mahina were the same age, both just turned eighteen.
Lorevil found a place to stop the carriage. Mahina had rested on the ride, her complexion much improved. Coupled with Lorevil, a Vampire, beside her, they immediately attracted the gazes of many mourning Vampires.
The mourning hall was set up in the chapel on the west side of the courtyard. Mary’s coffin was placed in the center, with two clergy members standing by the entrance.
Lorevil held Mahina’s hand and walked in. The two clergy members bowed in turn, gesturing for them to enter.
It wasn’t raining yet, but the sky was very overcast, like mist clinging to the gray-black Gothic architecture.
Inside the door, a clergy member sat at a table recording. Many Vampires were handing over thick envelopes of condolence money.
Lorevil placed their plain white envelope on the table and signed the arrival register. There was no refusal from the priest to their condolences, as Lorevil had feared.
Entering the chapel, Lorevil’s gaze fell on the figure standing at the front of the mourning hall.
Priest Kexier.
He wore a pristine priest’s robe, a silver cross pinned at the collar. His expression was one of compassionate sorrow as he accepted condolences from the mourners.
He showed no trace of grief over losing his adopted daughter.
Lorevil instantly added him to her list of dangerous individuals, her eyes holding a hint of wariness. Although she had sent a message to Madam Sharon before coming, and there were several third-tier Vampires providing protection outside the mourning hall.
Barring any special circumstances, it was undoubtedly very safe.
The Vampire condolence ritual was less complex than the Human one. After prayers came the offering of flowers, which were placed before Mary’s coffin.
Lorevil said gently, “Go ahead and offer the flowers.”
Mahina stepped out from behind Lorevil, holding a bouquet of plain white flowers. Knowing Mary lay quietly inside the coffin, her small face paled again, the color she had regained in the carriage fading.
At that moment, Priest Kexier walked over. “Child, don’t be too sad. Mary has gone to a better place.”
Mahina was startled by the priest’s indifferent gaze and took a step back.
Lorevil subtly shifted to shield Mahina behind her and sighed.
“The priest is quite philosophical. I heard Mary was your most beloved child. Now that she has passed so suddenly, you can remain so calm. It’s truly admirable.”
The smile on Kexier’s face remained unchanged. He made the sign of the cross over his chest. “The Lord says death is not an end, but a new beginning. Mary’s soul will find redemption. Why should I grieve?”
“I see.”
Lorevil nodded and retreated among the mourning Vampires.