Talia’s face shed all traces of weightlessness, replaced by a sincere expression.
“I hope the two of you can help us retrieve it.”
“Just say it.”
Derek said casually.
“We lost an important shipment at sea. I’m willing to offer a reward that will satisfy you both.”
Talia said.
“Ha, you’ve got to be kidding… There’s no way we can find it.”
Hearing this, Feilin poked her head out from behind Derek and couldn’t help but remark:
“Do you know how far the sea is from here? A full half-month’s journey! How could something lost in the sea possibly be found in Maern City?”
“This plan is even worse than hammering a stake into the deck and jumping into the water to fish for it when you dock.”
She desperately tried to talk Talia out of the idea.
In her opinion, it was pure wishful thinking—
Unless the thing had arms and legs and could swim up from the sea on its own.
“If I happen to see it, I’ll let you know.”
Derek considered for a moment before replying.
Talia pressed her palms together, closed her eyes tightly, and spoke with earnest sincerity:
“Please, both of you. That thing is very important to me.”
“Don’t you understand human language…”
Feilin was speechless.
“Tell me what it is you’re looking for, and I’ll keep an eye out around the city.”
“It’s a heart. A demon’s heart.”
Talia said.
“Why would you carry something like that on you? Does anyone actually pay money for a demon heart…”
Feilin muttered.
“Alright, got it. I’ll keep an eye out.”
Derek nodded, accepting the small favor.
“Thank you so much, kind priest. May your world know no wind or snow.”
Talia thanked him with overwhelming emotion, unable to hide the joy on her small face.
“By the way, I still haven’t paid the compensation I promised Vivian and this fox-eared miss. But Vivian suddenly ran off for some reason.”
As she said this, Talia’s expression turned a little aggrieved, because she didn’t even know where she had lost Vivian.
“No problem. Put that bill on me. I’ll cover it for her.”
Derek thumped his chest and spoke with righteous conviction.
“If you get the chance, just apologize to her properly.”
“You really have no shame.”
Feilin kicked him from behind.
…
Vivian’s cottage.
The door was kicked open, and Vivian rushed in with a gust of wind, carrying Nolan’s body, which was a size larger than her own, in her arms.
He was still unconscious, his brows tightly furrowed, as if trapped in an unpleasant dream.
With a slap, Vivian tossed Nolan onto the bed, her movements less than gentle.
She stood by the head of the bed, her dark red eyes fixed on Nolan’s face, her own expression unreadable.
Having just run back from outside the city, her shoes were caked with dirt and the peculiar filth of Black Rat Street;
The hem of her skirt was wet halfway up, a mark left by stepping through a puddle of sewage.
Her face was covered in fine cracks, dense as a porcelain piece on the verge of shattering.
There were also several scars from severe burns, one of which even exposed the stark white bone beneath.
This was the price an unclean undead paid for moving under the sun…
Vivian fished a small copper mirror out of the coffin and saw her reflection—
A face that was utterly inhuman.
She trembled, raised her right hand to cover her face, and finally squeezed nine words from her throat after a long pause:
“So ugly… Vivian.”
“Not dignified enough, either.”
She put the copper mirror back, then looked down and checked her dress.
She raised two fingers, pressed them to the corners of her mouth, and pulled upward, forcing her expression back into the usual warm smile.
“I have to smile, Vivian.”
“After all, you’re the perfect wife…”
“You can’t show that scary face, okay?”
She went to the stove, poured a basin of water, and carried it to the small adjoining room, where she washed herself carefully.
The wiped-away grime vanished instantly, revealing the childish, small round face underneath.
After cleaning up, she walked out of the room and sat down by the bed.
Because she was a vampire, during the day Vivian always kept the doors and windows tightly shut, not letting a single ray of sunlight into the house.
After all, she didn’t want to be suddenly woken up by the sun while sleeping in.
The dim yellow lamplight cast shadows on the wall, falling across Nolan’s sleeping face.
Vivian lightly wiped her hand across her face, and the sunburn marks disappeared as if erased.
She reached out and gently stroked Nolan’s brow, trying to smooth out the furrow between his eyes.
That kind of feeling—
It wasn’t pleasant.
“Vivian…”
Nolan’s lips suddenly moved.
His voice was very soft, as if in a dream.
“I’m here.”
Vivian lowered her head, bringing her mouth close to Nolan’s ear, and responded softly.
It was as cold as a ghost’s whisper, yet carried the girl’s unique, faint fragrance.
“Mistport… demon…”
When he said the word “demon,” it was as if he were having a nightmare.
Vivian: “…”
Vivian, who had never left the territory of Maern City in her entire life, had no idea what that place was.
“Mm, I understand.”
She could only respond vaguely with the gentlest tone.
Hearing her answer, the sleeping Nolan seemed satisfied.
The tension on his face gradually relaxed, and he fell silent.
Vivian chose not to press further.
She simply sat quietly by the bed, staring at that familiar face.
She didn’t know how much time passed.
Her body had grown stiff from sitting still.
She stood up and moved around a bit.
“Are you hungry? I’ll cook something for you.”
Boiling water and cooking meals for her ill husband was, after all, an inescapable duty of a wife.
Vivian went to the stove, stepped onto a small stool, and lifted the lid of the pot.
“Squeak squeak squeak.”
A fat rat shot out from inside.
Startled by Vivian’s sudden movement, it spread its limbs and tried to flee.
Quick as a flash, Vivian grabbed it and brought it up to her face.
“You dare eat my rice?”
Her fingertips closed in, and the increasing pressure squeezed the big rat into a lump of minced meat.
She snorted, casually tossing the pulp under the stove.
The stove considerately ignited a flame, burning the rat’s remains to ash.
Seeing the big rat reminded Vivian that she hadn’t cooked at home in a long time.
Lately, she had been freeloading meals from the church almost every day.
While thinking this, she rinsed the large pot clean.
“This really is a wife’s negligence…”
She filled the pot with another basin of water, then gave the stove a kick to ignite the fire.
After some time, the water boiled.
Then she poured in the washed rice.
Since Nolan was a patient, she decided to cook something light and easy to digest.
Perhaps the demon’s fire was too intense;
Before long, the rice had already bloomed into porridge.
She bent down and took out an earthenware jar.
From it, she grabbed a handful of nuts and raisins and sprinkled them into the pot.
A simple, light, thick porridge was done.
She filled a wooden bowl with the porridge and carried it to the bedside.
Vivian stood by the bed and called softly:
“Dear, are you awake? Time to eat.”
Nolan remained sound asleep.
The hypnosis spell Vivian had cast this time was deeper than usual.
But then his lips moved slightly and parted.
“Thank you, Talia…”
Clatter!
The wooden bowl slipped from her hand.
It hit the floor, porridge spilling everywhere, dried fruit and grains smeared across the ground, steaming hot.
“The expression on my face… must be pretty awful, huh…”