The capital of the Mist Duchy, the Castle of the Full Moon, where the awakened Progenitor resided. The dark ancient castle, unmarked on any map, lay far, far from the Fortress of Dusk. Had the Tir-led carriage, guided by Ralion, not been so smooth that movement was imperceptible, it would have been a grueling journey.
The unique climate and atmosphere of the Mist Duchy made for rather entertaining stories.
“Is this meal meat again?”
“…Are you getting sick of it?”
“No. It’s great. Humans are originally descended from hunting animals, after all. Nom nom, delicious. We didn’t have things like this in the military nation.”
“We did have it! It’s just that food resources weren’t distributed all the way down to Father!”
“We agreed to call that ‘not having it.’ Nom. Oh, it’s even cooked? Who made this?”
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“Me.”
Kavila, stepping out from the carriage’s side compartment, clapped her hands. Then, from within, dragon-tooth soldiers clad in white aprons and triangular headscarves slowly emerged, plates in hand.
The sight of skeletal dragon-tooth soldiers serving was grotesque to the point of absurdity. Kavila, manipulating the soldiers, said primly,
“Consider it an honor. I, a great Elder, am…”
‘…If I say “damned,” will Sister get angry? I should speak nicely.’
“…making the blood boil for Sister’s beloved consort. No, Sister! I wasn’t insulting him, I just envy how much you favor him! So my words came out a bit rough! Please don’t be angry!”
“If no good words come out no matter what, just speak freely. Tire, I find that more comfortable too, so just let it be.”
After all, I read her mind, so if her speech and thoughts differ, I just get confused. At this rate, my mind-reading will be found out.
Using Kavila’s nervous glances at Tire as a side dish, I rummaged through the food on the plate. Steamed potatoes had been fried as if in oil, then topped with cheese. The meat, steamed for hours with a heap of spices, fell apart into fibers at the lightest prod. I put the potato and meat into my mouth at once, chewing slowly.
“This isn’t a beginner’s cooking. It shows some experience.”
“‘Some experience’? I’m a vampire, but I’ve probably eaten double the meals you have in your lifetime. Does a brat whose head’s still wet behind the ears dare look down on a thousand years?”
“Even when I compliment you, you’re prickly. I was just surprised that someone who can’t taste anything is such a good cook.”
“Hmph. I didn’t do it to earn praise from the likes of you anyway.”
Though she said that, she must have been pleased, because Kavila started chattering away.
“Those livestock, picky eaters though they are livestock, even if I generously give them meat, they just complain it’s tasteless or tough. Sometimes they say they’re sick of it and ask if there’s bread or grass! To shut them up, the best thing is to dress up the food a bit.”
“It can’t be helped. No one can eat the same thing forever… But from what you say, it sounds like you cook for them regularly?”
“I have nothing better to do, so it’s a pastime. And handling meat is something I’m used to.”
To produce such flavors without tasting them oneself. Like a blind painter or a deaf musician. Even though I was somewhat full, the food kept going in.
Tire watched me wolf down the meal for a moment, then called Kavila softly.
“Kavila.”
“Yes, yes. Sister!”
‘Sister called me! What is it? Could it be I’ve done something wrong? Surely not? She must have just called me, right?’
“…Later, teach me how to cook as well.”
At Tire’s lowered, whispered words, Kavila cried out in emotion.
“Leave it to me! I’ll teach you everything about cooking, Sister! From prep to knife work, how to do it and how long, every single detail!”
“Shh. Your voice is loud.”
Neither Hilde nor I took long to empty our plates. Sated and drowsy, I patted my stomach and said.
“The military nation takes another loss. Seems it really can’t win, maybe because the country lacks a solid foundation.”
“You’re starting a fight again. The military nation is just strict about luxuries. We could make food like this there too, you know!”
“Having this kind of food but not being able to eat it just means life is hard. In the end, you have to fill up on beans. Ah, at this rate, will I ever be able to go back to the military nation?”
When bored, sow conflict. I lightly ran down the military nation over the food, and Hilde, her pride pricked, took over the talking on her own.
“The military nation has a huge population! Before it was on the verge of ruin, the only way to feed humans was chimera beans! Do you know why we went all the way to the Tree of Depravity to steal beans?!”
“I didn’t say anything, I just made a comparison.”
“Raising livestock is a luxury in itself! According to military nation research, if you eliminate one cow and plant chimera beans on that pasture, you can feed twenty humans. In other words, for one cow, you have to kill twenty humans! You think we don’t raise livestock because we can’t?!”
As I watched Hilde jump up and down in a frenzy, I recalled my knowledge of the Mist Duchy.
Most of the Mist Duchy is grassland. The damp land, caught between sea and mountains, receives little sunlight, so only low grass grows thickly. The hills sloping down from the ridges to the coast are suited for raising cattle and sheep. Even after vampires came to this land, its vegetation remained unchanged.
Flocks of sheep running across the wide plains are lively, and the shepherds who follow them are healthy.
…And the vampires take the blood of those healthy humans.
The vampires of the Mist Duchy are, in effect, the shepherds who keep those humans as livestock.
“Progenitor.”
Valdamir knocked. The fact that he, who had been driving the carriage so unobtrusively as to be unnoticed, now approached, meant this short journey was at an end.
“We have arrived at the Castle of the Full Moon.”
“Well done.”
I opened the window and looked outside. A land thick with dark fog. Even in the mist, where it was hard to perceive anything beyond a few hundred meters, a more conspicuous darkness loomed over me like a giant.
The capital of the Mist Duchy. The dark ancient castle not shown on any map.
The Castle of the Full Moon.
Kkiruk, kkiruk. The cries of black-tailed gulls circled round overhead. The murmur of countless people staying in the city lay low. Each individual voice was soft, but gathered together, they made the mist itself tremble.
All of them, with awe and unease in their hearts, awaited the Progenitor’s return. Just as at the Fortress of Dusk.
I was reminded once more of Tire’s standing in the Mist Duchy. The beginning of all vampires. The god of vampires, to whom even the great Elders submit and curry favor.
Yet I made Tire’s heart beat again. And if I could completely restore her senses on top of that, I would be making that god…
Ah, don’t think complicated thoughts. I said, preparing to disembark,
“Is this Tire’s castle? It’s a big city. Looks like I won’t be bored while staying here.”
“Rest comfortably. It will take some time anyway; think of it as a break until then.”
“What? Weren’t we supposed to investigate Lord Ruskynia’s death?”
“I shall summon those who know and hold a tribunal. However, until the most likely suspect arrives, there seem to be few other clues.”
That figures. If Elder Ruskynia is dead, then Eui-seon, who inherited her true blood, would be the prime suspect.
Tsk, should I have read her more carefully when we met? I was so intrigued by her unique blood art that I failed to read her mind properly.
The only thing I know in this case is the fact that Eui-seon did not murder Ruskynia.
“…And Valdamir will have already taken care of the detailed investigation. Let us receive his report and think it over together. Even for you, uncovering the truth in a strange vampire’s land will be difficult.”
Tire spoke as if it were only natural that Valdamir would have prepared. And indeed, the Crimson Blood Duke Valdamir had things prepared for the Progenitor.
“I await your orders.”
“Good. I will go with Hugh, so send it on.”
Though Tire is the god of the vampires, a god resides only in temples and people’s hearts. But the things that run a country exert influence everywhere outside the temples.
It seems only a few Elders run the country. And among them, Valdamir’s share seems very, very large.
God and king.
That slight ominous feeling is probably not just my imagination.
“Come. Take my hand and follow, Hugh. If you are to become king of the military nation, it would be good to let your face be known in advance.”
“What if I don’t become king of the military nation, you know?”
“Then all the more reason we should be together. That you are my….”
‘…Calling you my consort is somewhat embarrassing. I must change the wording. In the first place, I have no intention of taking Hugh’s blood, so he’s not even a consort.’
“…honored guest, I must let it be known, so that others will treat you accordingly.”
I hope it ends with just that treatment.
Normally, I would have refused anything that puts me in the spotlight, but this time I went along with Tire’s wishes. I descended from the carriage first, then, stepping on the foothold, offered her my hand.
Even as Tire took my hand, she was puzzled.
“You, minding your manners? What’s gotten into you all of a sudden?”
“As I always say, I can do it, I just don’t. But aren’t there times and places for courtesy, now and then? Especially in a setting where your dignity, Tire, must be properly established.”
It’s best to hide your cards if you can. But if you’re forced to reveal them, you must play them in the most dazzling way.
Is it better if fewer people know? Not at all. The one who will watch my cards with the most curiosity will be the one who most wants to devour me.
I escorted Tire as she stepped out of the carriage. And with my hand resting lightly on her shoulder, I slowly guided her. It was a deep show of intimacy, and though slightly embarrassed, Tire gladly accepted my escort.
When Tire appeared like that, the scene from the Fortress of Dusk repeated itself. And an even greater reaction followed. Vampires and humans alike gaped in collective shock.
“The Progenitor… a consort?!”
It isn’t wrong, but must they use the word “consort”? I wish they’d call it something else.