There was no particular shock. But it certainly reached her. Since Kavila was also a vampire with a cold heart, instead of being shocked, she calmly judged.
"...You're saying Sister suspects me?"
"Precisely, the 'Elder.' What kind of Yelling could kill an Elder single-handedly? That another Elder helped, or killed and framed someone—that possibility... Tir as the ruler would find it hard to overlook."
"The suspicion itself is reasonable. But, did Sister really say that?"
Quite sharp. As expected of a vampire. It seems difficult to make her misunderstand arbitrarily.
"No. Tir doesn't want to suspect the Elders who are her loyal confidants and precious comrades. However, it's better to resolve doubts clearly, isn't it? So, I stepped forward to solve that concern on her behalf."
"Don't you value your life? Presumptuous..."
Having confirmed it was my independent decision, Kavila was rather pleased.
"I wondered where she picked up such a likable blood pouch, but you're surprisingly playing the part of a beloved concubine. That's right. Sister couldn't easily suspect us."
"Exactly. I thought a vampire would coldly find the culprit."
"She's not swayed by emotions. That's different from being suspicious. Above all, we Elders were Sister's limbs. Hands and feet aren't subjects of suspicion. To hands and feet, the body is more precious than anything else, but..."
Muttering briefly, Kavila replied with a more serious attitude.
"Fine. Impudent beloved concubine. What do you want to know?"
"The late Mr. Ruskinia's hostile relationships."
"As I said earlier. Our Elder is a vampire. She doesn't let emotions sway her. Impulsive killing is an excuse humans pick up, not something an Elder would feel grudges and plan uncertain, dangerous, profitless murder operations over."
Kavila's words were full of conviction. She herself genuinely believed so, and true to those words, Kavila was not the culprit of the Ruskinia murder case.
Well, I already knew that through mind-reading. I came to find clues in the first place.
"Probably Tir thinks similarly. But I came to consider the worst case, didn't I? Let's think differently."
"Differently? How?"
"Now. There 'is' a culprit among the Elders. Then who is it?"
If you're certain it exists, things become visible. Change the assumption and the perspective shifts; then Kavila would offer new clues. Even if she doesn't know the answer now, if it's a conclusion based on experience gained over 11 centuries, that itself is a clue.
I waited for her answer briefly. However, Kavila soon shook her head.
"I really don't know. It's such a stupid act that no one but Rukken comes to mind, but Rukken isn't smart enough to hide evidence. No, he wouldn't even think of hiding it. So I really don't know."
"I heard the late Mr. Ruskinia treated humans roughly."
"Hmph. Right. That bat bastard probably thought humans pop out when you dig the ground. He treated his humans roughly, killed them, and then went looking for other humans. He kept telling me to sell him humans, hand them over... Doing bat-like things, he must be truly blind. These are ones I've fed, sheltered, and cared for over hundreds of years—should I just give them up because he shamelessly asks?"
Kavila spoke like a rancher who had greatly increased her livestock, and in reality, it wasn't much different.
The Blood Maiden Kavila is kind to humans. That's both Kavila's personality and wisdom forged from nearly 11 centuries of experience.
Humans are not a threat. Kavila doesn't struggle with management even if the number of humans increases a bit. In charge of the coast, she easily obtains resources. Kavila's subordinates handle blood and bones, and just by increasing the traps they place on the beach, they can feed hundreds.
Don't misunderstand. Kavila doesn't consider humans equal. With her delicate personality, the result of cold calculation is kindness.
...Still, does that make it not kindness? At that level, couldn't it just be called love?
"Anyway, I understand."
"You're not suspecting me?"
"I came looking in order of least suspicion."
"The basis?"
When I saw her fighting in Claudia, she looked weakest in 1-on-1... I probably shouldn't say that. I made up an appropriate reason.
"Because you're devoted to Tir. If it's Lady Kavila, you wouldn't create things for Tir to worry about."
Kavila snorted.
"Hmph. You have a talent for flattery."
"Thanks to that, I snatched the position of the Progenitor's beloved concubine."
"There must be another reason actually. Anyway, I have nothing more to say about the culprit..."
Hmm. It was a thought I'd read before, but Kavila wasn't the culprit. That doesn't mean there was no harvest.
The late Mr. Ruskinia seemed to have incurred quite a lot of resentment here and there. If he received such treatment from a fellow Elder, what about humans?
There was a reason no one asked about Lir Nightingale's motive. Ruskinia himself was the motive.
Hmm. Then who really is it... When I was scratching my chin. Kavila stood up and asked.
"Humans are always hungry, aren't they? Should I give you something to eat?"
"Yes. Please."
I can't resist this.
Kavila cooked freshly caught seafood. A bear doll she controlled directly stood on the cutting board, removing scales and slicing sashimi with a sharp bone knife. Meanwhile, Dragon Fang Soldiers wearing aprons put large crabs in a pot and steamed them.
The cooking was concise and swift. In just a few minutes, a full course made with fresh seafood was set. Kavila dismissed the Dragon Fang Soldiers and said.
"Eat. I prepared food that keeps the blood taste unchanged as much as possible, so you can eat a lot."
"You care for my health so much... Thank you. I'll take that intention and become healthy."
"I keep saying this, but it's not for you, it's for Sister!"
The sashimi sprinkled with fruit juice was an incredibly luxurious taste. Fresh fish can be eaten raw, but that's only when you can eat it. The firm flesh stimulated my tongue with a different savory taste from meat.
The steamed crab that came out in the meantime boasted a truly violent taste. The warm flesh crumbled on my tongue, creating an explosion of flavor.
This is life. Have I been living senselessly with such a chef beside me until now? I've decided. Today I'll save Tir's tongue first.
Kavila watched me eating, then... asked as if in passing.
"What happened to Sister?"
She must have been curious all along, but it took a long time to ask. I first feigned ignorance and asked back.
"What do you mean?"
"Sister's dominance can't be felt. From the first time we met, the trembling that should be felt... has disappeared. It's not that Sister is intentionally holding back. I can tell... Don't you know something?"
Hmm. What should I do? Should I feign ignorance? By asking back how an ordinary human like me would know about vampire physiology?
'Sister's beloved concubine couldn't just be one for no reason. There must be something. No, there has to be. Because I need to know what happened to Sister... how she changed.'
But that would only postpone the doubts. Let's tell her. I already revealed being the King of Humans, so what.
I put food in my mouth and spoke as nonchalantly as possible.
"It's nothing special. She got her heart back."
"Heart...?"
"Yes. After a tremendously great adventure, Tir recalled her own heartbeat that she had forgotten long ago. Not only that, she succeeded in making it beat again."
Since a dead heart beating again was an unprecedented event, it took time for Kavila to accept it. To help her understand smoothly, I explained in more detail.
"Life is distinguishing oneself from the world and maintaining that difference. Conversely, death is becoming one with the world. Since the heart came alive, Tir's power of blood manipulation also followed the heart and distinguished herself from the world. Thanks to that, her dominance has weakened a bit, but Tir herself hasn't changed much, so don't worry."
"...You helped with that. That's why the beloved concubine..."
Vampires are subtly quick to notice. Whether it's because of experience, or because they don't push through with emotions. It's hard to tell now. Reluctantly, I nodded.
"Yes, well. It's not a special reason."
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"...That's good."
"Please tell Tir. Tir will be happy too."
That's that, and a meal is a meal. Having cleanly emptied my plate, I stood up satisfied.
"Thank you for the meal. I'll be going now. I'll investigate the culprit as carefully as possible, so don't worry too much."
As I was greeting and about to stand up, Kavila moved the bear doll. The bear doll's mouth moved as if doing ventriloquism, and a voice came.
As if claiming that Kavila wasn't the one speaking.
"Be careful of Baldamir."
"Baldamir? The Red Blood Duke? Do you suspect the Red Blood Duke?"
"It's not a matter of whether he's suspicious or not."
Vampires are vampires no matter what anyone says. Monsters with beating-less hearts and cold blood, who drink human blood.
Possessing cold reason, they have extremely little emotional fluctuation. One could call them ruthless. They don't hope for the best possibility, nor do they reject the worst possibility.
"No one can definitively say who the culprit is. But, if. If Baldamir harbors other schemes."
Just as I came to Kavila first, just as that reason seemed the least dangerous.
Kavila also thinks and is wary with the same logic.
It's fine even if everyone else betrays. It's not dangerous.
But just one person. The strongest Elder, and the de facto ruler of this land. The Red Blood Duke Baldamir.
If he intends to cast off the shackles that bound him.
"...Now that Sister has cast off her shackles. Even Sister could be in danger."