As the Progenitor's concubine, I was somewhat of a celebrity. Any vampire would naturally recognize me, and even among the humans walking the streets, a third of them would nearly utter the word "concubine" just from seeing my face. Half of those even came up to speak to me directly.
"Excuse me, are you perhaps—!"
Being the Progenitor's concubine wasn't something I needed to hide, and the Progenitor Tirkanjaka was too great a presence in the duchy to hide anyway. Instead of concealing my identity, I boldly proclaimed it.
"Yes. The Progenitor's concubine. That's exactly who I am."
Then the people surrounding me gasped in admiration.
"Ooh...! I thought so!"
"She has the look of a concubine!"
"I'm not entirely convinced, but she wouldn't be scamming the Progenitor!"
What's this about the "look of a concubine"? And scamming? Anyone watching would think I'm trash who sucks out all the sweetness and then dumps women. I don't give off that kind of impression, do I?
"Excuse me, but how old are you?"
"Shh. That's a secret. I've decided not to count age in front of Tir... Please don't ask why. You'll be arrested for blasphemy."
"Where did you first meet the Progenitor?"
"When I went into the endlessly dark and cold underground searching for treasure, I met there by chance. Or was it inevitable? The Progenitor was also a treasure to me, after all."
"What's the Progenitor's secret to the taste of blood he's captured?"
"That goes beyond privacy; it's a state secret. I'd like to keep it to myself."
Gradually, people flocked around me. Unconcealable curiosity poured toward me. Rather than avoiding their gazes, I enjoyed them as I walked down the street. The crowd grew larger, and even indifferent people took interest and peeked in. In an instant, a procession large enough to fill the street was formed.
Humans living in the Duchy of Mist, where all things rarely changed, were thirsty for interesting news, and the concubine brought by the Progenitor was an especially juicy topic to chew on. It was a romance between the Progenitor, higher than the heavens, and a mere human.
"What's the cutest thing about the Progeni—"
"Enough."
Thud. Thud. Footsteps rang out clearly on the noisy street. The humans who had crowded in like clouds flinched and turned toward the direction of the voice. Then they hastily bowed their heads and lowered their eyes.
"C-Count Erte!"
Ain. The Elder's vassal, a noble vampire who inherited their power and authority.
Depending on when they were made vassals, their age and power vary greatly. But one thing is certain: they possess power that even average humans would find difficult to match.
"Foolish livestock. Do not obstruct the path of the Progenitor's concubine."
Moreover... the Ain had gone through much turnover. Through natural selection, only the more powerful individuals survived. Count Erte was one such case.
The blood flowing along the floor crawled up the humans' ankles. Red spider webs were drawn across their skin. And a moment later, the humans surrounding me pulled away simultaneously as if tugged by threads.
Kabila's blood silk—she had applied it to seize numerous humans and move them all at once. It was hard to call it overwhelmingly powerful, but this delicacy was a feat reaching the pinnacle of blood manipulation art.
The humans seemed accustomed to such forced movement, letting out only slight cries. Still, it was equally unpleasant, and dissatisfied grumbling lingered in the air.
Regardless, Count Erte, a loyal subject of Baldamir and the great Ain who managed the Castle of the Full Moon, parted the crowd and approached me. A woman wearing a vintage-style suit and hat bowed her head.
"Concubine. Why do you walk the streets without an escort?"
"No, is my official position 'concubine'? Why do you call me concubine?"
"I call you concubine because you are the Progenitor's concubine."
"Then what does that make you, bowing your head to a concubine?"
"Ain are the Elder's vassals. Compared to you, the Progenitor's concubine, we are lower in rank."
To Count Erte, that was common sense. Even if ten of me gathered, we couldn't beat a single Ain, but just for the reason of being Tir's concubine, she treated me with respect.
"Where are you headed? Baldamir's faithful subject, Erte von Blood, shall escort you."
"I'm thinking of going to the Castle of the Full Moon for now... I just came out to look around the streets for a bit."
"I shall escort you. Please enjoy your outing as much as you wish, Concubine."
Tch. I wanted to look around leisurely by myself, but the vampires won't allow it. Runken was like that, and now even an Ain? The Yeilring would be the same, so I probably won't be able to travel comfortably alone in this land.
"Do I really need an escort?"
"The presence of an escort doesn't necessarily mean you are in danger. It is a tribute the vampires offer to the Progenitor, and also a way to display your authority."
"Nor does it mean I'm not in danger, right?"
"...I shall guide you."
From somewhere, two Yeilring suddenly appeared and began guiding the people. The humans who had crowded in moved according to their instructions as if accustomed to such things. In an instant, the street became sparse again, and I began a boring sightseeing tour under Count Erte's attention.
I expected as much, but while I'm Tir's concubine, I won't even be able to pretend to be ordinary. With no people and nothing to do, getting bored, I glanced at Count Erte following half a step behind... and realized something.
Count Erte? I feel like I've heard that name somewhere. Where was it?
Ah.
"Oh, come to think of it, there was a Yeilring named Finlay who fell into Tantalus."
Count Erte, who was walking ahead, faltered.
Surprised by the sudden mention of a subordinate's name? No. Vampires don't have that level of affection. She had reached an ominous conclusion the moment I brought up Finlay's name.
Finlay, who was searching for the Progenitor, visited Tantalus. Now he's gone. Between the journey connecting Tantalus and the Duchy of Mist, an unexpected accident befell Finlay.
And that accident could only occur under the Progenitor's tacit approval or will.
Because under the Progenitor's power, vampires are immortal.
"I cannot begin to fathom what rudeness my inadequate Yeilring might have committed."
"Finlay wanted to start a war. So he wished for the Progenitor to return to the duchy as soon as possible. But then... he crossed the line."
"Ah. That brainless bastard went and did it..."
Count Erte felt humiliated. Not because she feared the blame might splash onto her if guilt were pursued. She was purely angry that a Yeilring, no different from her own limbs, had committed such rudeness.
"If I may be so bold, may I know what rudeness was committed?"
"While Tir was experimenting with this and that using his heart, he apparently entrusted Finlay to make his heart beat instead. While Tir temporarily entrusted his body and fell asleep."
"That...!"
It was a more outrageous act than imagined. To the extent that having three generations of one's family exterminated wouldn't be enough to atone. Beyond mere disloyalty, it was treason, and Count Erte clutched her chest in agony.
"...For that sin. I shall report it myself and go to end my life."
"Is there really a need to mention it? Tir has buried it in the depths of his memory right now. Bringing it up might only displease him."
"Then I shall request Lord Baldamir to take my life!"
"Why so extreme? If Baldamir's vassal's vassal just keeps his mouth shut, it can be as if nothing happened. Wouldn't that be good for both Tir and Baldamir?"
It was a proposal to hide the truth while knowing it. Extremely disloyal, but it leaves the best outcome. Count Erte, who had been so humiliated, was briefly tempted by my words.
Through that opening, I finally asked what I had been curious about.
"By the way, I'm curious about something. Are there cases where a vassal makes their own judgment without their lord's orders?"
"...There are cases where they misinterpret and go out of control."
Count Erte, speaking as if making an excuse, soon added more.
"However, as you said. Finlay's will is no different from my will. He received my blood, followed what my blood commanded, and sympathized with my blood."
It's hard to say Yeilring are different from Ain. A Yeilring who received an Ain's blood rages when the Ain rages and feels sorrow when they sorrow. The blood flowing in a Yeilring's body and its power move their emotions. As that process repeats, not only the vassal's ideology but even their personality comes to follow the lord.
In the first place, emotions are ultimately responses of the body.
It's not for nothing that vassals are extremely referred to as "part of the body."
"Finlay was hoping for war. What does that mean?"
"The struggle against the Celestial Gods is the duchy's destiny."
"And so?"
"...However, the duchy has been too peaceful lately. Power that overflows but cannot be used is meaningless. In contrast, the Holy Court is weakened by consecutive misfortunes. They failed in their ambitiously prepared conversion of the Barbarian Lands, and while claiming to mediate the conflict between the Empire and the Demonic Federation, they are being shunned by both. If we are to act, now is the opportunity."
It is indeed a good time for war. But that doesn't become a reason to go to war. Let's try reading her thoughts.
'Power that cannot be used is meaningless. Now that the Elder is dead, before the Duchy of Mist falls further behind... we must use this power.'
She's in a hurry? How strange. Anyone's mind becomes anxious when they're being chased. But for vampires, it's a somewhat special thought. For a vampire who has lived a thousand years, death is a distant story, and because of that, they can't help but be relaxed and carefree about everything.
Count Erte is also an Ain. A vampire for whom death is distant. But the reason she has such thoughts... I said as if to confirm.
"You said there are generally no cases where a vassal makes their own judgment without their lord's orders, right?"
"That is correct."
"That applies to you as well, doesn't it? Not as a lord, but as a vassal."
After I subtly said that.
Count Erte straightened her body as if she had received a revelation. Count Erte, gazing into empty space with eyes filled with awe, glanced at me and then walked ahead of me.
"Follow me."
I also followed Count Erte without a word.
The Castle of the Full Moon, its surrounding streets. The duchy's capital, where darkness always lingered, had especially many shadowed places even as a capital. Count Erte knew these alleys thoroughly, and among them were places exclusively for vampires. Count Erte parted the curtain of darkness as if entranced, and a modest but practically furnished office appeared.
There.
"You've been busy moving around. Concubine. Almost as much as me."
Blood Duke Baldamir was waiting for me even amidst his extremely busy affairs.