Chapter 42: The Lingering Shadow of Grief

“Chloe, your tea.”

Miko picked up the teacup from the tray and placed it on the table. However, her hand trembled, causing the tea to spill.

The crimson liquid spread haphazardly across the table, some drops even staining Chloe’s gown, a stark contrast to her vermillion eyes.

“I… I’m so sorry!”

Miko frantically pulled a crumpled cloth from her maid uniform’s chest pocket and wiped the table clean. A faint redness encircled her eyes, and two tear tracks still marred her face.

Clearly, her brother’s death had deeply devastated her.

Lucia rushed over, her expression grim. Yet, upon seeing that the maid was Miko, all her anger dissolved into a sigh.

Normally, Lucia would have dragged Miko away for a stern ‘lesson,’ but now, everyone showed Miko immense tolerance.

Miko herself, however, seemed oblivious to this leniency. She stood rooted to the spot, awaiting Lucia’s judgment.

“You should make Chloe another cup.”

“Eh, but…”

“No, thank you. Drinking tea keeps me awake. Let Miko tend to something else.”

Chloe waved her hand, dismissing Miko and Lucia. She remained alone on the castle terrace, gazing out at the endless golden rice fields.

A light rain had fallen last night, leaving the air fragrant with the mingled scents of earth and flowers, remarkably fresh. The overcast sky cast a pure black film over the land, mirroring Chloe’s own somber mood.

‘Xiao Nuoqi… No, Longinus. What exactly did her final words mean? And what did Alysia mean by calling her sister the ‘New God’ and Xia Ni the ‘Old God’?

Chloe did not believe this was merely a coincidence of names. She clasped her hands tightly, striving to piece together the fragmented clues, yet she was on the verge of breaking her mind trying to fathom the truth behind it all.

‘Perhaps I should just take things as they come.’

“Hmm, Chloe is up quite early, isn’t she?”

Xina yawned as she stepped onto the terrace. She wore a white nightgown with a deep V-neck that revealed her well-developed cleavage, while her fair, slender legs peeked subtly through the fabric.

She patted her sleep-flushed cheeks, trying earnestly to rouse herself.

Xina’s alluring figure made Chloe’s heart race. She cleared her throat twice, diverting her gaze elsewhere.

However, Xina leaned closer to Chloe, forcefully turning her face towards her. Chloe struggled to keep her eyes from focusing on the awkward expanse of Xina’s chest.

“Why won’t Chloe look at me? Do you hate me, after all?”

Xina’s pouting, aggrieved expression was overwhelmingly impactful. Chloe quickly waved her hands in protest.

“No, no… It’s just that you look so beautiful today, it makes me… envious…”

Xina looked down at her clothes in confusion. Suddenly realizing she was still in her nightgown, she quickly retreated a few steps, a blush spreading across her face.

“Ahem… Chloe, you don’t… happen to like girls, do you?”

“My sexual orientation is perfectly normal,” Chloe stated.

‘Of course, that’s as a boy.’ Chloe’s gaze still involuntarily slid towards Xina’s chest.

“You little pervert! Why don’t you look at your own chest!” Xina lightly tapped Chloe’s head. “I’m going to change!”

Xina stomped off in a huff, and Chloe shook her head helplessly.

Although Chloe possessed breasts, they were comparable to those of a young girl, only allowing her to wear Xina’s hand-me-down bras from five years ago. Lately, however, the curves of her chest seemed to have grown slightly larger.

‘Could it be that breasts become larger after regeneration?’ Chloe entertained a bold thought.

Xina skipped back, now clad in a long blue dress with a grey inner lining, appearing exceptionally fresh.

“How do I look? Is it pretty?” Xina struck various poses, eager to display her outfit to Chloe.

“Not bad,” Chloe commented succinctly, though she secretly preferred Xina’s nightgown.

“How perfunctory.”

Xina’s face fell. She pinched Chloe’s cheeks, surprised by how soft they felt. Soon, both her hands were tugging and pulling at Chloe’s face.

“Chloe’s skin feels so good, as tender and supple as a newborn baby’s!”

Chloe had, in fact, only recently been born; this body was less than two months old.

‘Huh? Two months?’ Chloe suddenly realized the significance of this timeframe. She had learned in middle school physiology class that girls typically had their periods every month. Xina had experienced hers once, but Chloe hadn’t felt anything, nor had Alice. Alice’s situation was understandable, having lived for centuries, practically an ancient being. But what about Chloe’s body? Could it be that vampires didn’t have menstrual cycles?

While Chloe pondered this issue, Lucia had already set out a fragrant breakfast for the two of them.

“My ladies, please enjoy your meal.”

Lucia had changed into a maid uniform. Her hands clasped in front of her skirt, she bowed respectfully, just like a true maid.

“Lucia, aren’t you the butler? Shouldn’t a maid be doing this?” Xina inquired.

Lucia’s face showed a hint of difficulty. She cleared her throat twice and explained, “Actually, Sirena Castle is quite short-staffed these days. After that tiger broke in last time, nearly half of the servants submitted their resignations to me.”

“What? Servants can resign?” Chloe exclaimed in surprise.

In her understanding, medieval servants were no different from serfs; their personal freedom was entirely in the hands of the lord. Resignation was a right that only came with capitalist society.

Lucia glanced at Chloe, covering her cheek with her hand. “Lord Norlin decreed it. He abolished the contracts made between the previous lord and the servants, replacing them with something called an ’employment system’… though I don’t quite understand what it means.”

“That’s so advanced?” Chloe gasped.

“That’s something from hundreds of years ago, you know. I heard this system was invented by the founder of the Sirena family; my father merely continued the old ways.”

‘The founder of the Sirena family? It seems he was also a Traverser.’

“Where did that founder of the Sirena family go?”

“He passed away, of course. It’s been hundreds of years; he’s not like you and Alice,” Xina replied.

‘Indeed. It seems not every Traverser can achieve immortality.’

“Chloe, after breakfast, would you like to come to town with me?” Xina leaned closer to Chloe.

“Town?”

‘Didn’t the Avros territory only consist of farmland and a castle?’

Xina seemed to discern Chloe’s thoughts. She corrected her, slightly annoyed, “The Avros territory has a central town too, not far from Sirena Castle.”

Lucia nodded. “That town is called Linber. Many merchants gather there, so it’s quite populous and has plenty of goods. I often send people there to procure supplies.”

‘Linber? Chloe felt like the name sounded familiar…’

“Is the current mayor of Linber still Ford?” Xina asked.

“Old Ford fell ill and died a few years ago. The current leader, Lynch, was elected by the merchants.”

“Hmm, how can merchants just elect a mayor? Shouldn’t it be personally appointed by the lord?” Xina said, dissatisfied.

“Indeed, I also felt it was inappropriate, but at the time, Lord Norlin was a bit… obsessive, so he allowed it.”

“No, we must go teach those cunning merchants a lesson!”

‘You just want to go have fun,’ Chloe thought, helplessly.

“We could also take the opportunity to look for new servants for Lucia,” Chloe suggested.

“What are we waiting for? Let’s go quickly!”

Xina could barely conceal her excitement; she was already rubbing her hands together in anticipation.

Chloe watched Xina with contentment. It was rare for her to be so happy; she hoped this easygoing life could last a little longer.