Academic gathering with a lich-Chapter 485 - 447 Guarantee

"I understand your eager desire to visit Andrey’s abode, Kevin, but Andrey, for the time being, is not suitable for you. Of course, this is temporary. Moreover, I was just thinking of inviting you to stay at Naslan Castle, as Alianna is very keen to meet you, I can assure you she told me herself; she wishes to see my best friend."

Lyle stood in the study of the Cup of Luxury, with Nia’s tentacles behind him, assisting in tracing patterns on the marble floor. As a stranger to the Naslan Secret Realm, it was a necessary precaution for Kevin.

"I understand, I understand, Lyle. If you still consider me a friend, please stop with the unnecessary apologies. I’ll stay put, Mr. Lyle, I have no desire to step out of the circle you’ve drawn, to leave this lavishly decorated room, or to pass through that lovely pink door." Kevin flashed a smile, pausing in the middle of the marble floor, raising his hands in a gesture of surrender, his gaze moving from the golden candlesticks to the silk drapes, eventually resting on that door, the pink door marked with a wine cup that led to Andrey’s castle corridor.

The peach-pink wooden door was set in gilded stone bricks, its quaint, delicate pattern showing off a bright color, just like Lyle’s blushing face, "Alianna is the current president of the Cup of Luxury club, so, naturally, we follow her tastes."

Kevin arched an eyebrow, watching as Lyle drew the magic circle, seemingly observing a diligent bull at work. He crossed his arms and teased Lyle.

"Why have I never seen our ’pink boy’?"

Lyle turned around, sporting an amused smile.

"Perhaps because, Alianna, in contrast to bright colors, favors that boy a tad more."

Caught off guard, Kevin stood up straight, trembling, and eventually dropped a biting remark.

"When I meet Ms. Ariane, I will certainly tell her that the pink boy isn’t so bad after all."

Lyle stood up and patted Kevin on the shoulder.

"Of course, my friend, we shall have a delightful aftern... morning."

Nia’s tentacles engulfed the two men, and in the deserted Cup of Luxury, the runes on the floor slowly faded away.

The midnight of Naslan Secret Realm was like a sealed painting, and the dawn rising from the horizon was the hand unraveling the seal, ready to paint a new day upon the world.

The dew on the grass blades gathered the fullest fruit of the night, the best sleeping potion. Kevin was a lucky commoner, as sleep, like a dormant virus, finally erupted through his body.

Kevin stumbled forward, requiring Lyle to lead him by the hand. Lyle made sure he was in a half-sleep state; otherwise, when the Mercury Snake created a bridge for them, Kevin would have exclaimed in surprise, rather than covering his face to block the sunlight reflecting off its shimmering body.

Nia’s tentacles lifted Kevin up like a basket following close behind Lyle.

Lyle stroked Nia’s head, awaiting praise, "You’ve made sure Mr. Matt is comfortably settled, right? I do not want Kevin to worry about finding his squire passed out in Cassandra Cemetery when he returns."

Nia brandished a tiny fist sculpted by her tentacles, as if complaining about Lyle’s distrust.

"Nia did well! Nia has already taken care of Kevin’s servant, and he will certainly be found."

"Well then, you indeed did well, Nia."

"Hehe."

On the outer edge of Cassandra Cemetery, a man in nothing but underwear was bound to the top of a cross, his gleaming armor shattered and hung on the branches, forming a conspicuous arrow pointing directly at the man’s bare belly, which was cleared of belly fuzz around the navel, with black ink awkwardly spelling out below.

[Kevin’s Servant]

But Lyle was unaware of Matt’s plight, so Naslan welcomed a new day in the gentle sunlight.

When the ancient bronze gates of Naslan opened, a cool breeze slipped through the crack, transmitting Naslan’s concerns through the leather coat of the Plague Doctor.

Cold sweat streamed down Lyle’s face as he resignedly raised his hands.

"Actually, I don’t need it..."

The coat puffed up with the wind, Lyle’s overcoat seemed to have developed a will of its own, deciding to pursue its freedom. The hat and overcoat floated in mid-air, leaving Lyle’s body first.

Those indifferent eyes calmly articulated rejection, along with a firmness that urged Lyle to give up hope and accept.

The Specter Maid embraced Lyle’s overcoat, curtsying before floating into the castle.

Kevin was taken away too, his body dragged by two Specter Maids toward the guest rooms.

"What is that? A new experimental subject?"

A languid voice emerged from the shadows, hissing like a snake sated from a meal.

Beatrice Naslan, the vampire lady, holding a wine glass, leaned against an ageless, beautiful vase in a corner. Her breath, tainted with alcohol, mixed with weary and intoxicating eyes, looked at Lyle with a smile that nearly blended into the flush on her face. At home, the third of the Naslan wasn’t a particularly refined lady, which was evident from the anxious look on the face of the Specter Maid trailing behind her.

She wore a thin silk nightgown, with one strap sliding off her shoulder like a drunkard oblivious to the world, her skin pale as the moon like jade hidden in darkness. She was draped in a loose robe with a red lining, her disheveled black hair akin to a thicket of thorns in a garden, walking barefoot on the cold stone tiles.

"That is my friend, a human, named Kevin."

Beatrice touched her forehead, the Specter Maid taking over her task, the spectre’s icy touch further aiding in thought. Beatrice looked upon the maids and their charge vanishing at the end of the corridor, then returned her gaze to Lyle.

"You still have dealings with the outside world?"

"It has never stopped."

Beatrice shook her head, and Lyle didn’t understand if she was responding to him or merely struggling to stay lucid.

The vampire miss had become bored.

Turning, she walked back into the depths of the darkness.

"I will make a good impression on the guest, it relates to the honor of Naslan."

Lyle breathed a sigh of relief; his sister-in-law seemed in a good mood today. Beatrice had always been a concern for Lyle, worried that the grumpy third Naslan would be a nuisance at their meeting.

"Thank you." Kevin should be able to enjoy a leisurely time in Naslan.

"Goodnight, Beatrice."

The darkness, like a living thing, engulfed the vampire before him. In the faint light, Lyle could only see Beatrice’s smiling face as she turned back and her wine glass. She downed the drink in one gulp, set the empty glass on a nearby step, and then disappeared completely.

"Good morning, asshole."