"Ancestor, the border situation is urgent, the Werewolf Race's troops have been growing increasingly reckless lately."
"However, I've noticed something amiss in recent days, and they've retreated slightly, so they likely won't advance further in the short term."
Xavier twirled a steel pen in one hand, the other resting on the files on the desk, his gaze coldly scanning the black text without a trace of emotion.
"Anything else?"
The other ministers in the office exchanged glances, and the one at the front said respectfully:
"The Sacrifice to God day is coming soon, Your Majesty must prepare early."
As the words fell, silence descended upon the office.
A long while later, Xavier massaged his temples, his voice tinged with weariness: "Understood, you're dismissed."
The Sacrifice to God day was a longstanding tradition of the Vampire race.
Legend had it that the Vampires thrived thanks to the protection of a divine deity, whose Divine palace was built on the Vampire border.
Every five years, the Ancestor must journey to the Divine palace and make sacrifices to the deity.
He would go without food or drink for a week to demonstrate his sincerity, only then could he return to the manor.
Though Xavier did not believe in deities, such customs were unavoidable.
So whenever the subject was brought up, Xavier's expression would sour.
The ministers knew in their hearts, but some words could not be left unsaid no matter how unpleasant.
After Xavier waved them off, the ministers filed out one by one.
As soon as the lead white-haired minister opened the door, he spotted a petite figure lingering by the doorframe.
It was Chloe.
She clung to the frame, peeking furtively inside.
Seeing this, the white-haired minister's eyes crinkled in amusement as he called out softly:
"What brings the young lady here?"
Chloe looked up at him and answered honestly: "I came to play with Father."
All Vampires knew that the current king doted endlessly on his only daughter, and before the young lady, even the formidable Ancestor was but an ordinary father.
The white-haired minister smiled and urged: "If that's the case, the young lady should go in quickly."
"But His Majesty is not in the best mood today."
This gentle reminder drifted past Chloe's ears.
She nodded, and once the ministers had left, Chloe immediately skipped inside.
The door swung open with a loud bang.
Xavier, who had been resting, looked up with slight annoyance, but his gaze softened when he saw Chloe tiptoe in and shut the door.
Like an iceberg melting.
He asked wearily, pinching the bridge of his nose: "What brings you here?"
Chloe approached and sat on the little chair prepared for her, her eyes twinkling:
"I heard you'll be leaving, can I come with you?"
As the words left her lips, Xavier's lips tightened slightly.
He sighed: "There's nothing fun, you'd best stay home."
Chloe persisted: "Then let me guess why I came back for the family visit day."
Xavier raised his brows: "Why?"
"Because my dear Father is here in the manor," Chloe immediately launched into honeyed words, massaging Xavier's arm as she spoke. "If it weren't for my Father being here, I'd much rather stay and play at school."
She deliberately used a pitiful tone: "But no sooner had I returned than you're leaving again, and they say you won't be back for a long while. What's the point of me coming home then?"
Xavier: "..."
He said softly: "Just a few days apart and the young lady's words have grown ever sweeter."
"To make wanting to play sound so moving, as expected of you."
Chloe widened her eyes in feigned shock: "How could you think of me that way?!"
"I really did miss you, Father!"
Xavier scoffed: "Sure, I believe you."
He knew Chloe's nature thoroughly, and Chloe knew his. Xavier was well aware that when he was around, Chloe would take advantage and be as unruly as she pleased.
When he was away, Chloe would embrace the belief that her father was the greatest, and be even more unrestrained.
Once when Chloe was little and Xavier had stepped out, by the time he returned, Chloe had vanished.
He was frantic, nearly losing his mind, until on the third day, a servant reported seeing Chloe and Anderson playing at training pigs in the fields.
Those pigs had been so well-trained that with just a command, they would move in unison. Even if they couldn't be sold as pork, they could easily make their owner a tidy sum at the circus.
From then on, Xavier realized he could never view this daughter of his with ordinary regard.
For he would never know what mischief Chloe might stir up next.
But now, seeing Chloe's hopeful eyes, Xavier felt a pang of reluctance.
He asked: "Do you truly wish to come with me?"
Chloe nodded vigorously.
Xavier warned her: "Once there, you won't be able to eat for a week."
Chloe patted her belly indignantly: "Am I the sort to be greedy?"
Xavier gave no indication either way.
Chloe angrily swatted his arm.
"..."
Xavier withdrew his hand.
After a long silence, he sighed: "If you insist on coming, then come. We depart tomorrow, don't oversleep."
"Yay." Chloe inched closer and asked, "So where are we going?"
Xavier looked down at her: "The border between the Elf Race and the Vampires."
...
Puze County, the border between the Elf Race and Vampires.
This was a desolate, sparsely populated small town.
For miles around the town stretched endless yellow sand, the only path leading to Puze a narrow river snaking down from the towering mountains.
The roads here were uneven, so traveling by carriage was less convenient than by horse.
But in these wild outskirts, even the Vampire king and princess had nowhere decent to rent a carriage.
So in the end, they rode an ox cart into town.
Xavier was impeccably dressed in a suit, his long hair tied low at the nape, a stray stalk of hay atop his head.
Yet his expression remained solemn, regal handsomeness masking severity.
In stark contrast was the disheveled girl.
Daniel and the others wore casual clothes, sprawled haphazardly in the ox cart.
Katherine had even woven Chloe a grass circlet from the hay, which Chloe now wore.
Chloe didn't mind the grass crown. She sidled up to Xavier and plucked the stalk from his head.
As she did so, she remarked wryly: "Tsk, to think the mighty Ancestor would one day be reduced to such straits."
Xavier: "..."
He pressed down Chloe's hand helplessly and said, "That's why I didn't want you to come with me at first, this place is too dirty and messy."
"What's the big deal?" Chloe shrugged, pointing at Daniel in the distance. "Look at that guy, he even dared to jump into a cesspool, a little dirt and mess like this is nothing."
"..."
A cesspool?
Xavier's expression suddenly turned unpleasant.
On the other side, Daniel heard this and didn't seem offended. Instead, he played with some dry grass and said:
"So what? Didn't I win in the end?"
"It's the result that matters, not the process. You commoners just don't understand, do you?"
