Chapter 3033: Blood-Stained Addiction 09

The bed was huge; Seyn only took up a small middle section. Jin Chen stood at the edge, looked at him a while, then rudely grabbed Seyn's shoulder and shoved him inward, clearing most of the outer side.

While still asleep, being moved made Seyn slightly uncomfortable; he unconsciously furrowed his brows and let out a faint nasal sound, but did not wake.

Jin Chen lay down without much concern, and casually pulled most of the blanket over to his side. After lying down, he turned to face Seyn and poked his cheek with a finger.

"My Lord Count, thanks for your blessing, good night."

After saying that, he closed his eyes, preparing to sleep.

Just as Jin Chen was about to fall asleep, he sensed a gaze—like eyes from a distant place—piercing through the void toward the castle, scanning from the highest tower to the deepest cellar, from the eastern corridor to the western garden, leaving no inch unexamined.

Which bored vampire stays up in the middle of the night to peek into someone else's bedroom?

He has no habit of being watched while he sleeps.

Jin Chen's brow twitched slightly, and the hand hidden under the blanket lifted a bit.

Outside the window, the roses twining the castle's outer walls trembled lightly as if blown by the wind, and an invisible barrier rose.

That distant, icy gaze paused for a moment outside the barrier; a few seconds later, the feeling of being watched vanished without a trace.

——

The annex where the blood servants live.

Ostin was enduring pain all over his body, difficulty applying to his back wounds a pungent-smelling dark-green ointment said to have a slight healing effect on vampire-inflicted wounds; each touch made him break out in cold sweat and clench his teeth.

Jin Chen did not return.

Since this afternoon, Jin Chen's figure has not appeared in the blood servants' quarters.

The steward gave them no news; other blood servants also didn't know where Jin Chen had gone, merely whispering guesses: that the first attendant might have been kept by the Count's side, that the Count might be very pleased with him, or that he might not return tonight.

But Ostin didn't think so; that Jin Chen probably wouldn't have a good ending.

Thinking this, Ostin felt an inexplicable sense of superiority welling up inside him.

He knew he differed from other blood servants; he was not of mixed blood, not a lowly blood servant, but a Holy Knight sent by the Holy Court, wielding the power and blessing granted by the Holy Court, and the Count treated him specially.

Although he had been whipped this morning, leaving his body covered in wounds, that was because he refused to cooperate, to bow, or to yield; if he were willing to soften a little, to lower his stance a bit, the Count's attitude toward him would be completely different.

Jin Chen being summoned by the Count to serve would likely not fare better than Ostin; perhaps he'd be abused even worse, drained of blood and tortured to death—for a vampire noble like the Count, killing a mixed-blood human needs no reason.

Ostin's lips curled slightly upward.

He even hoped Jin Chen was already dead.

That way he could continue enjoying that special treatment, and keep maintaining among the blood servants that subtle, superior status.

He knew such thoughts weren't entirely upright, but he was a Holy Knight of the Holy Court, here to fulfill his mission, to save more people; before such a grand goal, a little dark mentality should be forgivable.

Ostin, in pain, turned over, buried his face in the pillow, and forced himself to sleep; he needed to recover strength quickly, complete the Holy Court's undercover mission, and exchange it for higher status and greater power.

——

Dawn.

Ostin changed into a clean white robe, carefully bandaged his wounds, and pushed the door open to go out.

He knew that, as a blood servant, voluntarily attending to the master's morning affairs was a way to show obedience and diligence, even though vampires do not strictly follow human schedules.

Ostin walked down the long rose‑vine corridor; the morning wind slipped through the blossoms, bringing an overly rich fragrance. The blood servants and guards in the castle seemed to know he was special to the Count; when he asked to see the Count, the guards even voluntarily pointed the way, giving Ostin added confidence.

Ostin arrived at the carved gate depicting bats and thorns, hesitated a moment, raised his hand, and prepared to knock lightly.

The door was pushed open, and faint voices could be heard from inside.

Ostin prick up his ears; the low voice inside sounded like someone complaining, somewhat familiar, but he couldn't recall where he'd heard it.

He hesitated a moment, then pushed the door open and stepped inside; Ostin froze in place.

Crimson drapes fell in heavy layers, shrouding the massive four‑poster bed in dim light; through the gaps he saw Jin Chen leaning against the headboard, his white robe loosely hanging, head slightly tilted, and beside him……was Count Seyn Strandle.

The ever‑lofty Count actually leaned in close to Jin Chen; from Ostin's angle he saw the Count's hand even resting on Jin Chen's waist, a posture of intimate indulgence Ostin had never witnessed.

Jin Chen tried to push that head away from his neck, murmuring helplessly, "Don't bite the same spot……Seyn, are you that hungry?"

Seyn's lips pressed against the not‑yet‑healed bite mark, his nose brushing the pale skin, his posture intimate to the point of greed: "Shut up, you're noisy."

Jin Chen: "……"

Jin Chen was still a bit sleepy, yawning with drooping eyes, then tilted his head; his lazy gaze swept through the curtains outward, he raised an eyebrow amusedly and chuckled, "My Lord Count, I'm going off duty."