Chapter 3041

The Blood Moon Festival is when the blood clan's power is most active, and also the most dangerous time.

For Saiyin·Sitelande, this is even more an inescapable torment, because he was not transformed via a normal Embrace, but was forcibly turned into a pureblood by that already fallen, legendary Second-generation Progenitor Prince Motis, in a way that was almost like bestowing a gift yet like a curse.

Saiyin inherited most of Motis's power, but because he never received the prince's blood grant and formal acknowledgment after the Embrace, this power and his body have always existed in a tearing pain.

Such pain can usually be suppressed by strong will and power, but during each Blood Moon, when the power tide peaks, the pain erupts a thousandfold, as if his soul were to be completely stripped from this body, so Saiyin needs to retreat to a coffin to rest.

Even Saiyin, or the family's generations as followers of that progenitor, the current branch's Count Nuoya has never truly seen the prince's true appearance; only…… the boy Fei'erwen who was raised in Motis's territory back then.

Fei'erwen leaned against the sofa, suddenly closed his eyes lightly, thinking of the blood servant Jin Chen he had seen that day, a hint of nostalgia and contemplation flashing across his brow.

He had no intention of telling this speculation to Saiyin, merely pondering to himself, rubbing the ruby ring on his index finger.

Saiyin could only try again, ordering the blood servant beside him, 'Bring the knife and the holy chalice.'

Ausiding's face turned pale again, but he dared not defy; he picked up the knife, gritted his teeth, and made a fierce cut on his wrist, blood surging out and dripping into the holy chalice.

Yilaina clicked her tongue beside him, 'Really boring, Sitelande, you're still the same, making even drinking blood so troublesome.'

Ausiding endured it, but secretly a hope ignited in his heart, and he took in half a cup of the blood.

The blood servant reverently presented the cup before Saiyin, who brought it to his lips, his blood-colored eyes lowering to look at the dark red liquid inside, he took a slight sip, and then his brow immediately furrowed in disgust.

Ausiding's blood was no different from that of other humans or any other race; it had still been able to fill his stomach before, but now that he had Jin Chen, he found it even more bland and fishy.

Saiyin splashed the remaining blood, staining the white tablecloth red.

'Share it with everyone.' Saiyin's voice was ice-cold, as if he had just tasted something nauseating.

The blood servant immediately divided the remaining blood into several small cups and sent them to the other Counts.

The several Counts tasted it with varied expressions, after all, the blood of a Holy Knight truly carried a unique flavor for them, making it a rare drink.

Ausiding: '……'

Ausiding lowered his head, pressing his lips tighter, it's fine, there's still the Blood Moon Memorial.

Yuge said his blood still had use for Saiyin during the Blood Moon Memorial; regardless of whether that statement was true or false, as long as Saiyin believed it, he had irreplaceable value, a reason he could not let him go.

——

After discussing the arrangements for the Blood Moon Festival, the six Counts and their accompanying blood servants were arranged to stay temporarily in the castle.

The atmosphere relaxed a little; Fei'erwen raised his freshly filled crystal glass, glancing casually toward the main seat where Saiyin sat, 'Saiyin, speaking of which…… why haven't I seen your First Attendant? That silver-haired, blue-eyed beauty from the banquet that day.'

Upon hearing that name, Saiyin's fingers gripping the wine glass tightened for a moment. "He made a mistake; he's locked in the basement."

"Oh? Locked up?" Fei'erwen raised his brows slightly, his tone growing more interested. "Since you're so dissatisfied…… how about I take him instead? You know I've always liked collecting beautiful and special things."

He watched Saiyin's face turn cold in an instant, smiling as he added, "I can offer ten magical blood diamonds of the highest purity. How about that?"

That price would certainly count as a grand gesture even for a vampire count, for magical blood diamonds not only boost strength but are also materials for certain ancient magic formations.

Saiyin: "……"

That audacious slave, who did those things to him and made him uneasy these past days, belongs to him, and only to him.

He hasn't yet uncovered the slave's secret, nor made him pay enough for that day's offense! How could he let someone else take him away!

Saiyin could not even bear Fei'erwen speaking of Jin Chen with that covetous tone; that slave's entire attention should belong solely to him, Saiyin·Sītè lán dé.

"No." Saiyin's voice was ice-cold. "I have already given him the Embrace."

"……What?!"

Fei'erwen's smile froze instantly. "You gave him the Embrace? Did it succeed? How is he now?"

Saiyin was stunned by his over-the-top reaction; a blood servant chosen for the Embrace is certainly not without precedent, so why was Fei'erwen so shocked?

However, as Fei'erwen pressed further, Saiyin himself also froze.

The Embrace…… right, the Embrace.

That day…… after the whipping, blood-drinking, chaos, and extreme sensory overload, he indeed, in extreme weakness and daze, felt Jin Chen bite his shoulder and suck his blood…… after which he passed out, and he had almost forgotten about it.

But had the Embrace succeeded? That day he was in terrible shape, his consciousness blurred, and Jin Chen seemed only to have taken a curious sip, not completing the full ritual; yet if he had, in his unconscious state, achieved some degree of the Embrace, even if incomplete……

It's bad.

He had just locked Jin Chen in the cold, damp dungeon.

"No, no……" Saiyin replied dazedly to Fei'erwen, his voice dropping unconsciously as if convincing himself, "What could happen to him."

Fei'erwen also nodded dazedly, took a sip of red wine, though his thoughts were completely different from Saiyin's.

If that blood servant truly had ties to His Majesty Metis, how could the Embrace have succeeded…… perhaps he was overthinking it?

Beyond the Water Mirror.

Jin Chen lowered his gaze to his own hand, thinking it strange; the first day he thrust his hand through Osdin's heart, nothing had happened.