Academic gathering with a lich-Chapter 550 - 503 The End of the Vampires

Naranya’s independent office had a window overlooking a meticulously cultivated garden, a masterpiece of the Bennett family’s gardeners. When Sharan Bennett served as a police inspector, those vibrant and colorful flowers, basked in sunlight, always managed to lift her spirits during exhausting times.

Today, the brocade curtains transformed the splendid, vivid flowers into mere ornaments on the fabric, and it was clear that the new governor didn’t care much for them. Ralph Butler’s office was like a dimly lit ice cellar, and although the garden outside was still tended with care, the only onlookers were passersby walking past the sheriff’s office.

Thirty minutes ago, the Specter’s carriage had reached the boundary of Naranya, scaring off the tenant farmers with an unusually cold wind. Afterwards, the two sheriffs returned home. Perhaps, for Ralph, the sheriff’s office was his home.

Ralph Butler was a respected sheriff, but that didn’t mean I was willing to interact with him.

This sentiment was widespread throughout the office; hardly any subordinate was willing to knock on the orange-hued nanmu door, except for the office’s former occupant.

Verlet leaned against the office’s bookshelf, which contained various cultural and geographical books she had collected, along with revised editions of the constitution.

Reading was merely her guise. Her gaze leapt over the top of the book pages, watching Ralph flip through documents at his desk. It seemed that reading was the only reason Ralph would not shoo someone away.

"I thought you would keep Lyle here, Naslan family. You and I both know what that means."

"I tried," Ralph replied without taking his eyes off the text, because if he didn’t, Verlet would intensify her meddling.

"You ’tried’? When you got off the carriage, you seemed to walk away quite carefree."

"I glanced at the kid; he didn’t get off with me."

"That’s it? Your unique, wolfish way of inviting? If you invited me out on our first date like that, I definitely wouldn’t have gone with you."

"...Lyle has his own thoughts, his own pursuits," Ralph set the papers down, "I understand better than he does what makes him happy. He has found a new home, a new family."

"Speaking of which," Verlet slowly moved behind Ralph, massaging his shoulders and leaning a burden on the back of his head, "Lyle, you said he had a child, right? A little cutie named Nia. What is she like? I want to meet her. She must be so adorable. Just by looking at that gorgeous little aunt, I can tell how fine the Naslan bloodline is. It’s a pity Nia didn’t reach Degonris; no, it’s better she didn’t, it’s too risky for kids. Nia must have been left in that legendary castle."

"Nia is right by Lyle’s side."

"?"

"Nia was also on the carriage at that time; I could feel it. Maybe it wasn’t convenient for her to meet with us."

"Nia... is she also a child from that lineage?"

"Alianna’s sister is a vampire, and Naslan’s gem exists in archives from a hundred years ago. But anyways, Nia is indeed of Lyle’s bloodline, of the Butler family’s bloodline."

"Darling..." Verlet tiptoed, allowing Ralph to rest on her stomach, "Aren’t you afraid? I mean our parents who have passed away. If one day you grow old and leave no offspring, I’m actually quite worried that they would scold you." All I, Verlet, am worried about is that you, Ralph, will be scolded, that’s all.

Ralph tapped his fingers lightly on the desk, apparently contemplating that scenario seriously.

"That’s impossible. I’m certain my deceased older brother has fully briefed them on Lyle’s great-grandson, so I just need to bring Lyle’s growth record and a portrait of Nia; they should forgive me then."

An arm trapped the werewolf’s neck, and Verlet dropped her disguise.

"In that case, I surely won’t forgive you. So Mr. Ralph, I hope you take the initiative, don’t make me force you."

"..."

Verlet released her wrist, trotting to shut the office door tightly. Just as Ralph prepared to jump out the window, expecting her to do something drastic, the female sheriff shyly snuggled up to him.

"Darling, I have a somewhat embarrassing question I want to ask you."

"...Go ahead and ask, but don’t be too outrageous."

"Just... well... when you turn into a werewolf, do certain parts of your body... also become quite... extraordinary?"

Ralph froze for a couple of seconds.

Ralph Butler covered his face and stood up, "Verlet, I’m starting to regret it, regret telling you I love you."

"Eh? You regret it?" Verlet was taken aback for a moment, then stomped her foot on the spot.

"Wait a minute! I just remembered, you never courted me, you never said ’I love you’! Make it up! Right now!"

"Then just consider that I said it." Ralph Butler pushed open the door. "I’m off on patrol."

"That doesn’t count!" Under the collective gaze of the sheriffs, the fiery female sheriff shouted and chased after him. "That time doesn’t count!"

... 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝒆𝔀𝒆𝙗𝓷𝒐𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝓶

The atmosphere in Naslan had become very strange.

Lyle felt an unprecedented amount of surveillance and felt goosebumps.

In his own room, those Specter maids were now openly squatting and peeking out. There were more than a dozen within Lyle’s sight, playing a game of poking ghosts with Nia.

That wasn’t the worst of it. When Lyle felt tired and wanted to go to bed for rest, he saw a statue of Helena standing in the corner of the wall, its closed-eyed delicate face facing him.

"Helena?"

"I’m here."

The voice didn’t come from the statue but from the leather bag at Lyle’s bedside.

A little white dragon was slipping out of it, Medusa climbed onto Lyle’s neck, rubbing his jaw with her cool, woodlike body.

"Are you still using Medusa’s body?"

"Of course, it’s more convenient to carry, isn’t it?"

"Then why put a statue in my room? It...it’s too lifelike, I feel a bit uncomfortable."

Medusa swayed her little head up and down and nodded.

"These statues are all Avatars I’ve sculpted myself. They serve as my body, as well as my eyes, and are more comfortable than this twenty-centimeter form. In fact, before your arrival, Lyle, my statues would be placed in every corner of Naslan. I moved them previously only because I was worried they might disturb your rest. As for now, I don’t think there’s a need to hide anything from you."

"After all, you’ve always been under Medusa’s surveillance, haven’t you?"

Helena’s voice was very soft, but it was as if it had a magic that made it difficult for one to feel opposed.

"Actually, I haven’t decided yet how to face Alianna, after getting to know you and Beatrice again."

"Is that so, then you have thirty minutes to think about it, dear little Lyle."

"What?"

"Dinner time is in thirty minutes, and Alianna is very much looking forward to your appearance."

Medusa’s eyes sparkled with light, and that voice carried a mischievous laugh.

"Beatrice and I are also looking forward to your performance."

Watching Lyle’s stiff posture, Medusa chuckled lightly.

"Stay calm, Lyle. We three sisters aren’t human, those moral concepts can’t bind our thoughts."

"Do as we please, that’s the style of chaotic evil."