Shall We?

Carmilla was both shocked and confused.

She couldn't help but look at her partner. Thalia, as well, showed perplexity.

"My lady, what for?" Carmilla asked. 

Avelina sighed and replied, "It's personal, but I need it to do something important."

"I hope you are not going to kill yourself, my lady." Thalia chirped in, her eyes tinged with suspicion.

Avelina beamed. "I won't. Death through the use of a knife is quite painful and slow. I'd rather jump off a building with instant death guaranteed."

"Is that so?" Thalia looked at Carmilla, seeking assistance.

Avelina nodded. "Yes. So if you don't mind, please help me with the knives."

Carmilla and Thalia stared at her. They tightly balled their fists and slowly bowed to her.

"Give us a moment then, my lady," Carmilla said.

Together with Thalia, she left the room and shut the door behind them.

As they proceeded to the kitchen, she glanced at Thalia with furrowed brows.

"What do you think she needs a knife for?" she asked with curiosity.

"I don't know. Since she isn't planning on unaliving herself, I wonder what she wants to use it for," Thalia said.

Carmilla thought for a few seconds before passing on her thoughts. "Do you think she wants to kill someone? Humans are very cunning, so do you think it may be... his highness?"

"Carmilla!" Thalia immediately looked at her with a furious look on her face.

"What?!" Carmilla frowned at her.

Thalia lowered her voice and said, "How could you say that? Don't you know where we are? Even if that is what she wants to do, we need to mind our business! We will go and get her the knives and forget about this, do you understand?"

"Yes," Carmilla replied, nodding her head. "I just can't help but think about it. If she is not going to kill herself, then it is definitely his highness."

"It is none of our business." Thalia glared at her as she opened the door to the kitchen.

She stepped inside, and Carmilla followed after her. They ambled to the knife rack and grabbed two sets of knives.

They returned to Avelina and lightly knocked on the door.

"Come in." Avelina's voice reverberated.

Thalia opened the door, and Carmilla followed in. She walked to Avelina and handed the knives to her.

"Are these to your liking, my lady?" she inquired.

Avelina examined one of the knives, unintentionally slitting her finger in the process. She hissed a bit and curled her lips, her smile stretching from ear to ear. 

"These are great. They are very long for a knife and super sharp."

She raised her head to look at Carmilla, but at the sight of the expression on her face, she became bewildered.

Carmilla's eyes were widened, and they were filled with torment. Her jaw was clenched, and her facial muscles appeared strained. Her body was trembling, and her hands kept twitching nonstop. One could tell that she was internally fighting something.

Avelina followed the line of her gaze and stopped on her bleeding finger.

Wait a minute! Is she in this state because of my blood?! She immediately wiped off the blood and stood up from the bed.

"You can leave," she said, dismissing them.

Carmilla nodded with effort and turned around. Thalia, who had glimpsed her situation, rushed up to her and helped her out of the room.

Avelina gripped her beating chest the moment the door was shut and took a long, deep breath.

She fluttered her lashes and hurried into the bathroom. She ambled to the sink and turned the tap on. As she washed her hands, she stared at her reflection in the mirror.

"I'm not going to die! I can't—I can't let them kill me," she said, shaking her head as she spoke and shut her eyes.

"My lady! It's time for you to leave!" Thalia's voice abruptly sounded from outside the room.

Avelina's heart skipped a beat, and she swiveled her head to look at the door. She left the bathroom and walked to the bed.

She grabbed the knives and carefully lifted her dress. Underneath, the garment she wore had a long pocket.

She hid the knives in there and let go of her dress, adjusting it afterward. Once again, she took a deep breath and strolled to the door.

She pulled the door open and stepped out. She met Thalia and about seven bodyguards standing with their heads bowed.

"Bonsoir, my lady!" they greeted her.

Avelina blinked her eyes and awkwardly smiled. She wasn't French but was a simple girl from Scotland who had come to France with her family intending to stay permanently in the city of Rennes. But unfortunately, she accidentally ended up in the hands of vampires.

Regardless, she could say she knew basic French quite well. 

"Bonsoir," she responded.

"Let's go, my lady." Thalia gently grabbed her slender hand.

She led her out of the mansion and walked her towards a Limousine. 

"This will be your ride, my lady," Thalia said.

Avelina looked at the car and replied with a nod, "Okay."

She lifted her dress to enter, but before she could, Santino appeared out of the blue with a frown on his face.

He yelled, "Halt! My lady will be taking a different ride chosen by the third young master!"

The faces of the royal guards turned ashen, and the one who seemed to be the chief royal guard stepped up.

"She will ride in this car, Mr. Santino! The old master chose it himself, and I cannot follow the third young master's order."

"My lady is the third young master's wife. She will ride in the car that he chose," Santino declared, walking toward Avelina.

He extended his gloved hand. "Shall we?"

Avelina grabbed his hand without hesitation, and they proceeded to leave, but the chief royal guard, who was unwilling to let go that easily, made a move.

However, it was futile.

About ten of Draven's royal guards who had followed Santino rushed out and stood behind him with guns in their hands.

Old Master Lenort's royal guards on the other hand raised their guns as well, each ready to pull the trigger if the opponent made a move.

"Surely you don't want blood to be spilled today, do you, Mr. Canute?" Santino questioned, his manner stoic and resolute.