Chapter 65: Elegy - The Death of Emily

Emily swiftly spread her wings, preparing to escape from this encirclement. Suddenly, a massive net appeared in mid-air, ensnaring Emily within its grasp. Trapped in the web, she felt powerless, like a trapped animal, as the net forcefully brought her crashing to the ground.

The assassins quickly reorganized themselves, running around the netted Emily just as they had before. However, this time, as they ran, swords emerged from the shadows, striking out in a methodical and precise manner, piercing Emily's body without hesitation.

In the blink of an eye, Emily's body was covered in wounds, blood flowing profusely. The black evening gown she wore was stained with blood, creating a dark red color that was both dim and striking. The scent of blood hung heavily in the air, tempting some of the lower-ranked servants of the nobles, who were unable to resist its allure. The fresh blood flowing from Emily's body was far more enticing than the day-old blood in their high-stemmed glasses.

"Emily!"

"Emily!"

Benjamin and Yuri simultaneously cried out, their voices filled with anguish, sorrow, endless worry, and hatred towards Gaillion.

However, this was only the first wave of the attack...

Emily's wings, unable to retract in time, were now riddled with holes. As the second wave of assassins approached, just as a sword was about to strike Emily, she swiftly folded her wings to protect herself. At Gaillion's command, all attacks ceased, the fierce wind came to a sudden halt, and the assassins stood motionless around Emily, their heads slightly bowed. Gaillion was now standing beside Emily, having grabbed hold of her wings the moment she retracted them. Emily, weakened and unable to break free, felt a sense of shame wash over her, accompanied by a searing pain that caused her body to tremble.

Gaillion carefully examined her wings. The black feathers shimmered with a silky luster, smooth and supple, resembling that of a black swan—noble and elegant, yet also akin to a fallen angel in the mortal realm, depicting sorrow and descent.

A burning sensation coursed through Gaillion's hands, a fiery pain that pierced his heart. He abruptly released Emily's wings, which had already been scorched as though exposed to the most venomous sunlight, now reddened and charred. The smell of burning flesh wafted from his palms.

The others in the hall also noticed the sudden, overpowering smell. They looked at the center of the dance floor in astonishment, their gazes filled with disbelief, fixated on Emily, the beautiful girl with mysterious powers.

A storm brewed in Gaillion's eyes, a glimmer of murderous intent flickered, but it was only momentary. The calculations in his eyes grew even more intense.

A vampire disguised as a servant suddenly seized the opportunity and lunged at Emily, biting into her throat. Blood sprayed into the servant's mouth as they greedily drank. In an instant, Gaillion flew up and kicked the servant away.

The servant was sent flying high into the air, crashing heavily into a large stone pillar. Their eyes widened, and they instantly turned to ashes.

"No!" A piercing cry resounded through the entire castle, filled with grief and mourning.

A woman with purple hair and green eyes dashed towards the spot where the servant had disappeared, but not even a trace of ashes remained.

"Ah!" A heart-wrenching scream that moved anyone who heard it.

"Hmph, just a servant!" Someone in the crowd sneered at the princess—the highest ruler of the Makawi tribe, their eyes filled with disdain and mockery.

"You don't understand. That servant was her cherished one," another voice chimed in, dripping with sarcasm and indifference at witnessing a life fade away.

"What a disgrace to the Makawi tribe..."

The woman's name was Tsukikami Kaoru, the princess of the Makawi tribe. The servant was the human she fell in love with. In order to be together with him forever, she defied the opposition of her tribe and turned him into a vampire through the First Embrace. However, due to his inexperience, he could only temporarily assume the position of a servant and remain by Tsukikami Kaoru's side. Despite his low status among the Makawi tribe, he was considered superior to thousands of others.

The Makawi lineage had inherent flaws from its origins. Pure-blooded vampires were indistinguishable from humans, but those who were turned after the First Embrace suffered from neurological disorders, often leading to madness. Controlled by their inner desires, they frequently acted in ways that tarnished the reputation of the Makawi tribe.

Starting several thousand years ago, the Elder Council of the Makawi tribe passed a resolution to strictly forbid the presence of offshoot bloodlines. The Makawi tribe was the only one among the thirteen clans to maintain pure-blooded vampires, which contributed to their strength.

The servant was an exceptional case from several thousand years ago. Ignoring the opposition of the Elder Council, Tsukikami Kaoru turned a human into a vampire through the First Embrace. However, when the servant caught the scent of Emily's blood, he couldn't control his inner desires. The more blood of Emily he consumed, the more his consciousness became blurred, ultimately losing control and lunging at her...

Tsukikami Kaoru suddenly turned around, her eyes bloodshot as she stared at Emily. Emily was covered in wounds that hadn't healed yet, the pain preventing her from noticing Tsukikami Kaoru's malicious gaze.

Tsukikami Kaoru erupted with rage, rushing into the middle of the dance floor and grabbing a sword, driving it directly into Emily's chest.

Trapped in the web, Emily couldn't resist, and Tsukikami Kaoru's action took everyone by surprise. Gaillion hadn't expected her to disregard the laws of the Clandestine Party and lose control over a servant. Everything happened in an instant—the sword pierced Emily's heart perfectly, without any deviation.

The entire hall fell silent in an instant. People could feel the sudden surge of gloom emanating from Gaillion, as if the hall had gathered dark, oppressive clouds that pressed down, causing the air to freeze and suffocate everyone present.

Benjamin and Yuri had forgotten to react, feeling as if the sword had pierced their own hearts. The pain was so intense that they couldn't even muster the strength to scream. Their souls were consumed by darkness, leaving only the sound of dull blades tearing flesh...

Emily's eyes were clear and empty, radiating a peculiar brilliance. They resembled the bright Sirius star, stealing away its radiance. Her lips curved slightly, as beautiful as a blooming lotus, but it was fleeting. The sparkle in her eyes suddenly dissipated, leaving only lifelessness. As the last glimmer vanished, she closed her eyes slowly and fell into her own pool of blood. In this battle, her blood was the only thing she had to offer. Devoid of the power to fight back, her life was stolen by a single sword.

At that moment, the wind ceased, the water ceased, the clouds ceased, and time stood still. The world was engulfed in boundless darkness, complete silence. Occasionally, the cry of an eagle echoed in the air, singing a mournful dirge that tugged at people's heartstrings.

The grand hall lost all its colors in an instant. The candlelight flickered without a breeze, creating an eerie and tranquil atmosphere. In the midst of summer, the temperature in the hall suddenly dropped to freezing point. A chilling wind rustled, causing even the vampires, who couldn't feel the temperature, to shudder and feel a coldness that tore at their skin.