55 My Pet

The Kingdom of Aldegia is located in Northern Europe, where the high latitude keeps the climate cold throughout the year.

A nation's culture is always shaped by its land and climate. In Aldegia, the harsh cold influences its culture and art, which lean towards simplicity and ruggedness.

The capital's streets and storefronts, though lacking the vibrant elegance found near the Mediterranean, possess a grandeur of their own, with their muted colors and sturdy structures.

Saigou walked through the streets of the kingdom with Avrora by his side, admiring the foreign scenery and listening to the street musicians' melodious tunes.

Avrora was dressed in a coat with wool trim around the neck, while underneath, she wore the same simple white off-shoulder dress she had on when she slept in the icy crystal coffin.

As a beauty known as the Sleeping Princess, her appearance was naturally refined and graceful. Her long hair, which gleamed with iridescence depending on the light, and her flame-colored eyes always caught the attention of passersby.

Avrora, filled with curiosity, glanced around as they strolled, her delicate and lovely face showing signs of intrigue and wonder.

When they had first arrived in this northern land, Saigou had been intrigued by its culture. However, after spending many years in Europe with Natsuki Minamiya and lingering in Aldegia for quite some time, the initial excitement had long faded for him.

Suddenly, Avrora's slender, pale legs stopped in their tracks.

Noticing that Saigou hadn't realized she had paused and continued walking ahead, she hesitated for a moment before reaching out her small, pale hand to gently tug at his sleeve.

"Hmm? What is it, Avrora?"

Feeling the slight pull at his cuff, Saigou stopped and glanced back curiously at the Sleeping Princess.

Avrora shyly pointed to the side with her free hand, her delicate face flushing with a hint of embarrassment.

Following her gesture, Saigou saw a street-side shop displaying an array of pastries that made one's mouth water.

As the scent of freshly baked treats filled the air, Avrora's throat moved, as if she had swallowed a bit of saliva.

"You want some?"

Saigou smiled as he understood her intention.

"Yes, I'm a bit hungry."

Avrora clutched her small stomach, looking up at Saigou with the shy gaze of a puppy awaiting its master's approval.

Her flame-colored eyes held a pleading expression, a far cry from the cold and ruthless demeanor she had displayed back on Gozo Island when, under Saigou's command, she summoned Alrescha-Glacies to destroy the island and freeze the sea.

"Aren't you a vampire? Shouldn't you be drinking blood instead? Why would you want to eat regular food? Isn't that a waste of resources?"

Saigou raised an eyebrow in mock skepticism.

"Do you have some misunderstanding about vampires? The act of blood-drinking is driven by instinct, not necessity for sustenance."

"…Vampires still need to eat regular food!"

Avrora corrected Saigou's misconceptions about vampires.

Truth be told, since arriving in this world, Saigou hadn't done much research on vampires. He assumed they were just like the ones in his previous knowledge, except for their ability to summon familiars.

It wasn't until now, through Avrora's explanation, that Saigou realized the vampires in this world were vastly different from what he had imagined. For them, drinking blood wasn't essential.

Upon reflection, it made sense. If vampires truly viewed humans as mere food, peaceful coexistence would have been impossible, and the Holy Ground Treaty would never have been established.

"This is quite amusing."

Saigou rubbed his chin thoughtfully, and for a moment, he even began to question whether the vampires in this world were truly vampires. Could they actually be more like a bunch of lampreys, just like in the Ygrdrasill?

Lost in his thoughts, Saigou walked leisurely forward, his tone calm and steady as he said to Avrora, "If you want to grab something to eat, I won't stop you."

"However, you'll have to pay for it yourself."

Upon hearing this, Avrora replied with a haughty air, "I have no money!"

Saigou turned to glance at her, observing her proud expression, as if not having money was somehow a badge of honor. With an exasperated sigh, he retorted, "This is the first time I've seen someone so brazen about wanting someone else to pay."

"I refuse your request! Remember this, Avrora—you're just a tool, my pet. A pet has no right to make demands!"

"You only get what your master is willing to give."

Hearing Saigou's cold words, Avrora muttered softly, "But if I don't eat, I'll starve."

"There's plenty of steamed buns and rice at the hotel. It doesn't matter what you eat as long as you're full."

"That's way too cheap! I don't want to eat rice every day!"

Avrora's voice wavered with timid complaints, but when she noticed that Saigou was ignoring her, she quickly fell silent, obediently following him forward.

As Saigou had said, she was nothing more than a tool—a vessel, the containment for Alrescha-Glacies."

Even though she had been given the name Avrora, she remained merely the 12th Kaleid Blood.

Her sole purpose in life was to participate in the Blazing Banquet and facilitate the resurrection of the Fourth Primogenitor.

Once the Fourth Primogenitor was resurrected, the Kaleid Blood like her would lose their purpose—and their lives.

Avrora understood the meaning behind Saigou's words. There was no need to show kindness to someone whose fate was already sealed.

And resistance was not an option. Even if Saigou were not the one standing before her—the devil who had absorbed the Root—she would follow anyone who took part in the Blazing Banquet. Her entire existence was devoted to the Fourth Primogenitor's revival.

Let alone now, with Saigou himself being the Root. As his vessel, Avrora couldn't possibly disobey him.

They passed through the wide streets, eventually stopping in front of a restaurant that appeared quite upscale. Saigou came to a halt and glanced back at Avrora, who was dutifully trailing behind him. With a smile, he said, "You really are a well-behaved little pet. Since you've been so obedient, I suppose I shouldn't treat you too poorly."

"Come along now. The place you pointed at earlier was just a simple pastry shop. Sweets like that will rot a child's teeth. It's better to have a proper meal."

With that, Saigou stepped into the restaurant.

Avrora was stunned for a moment, but her face quickly lit up with excitement. She hurriedly stretched out her slender legs and ran after Saigou.

"Since you are offering a sacrifice to me, I shall graciously accept it. And I shall forgive you for the rude words you spoke to me earlier!" Avrora declared, her tone self-righteous.

Saigou was already used to the way she spoke. This vampire may have been timid at heart, but she always made a point of acting proud and arrogant.

***

Bonus Chapter:

100 Power Stones = 1 BC

300 Power Stones = 2 BC

500 Power Stones = 3 BC

700 Power Stones = 4 BC

1000 Power Stones = 5 BC

***

If you want to read up to 70 chapters ahead, don't hesitate to visit our patron and get a discount of up to 40%: pat reon . com / XElenea