Chapter 22: Noble Square

I walked up the stairs, exiting Scarlet Detention Center. The sun was shining brightly. How long has it been since I felt the sun on my skin?

The students looked busy, rushing back and forth. It was that time of the year when the Blood Festival would take place—a festival where the rule against drinking blood was temporarily lifted. Only on that day could a Vampire consume blood without becoming a Fallen.

I had never taken part in it, but maybe this year, I would.

"Silvey, come on, why are you just standing there?" Lily asked, pulling me by the hand.

"Lily, where are you taking me?" I asked, following her.

"It's a surprise," she replied.

"Silver, I will take my leave now. There's still work I need to do," Emily said before waving and heading toward the main building.

I couldn't even say farewell to Emily as Lily just kept dragging me along. We soon arrived outside the Academy gates, where an extravagant purple carriage with red lines and beautiful patterns stood in front of us.

A servant opened the door, allowing us to enter. We climbed inside and were taken to a destination only Lily knew. I decided to ask her a serious question while we were riding.

"Lily, can I ask you something?" I asked seriously, staring at her.

She was leaning against the window, staring outside.

"Sure, ask me anything—except about your surprise, that is," she said jokingly, giggling.

"Do you know about the Vladrest incident that happened ten years ago?" I asked, placing my bag beside me.

"Yes..." she said, her full attention shifting toward me.

"Why do you ask?" she added.

"I can't tell you, not now... Still, this is important to me. Please tell me everything you know about it," I asked, almost sounding desperate.

"Silvey, you know I can't disclose that information, even if it's you asking," she replied, her tone almost intimidating.

I knew it. The royal families know what happened to Emily's—no, the Vladrest family. Over the past year, I had discovered something so obvious that I couldn't believe I hadn't noticed it sooner. My mother died ten years ago, and the Vladrest family fell into ruin at the same time.

The two are connected... Does that mean Mother was killed? Why can't I remember how she died? Did she even die, or did she disappear? Wait! How did she even look? Why can't I remember her face? I clearly remembered it at the Ancient Cave—

"Argh!!!" I shouted, clutching my head and lowering it.

"Silvey! Are you okay!?" Lily asked, concern written all over her face as she held my shoulders.

"Yes... I just felt a little dizzy, that's all. I'm fine now," I lied, not wanting to worry her.

"Are you sure?" she asked, her grip tightening.

"Yes... I feel okay now," I reassured her.

The carriage stopped. The doors opened, and a servant stepped forward to inform us of our arrival.

"Silvey, welcome to the Noble Square," Lily said with a bright smile.

The Noble Square—just as its name suggests—was a place where only Nobles could set foot. That also meant there were things here that we normal Vampires could only dream of seeing, let alone owning.

"Is it okay for me to be here?" I asked nervously, looking around.

"Yes, because you're with me," she said confidently, taking my hand and leading me outside the carriage.

I keep forgetting that Lily is a Royal, although she doesn't act like one.

We stepped outside the carriage. The place was filled with shops on every corner. The entire road seemed to shine, as did the shops but what really caught my eye was the fountain in the middle of the square. It wasn't filled with water but with melted magion crystals. The fountain glowed gold as the sun reflected off the liquid. Was that why the air felt so clean and fresh?

"So... What do you think of this place?" Lily asked with anticipation and excitement.

"It's amazing. Everything about it—I can't even see anything I would be dissatisfied with," I answered, still in awe of how they had built this.

After I complimented the place, Lily wore a big, proud smile. I wasn't exactly sure why she would be proud just because I liked it. Was it because she got to share it with me?

"Silvey, follow me. First, we're going to a clothing shop," she said, pulling me along—again.

It reminded me of how the prison guard used to drag me around. I hope I haven't gotten used to it. It certainly felt that way.

"Wait... Why are we going to a clothing shop?" I asked, walking behind her.

"To buy clothes, silly. Why else?" she replied, giggling.

"I know that, but—"

"We're here," she said, cutting me off.

We stopped in front of a tall building made entirely of magion crystals. It sparkled in the sunlight. The shop's name was Noblesse.

We entered. A red carpet covered the ground, and giant magion lights hung from the ceiling. We walked toward an elevator, where a worker stood inside.

"Which floor will it be?" she asked.

"The tenth floor," Lily replied.

The elevator functioned using the high-level spell Gravitation, which was why every elevator required a Vampire with the earth element to operate. But why were we going so high?

"Lily, why are we going to the tenth floor?" I nervously whispered, leaning toward her ear.

"Because the higher we go, the better the quality of the clothes," she answered as if giving me a lesson.

"Doesn't that mean it will also be much more expensive?" I asked.

"No, it won't be as expensive as you think. Could you please tell us how much the cheapest item on the tenth floor costs?" she asked the elevator attendant.

"The cheapest item would be around 1,000 Magio," the attendant replied calmly.

"What?!?!" I exclaimed, shouting louder than I intended.

"See? It's not too expensive," Lily said nonchalantly.

1,000 Magio was enough for me to never work a day in my life. Just how wealthy was her family?

"We've arrived at the top floor," the worker said.

"Thank you! Silvey, follow me!" Lily said, excited.

She was really acting like a child with that huge smile on her face.

***

(Alfred's POV)

"I can't believe Lily would pack my dresser full of such frilly clothes," I sighed, looking at the dress I was wearing.

"William, did you fi—"

"Brother?" I heard a voice say.

I turned around—it was Lily. She immediately rushed toward me and hugged me.

"Brother, what are you doing here?" she asked, eyeing me with suspicion.

I couldn't tell her I was buying other clothes because I didn't like what she had picked for me.

"I... came here to buy you a present... Yes, I was looking for something you'd like."

"Is that really true...? Mhmm," she said, her gaze intensifying.

"Lily, is this person your brother?" a beautiful silver-haired girl asked.

"Yes... No, I mean she's my sister," Lily quickly corrected herself.

Thank you, silver-haired girl, for saving me from Lily's wrath.

"Lily, is she a friend of yours?" I asked, redirecting her attention.

"Yes... and no. He is actually a boy, and his name is Silver. And yes, he is a friend," she answered.

"What!? Silver!?" I accidentally yelled out loud.

"Sister?" Lily asked, confused, staring at me.

I could feel Silver's gaze on me as well.

"Yes? Do you know me?" he asked.

"No... I was just surprised that your name matches the color of your hair," I said, avoiding eye contact.

I couldn't believe Silver had changed so much since I last saw him when I was still Professor Muland. Why is his hair so long? Is he going for a new look? And what's with that black patch of hair?

But he really looks like a beautiful girl. I wonder how much stronger he's grown.

But why is he here with Lily...? Don't tell me she's going to make him wear dresses.