"Count, regarding the reconstruction plan of the Northern Land College, the Church has sent over two docunts that require your review and signature."
"Additionally, Viscount Lien Castel has written to say that, as of yesterday, the audit team had successfully completed their scrutiny of three Baron Domains in the south. Moreover, two Baron families suspected of collaborating with the Bloodline are willing to pay a substantial atonent fee and surrender three castles and four manors to request your forgiveness."
"Viscount Castel has also attached the confession letters of the two Barons, awaiting your review and decision."
"..."
"Count? Count...?"
In the office where she dealt with public affairs, the Civil Affairs Officer read out the various docunts newly arrived from across the territory and gently called to Charlotte, who was dozing off behind the desk.
Charlotte jolted awake, instantly alert.
She numbly glanced at the growing pile of docunts on her desk as she handled them and nodded slightly:
"Mmm...I know, just leave the docunts there for now. I’ll look at them myself later."
"And what about the signatures?"
The Civil Affairs Officer asked cautiously.
"Bring them here."
Charlotte gestured with her hand, and the officer quickly brought forward the docunts needing signatures, presenting them with both hands.
Charlotte took them and scrutinized carefully, ensuring there were no issues, then picked up a quill and, with a flourish, wrote her elaborate signature using the pleasantly fragrant ink.
Having sorted the docunts, the officer bowed respectfully and took his leave, while Charlotte yawned, her eyes swelling with dark circles, the tiredness apparent in her gaze.
"Count, please enjoy so milk coffee and pastries."
Chief Maid Sherry brought over the steaming drink and respectfully set it before Charlotte.
The milk coffee, similar to the milk coffee from Charlotte’s previous life, was a blend of deeply roasted Elf coffee and hot milk sourced from Moon God Island, a common refreshnt among the Elf Clan in Mireya, popular across the continent for a millennium.
As for the pastries, these were wheel puff pastries from the Honey Workshop—a wheel-shaped puff pastry filled with nut cream jelly and almond powder.
Charlotte picked up the milk coffee, and the rich aroma filled her nostrils, revitalizing her spirit.
She took a sip, the sweetness perfect, the aroma intense and delicate, and the texture satisfying, making her nod in approval; she privately noted that Sherry was increasingly attuned to her taste.
"Count, while handling public affairs is important, please also take care of your health, ensure a good amount of sleep, especially since...your body is still growing."
Watching Charlotte savoring her milk coffee and pastries, her eyes blissfully narrowed, Chief Maid Sherry hesitated for a mont before speaking carefully.
Charlotte: ...
Although she knew it was well-intentioned, observing the gaze that fell upon her head and chest made the milk coffee in her hand suddenly less appealing.
"Mmm, I will be cautious, thank you."
Charlotte smiled and replied.
"If there’s nothing else, you may leave. I’ll enjoy so milk coffee, view the scenery outside the window, and rest alone for a bit."
Sherry bowed respectfully and slowly withdrew, while Charlotte sighed and wearily massaged her temples.
Ever since the Bloodline Count nad Yulster from the Nais Clan departed, she hadn’t slept well for two days.
It wasn’t entirely due to her busy schedule...though that was certainly a part of it. After all, Sebastian, who could help, wasn’t there, and many officers of the Directly Administered Domain had been dismissed following the audits, leaving them short-staffed; she had to tackle many things herself. More importantly, she had not slept well for two nights now.
Starting from two days ago, Charlotte constantly felt restless, or more accurately, as if soone was calling out to her.
She initially thought it might be Sebastian who had sothing to report again, but the Blood Favored’s Soul Contract showed no response.
Later, she wondered if the werewolf Luf was holding so religious ceremony or recruiting new believers, as this devout werewolf had been keen on "spreading the True Ancestor’s faith" since arriving in the Northern Territory.
However, after observing the points of light in the depths of her own spirit world, which symbolized the believers, she ruled out this possibility.
Charlotte then thought it might be a situation similar to when the Great Priest had prayed to her before...
But this call was much weaker than the Great Priest’s prayer, so much so that she couldn’t pinpoint the source of the call.
And although weak, this elusive call, like a mosquito, would occasionally buzz around her ears.
Especially at night, it would buzz incessantly, significantly intensifying and causing her blood to surge, preventing her from sleeping well.
Fortunately, during the day, this call would weaken a bit, and its frequency would also decrease, allowing Charlotte to possibly catch a short nap.
However, just as she finished her milk coffee and was about to rest in the armchair after finishing her pastry puff, that faint call ca again...
Not only that, but this ti it was stronger and clearer than on any previous day.
"Damn it! Where is this fuzzy, buzzing sound coming from, like soone renovating? Is it not botherso?!"
Listening to the call that seed to originate from her soul and perhaps also from her bloodline, Charlotte couldn’t stand it anymore.
She got up, ordered the Chief Maid not to allow anyone to disturb her, locked herself in her study, then delved into her consciousness, directly using the Blood Divine Power stored in the Blood Holy Scripture.
She refused to believe that using the Blood Divine Power couldn’t help her find the source of this call!
Under the protection of Blood Divine Power, Charlotte’s brilliant blonde hair instantly turned silver, and her deep blue eyes transford into an unusual and mysterious red-gold.
With the Divine Power flowing and her perception greatly enhanced, Charlotte adopted the "Observer" stance that seed to see through everything.
And this ti, perhaps because the call was stronger than before, she finally sensed the source of the call.
However, when Charlotte discerned the source, she was instantly stunned.
The source of the voice wasn’t from any other place but the Crimson Star Sea, representing the Bloodline in the depths of her consciousness!
No, more precisely, it was from the Star Sea, a red star that shone brighter than its companions!
"Is it the Bloodline? Are mbers of the Bloodline... calling ?"
Charlotte looked astonished.
"Wait... this aura, why does it feel sowhat familiar?"
She pondered thoughtfully.
After a mont of contemplation, Charlotte cautiously touched the misty ball of crimson light in her consciousness.
Imdiately afterward, she felt her consciousness being drawn upward, and after what seed like an infinite ascent through vast emptiness, she arrived in a dim room.
In the room, on the ground, blackened bloodstains ford twisted symbols that looked extrely familiar to Charlotte, much like her thorny rose.
In the corner, a disheveled, pale-faced nobleman sat on the floor, his expression numb as if he had lost too much blood, staring at the latest bloodstained symbol in front of him.
His gaze was dull, yet it seed to carry a bit of hope.
And the symbol in front of him was the one among all the ghost talismans scattered across the room that most resembled a thorny rose...
When Charlotte clearly saw who it was, she was imdiately dumbfounded:
"Count Yulster?"
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