Although the contract for the tea restaurant had been signed, it did not open immediately. Ina, who had picked up a tea restaurant for free, was of course willing to wait for the North Wind Merchant Company's surrounding shops to be tidied up and open together. The North Wind Merchant Company also had its own publicity plan, and Ina's suggestions were taken down seriously by David.
Now, Ina was sitting in the largest and most magnificent auditorium of the Star Academy.
The opening ceremony of the Star Academy was being held.
As one of the sponsors, albeit reluctantly, Ina was also fortunate enough to be invited to attend. Out of respect for her abilities, despite not being in the capital at the time, Dean Helena had specifically instructed others to place Ina in a relatively forward position before she left.
Although she had anticipated that the process of this so-called opening ceremony, which should actually be called a "research report meeting", would be somewhat lengthy and boring, Ina had prepared several cups of milk tea in her backpack and enough snacks. Still, she found herself fighting sleep.
Ever since she inherited the Black Dragon lineage, she hadn't felt this sleepy for a long time! But she couldn't sleep, not because she had to maintain any dignity, there were not many people here who would notice her, but because of that strange dragon's passive skill: Anti-Gravity. Once she fell asleep, she would restore the weight of the dragon, and Ina did not have the courage to crush the academy's chair in front of everyone.
Ina, wanting to distract herself, started to look at her neighbors. On her left was a noblewoman, whose identity card on the table showed she was called Mrs. Rodney. She was not young, but her back was still straight, her mouth was tight, and she was looking seriously at the front. She didn't seem approachable.
To Ina's right was a businessman with a small mustache, his identity card read "Miller Merchant Company: Mr. William". Mr. William obviously wasn't very interested in the content of the meeting either, because the two people's glances awkwardly met in mid-air as they looked around.
Ina had no choice but to whisper: "Good afternoon, Mr. William, would you like...some milk tea?"
William was clearly taken aback, but everyone present was rich or noble, so he didn't want to embarrass the lady next to him, so he just nodded with a smile. However, he was thinking, is milk tea milk or tea? The ceremony had been going on for so long, even if it was kept in a space ring, the drink should have changed in taste and would not be suitable for drinking, right?
Ina handed William a sealed coconut fruit milk tea and a matching straw, and he quickly understood her gesture and inserted the straw into the milk tea. He hesitantly brought the straw to his lips, contemplating whether he should pretend to take a sip when a faintly aromatic scent tantalized his nose.
It seemed pretty good. In the end, William took a sip. His eyes lit up immediately! After taking two more sips to confirm the taste was real, William, as a businessman, immediately started calculating the selling price of this so-called milk tea. The raw materials must include tea and milk, plus the chewy fruit pieces he occasionally bites into. In the end, he guessed that the selling price of this cup of milk tea should be between 10 and 20 silver coins. If it were served in a white porcelain tea cup in a specialized tea restaurant for the nobles in the afternoon, even 30 silver coins wouldn't deter nobles from purchasing it.
Mr. William became intensely curious about the girl next to him. Bringing out such an innovative drink and maintaining the taste at its best, she likely owns a space ring implanted with both spatial and time magic. This means the girl is either a magic prodigy valued by her family or an heiress of a large family. But he has been operating in the imperial city for many years and has never heard of such a person.
Just as William was lost in thought, the long-winded professor finally stepped down from the podium, ending his report. The next person to come up, wearing a black uniform and having broad shoulders and long legs, strode toward the stage with all eyes in the audience focused on him.
It was Duke Elvys, and he was about to give a speech on behalf of the ruling council.
William straightened up, temporarily forgetting the mysterious girl sitting next to him.
Suddenly, Ina wasn't sleepy anymore.
Not far away, the man with black hair and red eyes had exquisite features and superior looks. His pale skin made his lips look thin and red. His cold gaze, however, dispelled that slight sense of desire, making him seem full of contradictions, with both seduction and restraint coexisting in him.
Ina's gaze brushed past the golden tassels on Elvys's shoulder. His well-fitted uniform outlined his good figure, making him look as straight as a sword. The uniform buttoned up to the top, the belt cinched at the waist, and the black gloves that only revealed a small part of his fair wrist. His dress was indeed unified, carrying out the style of abstinence to the end in a dazzling fashion.
Looking further down...
Suddenly, the system popped out inappropriately: No lewd!
Ina was speechless: The part below is the desk where professors put their documents and materials!
Elvys's speech was very brief, so brief that when he stepped down from the podium, people's gaze still followed him unwillingly.
The ceremony was over and everyone began to get up and leave. Mr. William was planning to strike up a conversation with the young lady next to him when he saw her get up hurriedly and walk out. She seemed to have thought of something and turned back, looked into William's eyes, and said, "If you're interested in milk tea, feel free to visit the Dragon Flame restaurant next to the academy."
———
Inside the lounge prepared for the Duke at the Stars Academy, Elvys sat on the couch, his top button unbuttoned revealing a small section of his fair collarbone, and his gloves were thrown onto the table. His slender hand was clenching tightly, veins protruding, showing that the owner of this hand was in great pain.
Asland stood worriedly by the side, after much hesitation, he finally spoke, "The power of the curse is getting stronger, and you're gradually weakening because you refuse to drink blood. Why don't you, bite me?"
Elvys glanced at him coolly, "I never break a promise I've made."
He is a vampire, yet he received genuine support from the common people not only because he drove all vampires out to the Duchy of Safi, but also because he has been restraining his thirst for blood for a hundred years. As long as he has not drunk blood, he is not a true vampire.
Is a leader who craves the flesh and blood of his subjects worthy of trust?
Indeed, Elvys is loved by everyone now, and if he would weaken or even die without drinking fresh blood, many people would voluntarily, even honorably, offer their own blood. But if it is rational to offer fresh blood to maintain his life, would it become natural to select higher quality blood to make him stronger and live longer, and to treat the owners of the blood he likes preferentially and relocate them separately?
Collecting blood tax, raising blood servants, the amount of a few milliliters will increase to one-third of a person's blood, voluntary will evolve into compulsory, honor will fade into fear. Isn't this the life of the people under the rule of vampires in the Crete Empire? Isn't this the rule that Elvys detests and vows to overthrow?
If he started drinking blood, the reputation he had built among humans over hundreds of years would crumble little by little, and people would live in suspicion and fear. The Duke of Safi and his group of vampires waiting to seize power would take advantage of the situation and implant their corrupt framework into the new empire.
"If not drinking blood means death, it's a kind of wish fulfillment." Elvys pulled up a corner of his mouth in a mocking smile.
"You and I both know, you won't die, you'll just get weaker and weaker until the curse takes away your sanity." Asland was visibly disapproving, "You didn't have to attend today's ceremony. With so many people in the venue and such an abundance of vital energy, I really don't know what I would do if you lost control."
"If I don't show up for too long, Duke Safi will throw a party celebrating my imminent death." His weakness was almost a well-known fact among the vampires, or else Duke Nox of Safi, who had been silent for many years, would not have been restless recently.
Elvys suddenly remembered something important and raised his head, "Is Princess Orlan in the Duchy of Safi, has Dean Helena set off?"
"Yes", Asland nodded, "Duke Safi sent a messenger to me, urging me to take Princess Orlan away as soon as possible, otherwise many vampires would like to taste whether the royal blood is particularly sweet."
On this point, Elvys and Duke Knox of Safi surprisingly shared the same stance. No matter who the next ruler of Orlan was, this Princess Vilanthe would be the most beneficial to them. Once the ruler and the church come into conflict, the church would probably have no energy for some time to make moves detrimental to the Silver Empire behind the scenes.
"Let her come to the capital, she would want to see the capital." Elvys's words had just fallen when Asland suddenly looked out the window alertly, "Someone is approaching, I'll check it out."
Their conversation was confidential, and there were never any guards or maids around them, and they had also asked the academy not to let anyone get close.
Asland climbed out the window and took a few steps to find a young girl standing in the garden. She was looking at the window of their room from afar, her features delicate yet cold. The breeze rustled her long hair and skirt, revealing a slender ankle.
Seeing Asland appear, the girl's gaze shifted, her expression not as ethereal as just now, but rather a bit more gentle.
"Miss, what are you doing here? This is a restricted area." Asland cleared his throat softly and reminded her.
"Oh, I didn't mean to," the girl looked slightly surprised, a smile playing at the corners of her lips, "I'm just looking for a cat."