The vampire stylist, with a powder puff in hand, gently applied makeup to Miss Golden's face. The makeup she used was produced by one of Adele's companies—a brand that had become a favorite among the nobility for its quality and high price. The steep cost wasn't seen as a downside; instead, it was a mark of prestige. After all, what's the point of being nobility if you don't stand out? To them, high prices were a reflection of their elevated status.
The fact that the products were also effective only made them more desirable. The nobles weren't fools; they wouldn't pay for something expensive and useless. They would only part with their money for products that were truly valuable.
When Miss Golden questioned the stylist about the youthfulness of Adele's maid, the stylist didn't think much of it. She had been too focused on her work to notice who had entered the room, let alone the appearance of a maid. But since Miss Golden asked, the stylist offered a plausible answer.
"Is that so? Well, I've heard that some humans naturally look younger than their age. These types of humans are highly favored by the nobility—rumor has it their blood tastes better, too. They're often called 'baby-faced,' I believe. Perhaps that maid falls into that category."
"Is that so?" Miss Golden responded, still somewhat skeptical. But aside from this explanation, there wasn't much else to consider. After all, she was certain the maid was human.
Adele had been staying at Golden Castle for a week now. During this time, many guests had arrived, including some former classmates. After greeting Miss Golden, they would often come to visit Adele. She found the stay at Golden Castle increasingly tedious. More than mingling with other vampires, engaging in empty conversations with forced smiles, she longed to return home and check on the progress of the counterfeit money project.
The research facility was thriving. In addition to the counterfeit operation, the improvement of firearms and the upgrade of the farm's work system were also in full swing. The introduction of these talented individuals had lightened Adele's workload considerably.
If things continued at this pace, she estimated that within twenty years, she and Molly could retire together.
Although Adele was a workaholic, she knew that Molly preferred a more relaxed lifestyle. The days Molly had been away only confirmed this for Adele—without Molly around, she had little motivation to work. So, retiring together seemed like the best plan.
After much anticipation, the evening of the engagement banquet finally arrived. Knowing Adele's preferences, Lady Black had sent her own maid to help Adele dress and style her hair. While tonight's event was centered around Miss Golden and the young master of the Green family, Adele still needed to appear dignified, without overshadowing the couple.
Adele's dress was brought from her estate. The gown was a deep reddish-brown, with a metallic corset cinching her waist. The hem of the skirt featured intricate gold patterns layered with a touch of fur, and a feathered decoration hung from the metal belt. The design was bold, yet it exuded both beauty and authority.
This design was Molly's idea. Back in her previous life, she had enjoyed dressing up avatars in fashion games, and the gothic style prevalent in this world suited Adele perfectly. As the most prominent new leader in the social scene, Adele needed to stand out, setting trends rather than following them.
Even Lady Black was impressed by the dress. Simple, elegant, beautiful, and commanding—Adele's dress had it all. The design was more flattering than current styles, and Lady Black couldn't help but feel a twinge of envy. She even whispered to Adele behind her fan, "Your tailor is quite skilled. Perhaps you could have them make a couple of dresses for me as well."
"Mother, just give me your measurements, and I'll have them sent to you," Adele replied.
Lady Black felt slightly affronted by the lack of a personal fitting, but she agreed nonetheless, for the dress was indeed exquisite.
Adele's hairstyle was kept simple. Her hair was swept to one side, with a few dark red flowers pinned at her temples. After applying makeup from her own line, Adele looked stunning. If Adele didn't have a task to complete at the banquet, Molly might have stolen a kiss, ruining her lipstick in the process.
With a playful wink at Molly, Adele left the room, accompanied by Lady Black's maid. It was time to attend the banquet.
Adele's patience throughout the week had a purpose beyond simply honoring Miss Golden. She had a more significant goal—to subtly plant a seed of doubt among the nobles, making them question whether the bank had enough blood to back their currency.
Blood was the lifeblood of vampires, in more ways than one. It was their food, their power source. If they didn't trust the Council and the thousand-year-old system, they would never trade their precious blood for mere paper. If the bank couldn't provide the blood to match their currency, the entire system could collapse, dragging down the Council's authority with it.
Adele's role tonight was to begin this subtle campaign. She wouldn't outright suggest that the money might not be backed by blood—that would be foolish. Instead, she would quietly stir the pot, planting a small question that would grow into a storm.
The banquet began with Miss Golden and the young master of the Green family making their grand entrance. They danced together, the young master, now a strapping youth, trying his best to match Miss Golden's imposing presence. Yet, even in his maturity, he was still overshadowed by Miss Golden, who, with her tall stature, heels, and black gown, easily commanded the room.
No one found it strange—after all, he was marrying into her family.
After their dance, Miss Golden and her fiancé began making rounds, greeting guests. When they reached Adele, Miss Golden noticed her empty hands and had a server bring her a glass of wine. The warm red liquid swirled in the glass, undoubtedly mixed with blood. Adele accepted it but didn't drink, merely holding the glass as she exchanged pleasantries with Miss Golden.
The young master of the Green family noticed this. Like all vampires, he held grudges, and he hadn't forgotten how Adele had rejected him in the past. As the proud heir of a noble house, he was used to being desired, especially after his mother had hinted that both Adele and Miss Golden might be interested in him. It had been a blow to his ego when he realized they wanted nothing to do with him.
Now, seeing Adele's apparent disinterest in the wine, he couldn't resist a snide remark. "Is the wine not to your liking, Miss Black? I've heard that the blood from your estate is of the highest quality, so I suppose nothing else compares."
Adele remained unfazed, showing no sign of offense because she knew Miss Golden wouldn't let it slide. Sure enough, Miss Golden pinched her fiancé's ear, silencing him immediately. He shot her a glare but held his tongue.
Miss Golden apologized to Adele, "I haven't taught him well. My apologies."
"No harm done," Adele replied coolly.
The two future heads of their respective houses exchanged gracious smiles before Miss Golden moved on with her fiancé, introducing him to others. After they left, one of Adele's friends sidled up to her, noticing how she was swirling the wine in her glass without drinking it. "Not going to taste it? I hear it's quite good this time."
She wasn't talking about the wine itself—blood was the key ingredient that determined quality for vampires. If there wasn't blood in the drink, it was considered worthless. The fact that the Golden family was hosting meant the blood in this wine was likely of excellent quality.
But Adele only smiled, her expression haughty. "Perhaps, but I think the quality of blood has declined compared to previous years."
Her comment struck a chord with the other vampire. "Yes, it does seem that way. Good blood is becoming more and more expensive."
This wasn't surprising. The young researcher had explained to Adele that over time, the purchasing power of currency would decline, and inflation would rise. Although the value of money was decreasing, most vampires couldn't grasp the economic concept. To them, it just seemed like blood was becoming more expensive.
"But the bank's purchase prices haven't increased much," Adele sighed, expressing her concern as a farm owner. Her comment caught the attention of other nearby vampires, who began to exchange worried glances and whisper among themselves.
Adele: Time to stir up some trouble.