The intricate necklace resembled more of a lotus-edged lace collar, its design matching the bracelet, with delicate diamonds adorning the edges, showcasing the exquisite and complex craftsmanship. This jewelry designer was certainly no ordinary figure!
Tonight's birthday banquet was held in honor of his only daughter, Monica, at his mansion on the Left Bank of Paris. As soon as the car stopped, the door on the other side swiftly opened and closed, and Lionel was already gone from his seat. By the time I reached out to push the door on my side, it had already been opened. In my fluster, he gracefully extended his hand to me.
I took his hand, stepped out of the car, and just as I steadied myself, he moved to stand on my left, pulling out the expensive baron's ring and slipping it onto my thumb. With a scolding tone, he said, "From now on, don't take it off again. This is your private property—don't lose it!"
I gave him a disdainful, sarcastic look. "You really do understand my thoughts. I was already planning to demand it back!"
"Hahaha..." His laughter, so mischievous, managed to provoke most of the bodyguards in the mansion.
Elder Henry was a low-key man, always adhering to the vampire's principle of seclusion, strict with himself, and even more so with his own clan, the Lasombra, to an exceptional degree. His entire family partook of cloned blood.
He was also a successful politician, securing a high-ranking position in the political world every three hundred years, moving with solemnity through conference rooms, offices, and podiums, as if he were truly human.
The Vampire King Barnett held him in particularly high regard, originally intending for him to help Prince Rui Jones ascend to the throne. However, the elder declined, preferring Lionel, the prince who had been demoted to the rank of baron.
As we stepped out of the parking area, I was left speechless by the lush, verdant greenery that surrounded us, feeling as though I had stepped into some kind of fairyland. The massive tree canopy blocked out the sky and the moon, shielding us from the direct sunlight during the day. An arched floral walkway led directly to the grand hall, covered in vines with an exotic fragrance.
Just as we reached the entrance of the hall under the guidance of the butler, a girl in a red princess dress rushed into Lionel's arms.
Lionel, holding a gift box in one hand and my hand in the other, stood stiffly, offering a dry smile. "Monica, happy birthday!"
She looked like an Indian girl, with large, dark eyes and wheat-colored skin. Her long hair was elegantly styled, exuding both refinement and vitality. She appeared to be in her mid-twenties, though with vampires, age was always a mystery—she could easily be six or seven hundred years old.
From her, one could guess why Elder Henry favored Indian robes. Monica's mother was a vampire of Indian descent, though she had passed away over two hundred years ago, reportedly from a rare disease.
I couldn't help but wonder what kind of diseases could possibly plague vampires. Swine flu? SARS? Heart disease? AIDS?
Miss Monica seemed reluctant to let go of the handsome Lionel, but she finally noticed me and the hand he was tightly holding. "Baron, who is this?"
Thank heavens she addressed him as 'Baron' rather than 'Lionel'—at least it showed there was some distance between them.
Lionel first handed her the gift, using the large, square box to create some space between them. He glanced at me thoughtfully, seemingly surprised by my calm demeanor.
I should have been bothered by the hug, and under normal circumstances, I would have been furious. But knowing that Lionel didn't care much for me, I felt there was no need to get angry.
Getting angry would only add another wrinkle to my face. What's the point?
I raised an eyebrow and smiled at Monica, speaking confidently, "I'm Lionel's friend, Margie. I came with him to celebrate your birthday. I've met your father once and greatly admire his character. I wish his beloved daughter, Miss Monica, a very happy birthday!"
Monica looked at me with a playful glint in her large eyes, quickly extending her hand to shake mine.
"I've heard my father mention you, but... he said the Baron loves you very much, and you love him too..." The rest of her words were left unsaid, but the slightly provocative look in her eyes was clear enough.
The subtle battles between women have existed since the dawn of time.
"Haha... When a man and woman stand together, misunderstandings are bound to arise. Clearly, the Baron doesn't love me as much as you think!" I smiled at Lionel, my lips curving. "But my dear Lionel... he's like a vibrant, fragrant rose, always attracting bees and butterflies that cling to him desperately."
Lionel let out an awkward cough beside me, clearly holding back laughter. He wisely interrupted the subtle tension between Monica and me. "Monica, has the birthday banquet started? Are you planning to make me eat cake at the entrance?"
Monica finally took the gift and ushered us into the banquet hall with some polite small talk.
Elder Henry's social circle was no less impressive than Lionel's, and many familiar faces from the previous welcome party were present.
I hadn't expected to run into my nemeses so soon—Count Kenneth, with his wolf-like green eyes, was already eyeing me again. To make matters worse, Rui Jones was there too!
God, please grant me a divine weapon to slay these demons. I swear I'll turn these undead into ashes.
Winans approached me politely, "Princess, it's been a while."
He moved to hug me but stopped abruptly when he noticed the silver necklace around my neck. "Ah, the Princess has come prepared?!"
"Specially designed to ward off wolves!" I shot a pointed glare at Kenneth, who had just appeared beside me. "Count, you seem to be in quite the cheerful mood, don't you?"