Lana takes a deep breath, trying to stay calm as she looks at the woman before her
"My name is Lana Nye, Your Grace" she says, bowing deeply to show her utmost respect for the Duchess
Celeste Comet Eclipse - the most powerful figure in the northern territory, one of the strongest mages on the Century continent, and now, her new master
After leading her here, Hela had quietly left, leaving Lana alone with Celeste and the child in her arms
The room is steeped in silence. Unlike the rest of the castle, this space is entirely different. There are no extravagant decorations or luxurious furniture. Everything exudes an air of refined minimalism
Celeste has snow-white hair, shimmering with a faint silver hue under the dim light. Even in a simple white silk robe, she radiates an aura of elegance and mystery
'She's beautiful…'
Lana can't help but admire her
'I heard she's already 35, but she looks barely past 20. That must be the benefit of being a high-ranking mage, right?'
She recalls what she has read about the world's most powerful mages
In this world, those who can wield mana are called mages. They are categorized into multiple levels, with Level 10 being the highest - a level that only a few people in history have ever reached. From Level 5 onward, mages begin to extend their lifespan, and upon reaching Level 10, they can live for over 200 years
Celeste Comet Eclipse is a Level 9 mage
That means, in terms of actual lifespan, she is still quite young
'I wish I had the talent to use Mana...'
As Lana gets lost in thought, Celeste's voice suddenly pulls her back to reality.
"The child in my arms is named Cassius Eclipse"
"And as for me…" Celeste looks directly at Lana "You already know my name, so there's no need for an introduction"
Lana swallows hard, her nerves still not fully settling
'She's not just beautiful - her voice is incredible too…'
Celeste's voice is deep yet clear, each word carrying a strange, natural authority. It isn't the kind of dominance that comes from intimidation or oppression, but rather the inherent dignity of someone who has stood at the pinnacle of power for far too long
"You have been chosen as Cassius's caretaker, so there are a few things you must remember"
Lana quickly regains focus, standing up straighter
"Your primary duty is to care for him, ensuring that he is always safe and healthy. You will be with Cassius almost all the time. Whenever I am not here, you will be the one fully responsible for him"
Lana had expected this, but Celeste's next words caught her completely off guard
"Cassius does not drink milk. Instead, he will drink my blood"
Lana's eyes widened, and for a moment, she thought she had misheard
"…Your blood?"
"Yes" Celeste nodded, completely unfazed
Lana felt a sense of unease. A newborn drinking blood instead of milk? Was that even okay? After a brief hesitation, she asked
"Is that… really good for the child?"
Celeste met Lana's gaze, her eyes cold but devoid of anger
"I was born with a unique ability - my blood can neutralize mana. That makes it an incredibly valuable source of nourishment for him"
Lana didn't fully grasp the meaning behind those words, but she knew Celeste was not someone who would do anything to harm this child
Still, the thought of a newborn drinking blood felt undeniably strange
After a brief internal struggle, Lana cautiously asked
"…So, what does your blood taste like?"
Celeste raised an eyebrow at the question but then answered calmly
"I've tasted it before" She replies
"It doesn't taste like milk, but it's not unpleasant. It's as mild as ordinary water"
Lana let out a small sigh of relief. At least it wasn't something gruesome
She bowed her head slightly, committing Celeste's words to memory
"I understand. I will do my best to take care of Cassius"
Celeste gave a slight nod, her gaze shifting down to the infant in her arms
"I will give him my blood now. He has not fed since he was born, He must be starving"
Lana blinked, surprised
'He was just born? He really isn't her child, then. So where are his real parents?'
She wanted to ask, but her instincts quickly stopped her. She knew that noble affairs were often complicated - there were some things best left unquestioned
More importantly…
'Has he even been registered yet?'
The contract she had signed contained a strict confidentiality clause regarding everything that happened within the castle. That meant Celeste intended to keep Cassius's existence a secret
'But why?'
Lana didn't have time to dwell on it as Celeste gently placed a fingertip in Cassius's mouth
Immediately, the infant's tiny hands reached up, grasping her finger. His lips moved slightly as he began to suckle
A faint smile appeared on Celeste's face. Gone was the usual cold expression - at this moment, she looked gentle and full of warmth.
Lana stood still, momentarily stunned
'Is this really Duchess Celeste?'
She had heard countless rumors about this woman - a cold and powerful figure who single-handedly upheld the Duke's authority, someone who instilled fear in all who crossed her path
Yet now, Celeste was simply a tender mother, caring for her fragile child
Lana's gaze drifted to Cassius
A newborn who drank blood instead of milk. A child hidden away by the Duchess, his existence unknown to the world
'Could Cassius be a vampire?' The thought surfaced in her mind before she could stop it