Gospel of Blood

Chapter 37: Steward Needed

Casimodo obviously didn't notice his master's increasingly dark complexion, still eloquently expounding on the benefits of the alliance.

It wasn't until Nice, who had already felt the chill, glanced at the gloomy Charlotte and shivered coldly, coughing lightly a few times to wake the old servant from his fantasy.

"Meow... After the alliance, will the great master be able to avoid further schemes?"

Nice cleared his throat, asking with a hint of meaning.

Casimodo was taken aback, his expression changing slightly, and he quickly fell silent.

It was clear that he had also thought of incidents like the "riding accident."

So what if a bastard is married into the family? As long as the Castell family itself does not have enough strength to suppress them, even with the protection of the "Sacred Code," it is still prey in the eyes of others.

Putting hope on someone else is equivalent to entrusting one's life to others.

"Sorry... Master, I thought about it too simply..."

Looking at the slightly relieved Charlotte, Nice secretly shook his head.

Really, this old servant doesn't know what he's thinking. He actually wants such a great existence to marry a mortal... Simply asking for divine punishment!

Charlotte, however, regained her composure, smiled faintly, and comforted.

"It's all right, you're also doing it for the family."

With that, she sighed deeply.

Charlotte had already realized. Unconsciously, she had become the vortex of this power game in the Borde Duchy.

The fuse of the vortex was the inheritance of the Castell Count's territory a year later. The core behind it was the conflict of interest between the Duke's family and the vassal nobles.

The Duke would definitely have thoughts about the wealthy Castell, the same goes for other nobles.

Whether it's framing, assassination, or malicious rumors, everything revolves around the same purpose.

First, to destroy the relationship between Castell and Borde, to preemptively destroy the possibility of an alliance between the two families, to hinder Borde's possible inheritance of the Castell Count's territory, and to prevent the Duke's family from further expanding.

Second, to use rumors and survival pressure to pressure Charlotte, forcing Castell to seek alliances among the nobles, and giving their side more opportunities to compete for the inheritance of the Castell Count's territory...

However, there was one thing Charlotte hadn't figured out.

Was this afternoon's assassination attempt a show, or was it real?

This really confused her. After all, in the eyes of outsiders, she was still just an ordinary little girl, and this assassination attempt had a real chance of success.

If I die and it's revealed that the Duke side was the attacker, who benefits the most?

The lower nobles of the kingdom? Other dukes of the kingdom? The king? Or... someone else?

Charlotte pondered. Unfortunately, there was too little information and she had no clue. Thinking in vain, the girl gave up her contemplation.

Onlookers see clearly, and continuing to meddle will only make things worse for her.

Instead of that, it's better to jump out of the vortex temporarily, even if it's only temporarily, to observe the situation and discover clues within it.

Thinking of this, Charlotte suddenly said.

"Casimodo, I've changed my mind. I won't see any nobles for the next few days."

Casimodo was slightly stunned, then hesitated.

"Is that... fine?"

"It's fine. Just say I was attacked at home this afternoon, and I need to rest due to excessive fright. Before the banquet at the Duke's mansion, I'll decline any visits or invitations."

"Okay... okay."

"You secretly monitor the situation in the city, especially the movements of various families, and also... rumors."

"Okay."

"Also, do the whole act. For the next few days, go to the church hospital to invite some priests to come here for spiritual comfort therapy, and then go to the nearest church to invite some priests to pray with me."

"Ah? Invite priests to the house? That might be difficult..."

"Use the lunch fee for therapy and invitation fees, and people will come."

"Okay... okay."

"Also, go to the western city district's demon hunter headquarters and find the squad leader, Chatham. Tell him I want to hire them to protect my safety in the next week."

"Hire demon hunters? Master, demon hunters belong to the church and generally don't take contracts from nobles..."

"It's fine. This isn't a hire, it's a request between friends. Didn't we become friends yesterday? Of course, friendly tips should be provided."

"Isn't that still hiring..."

Nice muttered, then quickly closed his mouth under Charlotte's gentle gaze.

Charlotte paused for a moment, then continued.

"No need for them to follow me all the time, just arrange for people to patrol around the estate. The main purpose is to borrow some momentum. I also want to see the courage of those people in the dark."

"Understood."

"If there's not enough money, find some of the least valuable collections in the estate, like paintings and artworks, and sell them off temporarily. We'll have money by the end of the month and can buy them back."

"Uh... okay."

Casimodo's eyelids twitched, barely holding back from saying that those collections in the estate were the favorite treasures of the former family head... Well, the father can only cry if the son sells his field.

"In addition, starting tomorrow, I will personally train the new servants in the house."

"Oka... huh?"

Casimodo was dumbfounded.

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He looked up at the girl sitting behind the desk, hesitated for a moment, and said.

"Master, this... old servant can handle it. Your identity is noble so..."

"It's fine. I've also learned noble etiquette. This matter is settled."

Charlotte said.

She had this idea after stopping the assassin this afternoon because she realized that her proficiency in low-level majesty magic had increased significantly, reaching 24/100.

Since she didn't plan to interact with nobles for the time being, the best way to improve her skill would be to practice with these new servants. It would instill fear in them, increase their loyalty, and quickly master the magic, killing two birds with one stone!

"Okay."

Seeing Charlotte's determination, Casimodo no longer objected but bowed respectfully.

In his eyes, this was a sign that the young master also wanted to grow up quickly. Although it was not in line with etiquette, it was still a good thing.

Wait, wrong. Since the lunch fee was reduced, noble etiquette and the like have already been thrown out of the window.

After some arrangements, Charlotte breathed a sigh of relief.

She leaned back and stretched lazily, but suddenly remembered something, and smiled slightly.

"Actually... what you said makes sense."

"I am indeed too weak now. Perhaps I really need to find a strong force to deal with these flies in the kingdom..."

Seeing the slightly mischievous smile on Charlotte's pretty face, Nice's heart moved, and he made some guesses about the girl's thoughts and goals, silently lighting a candle in his heart...

Charlotte didn't further explain, but glanced at the deepening sky, and yawned lazily.

"Well, it's getting late. If there's nothing else, let's end here for today, I need to rest too."

Upon hearing this, Nice quickly jumped off the desk, like a sycophant, and brought the thick-soled shoes to the girl.

Charlotte's feet under the desk were bare as she had already taken off the uncomfortable thick-soled shoes previously since this thick-soled shoe was so uncomfortable to wear.

However, outside the desk, the old servant Casimodo's expression was hesitant, wanting to speak but holding it.

Charlotte's heart moved.

"Casimodo, is there anything else?"

"Uh... indeed, master, this afternoon I saw you use extraordinary power to intimidate the assassin. Um... may I ask what kind of bloodline power you awakened?"

Casimodo asked eagerly.

"What kind of power? Does our family's bloodline powers have more than one kind?"

Charlotte was slightly stunned.

Casimodo thought about it, first shook his head, but soon nodded:

"This... how should I put it..."

"If we trace back to the original power, the Castell bloodline power does have only one kind, just like Borde and even the Crescent royal family, they are all elemental awakening of the mage category..."

"But as you know, the nobles have been intermarrying for generations. Now, the bloodline powers of the entire Myria nobles have long been mixed."

"Everyone has intermingled, and besides the most likely original bloodline, other bloodline awakenings are possible."

"In general, everyone's bloodline powers are no longer singular but have become varied. Anything is possible, so..."

Seeing Casimodo's conflicted expression, Charlotte understood.

In other words, from an extraordinary perspective, the nobles who have intermarried for generations are all already hybrids.

What kind of power could be inherited according to bloodline is random. This was a good thing for her. Because of this, the identity as a Bloodborne could be more hidden.

"I don't know what I awakened, probably something related to the mind or spiritual."

Charlotte thought for a moment and said.

The bloodborne identity must not be exposed, even to Casimodo.

Casimodo thought for a moment and said.

"If you're not sure, you can go through the family's collection of books on bloodline powers. It records all the bloodline powers of the families that the Castell family has intermarried with throughout history, just to prevent situations like yours now."

"If you find out what kind of power you awakened, you can then find specific ways to improve it, train it, and enhance your strength."

"I understand."

Charlotte nodded slightly, planning to look through it later and find a scapegoat.

After Casimodo told her where the books were stored, he left.

Watching him leave, Charlotte sighed slightly.

Casimodo was very loyal, extremely loyal. But he was just a mortal after all.

Not only that, when considering the problem, he leaned more toward the standpoint of the Castell than from her interest.

He was indeed very loyal. But not entirely loyal to Charlotte herself.

In addition, this diligent old servant also lacked sufficient political sensitivity...

At this moment, Charlotte suddenly understood why the family had previously arranged for such a loyal servant to be a shopkeeper instead of leaving him as the steward of the estate.

He was quite qualified as a servant. But as a steward... he was indeed a little lacking.

"It seems that I need a more loyal and competent steward..."

"It would be best if it were an extraordinary who had risen in rank."

Charlotte muttered to herself.

After saying that, she quickly shook her head. Even she herself had not yet advanced to the first tier. It was just wishful thinking!