dark witch

Chapter14

"Does your mother know about such thoughts of yours?" Alexander chuckled lightly, the little dwarf truly living up to the DeXi family's renown. But she indeed entertained him. Pushing himself up with one hand, he stood: "Come with me."

To get it just like that? Haiyin watched as Alexander Sterlin turned around, feeling hesitant. Yet, driven by a great temptation, she followed: "We are now in the lord's mansion of Anastasia City, the lord of Anastasia City, Loki Anastasia, is the son of your sister Anashi Sterlin, a viscountess."

Alexander Sterlin, leading the way, suddenly stopped in his tracks upon hearing this, turned his head to look down at the following dwarf: "Are you afraid I might eat you?" Without waiting for Haiyin's response, he turned his head back, smiling as he continued to walk leisurely, "I asked Ilina, and she said you're quite tender."

This time, it was Haiyin's turn to stop: "Then you can go back alone," she was not about to risk her neck for a mere pittance.

"I thought you were brave," laughed Alexander Sterlin, without looking back.

"You thought wrong," Haiyin blinked her eyes before catching up again.

"Catching up again, not afraid of being eaten?" His tone carried a hint of teasing, but it was clear Alexander was in a good mood at this moment.

Blinking lightly, Haiyin looked at his tall figure from behind and replied: "If you wanted to eat me, you could have bared your fangs last night, no need to wait until now."

"Smart dwarf," Alexander stopped in front of a door at the end of the hallway: "We're here," he opened the door, the room brightly lit, "Will you wait outside or come in and sit?"

With the door wide open, Haiyin looked inside without hesitation, only to see a thin, dirty woman chained to the window with chains as thick as a child's wrist, facing east. Her heart tightened: "Is that Androsi from last night who wanted to drink my blood?"

"Yes," Alexander glanced towards the window, his thin lips curling into a blood-red smile: "I originally didn't plan to transform her, but she boasted in the Ilisa Port winery that she wouldn't turn into a bloodthirsty monster," he said with a disdainful sneer, "I didn't believe her, so we made a bet."

"She lost," Haiyin frowned, turning her gaze back to look up at the man standing by the door, her eyes filled with sympathy: "I think you're quite easy to deceive."

Hearing this, Alexander was not surprised, patting little Haiyin's head: "And you know I was deceived?"

Haiyin shook her head, stepping back to free herself from his grasp: "Last night, she caught me, temptingly offering to transform me, her words full of pride and superiority."

"So she's locked up there now," said Alexander Sterlin, calmly: "I'm never afraid of being deceived."

"You know I'm coveting your Blood Rose Glass Card," Haiyin saw him smile again, and couldn't help but sigh heavily.

Alexander crossed his arms and leaned leisurely against the door: "Even though you exchanged the card I gave you for something you liked, it was a fair trade. Once the card was given to you, it became yours, whether you take it to the Moslin Bank or to a Luo Zong merchant, that's none of my concern."

"Don't you think that's dismissive?" Haiyin lifted her head, realizing he knew all along, but then again, this place was after all under the jurisdiction of the Andrei Kingdom.

"Dismissive?" Alexander shrugged: "Didn't you exchange my card for something you really liked?"

The logic was sound, Haiyin blinked her large eyes: "I think I want to be friends with you now."

"Because I have a Glass Card?" Alexander laughed, entering the room: "Wait here for me, I'm going to get a gift for my little friend."

Entering the room away from the sunlight, he picked up a Glass Cup from the wine rack and drank the sweet-tasting blood within, then licked the bloodstain from his lips, opened the drawer by the bed to take out several Glass Cards, a figure flashed through Alexander's mind, he took a deep breath and chuckled, shaking his head.

The door was not closed, and Haiyin had no interest in observing Count Androsi's room, quietly waiting outside.

Soon, Alexander came out: "Here, only five, I was in a hurry this time and didn't bring more."

Five! Haiyin eyed the small stack and swallowed, taking a long time to speak again to confirm: "Really for me? I might only keep three and exchange the rest for something I like," like gold or silver coins."

"Hmm, is that so," Alexander retracted his hand, scratching his eyebrow as he noticed the dwarf's gaze following his hand, his eyes filled with amusement. He swiftly closed the door and then, with a flicker, transported himself and the clever dwarf to the top of the castle's chimney.

Sitting atop the high chimney, Haiyin felt somewhat helpless. It was indeed a good spot for catching the breeze, but there wasn't much else to do late at night, and she wasn't even sure if it was clean. She pulled her legs in and shifted from sitting to squatting.

"I ask, you answer," Alexander narrowed his eyes, gazing into the distance, his demeanor suddenly serious: "A fair trade."

Squatting, Haiyin supported her cheeks with both hands: "I know nothing," making friends now seemed difficult.

"You don't need to know too much," Alexander felt foolish for discussing such important matters with a child, but he was truly clueless at the moment. He looked up at the sky, laughing at himself: "If someone of high status suddenly disappears, where do you think he'd go?"

Someone of high status? Haiyin's eyes showed a flicker of thought: "How high are we talking?" Was he referring to the ancestor Austin Correll, the only Androsi who could face the sun without any aid?

"As high as the peak of the Arthas Mountains," thinking of that person, Alexander straightened his back, a sense of awe in his eyes despite the complaints among the Androsi nobility about him. His power was undeniable.

Flicking her soft cheek with her finger, Haiyin mused: "That high, you're sure he went on his own?"

Alexander frowned, turning to look at the small figure beside him, his tone slightly harsh: "What do you mean?"

"Is my speech that difficult to understand?" Haiyin returned his gaze: "A person with everything, of high status, would you disappear without a trace if you were him?" Without waiting for Alexander's reply, she continued, "If it were me, I'd definitely enjoy myself."

"He was very powerful," Alexander had his doubts, but the mere thought seemed impossible: "More powerful than my father."

Haiyin sighed: "Keep going, and I'll guess who it is," if it wasn't the Duke Alexandra Sterlin, who else could it be but that person?

"It's no secret," Alexander bent his left leg, resting his elbow on his knee.

"I'm only ten years old. In the past ten years, I only left the Western Sea Forest once with my mother when I was one," Haiyin pondered for a moment, then spoke again: "Many things seem absolute, but how can you be sure it's impossible?"

Alexander's eyes narrowed slightly, but he remained silent.

"Accidents," Haiyin glanced at him sideways: "All sorts of accidents happen around us," touching the ring on her thumb, "For example, I didn't expect to be attacked by an Androsi just after arriving in Anastasia City and to meet you," patting the chimney, "Me being here with you is also an accident."

After a long silence, Alexander smiled brightly, offering the Glass Card in his hand: "Yours."

Without hesitation, Haiyin's plump hand took the five Glass Cards from his palm: "Thank you."

"Loki Anastasia is about to hold a baptism ceremony for Yad Anastasia, do you want to attend?"

Was it just her feeling, or did Alexander Sterlin's expression turn cold when mentioning Loki Anastasia? Twirling the emblem on the Glass Card between her fingers, she frowned slightly: "I might have to attend, after all, my family has given gifts."

"A moonbeam," Alexander mentioned: "Did Mrs. Merlin become much gentler after giving birth to you?"

Haiyin's heart stirred. Was he implying her mother shouldn't have sent a moonbeam to Loki Anastasia? Staring at the man's jade-like face, she tried to discern his thoughts, but alas...

"No need to look at me like that," Alexander tugged at a lock of Haiyin's golden hair resting on her shoulder: "The DeXi family hasn't left the Western Sea Forest for a long time. It's normal not to know the situation in Anastasia City."

"Actually, I think the disappearance of Duke Austin Correll might have something to do with someone close to him," Haiyin still stared at Alexander.

Dropping the pretense? Alexander licked his lower lip, suddenly in a very good mood: "Do you know how a natural-born Androsi expands his power?"

Transformation, Haiyin understood, a ripple in her heart: "It seems quite normal."

Because of his lowly paternal lineage, even though his mother was a noble Androsi viscountess, Loki Anastasia couldn't bearthe Sterlin surname, only the one bestowed by his mother.

"Believe me, it's not normal," Alexander said, his gaze drifting westward as if unintentionally.

Haiyin closed her eyes, that direction was where the Western Sea Forest lay.

"It's about time for me to attend Yad Anastasia's baptism ceremony. Will you come with me?" Alexander hinted, "Originally, Ilina would have been my companion tonight, but I'm upset with her."

"Do you really think that's wise..." Haiyin hadn't finished speaking when she saw a familiar foot suddenly appear behind Alexander Sterlin's head, swiftly kicking down without hesitation.

Just as the foot was about to make contact, Alexander swiftly turned around, grabbed the foot, and then Haiyin watched as both of them fell down the chimney, crashing onto the red glass tiles with a clatter, creating a large hole in the roof. She involuntarily clenched her toes, trying to squat as stably as possible.

"Why are you with Alexander Sterlin?" Merlin appeared beside Haiyin, her face cold.

"Mother, shouldn't you be more concerned about Auntie first?" Haiyin's eyes still fixed on the big hole created by the fall, wondering about their combined weight.

Merlin glanced down: "Alexander won't harm your aunt."

Was there something she didn't know? Considering Alexander Sterlin's somewhat unusual behavior towards her, Haiyin harbored an incredible suspicion, looking up: "The slave that Auntie fancied, who transformed him?"

"Aren't you afraid of knowing too much?" Merlin grabbed the little one by the collar, lifting her down from the chimney, and through the hole into the castle.

Before she could steady herself, Haiyin heard her aunt's voice, sharp and clear, "A thousand-year-old not dying to tease a ten-year-old, don't you feel ashamed?"

Alexander, ear between his fingers: "Xiya, I thought after sulking in the Western Sea Forest for nine years, you'd become gentler. Seems I was too naive, even after living for thousands of years."

"Naive?" Xiya scoffed coldly: "Indeed, you are quite naive, naive enough to give my little Haiyin a Blood Rose Glass Card," her tone becoming more intense.

Haiyin sensed she had uncovered some truth.

"I'm friends with little DeXi," Alexander explained, "Giving the Glass Card was simply because she liked it, and to me, the Glass Card is of no..."

"Shut up," Xiya's eyes turned frosty, her right hand waving, and Alexander, without dodging, turned into an ice sculpture. Haiyin felt she should clarify: "The Glass Card wasn't taken for nothing; it was obtained through trade."

Crack... crack...

The ice sculpture shattered, Alexander brushing off the ice flakes from himself: "This is the second time you've frozen me, but I still have to honestly tell you, don't let there be a next time. My patience is limited."

"You've said that last time," Xiya raised her right hand again, but before she could swing it down, Alexander caught it, "That's enough for today. I know you blame me for ruining your plans, but don't you think you have poor judgment?"

"Heh," Xiya laughed coldly, "And your judgment is good?"

"You..." Alexander was at a loss for words, turning to look at the little dwarf standing not far away, watching the drama unfold, the implication clear.

Haiyin immediately retorted: "I didn't say anything. Last night you ran off with that Androsi, my mother and aunt came after you. They understood everything once they saw the Glass Card. It was left by you."

"Hmm," was running away a crime now? Was giving her the Glass Card also a sin? Alexander felt helpless: "Return the Glass Cards I just gave you," he should have realized sooner that no DeXi, big or small, was easy to deal with.