The Virtuous Dark Witch

Chapter 14

"Does your mother know you think this way?" Alexander smiled. This little one truly lived up to the Dessey name—she had certainly amused him. He pushed himself up from the ground. "Come with me."

That easy? Elara Dessey watched Alexander Stirling turn to leave, feeling a twinge of hesitation. But temptation got the better of her, and she followed. "We're currently in the Lord of Anastas City's Mansion. Rocky Anastas, Lord of Anastas City, is the son of your sister, Viscount Ana Stirling."

Alexander Stirling, walking ahead, suddenly stopped. He turned to look down at the little one following him. "Are you afraid I'll eat you?" Before Elara could respond, he turned back with a smile and continued strolling. "I asked Irina—she said you're quite tender."

This time it was Elara's turn to stop. "You should go back alone then." She wasn't going to enter a tiger's den for five pecks of rice.

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

"That's your mistake," Elara blinked, then followed him again.

"Why are you following me again? Aren't you afraid of being eaten?" His tone was teasing, but it was clear Alexander was in a good mood.

Elara blinked softly, looking at his tall back. "If you wanted to eat me, you could have shown your fangs last night—no need to wait until now."

"Clever little one," Alexander stopped at the door at the end of the corridor. "We're here." He pushed the door open. The room was brightly lit. "Will you wait outside, or come in and sit for a while?"

The door was wide open. Elara didn't hesitate to look inside. A thin, dirty woman was chained to the window by iron chains as thick as a child's wrist, facing east. Her heart tightened. "Is that the Andros who tried to drink my blood last night?"

"Yes," Alexander glanced at the window, curving his blood-red lips. "I never planned to turn her. But she boasted shamelessly at Eliza Harbor Winery that she wouldn't become a bloodthirsty monster." He let out a disdainful snort. "I didn't believe her, so we made a bet."

"And she lost," Elara frowned, looking away from the woman and up at the man leaning against the door, sympathy in her eyes. "I think you're quite easy to fool."

Alexander wasn't surprised by her words. He ruffled her hair. "How do you know I was fooled?"

Elara shook her head to break free from his hand, stepping back. "Last night, when she caught me, she tempted me by saying she could turn me—her tone was full of pride and arrogance."

"That's why she's locked up there," Alexander Stirling said calmly, showing no anger or joy. "I've never been afraid of being fooled."

"You know I'm after your Blood Rose glazed cards," Elara sighed and hung her head as he smiled again.

Alexander crossed his arms, leaning casually against the door. "Even though you traded the card I gave you for something you liked, our deal was fair. Once I gave you the card, it was yours. Whether you took it to Moslin Bank or gave it to a Rozin merchant has nothing to do with me."

"Don't you think that's a form of disrespect?" Elara looked up. So he knew everything. But then again, this place was part of the Andrea Kingdom.

"Disrespect?" Alexander shrugged. "Didn't you trade my card for something you really liked?"

His logic was sound. Elara blinked her big eyes. "I want to be your friend."

"Because I have glazed cards?" Alexander laughed, walking into the room. "Wait here for me. I need to get a gift for my little friend."

He entered the room with no sunlight, picked up a glazed wine glass from the shelf, and drank the sweet-smelling blood in one gulp. He licked the blood from the corner of his mouth, opened the drawer by the bed, and took out several glazed cards. A figure appeared in his mind. He sighed deeply and shook his head with a smile.

The door was left open, but Elara had no interest in snooping around an Andros earl's room. She waited quietly outside.

Alexander soon emerged. "Here—only five." I didn't bring many since I left in a hurry."

Five! Elara swallowed hard as she looked at the small stack. It took her a long time to confirm again. "Are you really giving these to me?" I might keep three and trade the other two for something I like—like gold or silver coins."

"Huh, is that so?" Alexander pulled his hand back, scratching his brow. He smiled as he watched the little one's eyes follow his movement. He closed the door with a snap, then lifted the clever little one and teleported to the castle's chimney, sitting down on the edge.

Sitting high on the chimney and looking down, Elara felt a little helpless. It was a great place to feel the wind, but there really wasn't much to do in the middle of the night. She wondered if it was clean. She pulled her legs in and squatted instead.

"I ask, you answer," Alexander narrowed his eyes, looking into the distance, his usual restraint gone. "A fair trade."

Elara squatted with her cheeks resting in her chubby hands. "I don't know anything." Making friends was hard these days.

"You don't need to know much," Alexander thought he was foolish for discussing such an important matter with a child. But he was truly stuck. He looked up at the sky, chuckling self-deprecatingly. "If someone of the highest status… suddenly disappears, where do you think they'd go?"

Someone of the highest status…? A faint glimmer appeared in Elara's eyes. "How high is 'highest'?" He must be talking about Progenitor Austin Corell—the only Andros who could face the scorching sun without any help.

"As high as the top of the Alsace Mountains," thinking of that person, Alexander's back straightened involuntarily, as if burdened by something. Admiration filled his eyes. Although many Andros nobles resented him, his power was unquestionable.

Elara tapped her soft cheek with her finger. "If they're that high up, are you sure they left voluntarily?"

Alexander frowned and turned to look at the small figure beside him, his tone sharp. "What do you mean?"

"Is it hard to understand?" Elara stared back at him. "If someone has everything they want and holds supreme status, would you disappear for no reason?" She didn't wait for his answer. "If it were me, I'd definitely enjoy it to the fullest."

"He's extremely powerful," Alexander had secretly wondered the same thing, but every time he thought about it, he dismissed it as impossible. "Stronger than my father."

Elara sighed. "If you keep adding details, I'll figure out who you're talking about. The only person stronger than Duke Alexandra Stirling who's disappeared is him."

"It's not a secret," Alexander bent his left leg, resting his elbow on his knee.

"I'm only ten years old. In the past ten years, I've only left the West Sea Forest once—when I was one year old, with my mother. Elara hesitated for a moment, then spoke again. "Many things seem absolute, but how do you know they're not possible?"

Alexander's eyes narrowed slightly. He said nothing.

"Accidents," Elara glanced at him sideways. "There are all kinds of accidents around us." She gently touched the ring on her thumb. "For example, I never thought I'd be attacked by an Andros as soon as I arrived in Anastas City—or that I'd meet you." She patted the chimney. "Sitting here with you is also an accident."

After a long silence, Alexander smiled brightly and held out the glazed cards. "They're yours."

Elara didn't hesitate. She took the five glazed cards from his palm with her chubby hands. "Thank you."

"Rocky Anastas will hold the baptism ceremony for Adair Anastas soon. Will you attend?"

Was it her imagination? She felt Alexander Stirling's expression turned cold when he mentioned Rocky Anastas. She twisted the emblem on the glazed card between her fingers, frowning slightly. "I probably should—after all, we already gave our gift."

"A Moon Glow," Alexander said. "Since giving birth to you, Lady Merlyn seems to have mellowed a lot?"

Elara's heart skipped a beat. Did he mean her mother shouldn't have given the Moon Glow to Rocky Anastas? She stared at his jade-like face, trying to read his expression, but unfortunately…

"No need to look at me like that," Alexander tugged at a strand of Elara's golden hair hanging over her shoulder. "The Dessey Clan hasn't left the West Sea Forest for a long time. It's only natural you don't know what's happening in Anastas City."

"Actually, I think Duke Austin Corell's disappearance might be related to someone close to him," Elara continued to stare at Alexander.

No longer pretending to be ignorant? Alexander ran his tongue over his lower lip, suddenly feeling much better. "Do you know how a natural-born Andros expands their power?"

Turning humans, Elara realized, her heart stirring. "That seems normal."

Because of his humble paternal lineage, even though his mother was a noble Andros viscount, Rocky Anastas couldn't take the Stirling surname—only the surname his mother had granted him.

"Trust me, it's not normal," Alexander casually glanced westward.

Elara lowered her eyes—that was the direction of the West Sea Forest.

"It's almost time. I'm going to attend Adair Anastas' baptism. Will you come with me?" Alexander said meaningfully. "Originally, Irina was supposed to be my dance partner tonight, but I'm angry with her."

"Do you really think this is a good…"

Before Elara could finish, a familiar foot suddenly appeared behind Alexander Stirling's head, kicking down hard without hesitation.

Just as the foot was about to hit him, Alexander turned around abruptly, grabbing it. Elara watched in shock as the two of them fell off the chimney together, crashing onto the red glazed tiles. With a loud crash, a large hole appeared in the roof. She couldn't help but curl her toes tightly, trying to squat steadily.

"Why are you with Alexander Stirling?" Merlyn Dessey appeared beside Elara, her face cold.

"Mother, shouldn't you check on Aunt Thea first?" Elara's eyes were still fixed on the large hole in the roof. How much did those two weigh together?

Merlyn glanced down. "Alexander won't hurt your aunt."

Was there something she didn't know? Thinking about Alexander Stirling's unusual attitude toward her, Elara had an incredible guess. She looked up. "Who turned the slave Aunt Thea liked?"

"Aren't you afraid of knowing too much?" Merlyn grabbed the little one by the back of her collar, lifted her off the chimney, and entered the castle through the hole.

Before she could stand steady, Elara heard her aunt's voice like a warbler. "A thousand-year-old fossil teasing a ten-year-old child—aren't you ashamed?"

Alexander picked his ear. "Thea, I thought being cooped up in the West Sea Forest for nine years would have softened your temper. It seems that even after living for thousands of years, I'm still too naive."

"Naive?" Thea Dessey snorted. "You are quite naive—naive enough to give my little Elara Blood Rose glazed cards." Her tone grew sharper.

Elara sensed she had uncovered some truth.

"Thea and I are friends," Alexander explained. "I gave her the glazed cards simply because she liked them, and they're worthless to me…"

"Shut up," silver frost appeared in Thea's blue eyes. She waved her right hand. Alexander didn't dodge, freezing into an ice sculpture. Elara thought she should explain. "I didn't take the glazed cards for nothing—they were payment for a trade."

Crack… c***k…

The ice sculpture shattered. Alexander brushed the ice shards off his body. "This is the second time you've frozen me. But I'll be honest—don't do it again. My patience has limits."

"You said that last time," Thea raised her right hand again, but before she could wave it, Alexander grabbed it tightly. "That's enough for today. I know you blame me for ruining your plans, but don't you think your taste is terrible?"

"Heh," Thea let out a cold, fake laugh. "Your taste is much better?"

"You…" Alexander was lost for words. He glanced at the little one standing not far away, watching the show—his meaning clear.

Elara quickly defended herself. "I didn't say anything! Last night, after you left with that Andros, my mother and aunt chased after us. They saw the glazed card and figured everything out—it was you who left it."

"Hmph," left? Was giving her a glazed card a crime? Alexander felt helpless. "Give me back the glazed cards I just gave you." He should have realized no Dessey—young or old—was easy to deal with.