"...Alright, I understand," Valred sighed inwardly, reluctantly accepting the situation. "I'll fulfill my responsibilities and won't do anything unbecoming of my position." His tone was filled with resignation and a sense of duty, as if being assigned three wives by the organization was some kind of arduous task. Those without girlfriends might feel the urge to curse at this point.
Lady Winsa, however, found Valred's reluctance perfectly normal. After all, he was her son, and in her eyes, no girl could ever be good enough for him. Even if the other families sent their finest, they would still be unworthy of her precious boy.
"It's good that you have this mindset," Lady Winsa nodded, then added, "But don't overthink it. This is actually a good thing. Through your fiancées, you'll form alliances with the other three families, which will greatly benefit your future endeavors. And personally, the girls sent by the other families will undoubtedly be carefully selected, so you won't be at a disadvantage. And if, in the end, you truly don't wish to marry them, no one will force you."
"I understand," Valred replied, feeling slightly reassured. He then brought up another matter: "On the way back today, Anne and I were attacked by a Strigoi Ghoul King and his minions."
"What?! Why didn't you mention this earlier?! Are you hurt?!"
Hearing this, Lady Winsa immediately panicked. She rushed to Valred's side, holding his hand and fussing over him, her concern overwhelming her usual composure. Despite the fact that a simple use of witchsight would have revealed Valred's condition, she insisted on checking him herself, nearly forcing him to undress. If not for Valred's confidence in his own abilities, she might have succeeded.
After much explanation, Valred finally convinced Lady Winsa that he was unharmed. She then proceeded to lecture him endlessly about safety, reminding him that he was the only male heir of the Castaigne family and that he should avoid danger at all costs. "What would I do if something happened to you?" she lamented, only calming down after Valred recounted the incident in detail.
Soon, Lady Winsa arrived at the same conclusion Valred had earlier. The Strigoi, who usually hid in their lairs, had ventured out to ambush Valred—a highly unusual move. However, as the de facto ruler of the Castaigne County, Lady Winsa had access to far more information than Valred. After some thought, she pieced together the likely reason.
"It seems our recent purges have been effective. The Strigoi are probably desperate, lashing out in a last-ditch effort," Lady Winsa muttered to herself before instructing Valred, "There might be major developments in the coming days. From now on, take a company of Blood Knights with you when you go to and from the academy."
"What kind of major developments? Related to the Strigoi traitors?" Valred asked.
"Yes. Ever since the Strigoi Ghoul King desecrated that ancient tomb seven years ago, Sylvania has intensified its efforts against them, dismantling many of their secret bases. Our family, in particular, has been especially aggressive since the incident occurred within our territory. I was surprised they've remained silent for so long, but it seems they've finally lost patience."
"I see," Valred nodded, realizing that the events from years ago still had lingering effects. "So, will the entire county be on high alert?"
"Of course. I'll also send messages to the other families and address this at the council meeting. A full-scale military purge is likely to begin in the next few days."
Lady Winsa smiled, making Valred feel somewhat awkward. Though she wasn't a political mastermind, she had managed the county's affairs for eight years. Such basic measures didn't require his reminder.
Over the next few days, several more attacks targeting vampires occurred in the Castaigne County, all carried out by Strigoi Ghoul Kings. However, due to the heightened security, none of the attacks succeeded, and many Strigoi were killed instead.
The difference in power between the two sides was stark. Valred, for example, was now escorted by a full company of one hundred Blood Knights whenever he traveled. Their gleaming black iron weapons and armor, along with the crimson glow from their helmet visors, were enough to deter any would-be attackers. Even lesser vampire nobles were accompanied by dozens of Black Knights, necromancers, and tomb guards.
Small-scale Strigoi ambushes stood no chance against such elite forces, and prolonged engagements would only draw reinforcements, leading to their annihilation. As for large-scale attacks—did they even dare to launch one?
After a few days, six Strigoi Ghoul Kings had been killed, their grotesque heads mounted on the walls of Drachenhof. The county's security improved, and with several days of peace, some vampires began to relax. Lady Winsa, after consulting with the county's vampires, decided to lift the high alert, as the tense atmosphere was detrimental to economic growth.
Valred, however, disagreed. He believed the Strigoi's desperate attacks weren't just random acts of violence. They likely had a larger plan, and lifting the alert now could lead to disaster.
Hearing Valred's concerns, Lady Winsa found them somewhat exaggerated and jokingly asked what he would suggest.
"Appear relaxed on the surface but remain vigilant internally. Lure them out," Valred said seriously, but his mother only laughed, her beauty momentarily distracting him.
"You think I'm wrong?" Valred frowned. "This concerns the safety of over eight hundred vampires in the Castaigne family!"
Lady Winsa laughed again, frustrating Valred to the point of stomping his foot.
"What's so funny?!"
Seeing her son genuinely upset, Lady Winsa stopped laughing and explained, "Your points are valid, but you must consider the Strigoi's current state. Over the past few years, all of Sylvania has been cracking down on them, significantly weakening their forces. Their recent activities are more like a death rattle than a coordinated effort. I've already dispatched troops to raid their lairs. Most are empty, with only a few showing signs of activity. We've captured or killed only seven or eight Ghoul Kings, and including those who died in the attacks, the total is around a dozen. With their strength so diminished, what is there to fear?"
"You sent troops to raid their lairs and only killed seven or eight?!" Valred was stunned, nearly fainting from disbelief. "Doesn't that prove they're gathering their forces?! Such large-scale movements would naturally be secretive, and their gathering points would be heavily guarded. The county spans six hundred miles with a population of four hundred thousand. Any remote valley could hide them. Can you really monitor every lair?!"
Hearing this, Lady Winsa froze, her face turning pale. The two stood in silence for a moment, Lady Winsa's lips trembling as if she wanted to argue, but no words came out. She simply stared at Valred, lost in thought.
Valred, having vented his frustration, now felt a bit guilty. Though Lady Winsa's abilities were lacking, she had worked diligently over the years to preserve the family's legacy. She deserved some credit for her efforts.
"Did I go too far?" Valred wondered, hesitating over whether to apologize. But just then, a deafening explosion shook the outer walls of Drachenhof Castle, followed by the guttural howls of beasts. Both Valred and Lady Winsa immediately stopped their argument and rushed to the window. What they saw made their blood run cold.
—The castle was surrounded by a sea of ghouls, crypt horrors, and skeletal soldiers, numbering at least five thousand. Among them were no fewer than twenty Strigoi Ghoul Kings. And this was just one side of the castle. The Strigoi had launched a full-scale assault, their forces likely numbering in the tens of thousands.