Read Novel Full Chapter 177: In Rowani
Chapter 177: In Rowani
"That’s what is happening in the North. So I suppose half of us need to move there to help."
Isolde explained calmly at the long dining table, though nothing sat upon it except crystal glasses filled with a deep red liquid.
The absence of food made the room feel ceremonial rather than domestic, as if this were less a meal and more a council of judgment.
The dining room itself was unnervingly serene. Flames danced lazily within the fireplace, casting warm light across stone walls while the steady crackle of burning wood filled the silence between words.
"Hm. Unbelievable." Ulrich finally broke the quiet, rubbing his beard thoughtfully.
"I never imagined that House would be involved in something like this."
"But we still aren’t certain, Your League," Fleur replied, leaning back in her chair, legs crossed with practiced elegance. "That spider net could belong to anyone."
"True," Isolde said, lifting her glass and taking a slow sip. She exhaled softly afterward.
"But it doesn’t hurt to consider all possible outcomes." Her gaze lingered briefly on the surface of the liquid.
"I miss Seamus already. The blood didn’t taste as good as his."
"Will Seamus stay in the North?" Lulu asked hesitantly, fingers fidgeting in her lap. "If so... I think I can stay there too."
"I don’t think that will be necessary, he needs to stay here," Isolde replied, turning her eyes toward her daughter. "What about you, Diane? Would you go to the North and assist them?"
Diane did not answer immediately. Her eyes remained fixed on her reflection in the blood-filled glass, distorted by the faint movement of the liquid.
"I think I can. As long as I’m helping Seamus."
"Good. Then it’s decided." Isolde clapped her hands lightly. "But one vampire won’t be enough. Leah?"
Leah, who had just returned from researching the origins of the Rowani serpents and taking some samples of snake venom, frowned deeply and crossed her arms.
"I haven’t even had sex with or fed from Seamus yet. I can’t go." She scowled. "And it’s freezing there. Are there even venomous creatures in the North?"
"But that environment will strengthen you, Elemental Bloodstyle responds to surroundings." She paused, then added thoughtfully, "We can teleport Seamus weekly. Four days here, three days in the North."
"But I have lots of equipment to take and I don’t want to move them anymore after the maids have already put everything in my new lab!"
"We don’t need to move them, I can just buy you a new one."
Leah clearly wanted to keep rejecting the idea but Fleur cut them off first.
"There’s a cold-region viper there that only exists in snowfields. If Leah goes, I’ll go too!"
"No," Ulrich spoke firmly. "This time, I will go."
Fleur stiffened. "Your League, that’s too dangerous. I should go instead."
Ulrich shook his head. "The Seven Great Covenants are already in ruins. We will act in the name of Draemir."
His tone allowed no argument. "You stay here. Take care of everything else in case I do not return."
Fleur’s breath caught. She stared at him, stunned. She had always seen him as someone to look up to and she was scared to part from him.
"But... I don’t know if I can manage without you."
Ulrich chuckled softly. "You can. You’ve handled Dahlia and Aconite well enough." He smiled. "You’ll be fine."
Fleur glanced toward Dahlia, who waved cheerfully. "Please don’t be too strict, Sister. I promise I won’t cause trouble."
That only irritated Fleur further.
She wanted to refuse, but Ulrich’s resolve was absolute.
"Well then," Isolde said, her smile controlled and sharp. "Three vampires will go. The rest of us will stay and protect Seamus."
Her eyes darkened slightly. "This time, we will make sure nothing goes wrong."
***
A Few Days Ago
"Work with you?! Hah! You must be kidding me, we are vampire hunters, we still have pride in ourselves!"
Ricardo snapped to the figure in front of him, disgust all over his face, his chair scraping loudly against the floor as he half rose from it.
"Huh, do you think a lowly creature that didn’t even have anything special like all of you can survive that Crimson Nectar?"
The man laughed, mocking and sharp, his silver hair shifting as he shook his head with clear contempt.
"That’s pathetic."
The air in the room thickened instantly. Ricardo hit the table hard, the sound echoing as cups rattled, and for a moment it looked like he would leap across it.
Gio moved fast, grabbing his shoulder with both arms and forcing him back down.
"Don’t do it, calm down!" Gio said in a low whisper, leaning closer so only Ricardo could hear him. "He is that—"
Ricardo widened his eyes as the realization hit. He looked at the man once more, his gaze sharper now, his brows knotting together before he let out a humorless laugh.
"You dare to talk to us like that when you asked a human being for help in killing that boy?" He shook his head slowly. "Unbelievable."
"You!" The man snapped, stepping forward. "I can kill you right here and now! Don’t you dare mock me!"
He took another step, but then his skin started to peel up like dried paint, cracking and lifting unnaturally.
He froze, sucked in a sharp breath, and immediately pulled his robe back into place, hiding his face as if nothing had happened.
"What’s wrong with your face?" Richard chuckled, clearly enjoying the moment.
"Oh well, your house is already ruined, I understand now what—"
"That’s not it!" The man cut him off sharply. "Just say whether you want to help or not."
His eyes narrowed, impatience obvious as his body angled toward the door, already eager to leave.
"Let’s hear your plan then. After that, we will decide." Ricardo said, his tone calmer but no less hostile. "Right, Gio?"
Gio sighed deeply, rubbing his temples as hesitation crossed his face. The room fell quiet again, tension coiling tight around them.
"What? You don’t want to avenge him when your fiancée was killed?"
Gio’s mouth tasted bitter as he answered, his jaw tightening. "Let’s hear him."
"Okay then, this is what we will do."
Both of them listened as the man began to explain. Gio rubbed his chin thoughtfully, eyes lowering as the pieces fell into place. It was simple, disturbingly so, but it made sense.
They couldn’t fight that boy head-on. Everyone here knew that.
But this plan might work, he wouldn’t want one of his beloveds to be gone, right?