Norton found it odd when his mother, Lady Windsor, returned home so early. Usually, she would be occupied with affairs in Drakenhof City or overseeing one of the estates within the county. If she was visiting a far-off estate or village, it wouldn’t be unusual for her to be away for several days. Yet here she was, back home unexpectedly early.

"Did something happen, Mother?" Norton asked, setting down his half-full glass of juice.

"Norton, did you go into town today?" Lady Windsor inquired as she sat next to him.

"Yes," Norton replied, candidly acknowledging his trip.

"Did something happen?" she pressed further.

"Well, yes, something did occur," Norton admitted, proceeding to recount his encounter with the group of free soldiers and the subsequent events in detail.

"You handled it well," Lady Windsor nodded in approval. "You upheld our dignity without being excessively harsh."

"That's thanks to your teachings, Elson’s, and Teacher Triss’s guidance," Norton replied modestly.

"However, there is another matter to consider," Windsor continued. "I received a request. The merchant who hired those free soldiers wants to meet with you to apologize for his subordinates' misconduct."

"Really?" Norton was somewhat surprised. "But I had no intention of punishing him."

"People often misunderstand us because we are blood-drinking monsters, after all," Lady Windsor said with a rare smile. "They fear us. I suspect that merchant is no different."

"If that's the case, then we can just ignore him," Norton shrugged. "Tell him that as long as he abides by Sylvannian law, there won't be any issues. I don’t wish to meet someone like him."

"If you’re unwilling, that's understandable. However, I suggest you think it over. He appears to be a relatively influential merchant. Since he’s seeking to apologize, he might offer you a decent gift."

Lady Windsor’s words piqued Norton’s interest, prompting him to ask, "Are you saying he might try to bribe me?"

Lady Windsor laughed. "What do you mean by bribery? And could he even succeed? You're a von Carstein, and the entire county is yours. Would you ever sell yourself?"

Seeing Norton ponder her words, she continued to clarify, "He likely sees this situation as an opportunity. Given your unique status and youth, an early investment in you might yield future benefits."

"I see," Norton nodded, understanding her point. "If you suggest it, Mother, I’ll find time to meet with him."

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After this matter was settled, Juana returned home from school. The von Carstein family gathered to chat for a while before enjoying dinner together. Lady Windsor then retreated to her room to work, while Juana insisted on Norton teaching her about magic.

"Can't you learn that at school? Asking your six-year-younger brother for help," Norton said in exasperation. His sister was fourteen, old enough to participate in the citizens' assembly. Couldn’t she act more mature?

"I have no choice. That woman favors you, teaching you far more courses," Juana complained. The "woman" she referred to was, of course, Miss Triss. Juana had received her four years of education from the same teacher but had only learned what was expected of young vampires.

"Don’t criticize the teacher," Norton said with a wry smile. "It’s not favoritism. The curriculum just progresses differently for everyone based on their abilities."

"Yeah right, always defending her—fine, fine, you're a genius, okay? Sylvannia’s smartest count. Forget it if you don’t want to," Juana muttered, pouting, as she turned to head upstairs to her room.

Seeing the beginnings of a tantrum, Norton knew he better placate her or face consequences later. He hurried to her side, taking her hand, using sibling endearments to cheer her up, and asked what she wanted to learn, offering to teach her directly.

Maya, observing quietly, noticed Norton and Juana walking hand-in-hand toward the basement and thought, "The young master is quite fond of the young lady, too..."

And so, the day ended. The next morning, Juana roused Norton much earlier than he liked, insisting, "Get up, it's school time," despite Norton’s grumbles of, "It's only six-thirty… it’s too early." Her persistence dragged him out of bed, leaving him groggy over breakfast, nearly nodding off into his soup.

Norton felt more awake after breakfast, noting it was still before seven. Classes at the academy typically began at eight. If your chosen subjects started later, you could attend later. As it was Norton’s first day, Juana had volunteered to let him shadow her schedule, making her classes Norton's for the day.

Juana's Monday schedule consisted of two classes: Intermediate Alchemy at 9:30 AM and Intermediate Pharmacology at 1:30 PM.

Due to vampires' low birth rates, the teaching staff in Sylvannia’s academies was disproportionately robust. Often, there were more teachers than students. Some niche courses even had no attendees.

Consequently, academy rules were flexible. Although courses had set times, students could attend whenever they liked, leaving when it suited them. They could choose to skip a cycle’s classes if desired.

There were no exams or grades. Student ranking and competition were non-existent, as vampires discouraged intra-species rivalry.

In this relaxed environment, vampire youths largely relied on self-discipline to complete their schooling. Norton had never heard of any child becoming a failure due to lax management, highlighting vampires’ strong self-regulation.

Qualification came from an annual year-end test where students were evaluated by their teachers. A teacher’s approval meant receiving a subject certificate. Accumulating enough certificates would allow graduation, though continued study was an option.

Norton was aware of this. His current prowess meant he could earn enough certificates and graduate now if he wished. This understanding made him grumble about Juana dragging him out so early when he could have slept longer.

He had already mastered the basics of alchemy and pharmacology during his foundational years, rendering attending those classes unnecessary. He preferred to attend Asta’s lectures on military strategy or advanced magic courses.

However, Juana’s will was resolute; she wanted Norton with her all day, and his protests were in vain.

"At least let me visit Lady Celia to see my adorable pet Fiola before school—"

"—No!"

So, after breakfast, Juana practically bundled Norton into her carriage like a kidnapper. With a flick of the ghostly coachman’s whip, the carriage sped towards the academy.

"My maid hasn’t boarded yet!"

"—Shut up!"